Challenge search query game

• US 8,814,643 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2010
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Munsell, Parrish, Hoppe, David, Parker, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): GALKA, LAWRENCE STEFAN
• Application Number:
  US12/913,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20120108306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• Field of Search: 463/9, 705/14.4
• US Class Current: 463/9
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/88 Mini-games executed independently while main games are being loaded
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/209 characterized by low level software layer, relating to hardware management, e.g. Operating System, Application Programming Interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• 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 2300/8064 Quiz
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to challenge search query game systems and methods wherein search queries are integrated into game play activities. In one example approach, a challenge search query game system may include a search server configured to receive a challenge query from a game program in response to an in-game action by a game player, and retrieve a challenge in response to the challenge query. The challenge may include one or more clues and a solution. The search server may further be configured to send the challenge to the game program for display in the game, causing the game program to store the challenge and present a first clue from the one or more clues to the game player.

Claims

1. A challenge search query game system, comprising:

a search server computing device configured to;

receive a challenge query from a game program in response to an in-game action by a game player;

retrieve a challenge in response to the challenge query, the challenge including one or more clues and a solution;

send the challenge to the game program for display in the game, causing the game program to store the challenge and present a first clue from the one or more clues to the game player;

receive a search query from the game program in response to providing the first clue to the game player, the search query based on one or more keywords input by the game player;

provide search results based on the search query to the game program;

determine if the one or more keywords match the solution to the challenge; and

if the one or more keywords match the solution to the challenge;

provide search results, sponsored links, and a solution notification embedded in the search results to the game program;

send a message to the game program to perform a predefined action in response to the game player selecting the solution notification; and

in response to the game player selecting a sponsored link, generate and share revenue with a game publisher of the game.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the predefined action includes an in-game reward in a game published by the game publisher.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the search server computing device is further configured to:

if the one or more keywords do not match the solution to the challenge;

provide search results, sponsored links, and a second clue to the game program, where the second clue is different from the first clue.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the in-game action is a selection of a mini-game selector in a game published by the game publisher.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the challenge query includes game player profile information.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the challenge is based on at least one of game player profile information and search trend data stored on the search server computing device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the search server computing device is further configured to return the game player to the game in response to the game player selecting the solution notification.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the challenge is based on at least one database search on the search server computing device, the database including search trend data, wherein the search trend data is computed by the search server computing device substantially in real time.

9. A challenge search query game system, comprising:

a search server computing system configured to execute an application programming interface (API), the API being configured to;

receive a challenge query from a game program in response to a selection by a game player of a mini-game selector in a game published by a game publisher, the challenge query including game player profile information;

retrieve a challenge in response to the challenge query, the challenge including one or more clues and a solution, the challenge based on at least one of game player profile information and search trend data stored on the search server computing system;

send the challenge to the game program for display in the game, causing the game program to store the challenge and present a first clue from the one or more clues to the game player;

receive a search query from the game program in response to providing the first clue to the game player, the search query based on one or more keywords input by the game player;

cause the search server computing system to determine if the one or more keywords match the solution to the challenge;

if the one or more keywords match the solution to the challenge;

provide search results, sponsored links, and a solution notification embedded in the search results to the game program; and

in response to the game player selecting the solution notification, send a message to the game program to return the game player to the game and provide an in-game reward in the game;

if the one or more keywords do not match the solution to the challenge;

provide search results and sponsored links; and

in response to an action by the game player, present a second clue to the game program, where the second clue is different from the first clue; and

in response to the game player selecting a sponsored link, generate and share revenue with the game publisher of the game.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the game player profile information includes geographic location information derived from a reverse IP lookup.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the game player profile information includes player search history and does not include personally identifiable information unless the player opts-in to share personally identifiable information with the search server computing system.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein each sponsored link is provided by an advertiser, where the advertiser specifies at least one search tag and selects a network where the sponsored link is displayed.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the challenge is based on at least one database search on the search server computing system, the database including search trend data, wherein the search trend data is computed by the search server computing system substantially in real time.

14. A method for integrating search into a game published by a game publisher on a computing device, comprising:

on a search server computing device;

receiving a challenge query from a game program in response to a selection of a mini-game selector in a game published by the game publisher;

retrieving a challenge in response to the challenge query, the challenge including one or more clues and a solution; and

sending the challenge to the game program for display in the game, causing the game program to store the challenge and present a first clue from the one or more clues to the game player;

receiving a search query from the game program in response to providing the first clue to the game player, the search query based on one or more keywords input by the game player;

providing search results based on the search query to the game program;

determining if the one or more keywords match the solution to the challenge; and

if the one or more keywords match the solution to the challenge;

providing search results, sponsored links, and a solution notification embedded in the search results to the game program; and

sending a message to the game program to perform a predefined action in response to the game player selecting the solution notification; and

in response to the game player selecting a sponsored link, generating and sharing revenue with the game publisher of the game.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

if the one or more keywords do not match the solution to the challenge;

providing search results, sponsored links, and a second clue to the game program, where the second clue is different from the first clue.