System and method for integrating business-related content into an electronic game

• US 8,458,028 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2002
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quantum Imaging LLC
• Original Assignee: Barbaro Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Altieri, Frances Barbaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dean T
• Application Number:
  US10/272,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20040078263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,884 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.4, 705/14.49, 705/14.12, 705/1, 705/26, 705/14, 705/6, 705/7, 705/8, 705/9, 705/10, 273/430, 463/40, 463/29, 463/42
• US Class Current: 705/14.4
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/217 using environment-related information, i.e. information generated otherwise than by the player, e.g. ambient temperature or humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0005 Adaptation of holography to specific applications holographic optical element G02B5/32; holographic scanner G02B26/106; recognition using holographic mask G06V10/88; holographic memories G11B7/0065, G11C13/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/366 using viewer tracking

Abstract

A method of integrating business-related content into the execution of a game application is disclosed. A player of the game application is exposed to the business-related content within the context of the game. User actions within the game cause the game application to transparently re-direct the user to a customized corporate web site containing selected information from a business sponsor. Game-related user actions performed while the player is at the customized corporate web site cause the player to be exposed to additional business-related content from the business sponsor. The player may earn benefits while at the customized corporate web site. Some of the player benefits are real-life benefits external to the game application which may be utilized by the player after finishing the game. A record of external benefits is kept by the business sponsor. Other benefits may be immediately available to the player by pausing the game, thereby allowing the player to access the sponsor'"'"'s reward program. Following the occurrence of a pre-determined event, the game application transparently re-directs the player back to the original game site.

Claims

1. A method of integrating business-related content over a computerized network, into a primary electronic device that accesses a game application, from at least one secondary electronic device that accesses business-related content on a plurality of web pages, the method comprising:

receiving a request at said primary electronic device to initiate a locally executed game application that is accessible at said primary electronic device, from a user interfaced with said network;

initiating said game application at said primary electronic device;

automatically integrating business-related content from at least one of said web pages of said secondary electronic device into said locally executed game application during execution of said game application;

automatically re-directing said user to one of said web pages of said secondary electronic device from said primary electronic device, said re-direction being integrated into said game application and said re-direction occurring as part of the user executing said game application; and

executing a user action on said business-related content from said secondary electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said user purchases an item from a vendor associated with said business-related content on said at least one customized web page.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said game application displays branded business-related content to said user.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said branded business-related content is dynamically updated.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising the further steps of:

executing game-related user actions in said game application as a result of user choices; and

generating a player profile based on said user choices made during said game application;

wherein the player profile is specific to said user.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said player profile is disseminated to providers of business-related content used in said game application.

7. A method of automatically integrating content into an electronic device over a computerized network, comprising:

receiving a request from a user at a primary electronic device to initiate at least one of a plurality of locally executed applications that are accessible to said primary electronic device interfaced with said network;

initiating said at least one of said plurality of applications at said primary electronic device;

providing at least one customized web page at a secondary electronic device, accessed over said computerized network by said primary electronic device, said web page being customized with content for use with said one of said plurality of applications;

automatically integrating said content from said secondary electronic device into said at least one of said plurality of locally executed applications during execution of said at least one of said plurality of applications;

automatically re-directing said user to one of said customized web pages at said secondary electronic device, from said primary electronic device, said re-direction being integrated into said one of said plurality of applications and said re-direction occurring as part of the user executing said one of said plurality of applications; and

executing a user action on said content from said secondary electronic device, said user action generating a benefit for said user relating to said content.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said content includes dynamic content.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing a virtual reality platform interfaced with said primary electronic device, said virtual reality platform providing a three-dimensional visualization in which the user interacts.