Methods and systems for updating in-game content

• US 9,731,202 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2007
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flip Phone Games, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gosub 60, Inc.
• Inventors: Hartwell, Joshua
• Primary Examiner(s): LIAO, HSINCHUN
• Application Number:
  US11/768,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20090007186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,703 Days
• Field of Search: 455 661, 725 62
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/525 Changing parameters of virtual cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5513 involving billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• 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 2300/6009 for importing or creating game content, e.g. authoring tools during game development, adapting content to different platforms, use of a scripting language to create content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 : Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 : adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels

Abstract

Systems and methods for updating content of a mobile video game allow for mobile communication devices to receive updated content for video games that operate on the devices. The updates may be promotional in nature, and may be pre-selected based on the device type, service, or service provider. The game may contain instructions that cause the mobile communication device to contact an interface and/or server to receive updated content. After the updated content is received by the mobile communication device, the content may be displayed in-game. The user of the mobile communication device may be provided with one or more options that affect the frequency or ability to receive or display updated content. In addition, the server may track what content has already been received by the mobile communication device.

Claims

1. A method for providing updated video-game content to a mobile communication device for use in a mobile video game, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for the updated video-game content from the mobile communication device, the updated video-game content being usable in the video game that already exists on the mobile communication device;

checking what updated video-game content to send based on one of the factors including a type of the mobile communication device, a telecom service associated with the mobile communication device, and a service provider of the telecom service; and

uploading updated video-game content to the communications device, the video-game content being usable when the video game operates on the communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated video-game content is promotional content.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of checking whether the communications device should receive the updated video-game content before uploading the updated video-game content to the communications device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sending information to the mobile communication device as part of the updated content, the information providing an in-game placement location associated with the updated video-game content.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of tracking what has been uploaded to the mobile communication device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein uploading updated video-game content to the mobile communication device further comprises displaying the video-game content within the game at a location based on user interaction.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the video-game content is displayed in the video game for a predetermined period of time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the video-game content is selected based on the location of the mobile communication device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the video-game content is selected based on user information specific to a user of the mobile communication device.