Patent Application
20140342833
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. Copyright 2013, WMS Gaming, Inc.
Embodiments of the inventive subject matter relate generally to casino-style games, and more particularly to casino-style games with persistent play across a plurality of webpages and/or websites.
Some websites offer a social networking environment in which users can play casino-style games. Such websites may offer casino-style games upon which players wager money, and non-wagering versions of those games. Social gaming environments enable users to make friends, share common interests, play community games, and otherwise interact. However, because the Internet offers a variety of content, users may leave game-related social networking sites, seeking other content, such as news and other media. After leaving social gaming websites, users may receive advertisements, which can encourage them to visit various websites, purchase products via the internet, etc.
On the internet, targeted advertising is an effective mechanism for marketing products and services, and otherwise influencing users. Before targeted advertising, advertisers had limited ability to reach an audience interested in their products or services. For example, a company selling football equipment could choose to place advertisements on websites relating to sports and athletics (e.g., ESPN.com). While this is likely more effective than placing advertisements arbitrarily on websites having a variety of themes, there was no assurance that visitors of websites relating to sports and athletics had any interesting purchasing football equipment. For example, many of ESPN.com's visitors are likely adults that enjoy watching televised sporting events, but may not themselves participate in sporting events (let alone football). Such visitors may be unlikely to have interest in a company selling football equipment. With current technology, the online behavior can be tracked. For example, when a user browses the internet, files can be created and saved, logging what websites the user visited, which items the user clicked on or hovered over while on the websites, search queries that the user has entered, times that the user visited websites, how long the user stayed on each website and each webpage, etc. With such technology, advertisers have a greater ability to reach an audience interested in their services or products. For example, the same company selling football equipment can serve advertisements to individuals that in the past, have viewed sporting goods store websites, entered search queries relating to football equipment, clicked on links or other material related to football equipment, etc. Based on the historical data associated with the user's online activity, advertisers can presume that the user may be interested in purchasing football equipment. Typically, when a user visits a webpage, the webpage queries the user's computer to determine if the user has previously visited the website. If the user has not previously visited the website, the website may create a data file containing information identifying the user, and possibly the user's activity while on the website, and store the file on the user's computer (e.g., drop a cookie on the user's hard disk). If the user has previously visited the website, the website updates the information in the data file, logging the user's current visit. When multiple websites are members of the same ad network, the ad network can access the user's browsing information stored by the websites. This enables ad networks to serve webpage advertisements that are based on the user's browsing information. In other words, when a new webpage or website is visited, the ad network serves a new advertisement for the user to view that corresponds to the user's browsing history.
Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the Figures of the accompanying drawings in which:
This section provides an introduction to some embodiments of the invention.
As social gaming website users browse away from the social gaming website, some embodiments provide ways for extending the users' gaming experiences outside the social gaming website. In some instances, embodiments can present ads on other websites, where the ads relate to games offered on the social gaming website. The ads may enable users to continue games they were playing on the social gaming website. Also, the ads may provide functionality available on the user's profile in the social casino website (or a portion of the profile functionality). That is, an ad may provide any suitable option/function available in the user's social casino (e.g., the user's profile on the social casino website). For example, if a user has a particular set of games available via the social casino website, those games may be available in the advertisement. In other instances, embodiments entice new users to play in-ad games that reward users for signing-on to the social gaming website, such as to claim a prize from the in-ad game. The discussion of
In some embodiments, the user can continue a gaming session in the in-ad game, where the gaming session started on the social gaming website. In some instances, all aspects of the gaming session are available on the in-ad game, such as badges, available games, episodic progress, credit meters, state of an unfinished game, etc. In other instances, less than all aspects of the gaming session are available in the in-ad game. In some embodiments, continuing a game (whether an in-ad game or a game on a social gaming website) can be more than resuming a game where the user left off. Continuing a game can refer to the entire game experience including functionality of a social casino on the social gaming website. That is, continuing a game can be allowing continued access to the functionality, features, options, etc. of the user's social casino.
In some embodiments, the user can have access to any game available to the user on the social gaming website. In such embodiments, the user can select from the available games, or can be prompted to continue a specific game using continue button 124. When the user chooses to continue the slots game played on the social gaming website, the in-ad game contains the slots game from the social gaming website in the game state in which the player left off. The game state can include the user's credit meter balance, the user's predefined settings for the casino-style came, any awards the player has won on the social gaming website, any games or levels unlocked by the player on the social gaming website, etc. In other words, the user can play casino-style games and access all content available on the social gaming website through the in-ad game 122.
In some embodiments, these operations can also occur in reverse order. For example, when a user visits a webpage containing an in-ad game, the user can login to the social gaming website via the in-ad game and play casino-style games via the in-ad game. The user's progress is also tracked via the in-ad game. This tracking allows the player to resume the game on the social gaming website, subsequent in-ad game, etc. where he/she left off. Additionally, any awards, bonus, levels, prizes, etc. won by the user are recorded so that the user can later access these items on the social gaming website, subsequent in-ad game, etc. In some embodiments, the in-ad game can also contain a link to the social gaming website so that the user may more easily continue play of the casino-style game on the social gaming website.
According to some embodiments, in-ad games can be casino-style wagering games, casino-style games on which virtual or other value is wagered, casino-style games for which no value is wagered but value can be won, or any other suitable games on which value can be wagered and/or won. In some embodiments the value can be coupons, virtual currency, goods, services, money, etc. In some embodiments, users can win and/or lose money playing in-ad games.
While
At block 202, a web server associated with a social gaming website receives login information from a user. In some embodiments, the social gaming website is a social networking website on which users can play casino-style games. In other words, casino-style games may only be one aspect of the social gaming website. The flow continues at block 204.
At block 204, the social gaming website presents a casino-style game. The casino-style game can be any suitable game, such a craps and other dice games, poker and other card games, roulette, etc. In some embodiments, users can wager money on the casino-style games. Alternatively, in some embodiments, users wager something other than currency on the casino-style games (e.g., points). In some instances, the social gaming website offers non-wagering versions (a.k.a. play-for-fun versions) of the casino-style games. The flow continues at block 206.
At block 206, the social gaming website receives user input for the casino-style game. Such user input can be input to play the casino-style game. For example, the user input can comprise spinning slot reels, placing bets, dealing cards, etc. The flow continues at block 208.
At block 208, the social gaming website records game state information of the casino-style game as the user plays the casino-style game. The game state information includes all information necessary for resuming play of the casino-style game at a subsequent time. In other words, the recorded game state information allows the user to play the casino-style game at one point in time, then at a subsequent point time, resume play of the casino-style game where he/she left off. For example, the game state information can include trophies earned, levels unlocked, credits earned, content unlocked, game elements unlocked, etc. As an additional example with a card game, when a player leaves a card game during play of a hand, the current cards that comprise the user's and other players' hands can be recorded as game state information. In some embodiments, the social gaming website records the game state information continuously as the user plays the casino-style game. In other embodiments, the social gaming website can record the game state information at varying intervals. For example, the social gaming website can record the game state information every minute, after every hand/spin/etc., when the user ceases playing the casino-style game, etc. The flow continues at decision diamond 210.
At decision diamond 210, the social gaming website determines if the user is continuing to play the casino-style game on the social gaming website. For example, when the user chooses to deal another hand, the user is choosing to continue playing the casino-style game on the social gaming website. If the user is continuing to play the casino-style game on the social gaming website, the flow continues at block 206. If the user has chosen not to continue play of the casino-style game on the social gaming website, the flow continues at decision diamond 214.
As discussed above, players may browse away for a social gaming website, seeking other content, such as news, media, or other information. The remainder of the flow 200 shows how embodiments can enable users to continue their gaming experiences after they leave the social gaming website. Some embodiments enable players to continue their gaming experience by presenting advertisements which include games from the social gaming website (a.k.a. in-ad games). This following discussion continues at block 214, and describes how embodiments enable users to continue their gaming experiences after they leave the social gaming website.
At decision diamond 214, the social gaming website determines if the user is to continue the game session (i.e., playing the casino-style game) on a new website. If the user has logged out or otherwise exited the social gaming website and is not resuming the casino-style game elsewhere, the flow ends. If the user has navigated to a new webpage or website and wishes to continue playing the casino-style game, the flow continues at block 216. The user need not immediately browse to an in-ad game to continue his/her gaming experience. For example, on a first day, the user can play the casino-style game on the social gaming website. On a subsequent day, when the user is browsing the Internet, a webpage can present an in-ad game associated with the social gaming website. The user can resume play of any casino-style game associated with the social gaming website as an in-ad game. In other words, it is not necessary that user proceed directly from the social gaming website to an in-ad game to continue play of the casino style game.
At block 216, the web server associated with the social gaming website receives player login information via the in-ad game. For example, after the new website (i.e., a website other than the social gaming website) presents the in-ad game, the in-ad game can prompt the user to login using his/her social gaming website credentials. The in-ad game can forward the login information to the social gaming website, where the login information is received at block 216. The flow continues at block 218.
At block 218, the web server associated with the social gaming website determines the game state information for the user. In other words, once the user has logged into the social gaming website via the in-ad game, the web server can access all information associated with the user pertaining to the social gaming website. This information includes all data necessary for persistent play of casino-style games across the social gaming website and the in-ad game on the second website. The game state information can include state of unfinished games, listing of available games, the user's progress through an episodic game, badges and achievements, and any other information for continuing game experiences from the social gaming website. Some embodiments enable the user to have access to all features of the social gaming website (e.g., virtual lobbies, chat rooms, casino-style games, etc.) through the in-ad game. The flow continues at block 220.
At block 220, the web server associated with the social gaming website transmits game state information and content for continuing a game experience in the in-ad game. The user can continue a gaming experience in the in-ad game from where he/she previously left off at the social gaming website. The flow continues at block 222.
At block 222, the web server associated with the social gaming website receives user input for the casino-style game with the current game state information via the in-ad game. In other words, the user continues playing the casino-style game via the in-ad game where he/she previously left off. When the user no longer wishes to play the casino-style game via the in-ad game, the flow ends.
It should be noted that the operations depicted in
This discussion will now describe more details about in-ad games.
While
This discussion will continue by describing how embodiments include webservers, advertiser network servers, and advertiser servers that work together to provide targeted advertisements. More specifically, the discussion of
In
After receiving the user's webpage request, the web server 506 sends a redirect 514 to an the ad network server 504 requesting an advertisement to present on the webpage. This redirect can include tracking information about the user. Additionally, in some embodiments, the ad network server 504 can receive tracking information from a plurality of other web servers (not shown) to build a richer profile of the user. The ad network server 504, using the tracking information received from the web server 506 (and possibly other web servers—not shown), determines an advertiser (or advertisement) appropriate for the user. Upon determining that Company X is an appropriate advertiser for the user, the ad network server 504 sends a request 518 to Company X advertiser server 502. In some embodiments, the request 518 can include an indication of the web server to which the advertisement should be delivered. In such embodiments, upon receiving the request 518, Company X advertiser server delivers 524 an advertisement to the web server 506. The web server 506 composites the advertisement within the webpage, and delivers 512 the webpage composited with the advertisement to the user's computer 508. In other embodiments, Company X advertiser server 502 can deliver 520 an advertisement to the ad network server 504, as opposed to delivering the advertisement to the web server 506. The ad network server then transmits 516 the advertisement to the web server 506. The web server 506 composites the advertisement within the webpage, and delivers 512 the webpage composited with the advertisement to the user's computer 508.
In some embodiments, an in-ad game is delivered to the user's computer 508. When the user interacts with the in-ad game, the interaction is transmitted 526 to Company X advertiser server 502. Company X advertiser server 502 can identify the player (as previously discussed). Additionally, Company X advertiser server 502 can record the game state of the in-ad game. With this information, when the user navigates to a new webpage or website, Company X advertiser server 502 can transmit 524 to the web server 506 the in-ad game initially played by the user at current game state where the user left off.
Additionally, embodiments can operate in a manner other than those shown in
While
The operations relate to the advertiser server, and begin at block 602. In some embodiments,
At decision diamond 604, the advertiser server determines if the user is a new user (i.e., the user has not previously played an in-ad game associated with the advertiser server). For example, if the user has a user ID, the advertiser server can determine that the user is not a new user. If the user is not a new user, the flow continues at block 606. If the user is a new user, the flow continues at block 610.
At block 610, the advertiser server transmits an in-ad game for presentation on a first webpage. In some embodiments, the advertiser server can analyze information about the user to select an in-ad game matching the user's interests, as will be discussed in more detail below. The flow continues at block 612.
At block 612, the advertiser server detects user input for the in-ad game. That is, the advertiser server determines that the user is playing the in-ad game. For example, if the casino-style game of the in-ad game is a slot type game, the advertiser server can detect user input to place a bet, spin the slot reels, etc. If the casino-style game of the in-ad game is a card game, the advertiser server can detect user input to place a bet, deal cards, etc. The flow continues at block 614.
At block 614, the advertiser server assigns the user a user ID. For example, because the new user is playing the in-ad game, the advertiser server assigns the new user a unique identifier. In some embodiments, the advertiser server stores the unique identifiers in a database. In other embodiments, the advertiser server can store a user's ID (or other identifying information) in a data file (e.g., cookie) on the user's computer. The flow continues at block 616.
At block 616, the advertiser server logs current game state of the in-ad game as the user plays the in-ad game. In some embodiments, the advertiser server only records game state at the time the user navigates to a new website or webpage. In other embodiments, the advertiser server records all player input for the in-ad game. For example, the advertiser server can record the user's progress as the user plays the in-ad game. In some embodiments, game state can include intermediate in-ad game results, final in-ad game results, user input for the in-ad game, and other information necessary for recreating and/or resuming the in-ad game. In some embodiments, the advertiser server can store game state information on the user's computer. In other embodiments, the advertiser server can store the game state information in a database. Such database can also include the unique identifiers of each user. From block 616, the flow ends.
As previously discussed, if the advertiser server determines that the user is not a new user at decision diamond 604, the flow continues at block 606. At block 606, the advertiser server determines a game state of a previously-played in-ad game. For example, the advertiser server can utilize the user's user ID and previously stored game state information to determine the progress the user had previously made in the in-ad game. Such determination can allow for a persistent in-ad game experience across both webpages and/or websites. The flow continues at block 608.
At block 608, the advertiser server transmits the in-ad game with the game state of the previously-played in-ad game for presentation on a second webpage. In other words, the advertiser server transmits the in-ad game for presentation on the second webpage so that the user can continue play of the in-ad game where he/she left off. From block 608, the flow ends.
While
At block 702, the advertiser server identifies the user. The advertiser server can identify the user by any suitable means. For example, the advertiser server can identify a user based on a user ID assigned to the user by a website (e.g., a cookie), an ad network server, the advertiser server, etc. Additionally, the advertiser sever can identify the user by his/her IP address, MAC address, geographic location, etc. The flow continues at block 704.
At block 704, the advertiser server determines information about the user's interests. This determination can be made based on demographic information about the user, the user's browsing history, etc. For example, the user can be determined to be a female between the ages of 20 and 25, with browsing history including wedding-themed websites, search queries relating to wedding dresses, and a geographic location of Chicago, Ill. The flow continues at block 706.
At block 706, the advertiser server determines an in-ad game consistent with the user's interests. Some users may want to play casino-style slots games, whereas other users prefer casino-style card games. In some embodiments, the advertiser server can select an in-ad game award that the user might be interested in winning. In the example discussed above, the advertiser server can select an in-ad game with a potential prize of a gift certificate to a wedding boutique in Chicago. In some embodiments, the award may not be associated with the specific in-ad game. Rather, an in-ad game may include the same casino-style game, and the potential award won is chosen based on the user's interests. For example, a 55 to 60 year old male living in Nebraska may play the same casino-style game as the 20 to 25 year old female in Chicago, but the award upon winning can be something more likely suited to a 55 to 60 year old male living in Nebraska than a gift certificate for a wedding boutique in Chicago. In some embodiments, the advertiser server can chose an in-ad game that has a theme consistent with the user's interests. For example, the advertiser server can choose a football themed in-ad game for a user that has frequented football themed websites. Additionally, the advertiser server can choose the type of casino-style game contained in the in-ad game based on the information about the user's interests. For example, the information about the user's interests may indicate that the user frequents an online gaming website, and while at the website, plays video poker. Accordingly, the advertiser server can select an in-ad game containing a video poker game. The flow continues at block 708.
At block 708, the advertiser server transmits the in-ad game that is consistent with the user's interests for presentation. In some embodiments, the advertising server transmits the in-ad game directly to a user for presentation of a webpage rendered on the user's browser. In other embodiments, the advertiser server transmits the advertisement containing the in-ad game to another component to be forwarded along for eventual presentation as a webpage on the user's browser.
In some embodiments, the operations of
At block 902, the advertiser server selects an in-ad game with which to composite indicia associated with an affiliate advertiser. In some embodiments, the in-ad game selection can be based on a user's interests. For example, if the user has a history of playing virtual poker games, the advertiser server can select a virtual poker game to composite with indicia associated with the affiliate advertiser. In some embodiments, the in-ad game selection can be based on characteristics of the indicia to be composited with the in-ad game. For example the indicia to be composited in the in-ad game may be suitable to a slot game. In such embodiments, the operations at blocks 904 and 906 (below) can occur before the operations at block 902. The flow continues at block 904.
At block 904, the advertiser server determines an affiliate advertiser matching the player's interests. Referring to the automotive dealership example from the discussion of
At block 906, the advertiser server determines indicia associated with the advertiser. For example, indicia may include logos, trademarks, etc. of the affiliate advertiser. Referring back to the Bob's Premium Auto Sales example, indicia may include the Bob's Premium Auto Sales logo. The flow continues at block 908.
At block 908, the advertiser server composites the indicia of the advertiser with an in-ad game. For example, if the casino-style game of the in-ad game is a slot type game, the advertiser server can composite the Bob's Premium Auto Sales logo with the in-ad game by using the Bob's Premium Auto Sales logo as a slot reel symbol. The flow continues at block 910.
At block 910, the advertiser server transmits the in-ad game composited with the indicia of the advertiser for presentation on a webpage. For example, the advertiser server transmits the in-ad game with the Bob's Premium Auto Sales logo slot reels for presentation on a webpage so that the user can play the in-ad game.
In some embodiments of the inventive subject matter can awards, badges, coins, points, game elements, and/or functions can be earned and used in later gameplay. For example, a user may earn a badge during gameplay and the badge will be available for use by the user at a later time during subsequent gameplay.
Although examples refer to an advertiser server selecting an appropriate advertisement for a user, in some embodiments other entities can select an appropriate advertisement for the user. For example, the ad network server can store a large number of advertisements from one or more advertisers. Based on the browsing history of the user, the ad network server can choose an appropriate advertisement for the user from the advertisements stored on the ad network server.
Although examples refer to the advertiser server tracking and recording information about the user, in some embodiments, entities other than the advertiser server can engage in this activity. For example, a webpage or website can track users by dropping cookies (or other tracking mechanisms) on the user's local hard disk.
Although examples refer to an in-ad game being a casino-style game, in some embodiments, the in-ad game can contain content other than or in addition to a casino-style game. For example, an entire virtual casino can be contained in the in-ad game. In some embodiments, a user can interact with the virtual casino using an avatar. Using the avatar, the user can traverse the virtual casino floor, socialize with other user's avatars, play virtual wagering games, etc. In essence, the virtual casino can be a two-dimensional or three-dimensional world with which the user can interact. Additionally, in the in-ad game can include all elements of a wagering game that are available on a wagering game machine in a casino.
Although examples refer to persistent gameplay of an in-ad game from website to website, the operations described herein are applicable from webpage to webpage. For example, a user can begin an in-ad game on a first webpage associated with a first website and continue play of the in-ad game on a second webpage associated with the first website. Additionally, the user can continue play of the in-ad game on a third webpage associated with a second website, and so on and so forth.
In some embodiments, casino-style game outcomes are centrally determined. For example, a server associated with the social gaming website determines the outcomes of the casino-style games. This applies to casino-style games played on the social gaming website as well as casino-style games played as in-ad games on other webpages/websites. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the casino-style game outcomes can be determined by an entity that is not associated with the social gaming website. For example, an advertising network server can determine the casino-style game results for the in-ad games. Additionally, the social gaming site may be a social networking site to which casino-style games are ancillary. In such embodiments, the casino-style game outcomes can be determined by servers associated with the casino-style game provider.
In some embodiments, users can obtain certain prizes, awards, achievements, etc. for casino-style games on the social gaming website by participating with an advertiser. For example, in order to unlock a new level, a user may be required to go to visit an advertiser's webpage and provide an email address. Upon completion of this task, the new level will be available to the user via the social gaming website and/or in-ad games.
Some embodiments of the inventive subject matter reside in wagering game networks.
Each casino 1012 includes a local area network 1016, which includes an access point 1004, a wagering game server 1006, and wagering game machines 1002. The access point 1004 provides wireless communication links 1010 and wired communication links 1008. The wired and wireless communication links can employ any suitable connection technology, such as Bluetooth, 802.11, Ethernet, public switched telephone networks, SONET, etc. In some embodiments, the wagering game server 1006 can serve wagering games and distribute content to devices located in other casinos 1012 or at other locations on the communications network 1014.
The wagering game machines 1002 described herein can take any suitable form, such as floor standing models, handheld mobile units, bartop models, workstation-type console models, etc. Further, the wagering game machines 1002 can be primarily dedicated for use in conducting wagering games, or can include non-dedicated devices, such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants, personal computers, etc. In one embodiment, the wagering game network 1000 can include other network devices, such as accounting servers, wide area progressive servers, user tracking servers, and/or other devices suitable for use in connection with embodiments of the invention.
In some embodiments, wagering game machines 1002 and wagering game servers 1006 work together such that a wagering game machine 1002 can be operated as a thin, thick, or intermediate client. For example, one or more elements of game play may be controlled by the wagering game machine 1002 (client) or the wagering game server 1006 (server). Game play elements can include executable game code, lookup tables, configuration files, game outcome, audio or visual representations of the game, game assets or the like. In a thin-client example, the wagering game server 1006 can perform functions such as determining game outcome or managing assets, while the wagering game machine 1002 can present a graphical representation of such outcome or asset modification to the user (e.g., player). In a thick-client example, the wagering game machines 1002 can determine game outcomes and communicate the outcomes to the wagering game server 1006 for recording or managing a user's account.
In some embodiments, either the wagering game machines 1002 (client) or the wagering game server 1006 can provide functionality that is not directly related to game play. For example, account transactions and account rules may be managed centrally (e.g., by the wagering game server 1006) or locally (e.g., by the wagering game machine 1002). Other functionality not directly related to game play may include power management, presentation of advertising, software or firmware updates, system quality or security checks, etc.
Any of the wagering game network components (e.g., the wagering game machines 1002) can include hardware and machine-readable media including instructions for performing the operations described herein.
Additionally, an advertiser server 1016, ad network server 1018, and web server 1020 are connected to the communications network 1014. The advertiser server can communicate with an ad network server 1018 and a web server 1020 to facilitate the operations described herein. The servers 1016, 1018, and 1020 can perform any of the operations described herein. In some embodiments, the wagering game server 1006 can perform all or a subset of the operations described herein. For example, the wagering game server 1006 may perform operations shown in
This detailed description refers to specific examples in the drawings and illustrations. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the inventive subject matter. These examples also serve to illustrate how the inventive subject matter can be applied to various purposes or embodiments. Other embodiments are included within the inventive subject matter, as logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes can be made to the example embodiments described herein. Features of various embodiments described herein, however essential to the example embodiments in which they are incorporated, do not limit the inventive subject matter as a whole, and any reference to the invention, its elements, operation, and application are not limiting as a whole, but serve only to define these example embodiments. This detailed description does not, therefore, limit embodiments of the invention, which are defined only by the appended claims. Each of the embodiments described herein are contemplated as falling within the inventive subject matter, which is set forth in the following claims.
This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional Application Ser. No. 61/824,117 filed May 16, 2013.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61824117 | May 2013 | US |
