System and method for using a game to interact with television programs

• US 8,167,725 B1
• Filed: 09/26/2011
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Patnaik, Pratyus, Etter, Nathan Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US13/244,736
• Time in Patent Office: 218 Days
• Field of Search: 463/9, 463 40- 42, 273/138.2, 725/13, 725/62, 705/35, 716/110
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games

Abstract

A system, computer-readable storage medium including instructions, and a computer-implemented method for obtaining votes for participants in a television program are described, in which code for a game is transmitted to a computer system, where the game includes an in-game voting module that allows a player of the game to cast votes for participants in a television program. At least one vote for at least one participant in the television program is received from the in-game voting module. A database including vote counts for the participants in the television program is updated based on the at least one vote for the at least one participant.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

transmitting code for a computer-implemented game to a client device, the computer implemented game including an in-game voting module that allows a player of the computer implemented game to cast one or more votes for participants in a television program;

receiving a request to vote for participants in the television program from the in-game voting module;

allocating, using at least one processor of a machine, at least one vote to the player of the computer-implemented game in response to the request to vote by;

accessing game data for the player of the computer-implemented game;

and allocating the at least one vote to the player of the computer-implemented game based on in-game tasks performed by the player, the performed in-game tasks being determined from the game data; and

notifying the in-game voting module of the at least one vote allocated to the player of the game.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the allocating the at least one vote to the player of the computer-implemented game includes:

obtaining a voting history for the player of the computer-implemented game with respect to the television program; and

allocating the at least one vote to the player of the game based on the voting history for the player of the computer-implemented game.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the player is allocated a first predetermined number of votes if the player voted for a first participant that received a highest number of votes in a prior voting session.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the player is allocated a second predetermined number of votes if the player voted for a second participant that did not receive the highest number of votes in a prior voting session, the second predetermined number of votes being less than the first predetermined number of votes.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein allocating the at least one vote to the player of the computer-implemented game includes:

determining that the player of the computer-implemented game purchased votes using currency; and

allocating the at least one vote to the player of the computer-implemented game from at least a portion of the purchased votes.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the currency is selected from the group consisting of:

out-of-game currency; and

in-game currency.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein allocating the at least one vote to the player of the game includes:

determining that other players of the computer-implemented game have donated votes to the player of the computer-implemented game; and

allocating the at least one vote to the player of the game from at least a portion of the donated votes.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the in-game voting module determines a total number of allocated votes to the player.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the in-game voting module allows the player to cast a number of votes based on a number of votes allocated to the player.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented game is a network-based social game.

11. A system to allocate votes for participants in a television program, the system comprising:

a processor-implemented game module configured to;

transmit code for a game to a client device, the game including an in-game voting module that allows a player of the game to cast one or more votes for participants in a television program; and

a processor-implemented voting module configured to;

receive a request to vote for participants in the television program from the in game voting module;

allocate at least one vote to the player of the game in response to the request to vote, with the voting module being further configured to;

access game data for the player of the computer-implemented game;

and allocate the at least one vote to the player of the computer-implemented game based on in-game tasks performed by the player, the performed in game tasks being determined from the game data; and

notify the in-game voting module of the at least one vote allocated to the player of the game.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the voting module is further configured to:

obtain a voting history for the player of the game with respect to the television program; and

allocate the at least one vote to the player of the game based on the voting history for the player of the game.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the voting module is further configured to:

determine that the player of the game purchased votes using currency; and

allocate the at least one vote to the player of the game from at least a portion of the purchased votes.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the currency is selected from the group consisting of:

out-of-game currency; and

in-game currency.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the voting module is further configured to:

determine that other players of the game have donated votes to the player of the game; and

allocate the at least one vote to the player of the game from at least a portion of the donated votes.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the voting module is further configured to determine a total number of allocated votes to the player.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the voting module is further configured to allow the player to cast a number of votes based on a number of votes allocated to the player.

18. A computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

transmitting code for a game to a client device, the game including an in-game voting module that allows a player of the game to cast votes for participants in a television program;

receiving a request to vote for participants in the television program from the in-game voting module;

allocating at least one vote to the player of the game in response to receiving the request to vote, by;

accessing game data for the player of the computer-implemented game; and

allocating the at least one vote to the player of the computer-implemented game based on in-game tasks performed by the player, the performed in-game tasks being determined from the game data; and

notifying the in-game voting module of the at least one vote allocated to the player of the game.