Dynamically sizing incentive rewards for location-based actions by groups

• US 8,874,466 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2011
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Koenigsberg, Scott, Mahajan, Amitt, Ocko, Matthew Adam, Bethke, Erik Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): RENWICK, REGINALD A
• Application Number:
  US13/244,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20130005437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42, 705/12, 705/14, 705/14.1, 705/35
• US Class Current: 705/14.12
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5378 for displaying an additional top view, e.g. radar screens or maps using two or more virtual cameras concurrently A63F13/5252
• 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: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• 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 2300/556 Player lists, e.g. online players, buddy list, black list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 : constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 : Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information

Abstract

A method of dynamically sizing incentive rewards for location-based actions by groups is disclosed. A first incentive reward that is to be provided based on a first number of times members of a group of users complete a location-based action is determined. A second incentive reward that is to be provided based on a second number of times members of the group of users complete the location-based action is determined. A magnitude of the second incentive reward is greater than a magnitude of the first incentive reward based on the second number of times being greater than the first number of times. The group of users is notified of the incentive reward and the additional incentive reward.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a magnitude of a first incentive reward that is to be provided based on a group of users completing a location-based action, the determining of the magnitude of the first incentive reward based on input from an additional group of users with respect to a level of positivity of the location-based action;

determining, using a processor, a magnitude of a second incentive reward that is to be provided based on the group of users completing an additional location-based action, the determining of the magnitude of the second incentive reward based on input from the additional group of users with respect to the level of positivity of the additional location-based action in comparison to the level of positivity of the location-based action; and

notifying the group of users of the first incentive reward and the second incentive reward.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the group of users based on a proximity of the group of users to a location of the location-based action.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising one of providing the first incentive reward based on the members of the group completing the location-based action and providing the second incentive reward based on the members of the group completing the additional location-based action.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining at least one of the first incentive reward and the second incentive reward based on a size of the group of users.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the notifying of the group of users of the incentive reward and the second incentive reward is based on a detection of a proximity of a member of the group to the location of the location-based action.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the notifying of the group of users of the incentive reward and the second incentive reward is based on a receiving of a specification of the incentive reward and a specification of the second incentive reward from an operator of the location of the location-based action.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-based action includes purchasing a real-world item from an operator of the location.

8. A system comprising:

a processor-implemented game networking system configured to;

determine a magnitude of a first incentive reward that is to be provided based on a group of users completing a location-based action, the determining of the magnitude of the first incentive reward based on input from an additional group of users with respect to a level of positivity of the location-based action;

determine, using a processor, a magnitude of a second incentive reward that is to be provided based on the group of users completing an additional location-based action, the determining of the magnitude of the second incentive reward based on input from the additional group of users with respect to the level of positivity of the additional location-based acting in comparison to the level of positivity of the location-based action; and

notify the group of users of the first incentive reward and the second incentive reward.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor-implemented game networking system is further configured to select the group of users based on a proximity of the group of users to a location of the location-based action.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor-implemented game networking system is further configured to provide the first incentive reward based on the members of the group completing the location-based action and provide the second incentive reward based on the members of the group completing the location-based action.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor-implemented game networking system is further configured to determine at least one of the first first incentive reward and the second incentive reward based on a size of the group of users.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the notifying of the group of users of the incentive reward and the additional incentive reward is based on a detection of a proximity of a member of the group to the location of the location-based action.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the notifying of the group of users of the incentive reward and the additional incentive reward is based on a receiving of a specification of the incentive reward and a specification of the additional incentive reward from an operator of the location of the location-based action.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the location-based action includes purchasing a real-world item from an operator of the location.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computer system, cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:

determining a magnitude of a first incentive reward that is to be provided based on a group of users completing a location-based action, the determining of the magnitude of the first incentive reward based on input from an additional group of users with respect to a level of positivity of the location-based action;

determining, using a processor, a magnitude of a second incentive reward that is to be provided based on the group of users completing an additional location-based action, the determining of the magnitude of the second incentive reward based on input from the additional group of users with respect to the level of positivity of the additional location-based action in comparison to the level of positivity of the location-based action; and

notifying the group of users of the first incentive reward and the second incentive reward.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the operations further comprising selecting the group of users based on a proximity of the group of users to a location of the location-based action.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the operations further comprising one of providing the first incentive reward based on the members of the group completing the location-based action at least and providing the second incentive reward based on the members of the group completing the location-based action.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the operations further comprising determining at least one of the first incentive reward and the second incentive reward based on a size of the group of users.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the notifying of the group of users of the incentive reward and the additional incentive reward is based on a detection of a proximity of a member of the group to the location of the location-based action.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the notifying of the group of users of the incentive reward and the additional incentive reward is based on a receiving of a specification of the incentive reward and a specification of the additional incentive reward from an operator of the location of the location-based action.