System and method for advertising distribution through mobile social gaming
A system and method is disclosed for advertising through a social network by immersion of participants in a sponsored mobile game. A game application for the sponsored game is developed on a server and deployed on consumer devices connected to the server. The game application, operating on a smart phone, utilizes onboard GPS and camera subsystems to carry out and facilitate the game functions. A dashboard is provided for designing the game around an advertising campaign. The game application is syndicated and shared through a consumer's social media community. The game is tracked by the server. Game information and rewards are delivered to participants during and after the game. In one aspect, the game involves a participant gathering digital permits prior to and during the game which are used to complete a tagging event with other participants. Rewards such as redeemable coupons are based on actions at sponsor locations.
1. A computer-implemented method for an augmented reality game that is hosted by a server and played by a set of players that includes a user operating a consumer device, the method comprising:
receiving, by the server from a global positioning system of the consumer device, a first set of location coordinates and a second set of location coordinates of the consumer device;
generating, by the server, a set of gaming locations based on the first set of location coordinates of the consumer device;
generating, by the server, gaming information about a gaming location of the set of gaming locations;
sending, from the server to the consumer device, the gaming information;
generating, by the server, a set of player locations based on the second set of location coordinates of the consumer device;
sending, from the server to the consumer device, information about a selected player of the set of players;
sending, by the server to the consumer device, a set of augmented reality content;
retrieving a camera image from a camera on the consumer device;
setting a first image screen location on the consumer device;
polling a set of sensors on the consumer device to determine a change in azimuth, a change in roll, a change in pitch, and a change in magnetic field;
translating the first image screen location according to the change in azimuth, the change in roll, the change in pitch, and the change in magnetic field to determine a second image screen location;
displaying the augmented reality content at the second image screen location;
receiving, by the server from the consumer device, a tag event;
generating, by the server, an acknowledgment of the tag event; and,
sending, by the server to the consumer device, an acknowledgment of the tag event.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving, by the server from the consumer device, a request for information about the gaming location of the set of gaming locations after the gaming location is selected by the consumer device.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein generating the gaming information about the gaming location includes:
generating a text description of the selected gaming location;
generating one or more reviews of the selected gaming location;
generating a rating associated with the selected gaming location;
generating contact information of the selected gaming location;
generating gaming statistics; and,
generating an incentive coupon associated with the selected gaming location.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:
receiving, by the server from the consumer device, a request for the information about the selected player based on a selected player location from the set of player locations;
generating, by the server, the information about the selected player;
wherein generating the information about the selected player includes:
generating a name of the selected player;
generating a status of the selected player;
generating a ranking of the selected player;
generating an image of the selected player;
generating a game score of the selected player; and,
generating contact information of the selected player that includes a phone number of the selected player and an email address of the selected player.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:
receiving, by the server from the consumer device, a request for augmented reality content that includes the second set of location coordinates of the consumer device;
comparing the second set of location coordinates to a list of gaming locations to identify the gaming location;
determining that the consumer device is within a predefined radius of the gaming location to identify the gaming location as a current gaming location; and,
generating, by the server, the set of augmented reality content comprising overlay content and perspective content that is displayed by the consumer device.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:
receiving, by the server from the consumer device, a request for selected content based on display of and interaction with the set of augmented reality content;
generating, by the server, a graphic file based on the request for the selected content;
creating, by the server, a link used to activate the selected content; and,
embedding, by the server, the link into the graphic file.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:
sending the graphic file to the consumer device;
receiving, by the server from the consumer device, a link activation request from activation of the link by the consumer device after the graphic file is displayed on the consumer device; and,
updating, by the server, a player account of the user of the consumer device to indicate that the content has been requested.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:
receiving, by the server from the consumer device, a set of facial recognition parameters;
associating, by the server, the set of facial recognition parameters with a player profile of a specific player;
generating, by the server, an updated game profile to indicate that the specific player has been recognized at the game location; and,
sending, by the server to the consumer device, player identification of the specific player.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
recording, by the server, the tag event received from the consumer device; and,
updating, by the server, a set of game information based on the tag event.
10. A system for hosting an augmented reality game between a server and a consumer device, the system comprising:
the consumer device, programmed to store and execute instructions that cause the system to perform operations comprising:
identifying, by a location system the consumer device, location coordinates of the consumer device;
sending, by the consumer device to the server, the location coordinates of the consumer device;
the server, programmed to store and execute instructions that cause the system to perform operations comprising:
receiving, by the server from the consumer device, the location coordinates of the consumer device;
generating, by the server, a set of gaming locations that is based on the location coordinates of the consumer device and includes a gaming location;
generating, by the server, gaming information about ft the gaming location;
sending, from the server to the consumer device, the gaming information;
generating, by the server, a set of player locations that is based on the location coordinates of the consumer device and includes a selected player;
sending, from the server to the consumer device, information about ft the selected player;
sending, by the server to the consumer device, a set of augmented reality content;
retrieving a camera image from a camera on the consumer device;
setting a first image screen location on the consumer device;
polling a set of sensors on the consumer device to determine a change in azimuth, a change in roll, a change in pitch, and a change in magnetic field;
translating the first image screen location according to the change in azimuth, the change in roll, the change in pitch, and the change in magnetic field to determine a second image screen location;
displaying the augmented reality content at the second image screen location;
receiving, by the server from the consumer device, tag event information that includes a tag event comprising a tag type, a location, and a time;
generating, by the server, an acknowledgment of the tag event;
sending, by the server to the consumer device, the acknowledgment; and,
the consumer device further programmed to display the acknowledgment.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions cause the system to perform operations further comprising:
receiving, by the server from the consumer device, a request for information about the gaming location of the set of gaming locations after the gaming location is selected by the consumer device.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein generating the gaming information about the gaming location includes:
generating a text description of the selected gaming location;
generating one or more reviews of the selected gaming location;
generating a rating associated with the selected gaming location;
generating contact information including an address, a phone number, a website, and an email address of the selected gaming location;
generating gaming statistics; and,
generating an incentive coupon associated with the selected gaming location.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions cause the system to perform operations further comprising:
receiving, by the server from the consumer device, a request for the information about the selected player based on a selected player location from the set of player locations;
generating, by the server, the information about the selected player;
wherein generating the information about the selected player includes:
generating a name of the selected player;
generating a status of the selected player;
generating a ranking of the selected player;
generating an image of the selected player;
generating a game score of the selected player; and,
generating contact information of the selected player that includes a phone number of the selected player and an email address of the selected player.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the instructions cause the system to perform operations further comprising:
receiving, by the server from the consumer device, a request for augmented reality content that includes the second location coordinates of the consumer device;
comparing the second location coordinates to a list of gaming locations to identify the gaming location;
determining that the consumer device is within a predefined radius of the gaming location to identify the gaming location as a current gaming location; and,
generating, by the server, the set of augmented reality content comprising overlay content and perspective content that is displayed by the consumer device.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the instructions cause the system to perform operations further comprising:
receiving, by the server from the consumer device, a request for selected content based on display of and interaction with the set of augmented reality content;
generating, by the server, a graphic file based on the request for the selected content;
creating, by the server, a link used to activate the selected content; and,
embedding, by the server, the link into the graphic file.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the instructions cause the system to perform operations further comprising:
sending the graphic file to the consumer device;
receiving, by the server from the consumer device, a link activation request from activation of the link by the consumer device after the graphic file is displayed on the consumer device; and,
updating, by the server, a player account of the user of the consumer device to indicate that the content has been requested.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the instructions cause the system to perform operations further comprising:
receiving, by the server from the consumer device, a set of facial recognition parameters;
associating, by the server, the set of facial recognition parameters with a player profile of a specific player;
generating, by the server, an updated game profile to indicate that the specific player has been recognized at the game location; and,
sending, by the server to the consumer device, player identification of the specific player.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the instructions cause the system to perform operations further comprising:
recording, by the server, the tag event received from the consumer device; and,
updating, by the server, a set of game information based on the tag event.