Cross-promotion API

• US 8,814,703 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: McCaffrey, Daniel, Zhang, Yan, Lee, Cadir
• Primary Examiner(s): Brewster, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): SKAARUP, JASON M
• Application Number:
  US13/793,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20130324260A1
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42, 705/14.12
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• 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 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/13 File access structures, e.g. distributed indices arrangements of input from, or output to, record carriers G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

A system and computer-implemented method for promoting an electronic game of electronic games is provided. A user interface module is configured to receive an input from a user relating to playing a first and second electronic game. A processor-implemented association engine, operatively coupled to the user interface, is configured to associate user attributes of the first and second electronic games to the user based on the input. An application programming interface (API) is configured to associate a user attribute of a third electronic game different from the first and second electronic games, the API configured to associate based, at least in part, on rule engine implemented by the API and at least one of the user attributes of the first and second electronic games and game data of the third electronic game.

Claims

1. A method of promoting an electronic game of electronic games, comprising:

receiving inputs from a user, via a user interface, relating to playing first and second electronic games of the electronic games;

associating, using a processor, user attributes of the first and second electronic games to the user based on the inputs;

automatically providing to the user, using an application programming interface (API) implemented on a server, a user attribute of a third electronic game that is different from the first and second electronic games, the API automatically providing the user attribute of the third electronic game to the user based, at least in part, on a predetermined rule executed by a rule engine implemented by the API and at least one of;

the user attributes of the first and second electronic games; and

game data of the third electronic game; and

automatically providing to the user, using the API, another one of the user attributes of the first and second electronic games based on the user attribute of the third electronic game and the predetermined rule.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically providing, using the API, a user attribute of a fourth electronic game that is different from the first and second electronic games, the automatic providing based, at least in part, on the rule engine, the user attributes of the first and second electronic games, the game data of the third electronic game and game data of the fourth electronic game.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the rule engine is configured to be applied by the API to each of the first, second, third and fourth electronic games to automatically provide one or more of the user attributes of that electronic game to the user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the predetermined rule executed by the rule engine comprises at least one of reaching a level of achievement, increasing a metric within at least one of the first and second electronic games, achieving a goal within a predetermined period of time in at least one of the first and second electronic games, playing first and second electronic games for a predetermined period of time, and achieving a cumulative goal in the first and second electronic games.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the API automatically provides one of the user attributes of the first, second, third and fourth electronic games further based, at least in part, on a user characteristic comprising at least one of a user age, a user gender, a geographic location of the user, and a propensity of the user to engage in future game play.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of:

(i) the user attribute of the first electronic game comprises at least one of a level of achievement within the first electronic game, a virtual item for use within the first electronic game, and user access to the first electronic game; and

(ii) the user attribute of the second electronic game comprises at least one of a level of achievement within the second electronic game, a virtual item for use within the second electronic game, and user access to the second electronic game.

7. A method of promoting some of a plurality of electronic games, comprising:

receiving an input from a user, via a user interface, relating to playing a first electronic game;

associating, using a processor, a user attribute of the first electronic game to the user based on the input;

automatically providing to the user, using an application programming interface (API) implemented on a server, a user attribute of a second electronic game different from the first electronic game and a user attribute of a third electronic game different from the first electronic game, the API automatically providing the user attributes of the second and third electronic games to the user based, at least in part, on a predetermined rule executed by a rule engine implemented by the API and at least one of;

the user attribute of the first electronic game; and

game data of the second and third electronic games; and

automatically providing to the user, with the API, another user attribute of the first electronic game based on the user attributes of the second and third electronic games and the predetermined rule.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising automatically providing, using the API a user attribute of a fourth electronic game based, at least in part, on the rule engine, the user attributes of the first and fourth electronic games, and the game data of the second and third electronic games.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the rule engine is configured to be applied by the API to each of the first, second, third and fourth electronic games to automatically provide one or more of the user attributes of that electronic game to the user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined rule executed by the rule engine comprises at least one of reaching a level of achievement, increasing a metric within at least one of the first and second electronic games, achieving a goal within a predetermined period of time in at least one of the first and second electronic games, playing first and second electronic games for a predetermined period of time, and achieving a cumulative goal in the first and second electronic games.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the API automatically provides one or more of the user attributes of the first, second, third and fourth electronic games further based, at least in part, on a user characteristic comprising at least one of a user age, a user gender, a geographic location of the user, and a propensity of the user to engage in future game play.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the user attribute of the first electronic game comprises at least one of a level of achievement within the first electronic game, a virtual item for use within the first electronic game, and user access to the first electronic game.

13. A system, comprising:

a user interface module configured to receive an input from a user relating to playing a first electronic game and a second electronic game;

a processor-implemented association engine, operatively coupled to the user interface, configured to associate user attributes of the first and second electronic games to the user based on the input;

an application programming interface (API), the API configured to;

automatically provide to the user a user attribute of a third electronic game that is different from the first and second electronic games, the API configured to automatically provide the user attribute of the third electronic game to the user based, at least in part, on a predetermined rule executed by a rule engine implemented by the API and at least one of;

the user attributes of the first and second electronic games; and

game data of the third electronic game; and

automatically provide to the user another one of the user attributes of the first and second electronic games based on the user attribute of the third electronic game and the predetermined rule.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the API automatically provides a user attribute of a fourth electronic game that is different from the first and second electronic games, the automatic providing based, at least in part, on the rule engine, the user attributes of the first and second electronic games, the game data of the third electronic game and game data of the fourth electronic games.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the rule engine is configured to be applied by the API to each of the first, second, third and fourth electronic games to automatically provide one or more of the user attributes of that electronic game to the user.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the predetermined rule executed by the rule engine comprises at least one of reaching a level of achievement, increasing a metric within at least one of the first and second electronic games, achieving a goal within a predetermined period of time in at least one of the first and second electronic games, playing first and second electronic games for a predetermined period of time, and achieving a cumulative goal in the first and second electronic games.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the API is configured to automatically provide one of the user attributes of the first, second, third and fourth electronic games further based, at least in part, on a user characteristic comprising at least one of a user age, a user gender, a geographic location of the user, and a propensity of the user to engage in future game play.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of:

(i) the user attribute of the first electronic game comprises at least one of a level of achievement within the first electronic game, a virtual item for use within the first electronic game, and user access to the first electronic game; and

(ii) the user attribute of the second electronic game comprises at least one of a level of achievement within the second electronic game, a virtual item for use within the second electronic game, and user access to the second electronic game.

19. A system, comprising:

a user interface configured to receive an input relating to playing one of a plurality of electronic games;

a processor, operatively coupled to the user interface, configured to associate user attributes of the one of the plurality of electronic games to the user based on the plurality of inputs;

a server configured to implement an application programming interface (API), the API configured to;

automatically provide to the user a user attribute of each of at least two of the plurality of electronic games different from the one of the plurality of electronic games, the API configured to automatically provide the user attributes of the at least two of the plurality of games to the user based, at least in part, on a predetermined rule executed by a rule engine implemented by the API and at least one of;

the user attributes of the one of the plurality of electronic games; and

game data of the at least two of the plurality of electronic games; and

automatically provide to the user another user attribute of the one of the plurality of electronic games based on the user attributes of the at least two of the plurality of games and the predetermined rule.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the server is further configured to automatically provide a user attribute of a fourth electronic game based on the API is based, at least in part, on the rule engine, the user attributes of the one of the plurality of electronic games, the user attribute of the fourth electronic game and the game data of the at least two of the plurality of electronic games.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the rule engine is configured to be applied by the API to each of the electronic games to automatically provide one or more of the user attributes of that electronic game to the user.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the predetermined rule executed by the rule engine comprises at least one of reaching a level of achievement, increasing a metric within at least one of the plurality of electronic games, achieving a goal within a predetermined period of time in at least one of the plurality of electronic games, playing the plurality of electronic games for a predetermined period of time, and achieving a cumulative goal in the plurality of electronic games.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the API is configured to automatically provide one or more of the user attributes of the plurality of electronic games further based, at least in part, on a user characteristic comprising at least one of a user age, a user gender, a geographic location of the user, and a propensity of the user to engage in future game play.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein each user attribute comprises at least one of a level of achievement within the first electronic game, a virtual item for use within one of the electronic games, and user access to one of the electronic games.