Dynamically providing system communications tailored to individual users responsive to trigger events in virtual spaces

• US 8,880,629 B1
• Filed: 06/18/2012
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabam (Netmarble Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabam (Netmarble Corporation)
• Inventors: Henrick, Clive, Yee, Benjamin, Lee, Moses
• Primary Examiner(s): Barry, Lance L
• Application Number:
  US13/526,208
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 705 1449- 1467, 463/42, 709/206
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• 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: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

System communications tailored to individual users may be dynamically provided responsive to trigger events in a virtual space. A given system communication may include one or more of a third-party advertisement, an offer for in-space products, an offer in-space services, an informative message, and/or other system communications. Trigger events may include specific user actions defined as trigger events. Current states may be obtained responsive to trigger events occurring within the virtual space. A given current state may include (1) information associated with the virtual space at a given moment, (2) information associated with a user character at a given moment, and/or (3) information associated with a user at a given moment. It may be determined whether individual current states correspond to one or more of a plurality of system communications. System communications may be provided for presentation to users via one or more communication channels.

Claims

1. A system configured to dynamically provide system communications tailored to individual users responsive to trigger events in a virtual space, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising;

a user-action monitoring module configured to monitor actions performed by a user within the virtual space for trigger events including a first trigger event, the first trigger event being a specific user action performed by a first user that has been defined as a trigger event;

a current-state information module configured to obtain current states responsive to trigger events occurring within the virtual space, a given current state including one or more of (1) information associated with the virtual space at a given moment, (2) information associated with a user character at a given moment, or (3) information associated with a user at a given moment, wherein a first current state is obtained responsive to the first trigger event and configured to add the first current state to a state queue containing one or more current states to be matched to system communications;

a system-communication matching module configured to determine whether individual current states correspond to one or more of a plurality of system communications, a given system communication being a communication configured to be provided by the system for presentation to users via one or more communication channels, wherein a first system communication is selected responsive to the first system communication being determined to correspond to the first current state and configured to remove the first current state from the state queue responsive to the first current state being determined to correspond with the first system communication; and

a system-communication provisioning module configured to provide system communications for presentation to users via the one or more communication channels, the first system communication being presented to the first user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system-communication matching module is configured to determine whether current states correspond to one or more of a plurality of system communications based on one or more space-state criteria.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system-communication matching module is configured to determine whether current states correspond to one or more of a plurality of system communications based on one or more user attribute criteria.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more communication channels includes one or more of an in-space modal, an in-space message, or an out-of-space email.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a given system communication includes one or more of a third-party advertisement, an offer for in-space products, an offer in-space services, or an informative message.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an admin module configured to receive one or more of new system communications, existing system communications, trigger event definitions, or information associated with one or more bases for determining whether an individual current state corresponds to one or more system communications.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the admin module is further configured to determine user responsiveness to system communications presented via the one or more communication channels.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the admin module is further configured to provide an admin interface for presentation to an administrative user, the admin interface being configured to receive information from the administrative user.

9. A method for dynamically providing system communications tailored to individual users responsive to trigger events in a virtual space, the method being implemented in a computer system comprising one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the method comprising:

monitoring actions performed by a user within the virtual space for trigger events including a first trigger event, the first trigger event being a specific user action performed by a first user that has been defined as a trigger event;

obtaining current states responsive to trigger events occurring within the virtual space, a given current state including one or more of (1) information associated with the virtual space at a given moment, (2) information associated with a user character at a given moment, or (3) information associated with a user at a given moment, wherein a first current state is obtained responsive to the first trigger event;

adding the first current state to a state queue containing one or more current states to be matched to system communications;

determining whether individual current states correspond to one or more of a plurality of system communications, a given system communication being a communication configured to be provided by a system for presentation to users via one or more communication channels, wherein a first system communication is selected responsive to the first system communication being determined to correspond to the first current state;

removing the first current state from the state queue responsive to the first current state being determined to correspond with the first system communication; and

providing system communications for presentation to users via the one or more communication channels, the first system communication being presented to the first user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether current states correspond to one or more of a plurality of system communications is based on one or more space-state criteria.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether current states correspond to one or more of a plurality of system communications is based on one or more user attribute criteria.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more communication channels includes one or more of an in-space modal, an in-space message, or an out-of-space email.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein a given system communication includes one or more of a third-party advertisement, an offer for in-space products, an offer in-space services, or an informative message.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving one or more of new system communications, existing system communications, trigger event definitions, or information associated with one or more bases for determining whether an individual current state corresponds to one or more system communications.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining user responsiveness to system communications presented via the one or more communication channels.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing an admin interface for presentation to an administrative user, the admin interface being configured to receive information from the administrative user.