Method and apparatus for distributing virtual goods over the internet
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a client application residing on a host that a user uses to interact with websites on the Internet, the client application residing on the host automatically monitoring the user'"'"'s interactions;
a server in communication with the client application residing on the host,wherein the client application residing on the host further automatically communicates certain of the monitored user interactions to the server, andwherein the server includes a distribution manager that determines whether to automatically distribute one or more virtual collectibles to the user based on the communicated certain user interaction; and
a list of rules that the distribution manager uses to lookup the communicated certain user interaction.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A Virtual Collectible Distribution Network generates and distributes Virtual Collectible objects, each potentially possessing unique properties, over a computer network such as the Internet, to a group of users. The Distribution Network utilizes a client-server system. The client software can be standalone or embedded in another application, such as a web browser or game. In one scenario, the client software observes certain behaviors of the user, and communicates such behavior to the server, which process is transparent to the user. The server, based on the communications from the client, predefined algorithm, and other factors, may decide to award the user with a Virtual Collectible. In another scenario, the user may interact with other users on the Distribution Network by communicating and trading the Virtual Collectibles with one another, as well as participating in single-player or multiplayer online games that utilizes Virtual Collectibles.
97 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A system, comprising:
-
a client application residing on a host that a user uses to interact with websites on the Internet, the client application residing on the host automatically monitoring the user'"'"'s interactions; a server in communication with the client application residing on the host, wherein the client application residing on the host further automatically communicates certain of the monitored user interactions to the server, and wherein the server includes a distribution manager that determines whether to automatically distribute one or more virtual collectibles to the user based on the communicated certain user interaction; and a list of rules that the distribution manager uses to lookup the communicated certain user interaction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method, comprising:
-
automatically monitoring, using a client application residing on a host that a user uses to interact with websites on the Internet, the user'"'"'s interactions; automatically communicating, from the client application residing on the host to a server, certain of the monitored user interactions; determining, at the server, whether to automatically distribute one or more virtual collectibles to the user based on the communicated certain user interaction; and maintaining a list of rules for distributing virtual collectibles based on a plurality of predetermined user interactions, wherein the determining step includes comparing the communicated certain user action to the plurality of predetermined user interactions in the list of rules. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method comprising:
-
providing a server at a first internet location that is different from a second internet location associated with a publicly-accessible website; automatically detecting when a user accesses the website at the second internet location using a host; automatically transmitting information regarding the user access from the host to the server; and automatically providing a virtual collectible to the user in response to the automatic detection at the host and the automatic transmission between the host and the server. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
-
Specification