Method and apparatus for promoting desired on-line activities using on-line games
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a computer-implemented server that is separate from a website belonging to a third party different from a party that controls the server, the website being made publicly accessible via the Internet by the third party whereas the third party does not make, and is not required to make the server publicly accessible via the Internet, wherein the server is in network communication with a client application residing on a host, and wherein the host is configured to allow a user to interact with the website, the server including;
a games manager that monitors the user'"'"'s online activities by receiving information from the client application regarding the user'"'"'s interaction with the website, and thereafter automatically initiates a game with game content selected based on the received user interaction with the website and provides the content to the client application for rendering on the host in addition to the user receiving content from the website,wherein the host further includes a web browser application, and wherein in a first game application, the game content is embedded together with other content from the website displayed by the web browser application, andwherein in a second game application the client application communicates with the server to display a virtual space that consumes a full screen provided by the web browser application, and wherein the game content is provided in the virtual space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to the field of computer and network software, and more particularly it relates to a computer system and method for promoting on-line activities on desired sites via a virtual entertainment system that provides games, interactions or activities that take place either partially or fully on the partner'"'"'s website or within the virtual space associated with the partner'"'"'s website. According to one aspect, the invention drives on-line traffic to partner sites using Virtual Collectibles and other prizes rewarded for participation in Internet-based games. The games are designed to promote users to visit and/or perform other activities on the partner sites, and can include give-aways, special offers, treasure hunts, combo puzzles, among many other types of games. According to other aspects, the games can be played by users in the course of or with very little effort in addition to casually surfing the web. According to other aspects, the invention provides on-line advertisers and/or partners having Internet sites with means to configure promotions that are tied to the games hosted by the system. According to some additional aspects of the invention, the system can provide superior on-line advertising revenue opportunities as compared to traditional banner ads and click-through advertising through the appeal of Virtual Collectibles. In addition, the present invention allows the system to be configured to allow advertiser and partner websites to configure the Virtual Collectibles and other prizes rewarded to users for desired effects.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a computer-implemented server that is separate from a website belonging to a third party different from a party that controls the server, the website being made publicly accessible via the Internet by the third party whereas the third party does not make, and is not required to make the server publicly accessible via the Internet, wherein the server is in network communication with a client application residing on a host, and wherein the host is configured to allow a user to interact with the website, the server including; a games manager that monitors the user'"'"'s online activities by receiving information from the client application regarding the user'"'"'s interaction with the website, and thereafter automatically initiates a game with game content selected based on the received user interaction with the website and provides the content to the client application for rendering on the host in addition to the user receiving content from the website, wherein the host further includes a web browser application, and wherein in a first game application, the game content is embedded together with other content from the website displayed by the web browser application, and wherein in a second game application the client application communicates with the server to display a virtual space that consumes a full screen provided by the web browser application, and wherein the game content is provided in the virtual space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15)
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8. A method, comprising the following computer-implemented steps:
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providing a server that is separate from a website belonging to a third party different from a party that controls the server, the website being made publicly accessible via the Internet by the third party whereas the third party does not make, and is not required to make the server publicly accessible via the Internet; communicating, at the server via the Internet, with a client application residing on a host for monitoring a user'"'"'s online activities, and wherein the host is configured to allow the user to interact with the website; receiving from the client application via the communication between the server and client, information regarding the user'"'"'s interaction with the website; and in response to the user'"'"'s interaction with the website, automatically initiating, by the server, a game with game content based on the received user interaction with the website and providing the content to the client application for rendering on the host in addition to the user receiving content from the website, wherein the host further includes a web browser application, and wherein in a first game application the method further comprises; causing the game content to be embedded together with other content from the website displayed by the web browser application, and wherein in a second game application, the method further comprises; configuring the client application to communicate with the server to display a virtual space that consumes a full screen provided by the web browser application; and causing the game content to be provided in the virtual space. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16)
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Specification