Tracking career progression based on user activities

• US 8,535,149 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2010
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ziegler, Bonnie Ross, O'Connor, Francis, Wolfkill, Kiki, Wickham, Rich, Zucotti, Thomas, Veevaert, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US12/820,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20110312398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 463 40- 43, 463/16, 463/29
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/558 by assessing the players' skills or ranking

Abstract

A method for generating career progression information for a user participating in one or more activities in a processing device is disclosed. User progress in the activities is tracked. The activities include game activities and non-game activities. Achievement scores for the user based on the game activities and the non-game activities are determined The achievement scores are aggregated across the game activities and the non-game activities to generate an aggregated career score for the user. Career progression information is generated for the user, based on the aggregated career score.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for generating career progression information for a user participating in one or more activities in a processing device, the method comprising:

providing one or more activities for a user in a processing device, wherein the activities comprise at least one of both one or more game activities and one or more non-game activities;

tracking user progress in one or more of the game activities and the non-game activities;

determining one or more achievement scores for the user based on the one or more game activities and the one or more non-game activities;

aggregating the one or more achievement scores across one or more of the game activities and one or more of the non-game activities to generate an aggregated career score for the user; and

generating career progression information for the user, based on the aggregated career score.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising assigning a career milestone for the user based on the aggregated career score, wherein the career milestone is representative of a numeric achievement level of user progress across one or more of the game activities and one or more of the non-game activities.

3. The method of claim 2 comprising providing a career award for the user based on the career milestone, wherein the career award is representative of user accomplishment of a specific group of career milestones related to a specific subject shared by one or more of the game activities and one or more of the non-game activities.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the career award is associated with a career tier, and wherein the career tier is representative of user accomplishment of a specific number of career milestones related to one or more of the game activities and the non-game activities.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the career progression information includes at least one of the one or more achievement scores, the aggregated career score, a career milestone and a career award associated with a user participating in one or more of the game activities and the non-game activities.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising generating group career progression information for one or more users in one or more processing devices.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the game activities comprise one or more game applications.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-game activities comprise at least one of online transaction activities, book activities, news and event activities, movie activities and group interaction activities.

9. The method of claim 1 comprising displaying the career progression information via a user interface in the processing device to the user.

10. The method of claim 1 comprising displaying the game activities and the non-game activities via a user interface in the processing device to the user.

11. A system for providing career progression information for a plurality of users comprising:

a multiplayer gaming service in communication with a plurality of processing devices, wherein the multiplayer gaming service comprises a;

a user activity service for providing a plurality of users in the plurality of processing devices with one or more activities, wherein the activities include one or more game activities and one or more non-game activities;

a game activity tracking service for tracking user progress in one or more of the game activities;

a non-game activity tracking service for tracking user progress in one or more of the non-game activities;

a career progression service, wherein the career progression service interacts with at least one or more of the user activity service, the game activity tracking service and the non-game activity tracking service to generate an aggregated career score for the plurality of users based on one or more of the game activities and one or more of the non-game activities; and

the career progression service, wherein the career progression service interacts with at least one or more of the user activity service, the game activity tracking service and the non-game activity tracking service to generate career progression information for the plurality of users participating in one or more of the activities in the plurality of processing devices based on the aggregated career score for the plurality of users.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the game activity tracking service determines an achievement score related to one or more of the game activities for the plurality of users.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the non-game activity tracking service determines an achievement score related to one or more of the non- game activities for the plurality of users.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the aggregated career score is generated based on aggregating one or more achievement scores across one or more of the game activities and across one or more of the non-game activities for the plurality of users.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the career progression service assigns a career milestone for the plurality of users based on the aggregated career score.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the career progression service provides a career award for the plurality of users based on the career milestone.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the career progression service generates the career progression information for the plurality of users based on at least one of the achievement scores, the aggregated career score, the career milestone and the career award.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the game activities comprise one or more game applications and wherein the non-game activities comprise at least one of online transaction activities, book activities, news and event activities, movie activities and group interaction activities.

19. A computer readable medium comprising instructions for directing a processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving a selection of one or more activities by a user on a processing device, wherein the activities comprise one or more game activities and one or more non-game activities;

tracking user progress in one or more of the game activities and in one or more of the non-game activities to determine one or more achievement scores for the user;

aggregating the one or more achievement scores across one or more of the game activities and across one or more of the non-game activities to generate an aggregated career score for the user; and

providing career progression information for the user based on at least one or more of the achievement scores, the aggregated career score, a career milestone and a career award related to the user.