IP Library Granted Patent US 9,220,985
Granted Patent B1
US 9,220,985 · App. 13/174,717 · Granted Dec 29, 2015

Providing virtual items based on location-based actions

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,220,985
App. No.
13/174,717
Granted
Dec 29, 2015
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method of providing virtual items based on location-based action is disclosed. An indication is received of a performance of a location-based action by a player of a computer-implemented game. A virtual item is provided based on the receiving of the indication of the performance of the location-based action by the player of the computer-implemented game. The virtual item may be usable within the computer-implemented game.

Claims (28)

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of a performance of a location-based action by a player of a computer-implemented game executing on a game networking system, the location-based action including an attending of a live entertainment event by the player; and

providing a virtual item based on the receiving of the indication of the performance of the location-based action by the player of the computer-implemented game, the virtual item comprising one of a set of limited-edition virtual items to be provided exclusively to players of the computer-implemented game attending the live entertainment event, the virtual item being usable within the computer-implemented game, one or more modules incorporated into the game networking system to configure the game networking system to perform the receiving and providing, the one or modules implemented by one or more processors of the game networking system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual item is unique to a location of the location-based action.

3. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising providing the player with an incentive reward based on the player collecting each of the set of limited-edition virtual items.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the virtual item is a composite virtual item and each of the set of limited-edition virtual items corresponds to an element of the composite virtual item.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising notifying the player that the virtual item is to be provided to the player based on the receiving of the indication of the performance of the location-based action by the player, the notifying including keeping a portion of information about the virtual item from the player and the providing of the virtual item includes revealing the portion of the information about the virtual item to the player.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual item is of a type that is capable of being consumed within the computer-implemented game and the providing of the virtual item is based on an additional virtual item of the type having been consumed within the computer-implemented game.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising associating the location-based action with an in-game action and wherein the virtual item relates to a performance of the in-game action.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein:

the location-based action is scanning a product code of a real-world item; and

the virtual item corresponds to the real-world item.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting an additional location-based action by the player and wherein the providing of the virtual item is based on a location of the location-based action and a location of the additional location-based action.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the virtual item reflects a path of travel between the location and the location of the additional location-based action.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the live entertainment event is a concert.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the virtual item represents a combination of the location and performer of the concert.

13. A system comprising:

one or modules implemented by one or more computer processors of a game networking system, the one or more modules incorporated into the game networking system to configure the game networking system to, at least:

receive an indication of a performance of a location-based action by a player of a computer-implemented game executing on the game networking system, the location-based action including an attending of a live entertainment event by the player; and

provide a virtual item based on the receiving of the indication of the performance of the location-based action by the player of the computer-implemented game, the virtual item comprising a limited-edition virtual item provided exclusively to the player attending the live entertainment event, the virtual item being usable within the computer-implemented game.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the virtual item is unique to a location of the location-based action.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the virtual item is one of a set of virtual items and the method further comprises providing the player with an incentive reward based on the player collecting each of the set of virtual items.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the virtual item is a composite virtual item and each of the set of virtual items corresponds to an element of the composite virtual item.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a set of instructions that, when incorporated into a game networking system as one or more modules implemented by at least one processor of the game networking system, cause the at least one processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving an indication of a performance of a location-based action by a player of a computer-implemented game executing on the game networking system, the location-based action including an attending of live entertainment event by the player; and

providing a virtual item based on the receiving of the indication of the performance of the location-based action by the player of the computer-implemented game, the virtual item comprising one of a set of limited-edition virtual items to be provided exclusively to players of the computer-implemented game attending the live entertainment event, the virtual item being usable within the computer-implemented game.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , the operations further comprising notifying the player that the virtual item is to be provided to the player based on the receiving of the indication of the performance of the location-based action by the player, the notifying including keeping a portion of information about the virtual item from the player and the providing of the virtual item includes revealing the portion of the information about the virtual item to the player.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the virtual item is virtual item of a type that is capable of being consumed within the computer-implemented game and the providing of the virtual item is based on an additional virtual item of the type having been consumed within the computer-implemented game.

Assignments (5)
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 Apr 17, 2014
From: AUTERIO, KATHLEEN; ERSEVER, DENIZ; ETTER, NATHAN ARTHUR; KHESKANI, HARDIK; LAM, SERENA; MAHAJAN, AMITT; MAKARSKY, CHRISTOPHER JOSEPH; MONAHAN, JAY; MOSITES, DONALD C; MULLIN, BENJAMIN; OCKO, MATTHEW ADAM; REYNOLDS, BRIAN; TALAPATRA, SHANTANU; WALDRON, JUSTIN; WANG, IAN; WANG, JACKSON
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 032698/0908 →