IP Library Granted Patent US 8,449,385
Granted Patent B2
US 8,449,385 · App. 13/244,803 · Granted May 28, 2013

Online game rewards for online purchases

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,449,385
App. No.
13/244,803
Granted
May 28, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example systems and methods related to providing rewards for an online game in response to online purchases are presented. In an example, an identifier of a user related to a proposed online purchase at an online merchant system and an identification of the proposed online purchase are received at the online gaming system. An in-game reward is determined based at least in part on the identification of the proposed online purchase. An identity of the in-game reward is transmitted for presentation to the user. A verification of the user completing the proposed online purchase is received. The in-game reward is provided in the online gaming system for the user in response to the verification.

Claims (34)

1. A method comprising:

receiving at an online gaming system an identifier of a user related to a proposed online purchase at an online merchant system, and an identification of the proposed online purchase, the user being a player of at least one game provided by the online gaming system;

determining, using at least one processor, an in-game reward based at least in part on the identification of the proposed online purchase and at least one of frequency of play, duration of play, and play preferences associated with the user for the at least one game;

transmitting information identifying the in-game reward for presentation to the user;

receiving a verification of completion of the proposed online purchase; and

providing the in-game reward in the online gaming system for the user in response to the verification.

2. The method of claim 1 , the identifier of the user being received from the online merchant system.

3. The method of claim 1 , the identifier of the user being received from a client system of the user.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving details describing a product that is a subject of the proposed online purchase, the determining of the in-game reward being based at least in part on the details describing the product.

5. The method of claim 4 , the details describing the product comprising at least one of catalog keywords, a product type, and a product price.

6. The method of claim 1 , the determining of the in-game reward being based at least in part on game account information of the user maintained in the online gaming system.

7. The method of claim 6 , the online gaming system offering multiple games, the in-game reward for at least one of the games that the user does not play.

8. The method of claim 6 , the online gaming system offering multiple games, the user being a player on two or more of the multiple games, the in-game reward being for at least one of the two or more games.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising presenting an in-game reward for each of the two or more games, from which the user is to select a single one of the in-game rewards.

10. The method of claim 1 , the determining of the in-game reward being based at least in part on an elapsed amount of time until the user completes the proposed online purchase.

11. The method of claim 1 , the providing of the in-game reward comprising offering the in-game reward to the user for a limited period of time.

12. The method of claim 1 , the providing of the in-game reward occurring according to a predetermined probability.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising revealing the in-game reward to the user based on the user completing the proposed online purchase.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising revealing the in-game reward to the user based on the user playing the game corresponding to the in-game reward on the online gaming system.

15. An online gaming system configured to:

receive at an online gaming system an identifier of a user related to a proposed online purchase at an online merchant system, and an identification of the proposed online purchase, the user being a player of at least one game provided by the online gaming system;

determining an in-game reward based at least in part on the identification of the proposed online purchase and at least one of frequency of play, duration of play, and play preferences associated with the user for the at least one game;

transmitting information identifying the in-game reward for presentation to the user;

receiving a verification of completion of the proposed online purchase; and

providing the in-game reward in the online gaming system for the user in response to the verification.

16. The online gaming system of claim 15 , the identifier of the user being received from the online merchant system.

17. The online gaming system of claim 15 , the identifier of the user being received from a client system of the user.

18. An online merchant system configured to:

transmit to a client system of a user information regarding a proposed online purchase for the user;

retrieve an identifier of the user;

transmit the identifier of the user and an identification of the proposed online purchase to an online gaming system to facilitate a determination of an in-game reward in the online gaming system for the user, the user being a player of at least one game provided by the online gaming system, the determination of the in-game reward being based at least in part on the identification of the proposed online purchase and at least one of frequency of play, duration of play, and play preferences associated with the user for the at least one game;

receive an acceptance of the proposed online purchase from the client system of the user; and

transmit an indication of the acceptance to the online gaming system to activate the in-game reward for the user.

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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 9, 2019
From: MOSITES, DONALD C.; WALDRON, JUSTIN; TALAPATRA, SHANTANU
To: ZYNGA GAME NETWORK, INC.
Reel/Frame 047944/0161 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 9, 2019
From: ZYNGA GAME NETWORK INC.
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 048041/0480 →
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 →