Methods and systems for providing in-game hot spots

• US 8,688,089 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2007
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flip Phone Games, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gosub 60, Inc.
• Inventors: Hartwell, Joshua
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US11/768,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20090005003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,471 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422.1, 455/404.2, 4554141-4144, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/412.1, 4554561-457, 455/550.1, 455/556.2, 455418-420, 370/338, 705/14.4, 463 40- 42
• US Class Current: 455/414.3
• 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: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing hot spots for mobile video games on mobile communication devices that receive hot spot information for mobile video games that operate on the devices. The hot spots may be hidden aspects of the game and promotional in nature, allowing game companies to generate extra revenue through selling non-permanent advertisement space to third parties. The game may contain instructions that cause the mobile communication device to contact an interface and/or server to receive hot spot information. After the hot spot information is received by the mobile communication device, the content may be displayed in-game. In addition, the server may track what hot spot information has already been received by the mobile communication device.

Claims

1. A method for providing a hot spot associated with a mobile video game, the mobile video game being operable on a mobile communication device, the method comprising the steps of:

storing hot spot information on a computer-readable medium;

receiving a communication from a mobile communication device;

determining the hot spot information to provide to the mobile device based upon the communication, the hot spot information comprising;

a location in-game associated with activating the hot spot, wherein the location in-game is represented by a non-promotional background object; and

hidden promotional content for presenting to the user, within a gaming environment of the mobile video game, when the hot spot is activated; and

uploading the hot spot information to the mobile communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location in-game is associated with activating the hot spot within the gaming environment of the mobile video game.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the hidden promotional content is pre-selected based on the proximity of the mobile communication device to a physical location related to the hidden promotional content.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of tracking the hot spot information that has been downloaded to the mobile communication device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the tracked hot spot information is used for billing a third party associated with the hot spot information.

6. A system for providing a hot spot associated with a mobile video game, the system comprising:

a storage medium for storing hot spot information for use in the mobile video game;

a server in communication with the storage medium;

an interface coupled to the server and a network, wherein the interface receives a request for hot spot information from the mobile communication device over the network;

wherein the server is operative to receive the request through the interface and utilize the request to determine the hot spot information for the mobile video game, and send the hot spot information to the mobile communication device, the hot spot information comprising;

a location in-game associated with activating the hot spot, wherein the location in-game is represented by a non-promotional background object; and

hidden promotional content for presenting to the user, within a gaming environment of the mobile video game, when the hot spot is activated.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the hidden promotional content is pre-selected based on the proximity of the mobile communication device to a physical location related to the hidden promotional content.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the hot spot information is pre-selected by the server based on a model type associated with the communications device, a service subscription associated with the communications device, or a service provider for the service subscription associated with the communications device.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the server tracks what hot spot information has been downloaded.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the tracked hot spot information is used for billing a third party associated with the hot spot information.