Embedding of games into third party websites

• US 8,257,174 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2011
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Pincus, Mark Jonathan, Ocko, Matthew Adam, Trampedach, Tim Terence, Singh, Harsimran
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Xuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRANT, MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US13/244,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20120015724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 463/31
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5513 involving billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5533 using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items

Abstract

Systems and methods for embedding and tracking revenue from fully operational games into third party websites are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

associating, at a game provider system of a game provider, a user of a persistent game with a website of an operator distinct from the game provider that has embedded an instance of the persistent game into a web page transmitted to the user and through which the user originally entered and joined the persistent game;

tracking, using a processor of the game provider system, a plurality of monetization events during one or more game sessions of the persistent game occurring after a first session in which the user originally entered the persistent game, each of the monetization events being associated with an action performed by the user via an advertisement provided within the persistent game;

based on a monetization event occurring at the website of the operator, calculating compensation for the operator of the website based on the monetization event and allocating the compensation to be allocated to the operator of the website; and

based on the monetization event occurring in a game session of the persistent game that is displayed occurring at a second website different from the website of the operator and based on the advertisement within the persistent game being associated with the operator, calculating compensation to be paid by the operator to a second operator of the second website.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the action performed by the user comprises a purchase of an item.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the item is an in-game feature for the game.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the in-game feature comprises a selection from the group consisting of a virtual object, a game level, a game status, a game access privilege, a game function, and a game tool.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the action performed by the user is a click-through via the advertisement provided within the game.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the compensation is based on a purchase of a good or service as a result of the click-through.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting the advertisement within the game.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertisement comprises one of a branding element.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertisement comprises a hyperlink element operative to cause a navigation to an external web site.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving revenue from an external site providing the advertisement, the allocating of the compensation comprising allocating a portion of the received revenue to the operator of the website.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the game is locked;

based on the game being locked, limiting the user to accessing the game through the website of the operator; and

based on the game being unlocked, allowing the user to access the game through a website not associated with the operator.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising registering the user at the game provider system in connection with the website.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing effectiveness of the game by computing a click-through rate and purchase for various combinations of content including advertisement embedded in the game.

14. A non-transitory machine readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

associating, at a game provider system of a game provider, a user of a persistent game with a website of an operator that has embedded an instance of the persistent game into a web page transmitted to the user and through which the user originally entered and joined the persistent game;

tracking a plurality of monetization events during one or more game sessions after a first session in which the user originally entered the persistent game, each of the monetization events being associated with an action performed by the user via an advertisement embedded within an existing game object of the persistent game;

based on a monetization event occurring at the website of the operator, calculating compensation for the operator of the website based on the monetization event and allocating he compensation to be allocated to the operator of the website; and

based on the monetization event occurring in a game session of the persistent game that is displayed occurring at a second website different from the website of the operator and based on the advertisement within the persistent game being associated with the operator, calculating compensation to be paid by the operator to a second operator of the second website.

15. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 14, wherein the advertisement comprises a hyperlink element operative to cause a navigation to an external web site.

16. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise receiving revenue from an external site providing the advertisement, the allocating the compensation comprising allocating a portion of the received revenue to the operator of the website.

17. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining whether the game is locked;

based on the game being locked, limiting the user to accessing the game through the website of the operator; and

based on the game being unlocked, allowing the user to access the game through a website not associated with the operator.

18. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise analyzing effectiveness of the game by computing a click-through rate and purchase for various combinations of content including advertisement embedded in the game.

19. A system comprising:

at least one processor of a machine; and

a game provider system configured to;

associate a user of a persistent game with a website of an operator distinct from the game provider that has embedded an instance of the persistent game into a web page transmitted to the user and through which the user originally entered and joined the persistent game;

track a plurality of monetization events during one or more game sessions of the persistent game after a first session in which the user originally entered the persistent game, each of the monetization events being associated with an action performed by the user via an advertisement embedded within an existing game object of the persistent game;

based on a monetization event occurring at the website of the operator, calculate compensation for the operator of the website based on the monetization event and allocate the compensation to be allocated to the operator of the website based on the monetization event occurring at the website of the operator; and

based on the monetization event occurring in a game session of the persistent game that is displayed at a second website different from the website of the operator and based on the advertisement within the persistent game being associated with the operator, calculate compensation to be paid by the operator to a second operator of the second website based on the monetization event occurring at a second website different from the website of the operator and based on the advertisement being associated with the operator.