Extrinsic incentivized scaffolding in computer games via advertising responsive to intrinsic game events

• US 10,740,777 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 08/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tapjoy, Inc. (Unity Software, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tapjoy, Inc. (Unity Software, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brown, Hans-Frederick, Mihelic-Booth, Shane
• Primary Examiner(s): Baggot, Breffni
• Application Number:
  US13/802,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20140278853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,708 Days
• Field of Search: 705 1412
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game

Abstract

In an embodiment, a data processing method comprises receiving, by a mobile app, incentive data comprising one or more app event types, wherein each app event type is associated with an incentive frequency value and a reward type; detecting an occurrence of an app event of the mobile app, wherein the app event is associated with a particular app event type of the one or more app event types; determining, based on the incentive frequency value for the particular app event type, whether to generate a scaffolding event comprising displaying an advertisement and providing a reward of the reward type associated with the particular app event type; displaying the advertisement and providing the reward; wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

Claims

1. A data processing method comprising:

using a programmed digital electronic mobile computing device requesting, by a mobile app executing on the mobile device, incentive data from an app server and receiving the incentive data;

wherein the incentive data comprises first incentive data associating a first app event type with a first incentive frequency value and a first reward type and second incentive data associating a second app event type with a second incentive frequency value and a second reward type, wherein the first app event type is different from the second app event type, and wherein the first reward type is different from the second reward type;

wherein the first incentive frequency value and the second incentive frequency value each indicates a ratio of scaffolding events to a number of occurrences of app events of the associated app event type;

wherein rewards of the first reward type and rewards of the second reward type are related to app events of the associated app event type;

detecting, by an app event logic of the mobile device, an occurrence of a particular app event of the mobile app, wherein the particular app event is associated with the first event type;

determining, by the mobile device based on the incentive data, that the particular app event is an incentivized app event;

determining, by the mobile device based on the first incentive frequency value, whether to generate a scaffolding event, wherein the scaffolding event comprises displaying an advertisement using a display of the mobile device and providing a reward of the first reward type, and wherein the scaffolding event is an event that occurs within the mobile app during execution using the mobile device;

in response to determining that the scaffolding event should be generated, using the mobile device displaying, on the mobile device, the advertisement and providing the reward.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to generate the scaffolding event further comprises determining (a) a number of occurrences of app events of the particular app event type, and (b) a number of scaffolding events generated in response to an occurrence of an app event of the particular app event type.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining a historical scaffolding event frequency value based on a ratio of (a) the number of occurrences of app events of the particular app event type and (b) the number of scaffolding events generated in response to an occurrence of an app event of the particular app event type;

wherein determining whether to generate a scaffolding event further comprises determining that the incentive frequency value exceeds the historical scaffolding event frequency value.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the number of occurrences of app events of the particular app event type is based on one of:

a current session of the mobile app, a plurality of sessions of the mobile app.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile app is a game app, and wherein each of the plurality of app event types represents a gameplay related event.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein one or more of the one or more app event types comprises one of a game currency punishment event, a game life punishment event, a game termination event, a game level setback event, a custom game event.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the reward is associated with the game app and comprises one or more of:

an increase of in-game currency or in-game energy, an increase of available in-game lives, advancing a user of the mobile app to a particular in-game level, granting the user an in-game item, or a custom reward.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining to generate a scaffolding event, sending a request to an advertisement server for an advertising unit comprising a particular ad;

determining whether a user of the mobile app interacts with the particular ad;

in response to determining that the user interacts with the particular ad, providing the reward.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending, to a server, a message comprising identifiers of one or more of the mobile app, a user of the mobile app, or the particular app event type.

10. A data processing method comprising:

using a programmed digital electronic mobile computing device requesting, by a game app executing on the mobile device, incentive data from an app server and receiving the incentive data;

wherein the incentive data comprises first incentive data associating a first adverse gameplay event type with a first incentive frequency value and a first game reward type and second incentive data associating a second adverse gameplay event type with a second incentive frequency value and a second game reward type, wherein the first adverse gameplay event type is different from the second adverse gameplay event type, and wherein the first game reward type is different from the second game reward type;

wherein the first incentive frequency value and the second incentive frequency value each indicates a ratio of scaffolding events to a number of occurrences of adverse gameplay events of the associated adverse gameplay event type;

wherein rewards of the first game reward type and rewards of the second reward type are related to adverse gameplay events of the associated gameplay event type;

using app event logic of the mobile device, detecting an occurrence of a particular gameplay event of the game app, wherein the particular gameplay event is associated with the first adverse gameplay event type;

determining, by the mobile device based on the incentive data, that the particular adverse gameplay event is an incentivized adverse gameplay event;

determining, by the mobile device based on the first incentive frequency value, whether to generate a scaffolding event, wherein the scaffolding event comprises displaying an advertisement using a display of the mobile device and providing a game reward of the first game reward type, and wherein the scaffolding event is an event that occurs within the game app during execution using the mobile device;

in response to determining that the scaffolding event should be generated, using the mobile device displaying, on the mobile device, the advertisement and providing the game reward.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein one or more of the one or more adverse gameplay event types comprises one of a game currency punishment event, a game life punishment event, a game termination event, a game level setback event, a custom game event.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the game reward comprises one or more of:

an increase of in-game currency or in-game energy, an increase of available in-game lives, advancing a user of the game app to a particular in-game level, granting the user an in-game item, or a custom game reward.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

in response to determining to generate a scaffolding event, sending a request to an advertisement server for an advertising unit comprising a particular ad;

determining whether a user of the mobile app interacts with the particular ad;

in response to determining that the user interacts with the particular ad, providing the game reward.

14. A data processing method comprising:

using an app server receiving, from the mobile device, a message indicating an occurrence of a gameplay event of a game app executing on the mobile device, wherein the gameplay event is associated with a particular adverse gameplay event type of one or more adverse gameplay event types;

retrieving, by an app event logic of the app server, incentive data associated with the one or more adverse gameplay event types, wherein the incentive data indicates, for each of the one or more adverse gameplay event types, an incentive frequency value and a game reward type, wherein game rewards of the game reward type are related to adverse gameplay events of the adverse gameplay event type, wherein the incentive frequency value indicates a ratio of scaffolding events to a number of occurrences of adverse gameplay events of the associated adverse gameplay event type;

determining, by the app server based on the incentive data, that the particular adverse gameplay event is an incentivized adverse gameplay event;

determining, by the app server, based on the incentive frequency value associated with the particular adverse gameplay event type, whether to cause the mobile device to generate a scaffolding event, wherein the scaffolding event comprises displaying an advertisement and providing a game reward of the game reward type associated with the particular adverse gameplay event and wherein the scaffolding event is an event that occurs within the game app during execution using the mobile device;

in response to determining that the scaffolding event should be generated, using the app server, causing the mobile device to display the advertisement and to provide the game reward.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or more sequences of instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

using a programmed digital electronic mobile computing device requesting, by a mobile app executing on the mobile device, incentive data from an app server and receiving the incentive data;

wherein the incentive data comprises first incentive data associating a first app event type with a first incentive frequency value and a first reward type and second incentive data associating a second app event type with a second incentive frequency value and a second reward type, wherein the first app event type is different from the second app event type, and wherein the first reward type is different from the second reward type;

wherein the first incentive frequency value and the second incentive frequency value each indicates a ratio of scaffolding events to a number of occurrences of app events of the associated app event type;

wherein rewards of the first reward type and rewards of the second reward type are related to app events of the associated app event type;

detecting, by an app event logic of the mobile device, an occurrence of a particular app event of the mobile app, wherein the particular app event is associated with the first event type;

determining, by the mobile device based on the incentive data, that the particular app event is an incentivized app event;

determining, by the mobile device based on the first incentive frequency value, whether to generate a scaffolding event, wherein the scaffolding event comprises displaying an advertisement using a display of the mobile device and providing a reward of the first reward type, and wherein the scaffolding event is an event that occurs within the mobile app during execution using the mobile device;

in response to determining that the scaffolding event should be generated, using the mobile device displaying, on the mobile device, the advertisement and providing the reward.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein determining whether to generate the scaffolding event further comprises determining (a) a number of occurrences of app events of the particular app event type, and (b) a number of scaffolding events generated in response to an occurrence of an app event of the particular app event type.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the one or more instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform:

determining a historical scaffolding event frequency value based on a ratio of (a) the number of occurrences of app events of the particular app event type and (b) the number of scaffolding events generated in response to an occurrence of an app event of the particular app event type;

wherein determining whether to generate a scaffolding event further comprises determining that the incentive frequency value exceeds the historical scaffolding event frequency value.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the number of occurrences of app events of the particular app event type is based on one of:

a current session of the mobile app, a plurality of sessions of the mobile app.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the mobile app is a game app, and wherein each of the plurality of app event types represents a gameplay related event.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein one or more of the one or more app event types comprises one of a game currency punishment event, a game life punishment event, a game termination event, a game level setback event, a custom game event.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the reward is associated with the game app and comprises one or more of:

an increase of in-game currency or in-game energy, an increase of available in-game lives, advancing a user of the mobile app to a particular in-game level, granting the user an in-game item, or a custom reward.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform:

in response to determining to generate a scaffolding event, sending a request to an advertisement server for an advertising unit comprising a particular ad;

determining whether a user of the mobile app interacts with the particular ad;

in response to determining that the user interacts with the particular ad, providing the reward.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform sending, to a server, a message comprising identifiers of one or more of the mobile app, a user of the mobile app, or the particular app event type.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or more sequences of instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

using a programmed digital electronic mobile computing device requesting, by a game app executing on the mobile device, incentive data from an app server and receiving the incentive data;

wherein the incentive data comprises first incentive data associating a first adverse gameplay event type with a first incentive frequency value and a first game reward type and second incentive data associating a second adverse gameplay event type with a second incentive frequency value and a second game reward type, wherein the first adverse gameplay event type is different from the second adverse gameplay event type, and wherein the first game reward type is different from the second game reward type;

wherein the first incentive frequency value and the second incentive frequency value each indicates a ratio of scaffolding events to a number of occurrences of adverse gameplay events of the associated adverse gameplay event type;

wherein rewards of the first game reward type and rewards of the second reward type are related to adverse gameplay events of the associated gameplay event type;

detecting, by an app event logic of the mobile device, an occurrence of a particular gameplay event of the game app, wherein the particular gameplay event is associated with the first adverse gameplay event type;

determining, by the mobile device based on the incentive data, that the particular adverse gameplay event is an incentivized adverse gameplay event;

determining, by the mobile device based on the first incentive frequency value value, whether to generate a scaffolding event, wherein the scaffolding event comprises displaying an advertisement using a display of the mobile device and providing a game reward of the first game reward type, and wherein the scaffolding event is an event that occurs within the game app during execution using the mobile device;

in response to determining that the scaffolding event should be generated, using the mobile device displaying, on the mobile device, the advertisement and providing the game reward.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein one or more of the one or more adverse gameplay event types comprises one of a game currency punishment event, a game life punishment event, a game termination event, a game level setback event, a custom game event.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the game reward comprises one or more of:

an increase of in-game currency or in-game energy, an increase of available in-game lives, advancing a user of the game app to a particular in-game level, granting the user an in-game item, or a custom game reward.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the one or more instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform:

in response to determining to generate a scaffolding event, sending a request to an advertisement server for an advertising unit comprising a particular ad;

determining whether a user of the mobile app interacts with the particular ad;

in response to determining that the user interacts with the particular ad, providing the game reward.

28. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or more sequences of instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

using an app server receiving, from the mobile device, a message indicating an occurrence of a gameplay event of a game app executing on the mobile device, wherein the gameplay event is associated with a particular adverse gameplay event type of one or more adverse gameplay event types;

retrieving, by an app event logic of the app server, incentive data associated with the one or more adverse gameplay event types, wherein the incentive data indicates, for each of the one or more adverse gameplay event types, an incentive frequency value and a game reward type, wherein game rewards of the game reward type are related to adverse gameplay events of the adverse gameplay event type, wherein the incentive frequency value indicates a ratio of scaffolding events to a number of occurrences of adverse gameplay events of the associated adverse gameplay event type;

determining, by the app server based on the incentive data, that the particular adverse gameplay event is an incentivized adverse gameplay event;

determining, by the app server, based on the incentive frequency value associated with the particular adverse gameplay event type, whether to cause the mobile device to generate a scaffolding event, wherein the scaffolding event comprises displaying an advertisement and providing a game reward of the game reward type associated with the particular adverse gameplay event and wherein the scaffolding event is an event that occurs within the game app during execution using the mobile device;

in response to determining that the scaffolding event should be generated, using the app server, causing the mobile device to display the advertisement and to provide the game reward.