Virtual playing chips in a multiuser online game network

• US 9,280,875 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2010
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Pincus, Mark Jonathan, Luxton, Michael Arieh, Ocko, Matthew Adam, Schiermeyer, Carl Eric, Schoettler, Stephen Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): LIM, SENG HENG
• Application Number:
  US12/716,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20100227675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,197 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3281 wherein game attributes are transferred between players, e.g. points, weapons, avatars

Abstract

In various embodiments, virtual currency is used within a multiplayer online game in a restricted manner.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

embedding, by a server, within a webpage of a social network accessed by a client computer, a display area for playing a computer-implemented gambling game;

receiving, at the server, a purchase order entered in the embedded display area for virtual currency from a first player, wherein the purchase order was made with legal currency, and wherein the virtual currency is usable within the computer-implemented gambling game to a) purchase virtual items in the computer-implemented gambling game and b) place wagers in the gambling game;

crediting an account of the first player with virtual currency, wherein the virtual currency is not redeemable for legal currency;

receiving a second purchase order for a virtual object within the computer-implemented gambling game from the first player, wherein the second purchase order was made with virtual currency; and

debiting the account of the first player based on the second purchase order, wherein operations of the method are executed through a processor.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the virtual currency comprises a plurality of virtual playing chips.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving wagers from the first player identifying an amount of virtual currency wagered as part of a game event within the computer-implemented gambling game.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising debiting or crediting the account of the first player based on an outcome of the game event.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein purchasing virtual currency allows the first player to play with other players having a higher status than the first player.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual item is selected from a group consisting of drinks, flags, snacks, or smokes.

16. The method of claim 1, further including:

associating the virtual object with the first player.

17. The method of claim 1, further including:

detecting a gift of the virtual object from the first player to a second player; and

associating the virtual object with the second player.

18. The method of claim 1, further including:

detecting a gift of virtual currency from the first player to a second player;

determining if the gift of virtual currency is within limits for gifting in the computer-implemented gambling game; and

transferring the gifted virtual currency from the first player to the second player when the gift is within the limits for gifting.

19. The method of claim 18, further including:

enforcing a maximum frequency at which virtual currency can be gifted from the first player to the second player.

5. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a server, a first purchase order for virtual currency from a first player, wherein the first purchase order is made with legal currency, and wherein the virtual currency is usable within a computer-implemented gambling game to a) purchase virtual items in the computer-implemented gambling game and b) place wagers in the gambling game;

crediting an account of the first player with virtual currency, wherein the virtual currency is not redeemable for legal currency, wherein purchasing virtual currency allows the first player to play with other players having a higher status than the first player;

receiving, at the server, a request to gift an amount of virtual currency from the first player to a second player;

accessing social network information of the first player to verify a social connection to the second player, wherein accessing the social network information includes utilizing an application programming interface provided by a social network to obtain social information from a social network server; and

transferring the amount of virtual currency from the first player to the second player if the social connection is verified based on the social information obtained from the social network server, wherein operations of the method are executed through a processor.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the virtual currency comprises a plurality of virtual playing chips.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving, at a server, a wager of virtual currency from the first player;

resolving the wager within the gambling game according to a game logic; and

crediting the account of the first player in response to the resolving of the wager.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a second purchase order for a virtual item within the computer-implemented game from the first player, wherein the second purchase order is made with virtual currency; and

debiting the account of the first player based on the second purchase order.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

associating the virtual item with the first player or with a second player.

10. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors operable when executing the instructions to;

embedding within a webpage of a social network accessed by a client computer, a display area for playing a computer-implemented gambling game;

receive a first purchase order entered in the embedded display area for virtual currency from a first player, wherein the first purchase order is made with legal currency, and wherein the virtual currency is usable within the computer-implemented gambling game to a) purchase virtual items in the computer-implemented gambling game and b) place wagers in the gambling game;

credit an account of the first player with virtual currency, wherein the virtual currency is not redeemable for legal currency;

detect a gift of virtual currency from the first player to a second player;

determine if the gift of virtual currency is within limits for gifting in the computer-implemented gambling game; and

transfer the gifted virtual currency from the first player to the second player when the gift is within the limits for gifting.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processors are further operable when executing the instructions to:

receive a wager of virtual currency from the first player, wherein the computer-implemented game is a gambling game and the virtual currency comprises a plurality of virtual playing chips;

resolve the wager within the gambling game according to a game logic; and

credit the account of the first player based on resolution of the wager.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processors are further operable when executing the instructions to:

receive a second purchase order for a virtual item within the computer-implemented game from the first player, wherein the second purchase order is made with virtual currency; and

debit the account of the first player based on the second purchase order.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processors are further operable when executing the instructions to:

associate the virtual item with the first player or with a second player.