IP Library Granted Patent US 8,257,174
Granted Patent B2
US 8,257,174 · App. 13/244,914 · Granted Sep 4, 2012

Embedding of games into third party websites

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,257,174
App. No.
13/244,914
Granted
Sep 4, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

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

Claims (39)

1. A method comprising:

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

tracking, using a processor of the game provider system, a plurality of monetization events during one or more game sessions of the persistent game occurring after a first session in which the user originally entered the persistent game, each of the monetization events being associated with an action performed by the user via an advertisement provided within the persistent game;

based on a monetization event occurring at the website of the operator, calculating compensation for the operator of the website based on the monetization event and allocating the compensation to be allocated to the operator of the website; and

based on the monetization event occurring in a game session of the persistent game that is displayed occurring at a second website different from the website of the operator and based on the advertisement within the persistent game being associated with the operator, calculating compensation to be paid by the operator to a second operator of the second website.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the action performed by the user comprises a purchase of an item.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the item is an in-game feature for the game.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the in-game feature comprises a selection from the group consisting of a virtual object, a game level, a game status, a game access privilege, a game function, and a game tool.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the action performed by the user is a click-through via the advertisement provided within the game.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the compensation is based on a purchase of a good or service as a result of the click-through.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising presenting the advertisement within the game.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the advertisement comprises one of a branding element.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the advertisement comprises a hyperlink element operative to cause a navigation to an external web site.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving revenue from an external site providing the advertisement, the allocating of the compensation comprising allocating a portion of the received revenue to the operator of the website.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether the game is locked;

based on the game being locked, limiting the user to accessing the game through the website of the operator; and

based on the game being unlocked, allowing the user to access the game through a website not associated with the operator.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising registering the user at the game provider system in connection with the website.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising analyzing effectiveness of the game by computing a click-through rate and purchase for various combinations of content including advertisement embedded in the game.

14. A non-transitory machine readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

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

tracking a plurality of monetization events during one or more game sessions after a first session in which the user originally entered the persistent game, each of the monetization events being associated with an action performed by the user via an advertisement embedded within an existing game object of the persistent game;

based on a monetization event occurring at the website of the operator, calculating compensation for the operator of the website based on the monetization event and allocating he compensation to be allocated to the operator of the website; and

based on the monetization event occurring in a game session of the persistent game that is displayed occurring at a second website different from the website of the operator and based on the advertisement within the persistent game being associated with the operator, calculating compensation to be paid by the operator to a second operator of the second website.

15. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the advertisement comprises a hyperlink element operative to cause a navigation to an external web site.

16. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving revenue from an external site providing the advertisement, the allocating the compensation comprising allocating a portion of the received revenue to the operator of the website.

17. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining whether the game is locked;

based on the game being locked, limiting the user to accessing the game through the website of the operator; and

based on the game being unlocked, allowing the user to access the game through a website not associated with the operator.

18. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise analyzing effectiveness of the game by computing a click-through rate and purchase for various combinations of content including advertisement embedded in the game.

19. A system comprising:

at least one processor of a machine; and

a game provider system configured to:

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

track a plurality of monetization events during one or more game sessions of the persistent game after a first session in which the user originally entered the persistent game, each of the monetization events being associated with an action performed by the user via an advertisement embedded within an existing game object of the persistent game;

based on a monetization event occurring at the website of the operator, calculate compensation for the operator of the website based on the monetization event and allocate the compensation to be allocated to the operator of the website based on the monetization event occurring at the website of the operator; and

based on the monetization event occurring in a game session of the persistent game that is displayed at a second website different from the website of the operator and based on the advertisement within the persistent game being associated with the operator, calculate compensation to be paid by the operator to a second operator of the second website based on the monetization event occurring at a second website different from the website of the operator and based on the advertisement being associated with the operator.

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: OCKO, MATTHEW ADAM; PINCUS, MARK JONATHAN; SINGH, HARSIMRAN; TRAMPEDACH, TIM TERENCE
To: ZYNGA GAME NETWORK, INC.
Reel/Frame 047940/0464 →
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 →