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

• US 8,382,592 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2011
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• 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:
  US13/070,757
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 463 40- 42, 463 20- 31
• US Class Current: 463/40
• 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 for obtaining votes for participants in a television program, the method comprising:

transmitting code for a game to a computer system, 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 at least one vote for at least one participant in the television program from the in-game voting module;

using at least one processor, updating a database including vote counts for the participants in the television program based on the at least one vote for the at least one participant;

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

obtaining the updated vote counts for the participants of the television program; and

transmitting the updated vote counts for the participants of the television program to the in-game voting module.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein prior to receiving the at least one vote for the at least one participant, the method further comprises:

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

allocating the at least one vote to the player of the game; and

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

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

obtaining game data for the player of the game; and

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

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

obtaining a voting history for the player of the 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 game.

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

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

allocating the at least one vote to the player of the game using 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:

real-world currency; and

in-game currency.

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

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

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

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the player of the game casts the at least one vote for the at least one participant in response to a request by a second player of the game to vote for the at least one participant.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one vote for the at least one participant includes a vote selected from the group consisting of:

a vote for the at least one participant; and

a vote against the at least one participant.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the at least one vote to a computer system for the television program.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein transmitting the at least one vote to the computer system for the television program includes:

aggregating votes for participants of the television program from a plurality of players of the game; and

transmitting the aggregated votes to a computer system for the television program.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting demographic data of players that cast votes for the participants to the computer system for the television program.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting voting trends to the computer system for the television program.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising:

generating at least one heat map based on the aggregated votes; and

transmitting at least one heat map to the computer system for the television program.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the at least one heat map is selected from the group consisting of:

a heat map for a predetermined geographical region; and

a heat map for a predetermined demographic of players of the game.

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

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one vote for the at least one participant includes a vote for a participant cast by the player.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one vote for the at least one participant includes a plurality of votes for a participant cast by the player.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one vote for the at least one participant includes a plurality of votes for a plurality of participants cast by the player.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the in-game voting module is accessible to the player via a game element in the game.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the game element en is selected from the group consisting of:

a building in a playable area for the player;

a building in a playable area for a non-player character; and

a non-player character.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the in-game voting module is accessible to the player via a user interface element in the game.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein the user interface element is selected from the group consisting of:

a tab in the user interface;

a window in the user interface; and

a button in the user interface.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from the in-game voting module to obtain vote data for in-game friends of the player, the vote data including information about votes cast by the in-game friends of the player;

obtaining the vote data for the in-game friends of the player; and

transmitting the vote data to the in-game voting module.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from the in-game voting module to obtain content related to the television program;

obtaining the content related to the television program; and

transmitting the content for the television program to the in-game voting module.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, wherein the content related to the television program includes:

biographies of the participants of the television program; and

multimedia items for the television program.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from the in-game voting module to obtain at least one leader board for the television program, the at least one leader board for the television program including vote statistics for players of the game with respect to the television program;

obtaining historical vote data for players of the game corresponding to the at least one leader board;

generating the at least one leader board based on the historical vote data; and

transmitting the at least one leader board to the in-game voting module.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 27, wherein a leader board is selected from the group consisting of:

a leader board with respect to all players of the game;

a leader board with respect to in-game friends of the player of the game; and

a leader board with respect to a predetermined demographic of players of the game.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the television program is a television competition program, and wherein the at least one participant is a contestant in the television competition program.

30. A system to obtain votes for participants in a television program, comprising:

processor-implemented a game module configured to;

transmit code for a game to a computer system, the game including an in-game voting module that allows a player of the game to cast votes for participants in a television program; and

a processor-implemented voting module configured to;

receive at least one vote for at least one participant the television program from the in-game voting module;

update a database including vote counts for the participants in the television program based on the at least one vote for the at least one participant;

receive a request from the in-game voting module to obtain updated vote counts for participants of the television program;

obtain the updated vote counts for the participants of the television program; and

transmit the updated vote counts for the participants of the television program to the in-game voting module.

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

transmitting code for a game to a computer system, 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 at least one vote for at least one participant in the television program from the in-game voting module;

updating a database including vote counts for the participants in the television program based on the at least one vote for the at least one participant;

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

obtaining the updated vote counts for the participants of the television program; and

transmitting the updated vote counts for the participants of the television program to the in-game voting module.

32. A computer-implemented method for rewarding players of a game for voting for participants of a television program, the method comprising:

transmitting a reward code to a computer system for a television program, the reward code to be presented by the computer system for a television program to a player of a game to reward the player for casting a vote for a participant in the television program;

receiving a request to redeem a reward corresponding to the reward code from a player of the game via an instance of a game on a computer system for the player; and

providing, in response to the request to redeem, the in-game reward to the player of the game.

33. The computer-implemented method of claim 32, wherein prior to transmitting the reward code to the computer system for the television program, the method further comprises:

receiving a request from the computer system for the television program to obtain the reward code; and

generating the reward code.

34. The computer-implemented method of claim 32, wherein the game is a network-based social game.

35. The computer-implemented method of claim 32, wherein the television program is a television competition program, and wherein the participant is a contestant in the television competition program.

36. A system to reward players of a game for voting for participants of a television program, comprising:

a processor-implemented voting module configured to;

transmit a reward code to a computer system for a television program, the reward code to be presented by the computer system for a television program to a player of a game to reward the player for casting a vote for a participant in the television program;

receive a request to redeem a reward corresponding to the reward code from a player of the game via an instance of a game on a computer system for the player; and

provide, in response to the request to redeem, the in-game reward to the player of the game.

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

transmitting a reward code to a computer system for a television program, the reward code to be presented by the computer system for a television program to a player of a game to reward the player for casting a vote for a participant in the television program;

receiving a request to redeem a reward corresponding to the reward code from a player of the game via an instance of a game on a computer system for the player; and

providing, in response to the request to redeem, the in-game reward to the player of the game.