U.S. Pat. No. 10,166,479

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates a system10configured to provide awards in an online game in a virtual space. System10may be configured to provide the virtual space to the users over a network (e.g., network20). Providing the virtual space may include hosting the virtual space over network20. System10may be configured to provide stochastic, tiered awards in an online game based on a user's real-time completion of a task in the online game, where a time clock for the task begins running (in real-time) at the completion of a user's immediately previous task. The game may include a plurality of tasks, where a second task may be made performable in response to a user completing a first task. An award may be distributed to a user based on an amount of real world time taken by the user to complete a task. A plurality of awards may be available for provision to a user. The plurality of potential awards may include various levels of potential awards. In distributing an award to a user, a level of potential awards associated with the user may be determined, and an award from that associated level may be selected to be distributed to the user. The award from the associated level may be randomly selected, selected based on an amount of real world time taken by the user to complete the task, and/or selected based on other criteria. The amount of real world time to complete the task may be determined by starting running a clock that measures real world time at the completion of first task and re-starting the running of the clock at the completion of the second task.

In some implementations, system10may include a server12. The server12may be configured to communicate with one or more client computing platforms14according to a client/server architecture. One or more users may access system10and/or the virtual space via client computing platforms14.

Server12may be configured to execute one or more computer program modules. The computer program modules may include one or more of a space module18, a user module20, a task management module22, a clock management module24, an award management module26, a reporting module28, and/or other modules.

Space module18may be configured to implement the instance of the virtual space executed by the computer modules to facilitate participation by one or more users in a game within the virtual space by determining view information that facilitates presentation of views of the virtual space to the one or more users. The view information may then be communicated (e.g., via streaming, via object/position data, and/or other information) from server12to client computing platforms14for presentation to users. The view information determined and transmitted to a given client computing platform14may correspond to an entity being controlled by a user via the given client computing platform14. The view information determined and transmitted to a given client computing platform14may correspond to a location in the virtual space (e.g., the location from which the view is taken, the location the view depicts, and/or other locations), a zoom ratio, a dimensionality of objects, a point-of-view, and/or view parameters. One or more of the view parameters may be selectable by the user.

The instance of the virtual space may comprise a simulated space that is accessible by users via clients (e.g., client computing platforms14) that present the views of the virtual space to a user. The simulated space may have a topography, express ongoing real-time interaction by one or more users, and/or include one or more objects positioned within the topography that are capable of locomotion within the topography. In some instances, the topography may be a 2-dimensional topography. In other instances, the topography may be a 3-dimensional topography. The topography may include dimensions of the space, and/or surface features of a surface or objects that are “native” to the space. In some instances, the topography may describe a surface (e.g., a ground surface) that runs through at least a substantial portion of the space. In some instances, the topography may describe a volume with one or more bodies positioned therein (e.g., a simulation of gravity-deprived space with one or more celestial bodies positioned therein). The instance executed by the computer modules may be synchronous, asynchronous, and/or semi-synchronous.

The above description of the manner in which views of the virtual space are determined by space module18is not intended to be limiting. Space module18may be configured to express the virtual space in a more limited, or more rich, manner. For example, views determined for the virtual space may be selected from a limited set of graphics depicting an event in a given place within the virtual space. The views may include additional content (e.g., text, audio, pre-stored video content, and/or other content) that describes particulars of the current state of the place, beyond the relatively generic graphics. For example, a view may include a generic battle graphic with a textual description of the opponents to be confronted. Other expressions of individual places within the virtual space are contemplated.

Within the instance(s) of the virtual space executed by space module18, users may control entities to interact with the virtual space and/or each other. The entities may include one or more of characters, objects, simulated physical phenomena (e.g., wind, rain, earthquakes, and/or other phenomena), and/or other elements within the virtual space. User-controlled characters may include avatars. As used herein, an entity may refer to an object (or group of objects) present in the virtual space that represents an individual user. The entity may be controlled by the user with which it is associated. The user controlled element(s) may move through and interact with the virtual space (e.g., non-user characters in the virtual space, other objects in the virtual space). The user controlled elements controlled by and/or associated with a given user may be created and/or customized by the given user. The user may have an “inventory” of virtual goods and/or currency that the user can use (e.g., by manipulation of a user character or other user controlled element, and/or other items) within the virtual space.

Control over the entities may be exercised by the users through control inputs and/or commands input through client computing platforms14. The users may interact with each other through communications exchanged within the virtual space. Such communications may include one or more of textual chat, instant messages, private messages, voice communications, and/or other communications. Communications may be received and entered by the users via their respective client computing platforms14. Communications may be routed to and from the appropriate users through server12(e.g., through space module18).

Within the virtual space, one or more users may participate in a game. The game may include a series of tasks that are performable by the one or more users within the virtual space. The series of tasks may comprise a first task and a second task, where the second task may become performable by the user responsive to the user completing the first task. The game may include tasks in which users (or their entities) are adversaries, and/or tasks in which users (or their entities) are allies. The game may include tasks in which users (or their entities) are adversaries of non-user characters, and/or tasks in which users (or their entities) are allies of non-user characters. In the game, entities controlled by the user may obtain points, virtual currency or other virtual items, experience points, levels, and/or other demarcations indicating experience and/or success. Space module18may be configured to perform the functions associated with the game in executing the instance of the virtual space.

User module20may be configured to access and/or manage one or more user accounts associated with users of system10. The user accounts may include user information. The one or more user accounts and/or user information may include information stored by server12, one or more of the client computing platforms14, storage30, and/or other storage locations. The user accounts may include, for example, information identifying users (e.g., a username or handle, a number, an identifier, and/or other identifying information) within the virtual space, security login information (e.g., a login code or password), virtual space account information, subscription information, virtual currency account information (e.g., related to currency held in credit for a user), relationship information (e.g., information related to relationships between users in the virtual space), virtual space usage information, award information (e.g., information related to one or more awards received by the user for completing one or more respective tasks; one or more levels of awards associated with the user; potential awards associated with the one or more levels of awards associated with the user, etc.) demographic information associated with users, interaction history among users in the virtual space, information stated by users, activity information of users, browsing history of users, a client computing platform identification associated with a user, a phone number associated with a user, user settings, and/or other information related to users. The user information may include and/or indicate an activity level of the user. The activity level may include previous login time(s), previous logout time(s), login frequency, time spent logged in, and/or other activity information. The user information may also include information related to purchases in or for the virtual space. Such information may include, for example, activity information for individual transactions, a spend rate, a total spend amount, and/or other information related to user purchases.

As will be discussed further below, users may participate in the virtual space by controlling entities within the virtual space. The user information in the user accounts may include information related to the entities controlled by the users in the virtual space. Such information may include, for example, an entity type, an entity class, an entity identification, a level, inventory information, status information, and/or other information related to entities controlled by users in the virtual space.

Task management module22may be configured to determine whether a user has completed a task and to make a subsequent task performable responsive to the completion of the task. A task may be associated with one or more predetermined goals in the online game. For example, task management module22may be configured to determine whether a user has completed a first task. The task management module22may be configured to determine that the user completed the first task by determining that the user achieved the one or more predetermined goals associated with the first task. For example, the predetermined goals may comprise one or more of: reaching a level in the game, obtaining one or more predetermined virtual items in the game, establishing a relationship with another entity in the game, establishing a relationship with a non-user character in the game, traveling to a specific destination in the game, obtaining a predetermined amount of virtual currency in the game, winning a battle in the game, obtaining a predetermined piece of land in the game, and/or other types of predetermined goals. In response to the user completing the first task, the task management module22may be configured to make a second task performable by the user. The task management module22may be configured to determine that the user has completed the second task. For example, the task management module22may be configured to determine that the user completed the second task by determining that the user achieved the one or more predetermined goals associated with the second task. In response to the user completing the third task, the task management module22may be configured to make a third task performable by the user. The task management module22may be configured to determine that the user has completed the third task. For example, the task management module22may be configured to determine that the user completed the third task by determining that the user achieved the one or more predetermined goals associated with the third task. The number and/or types of predetermined goals associated with a task may be based on the task being completed, the user completing the task, an amount of time taken by the user to complete prior tasks, and/or other criteria.

The clock management module24may be configured to determine an amount of real world time taken by a user to complete a task. For example, the clock management module24may be configured to determine an amount of real world time between completion of the first task and completion of the second task by the user. For example, the clock management module24may be configured to start running of a clock that measures real world time at the completion of the first task and re-start the running of the clock at the completion of the second task. In some implementations, the clock management module24may be configured to work in concert with the task management module22. For example, in response to the task management module22determining that the user has completed a task, the clock management module24may note an amount of real world time taken to complete that task and may restart the running of the clock. The clock management module24may store an amount of real world time taken by the user to complete the task in the storage30. The amount of real world time may be associated with the task, the user that completed the task, the one or more predetermined goals associated with the task, and/or other information related to the task.

The award management module26may be configured to determine an award from a plurality of potential awards for the user as an award for completing a task. For example, the award management module26may be configured to determine a first award from the plurality of potential awards for the user as an award for completing a first task. The award management module26may be configured to determine a second award from the plurality of potential awards for the user as an award for completing a second task. The award management module26may be configured to determine the award based on the amount of real world time taken by the user to complete the task for which the award is determined.

In some implementations, the plurality of potential awards may comprise a plurality of levels of potential awards. The award management module26may be configured to determine a level of potential awards associated with the user and select an award from the associated level of potential awards for the user. Selection of an award from a level may be stochastic. For example, the award management module26may be configured to determine the level of potential awards for the user based on one or more of: an amount of real world time taken by the user to complete the task for which the award is determined, user account information of the user, random selection, and/or other criteria. In some implementations, the level of the award may be adjusted stochastically. In such implementations, the level of awards determined by award management module26may be increased (e.g., within a certain limit) or decreased (e.g., within a certain limit) from a level determined based on an amount of real-world time it took the user to complete the task.

A level of potential awards associated with a user may comprise one or more potential awards for distribution to the user. In some implementations, the award management module26may select an award from the associated level of potential awards for distribution to the user based on one or more of: an amount of real world time taken by the user to complete the task for which the award is determined, user account information of the user, random selection, and/or other criteria.

The potential awards available to a user may be customized based on one or more of user preference, historical experience regarding use of previously distributed awards to the user, system valuations of the respective potential awards to the user, and/or other customization criteria. The potential awards available at various levels to a user may be customized based on one or more of the customization criteria.

In some implementations, the first level of potential awards may comprise a first set of potential awards for a first user and a second set of potential awards different from the first set of potential awards for a second user. The number and/or types of potential awards stored for a first user at a level of potential awards may differ from a number and/or types of potential awards stored for a second user at that level of potential awards. For example, as shown inFIG. 2, storage30may store exemplary potential awards available for one or more users. Storage30may store potential awards for a user1(e.g., item32a), potential awards for a user2(e.g., item32b), and potential awards for a user n (e.g., item32n). For example, the storage30may store one or more awards (e.g., awards A, B, C, and D) for user1at a first level of awards (e.g., item34a) and may store one or more awards (e.g., awards E, F, and G) at a nth level of awards (e.g., item36a). In another example, the storage30may store one or more awards (e.g., awards A, C, and G) for user2at a first level of awards (e.g., item34b) and may store one or more awards (e.g., awards D, E, F, and H) at a nth level of awards (e.g., item36b). The storage30may store one or more awards (e.g., awards A, B, C, E, and G) for user n at a first level of awards (e.g., item34n) and may store one or more awards (e.g., awards F, and H) at a nth level of awards (e.g., item36n). Other numbers and/or types of potential awards and levels of potential awards may be available for distribution to users.

In some implementations, the plurality of potential awards may comprise, for example, provision of one or more respect points to the user, provision of a pre-determined amount of virtual currency to the user, provision of a virtual item to the user, instantiation of a buff, establishment of a relationship with the user's character, provision of access for the user to an area that was not previously accessible to the user, impact to a character with whom the user has a relationship, modification of a subsequent task for the user, provision of a time bonus to the user, where the time bonus may comprise a reduction of amount of time to complete a task, changing a level of potential awards associated with the user, and/or other potential awards.

Returning toFIG. 1, the award management module26may be configured to distribute the selected award to the user. In some implementations, the award management module26may be configured to distribute the award to the user within the virtual space. For example, when the selected award comprises provision of a virtual item, the award management module26may be configured to distribute the virtual item to a virtual inventory of the user in the game. When the selected award comprises provision of a predetermined amount of virtual currency, for example, the award management module26may be configured to distribute the virtual currency to the virtual currency account of the user. When the selected award comprises a change of level of potential awards associated with the user, for example, the award management module26may be configured to update the awards information of the user account of the user to reflect the distribution of the award. When the selected award comprises instantiation of a buff, for example, the award management module26may be configured to coordinate with the space module26to effect the instantiation of the buff in the implementation of the virtual space. The award management module26may be configured to effect various types of distribution based on the type of award selected for the user. The distributions of the selected awards are not limited to the examples described herein.

The reporting module28may be configured to provide and/or display one or more reports based on information related to the online game, information stored at storage30, and/or other information related to system10. For example, the reporting module28may be configured to facilitate analysis and report information related to system usage, user activity, task management, clock management, award management, and/or other stored information. The reporting module28may be configured to produce statistics regarding the stored information and may be configured to prepare and/or display reports including one or more parts of the stored information. For example, the reporting module28may be configured to prepare and or display one or more reports including information related to the distribution of awards to one or more users related to one or more tasks, information related to the average time for users to complete a specific task or set of tasks, information related to variations in time for one or more users to complete a specific task or set of tasks, information related to all potential awards available to users, information related to the potential awards available to one or more users, information related to subsets of potential awards available at one or more levels to one or more users, and/or other types of reports.

In some implementations, the reporting module28may be configured to display one or more reports to a user via a user interface. In some implementations, the user interface may be accessed via various channels such as, for example, a webpage, a web portal, an agent (such as a software and/or hardware module) executing on server12, electronic mail and/or other communication channels that can be used to present the comparisons to a user. In some implementations, the system10may present a link to a display of one or more reports prepared by the reporting module28.

Server12and/or client computing platforms14may be operatively linked via one or more electronic communication links. For example, such electronic communication links may be established, at least in part, via a network such as the Internet and/or other networks. It will be appreciated that this is not intended to be limiting, and that the scope of this disclosure includes implementations in which server12and/or client computing platforms14may be operatively linked via some other communication media.

A given client computing platform14may include one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules. The computer program modules may be configured to enable an expert or user associated with the given client computing platform14to interface with server12, and/or provide other functionality attributed herein to client computing platforms14. By way of non-limiting example, the given client computing platform14may include one or more of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet computing platform, a NetBook, a Smartphone, a gaming console, and/or other computing platforms.

Server12may include electronic storage30, one or more processors16, and/or other components. Server12may include communication lines, or ports to enable the exchange of information with a network and/or other computing platforms. Illustration of server12inFIG. 1is not intended to be limiting. Server12may include a plurality of hardware, software, and/or firmware components operating together to provide the functionality attributed herein to server12. For example, server12may be implemented by a cloud of computing platforms operating together as server12.

Electronic storage30may comprise electronic storage media that electronically stores information non-transiently. The electronic storage media of electronic storage30may include one or both of system storage that is provided integrally (i.e., substantially non-removable) with server12and/or removable storage that is removably connectable to server12via, for example, a port (e.g., a USB port, a firewire port, etc.) or a drive (e.g., a disk drive, etc.). Electronic storage30may include one or more of optically readable storage media (e.g., optical disks, etc.), magnetically readable storage media (e.g., magnetic tape, magnetic hard drive, floppy drive, etc.), electrical charge-based storage media (e.g., EEPROM, RAM, etc.), solid-state storage media (e.g., flash drive, etc.), and/or other electronically readable storage media. Electronic storage30may include one or more virtual storage resources (e.g., cloud storage, a virtual private network, and/or other virtual storage resources). Electronic storage30may store software algorithms, information determined by processor16, information received from server12, information received from client computing platforms14, and/or other information that enables server12to function as described herein.

Processor(s)16may provide information processing capabilities within server12. As such, processor16may include one or more of a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronically processing information. Although processor16is shown inFIG. 1as a single entity, this is not intended to be limiting, as processor16may include a plurality of processors operating in coordination or cooperation. This may include implementations in which server72includes a multi-processor device, a farm of server devices operating together, and/or virtual resources provided by the cloud. The processor16may be configured to execute modules18,20,22,24,26, and/or28. Processor16may be configured to execute modules18,20,22,24,26, and/or28by software; hardware; firmware; some combination of software, hardware, and/or firmware; and/or other mechanisms for configuring processing capabilities on processor16.

It should be appreciated that although modules18,20,22,24,26, and/or28are illustrated inFIG. 1as being co-located within a single processing unit, in implementations in which processor16includes multiple processing units, one or more of modules18,20,22,24,26, and/or28may be located remotely from the other modules. The description of the functionality provided by the different modules18,20,22,24,26, and/or28described below is for illustrative purposes, and is not intended to be limiting, as any of modules18,20,22,24,26, and/or28may provide more or less functionality than is described. For example, one or more of modules18,20,22,24,26, and/or28may be eliminated, and some or all of its functionality may be provided by other ones of modules18,20,22,24,26, and/or28. As another example, processor16may be configured to execute one or more additional modules that may perform some or all of the functionality attributed below to one of modules18,20,22,24,26, and/or28.

FIG. 3illustrates a method40of providing an award for a user in an online game. The operations of method40presented below are intended to be illustrative. In some embodiments, method40may be accomplished with one or more additional operations not described, and/or without one or more of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in which the operations of method40are illustrated inFIG. 3and described below is not intended to be limiting.

In some embodiments, method40may be implemented in one or more processing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices executing some or all of the operations of method40in response to instructions stored electronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices configured through hardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed for execution of one or more of the operations of method40.

At an operation42, an instance of a virtual space may be executed. In some implementations, operation42may be performed by a space module the same as or similar to space module18(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

At an operation44, the executed instance of the virtual space may be implemented to determine view information. The view information may define views to be presented to users via client computing platforms. In some implementations, operation44may be performed by a space module the same as or similar to space module18(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

At an operation46, completion of the first task by a user may be determined. In some implementations, operation46may be performed by a task management module the same as or similar to task management module22(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

At an operation48, a second task may be made performable by the user in response to the determination that the user completed the first task. In some implementations, operation46may be performed by a task management module the same as or similar to task management module22(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

At an operation50, a first award may be determined for the user based on the determination that the user completed the first task. In some implementations, operation58may be performed by an award management the same as or similar to award management module26(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

At an operation52, the first award may be distributed to the user in the virtual space. In some implementations, operation52may be performed by an award management the same as or similar to award management module26(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

At an operation54, completion of the second task by the user may be determined. In some implementations, operation54may be performed by a task management module the same as or similar to task management module22(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

At an operation56, a second award may be determined for the user based on the determination that the user completed the second task. In some implementations, operation56may be performed by an award management the same as or similar to award management module26(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

At an operation58, the second award may be distributed to the user in the virtual space. In some implementations, operation58may be performed by an award management the same as or similar to award management module26(shown inFIG. 1and described above).

Although the system(s) and/or method(s) of this disclosure have been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present disclosure contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any implementation can be combined with one or more features of any other implementation.