Method and apparatus for providing off-line purchases in a computer implemented game

1. A method for providing a computer implemented game in a user device, the user device comprising at least one processor, a user interface and a display, the method comprising:

receiving from a server an indication, said indication having a first value if off-line purchases are permitted when said user device is off-line, and a second value if off-line purchases are not permitted, the method further comprising receiving from the server a locally available in-game budget;

receiving from the user interface, an input from a user requesting a purchase of an in-game item having an associated value;

in response to said input requesting the purchase of the in-game item, determining if the user-device is off-line;

on determining that said user device is off-line and that the indication has the first value, determining, in dependence on the locally available in-game budget, if the in-game item can be purchased and if so providing the in-game item in the computer implemented game; and

subsequently determining that said user device is online and sending to a server information about the purchase of the in-game item when the user device was off-line to update a master budget stored at said server.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising storing information on said purchased in-game item for providing to a server when the user device is on-line.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising in response to receiving said input requesting the purchase of the in-game item, providing a message for transmission from the user device with information about the requested in-game purchase.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 , comprising setting a timer when the message is provided.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said determining if the user device is off-line comprises setting a timer when said message is provided and determining that said user device is off-line if a response to the message is not received within a time period, the timer being set to the time period.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein on determining that said user device is not off-line, sending a request to a server requesting the purchase of the in-game item; receiving a response from said server and in response to said response, providing the in-game item in the computer implemented game.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising updating the locally available in-game budget.

8. A computer implemented method of providing game information to a user device supporting a computer implemented game, the method comprising:

receiving from at least one user device of a user, information about at least one purchase of an in-game item made when the computer implemented game is being played on the at least one user device of the user and said at least one user device is off-line;

in response to the information, updating master in-game budget information for the user and storing said updated master in-game budget information in a database in association with information identifying said user; and

transmitting to at least one user device of said user, updated locally available in-game budget information.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 , comprising determining that the purchase of the at least one in-game purchase exceeds an available budget associated with the user and updating said master in-game budget to zero.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8 , comprising transmitting information to a plurality of user devices, at least one user device receiving information indicating that off-line purchases are permitted and at least one user device receiving information indicating that off-line purchases are not permitted.

11. A user device comprising:

a user interface configured to receive an input from a user requesting a purchase of an in-game item having an associated value;

a receiver configured to receive an indication value and a locally available in-game budget from a server; and

at least one processor configured to

determine if said indication has a first value indicating that off-line purchases are permitted when said user device is off-line, or a second value indicating that off-line purchases are not permitted,

determine, in response to the input requesting the purchase of the in-game item, the user-device being off-line and the indication having the first value,

if the in-game purchase can be made in dependence on the locally available in-game budget and if so provide the in-game purchase in a computer implemented game, and

subsequently determine that said user device is online and cause sending to a server of information about the purchase of the in-game item when the user device was off-line to update a master budget stored at said server.

12. A user device as claimed in claim 11 , comprising at least one memory, said at least one memory configured to store information on the purchased in-game item for providing to a server when the user device is on-line.

13. A device as claimed in claim 11 , said at least one processor being further configured to update the locally available in-game budget.

14. A user device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said at least one processor is configured in response to receiving said input requesting the purchase of the in-game item to provide a message for transmission from said user device with information about the requested in-game purchase.

15. A user device as claimed in claim 14 , comprising a timer configured to be set when the message is provided.

16. A user device as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine that the user device is off-line if a response to the message is not received within a time period, the timer being set to the time period.

17. A non-transitory computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage device including a computer-readable program for providing a computer-implemented game, wherein the computer-readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

receive from a server an indication, said indication having a first value if off-line purchases are permitted when said user device is offline, and a second value if off-line purchases are not permitted, the method further comprising receiving from the server a locally available in-game budget;

receive an input from a user requesting a purchase of an in-game item having an associated value;

in response to said input requesting the purchase of the in-game item, determine if the user-device is off-line;

on determining that said user device is off-line, wherein if the indication has the first value, determine, in dependence on the locally available in-game budget, if the in-game item can be purchased and if so providing the in-game item in the computer implemented game; and

subsequently determining that said user device is online and sending to a server information about the purchase of the in-game item when the user device was off-line to update a master budget stored at said server.

18. A method for providing a computer implemented game in a user device, the user device comprising at least one processor, a user interface and a display, the method comprising:

receiving from a server an indication, said indication having a first value if off-line purchases are permitted when said user device is offline, and a second value if off-line purchase are not permitted, the method further comprising receiving from the server a locally available in-game budget;

receiving from the user interface, an input from a user requesting a purchase of an in-game item having an associated value;

in response to said input requesting the purchase of the in-game item, determining if the user-device is off-line;

on determining that said user device is off-line, and that the indication has the first value, determining, in dependence on the locally available in-game budget, if the in-game item can be purchased and if so providing the in-game item in the computer implemented game;

updating said locally available in-game budget in dependence on said associated value of said purchased in-game item; and

subsequently determining that said user device is online and sending to a server information about the purchase of the in-game item when the user device was off-line to update a master budget stored at said server by an amount associated with the at least one purchase.