On-line game playing with advertising

• US 6,196,920 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1998
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Masque Publishing, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Masque Publishing, Inc.
• Inventors: Wisler, James M., Spaur, Charles W., Lappin, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Young, Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trinh, Minh
• Application Number:
  US09/052,886
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42, 463/41, 463/40, 463/1, 463/11, 463/12, 463/13, 463/26, 463/27, 273/236, 273/237
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/22 with advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

The playing of games with advertising over a network, such as the Internet, is provided. The system for on-line game playing and advertising includes one or more client machines, game servers with advertisement servers, together with at least one database server. One advertisement is displayed using the client machine immediately after a validated detection of the completion of the game is made by the game server. This advertisement is displayed using the client machine for at least a predetermined time interval during which the player is not provided with control for removing the advertisement. Another advertisement is displayed using the client machine at the time the game is being played using game elements, such as card backs and banners. Advertising data is stored related to each displayed advertisement including the identity of the advertisement, when the advertisement was displayed, and the reaction to the advertisement by each player playing the on-line game utilizing a client machine.

Claims

1. A system for advertising while on-line games are being played, comprising:

a plurality of client machines including at least a first client machine, said first client machine storing executable game software for playing at least a first on-line game that includes at least one of a first card game and a first board game having a first set of game elements including at least a first game element associated with playing said first on-line game, said game software being provided with at least first advertising information and associating said first advertising information with at least said first game element, said game software executing on said first client machine and controlling said first advertising information to be located within said first game element including controlling movement of said first advertising information with said first game element when said first game element moves as part of playing said first on-line game;

a central subsystem for providing said first advertising information to said first client machine and for monitoring playing of said first on-line game including monitoring to determine when said first on-line game is finished; and

a communications network that enables said central subsystem to communicate with said plurality of client machines including said first client machine.

2. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first advertising information is requested by said game software from said central subsystem.

3. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said central subsystem includes a database server for storing advertising related information and the system further includes a database controller for inputting advertisement data to said database server related to a plurality of advertisements.

4. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said central subsystem includes an advertisement server for sending advertising information including said first advertising information to said first client machine and for receiving requests for advertising information from said plurality of client machines including said first client machine.

5. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first game element includes one of the following;

a playing card, a money chip, background environment for said first on-line game, a game board area, a game board playing piece, and an action figure.

6. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

immediately after said first on-line game is finished, said first client machine displays second advertising information with player results of said first on-line game.

7. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of client machines includes a second client machine used by a second player to play said first on-line game and in which second advertising information is displayed on each of said first and second client machines, with said second advertising information being displayed on said first client machine for a greater time than said first advertising information is displayed on said second client machine.

8. A system, as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said central subsystem includes a game server used in said monitoring and also includes an advertisement server used in responding to said request from said first client machine related to said first advertising information.

9. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said central subsystem also correlates control information that associates said first advertising information with said first game element.

10. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said game software is downloaded by said central subsystem to said first client machine.

11. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first game element is caused to move using said game software during playing of said first on-line game and said first advertising information moves therewith.