IP Library Granted Patent US 8,202,159
Granted Patent B1
US 8,202,159 · App. 12/778,956 · Granted Jun 19, 2012

Embedding of games into third party websites

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,202,159
App. No.
12/778,956
Granted
Jun 19, 2012
Kind
B1
Abstract

Systems and methods for embedding and tracking revenue from fully operational games into third party websites are disclosed.

Claims (45)

1. A method comprising:

associating, at a game provider system of a game provider, a user of a persistent multiplayer game with an entry point website of an operator distinct from the game provider that has embedded an instance of the persistent multiplayer game into a portion of a web page transmitted to the user and through which the user originally entered the persistent multiplayer game;

during a game session that is initiated via a different website from that of the entry point website of the operator, tracking one or more monetization events associated with purchases of one or more in-game features by the user within the context of the persistent multiplayer game, the game session occurring after a first session in which the user originally entered and joined the persistent multiplayer game; and

allocating, using a processor of a machine, revenue attributable to at least one of the one or more monetization events that occurred during the game session initiated via the different website to the operator of the entry point website.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the game features comprises a virtual object.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the in-game features comprises one or more of a game feature, a game level, a game status, a game access privilege, a game function, and a game tool.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

presenting one or more advertisements to the user within the context of the persistent multi player game; and

allocating revenue attributable to at least one of the one or more advertisements to the operator associated with the entry point website.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the revenue attributable to at least one of the one or more advertisements results from user click-thrus corresponding to the one or more advertisements.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the revenue attributable to at least one of the one or more advertisements results from purchases of goods or services corresponding to user click-thrus corresponding to the one or more advertisements.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising

incorporating one or more branding elements of the operator associated with the entry point website into a user interface of the persistent multiplayer game presented to the user.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the one or more branding elements comprise activatable hyperlink elements operative to cause the user to navigate to an external web site.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising

incorporating one or more branding elements of a third party entity into a user interface of the persistent multiplayer game presented to the user; and

allocating revenue attributable to the incorporating the one or more branding elements of a third party entity to the operator associated with the entry point website.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising

limiting access of the user to the persistent multiplayer game to access through the entry point website.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising registering the user at the game operator system in connection with the original entry of the user into the persistent multiplayer game.

12. A game provider apparatus comprising:

one or more processors;

and a memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors and operative, when executed, to cause the one or more processors to:

host a persistent multiplayer game available to a plurality of users over a network;

associate a first user of a persistent multiplayer game with an entry point website of an operator distinct from a game provider that has embedded an instance of the persistent multiplayer game into a portion of a web page transmitted to the user and through which the user originally entered the persistent multiplayer game;

during a game session that is initiated via a different website from that of the entry point website of the operator, track one or more monetization events associated with purchases of one or more in-game features by the first user within the context of the persistent multiplayer game, the game session occurring after a first session in which the user originally entered and joined the persistent multiplayer game; and

allocate revenue attributable to at least one of the one or more monetization events that occurred during the game session initiated via the different website to the operator of the entry point website.

13. The game provider apparatus of claim 12 wherein at least one of the in-game features comprises a virtual object.

14. The game provider apparatus of claim 12 wherein at least one of the in-game features comprises one or more of a game feature, a game level, a game status, a game access privilege, a game function, and a game tool.

15. The game provider apparatus of claim 12 further comprising instructions operative to cause the one or more processors to:

present one or more advertisements to the user within the context of the persistent multiplayer game; and

allocate revenue attributable to at least one of the one or more advertisement to the operator associated with the entry point website.

16. The game provider apparatus of claim 12 wherein the revenue attributable to at least one of the one or more advertisements results from user click-thrus corresponding to the one or more advertisements.

17. The game provider apparatus of claim 12 wherein the revenue attributable to at least one of the one or more advertisements results from purchases of goods or services corresponding to user click-thrus corresponding to the one or more advertisements.

18. The game provider apparatus of claim 12 further comprising instructions operative to cause the one or more processors to:

incorporate one or more branding elements of the operator associated with the entry point website into a user interface of the persistent multiplayer game presented to the user.

19. The game provider apparatus of claim 18 wherein the one or more branding elements comprise activatable hyperlink elements operative to cause the user to navigate to an external web site.

20. The game provider apparatus of claim 12 further comprising instructions operative to cause the one or more processors to:

incorporate one or more branding elements of a third party entity into a user interface of the persistent multiplayer game presented to the user; and

allocate revenue attributable to the incorporating the one or more branding elements of a third party entity to the operator associated with the entry point website.

21. The game provider apparatus of claim 12 further comprising instructions operative to cause the one or more processors to:

limit access of the user to the persistent multiplayer game to access through the entry point website.

22. The game provider apparatus of claim 12 further comprising instructions operative to cause the one or more processors to:

register the user in connection with the original entry of the user into the persistent multiplayer game.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the tracking occurs without the use of a cookie.

Assignments (6)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded May 23, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 060163/0437 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 14, 2020
From: ZYNGA INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 054719/0490 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 11, 2020
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS LENDER
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 054701/0393 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 21, 2018
From: ZYNGA INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS LENDER
Reel/Frame 049147/0546 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 18, 2011
From: ZYNGA GAME NETWORK INC.
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 026296/0525 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2010
From: OCKO, MATTHEW ADAM; PINCUS, MARK JONATHAN; SINGH, HARSIMRAN; TRAMPEDACH, TIM TERENCE
To: ZYNGA GAME NETWORK, INC.
Reel/Frame 024376/0471 →