Method and apparatus for conducting or facilitating a promotion

• US 9,545,575 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2014
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Jorasch, James A., Kim, Peter, Palmer, Timothy A., Bemer, Keith, Golden, Andrew P., Allison, Scott B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US14/334,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20150018090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 463 29- 33, 463/42, 705/14.4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/49 Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/50 Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0211 Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0213 Consumer transaction fees
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0248 Avoiding fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments, a method provides for facilitating play of a game on a mobile device by recognizing inputs provided by a user, at least one of the inputs causing progress in the game. In accordance with one embodiment, a code is received at the mobile device, in response to which code access to an outcome is provided. Upon an outcome redemption request being received, a benefit associated with the outcome may be provided. The benefit may, in some embodiments, be capable of changing play of the game by the user.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions for instructing a processor of a mobile device to perform a method, the method comprising:

facilitating play of a game, the game being accessible and playable by a user on the mobile device, by recognizing inputs provided by the user via an input mechanism of the mobile device, at least one of the inputs causing progress in the game;

receiving over an electronic network a locked outcome comprising an aspect of a promotion, the locked outcome being unavailable to the user until an unlock code is provided, wherein the locked outcome is generated by a computing device distinct from the mobile device and corresponds to at least one benefit that may be applied within the game once the locked outcome is made available by use of the unlock code and as part of the promotion;

storing, in a memory of the mobile device, the locked outcome;

receiving, at the mobile device and from the user, the unlock code;

providing access to the locked outcome in response to receipt of the unlocked code; and

providing, in response to an outcome redemption request, the at least one benefit associated with the locked outcome, wherein the benefit, once applied to the game, has an effect on play of the game by the user.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the outcome of the game is stored in a memory of the mobile device prior to the code being received and wherein the method further comprises retrieving the outcome from the memory.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the outcome prior to recognizing the code, wherein the method further comprises accessing the previously stored outcome.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises receiving an input from the user via the input mechanism, the input comprising the code.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein receiving the code comprises receiving a signal from an intermediary via a network via which the mobile device is operable to communicate with the intermediary.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a request to use a previously stored code to access the outcome.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises downloading the outcome over the internet prior to receiving the code.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the outcome comprises an outcome stored in an encrypted form such that the benefit associated with the outcome is not obtainable by the user without an acceptable code being used to access the outcome and thereby allow an enjoyment of the benefit.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, the method further comprising:

facilitating payment by the user, the payment being for the code.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the effect on play of the game comprises at least one of an enhancement of the game, a modification of the game, a conclusion of the game, an increase in the user'"'"'s chances of winning the game, an increase in the user'"'"'s chances of successfully completing the game, continued access to the game or a game piece usable in the game.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

verifying that the user has completed a qualifying activity that is a prerequisite to accessing the outcome and only allowing access to the outcome if it is verified that the user has completed the qualifying activity.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the qualifying activity is watching an advertisement.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises using a GPS detector of the mobile device to detect a location of at least one of the user and the mobile device.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein determining the benefit associated with the outcome comprises determining the benefit based on the location of the mobile device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the payment is processed by an intermediary.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the at least one benefit is revealed to be a first benefit if the unlock code is associated with a first source and the at least one benefit is revealed to be a second, different, benefit if the unlock code is associated with a second source.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the at least one benefit is not made known to the user, and is modifiable by a merchant affiliated with the promotion, until the redemption request is received.