U.S. Pat. No. 12,036,477

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1illustrates a system100configured to enable administrators to incentivize one or both of particular in-game user behaviors and particular in-game user activities via group agreements that govern user groups within an online game, in accordance with one or more implementations. System100may include one or more servers102, administrative agreement interfaces112, decentralized ledger server(s)122, one or more client computing platform(s)104, online gaming platforms105, one or more external resources132, and/or other components. Users123(also referred to as players) may include one or more of a first user, a second user, a third user, a fourth user, and/or other users. As used in descriptions herein, any use of the term “user” may refer to user(s)123. Electronic storage134amay be similar to electronic storage134as described elsewhere in this disclosure, though included in decentralized ledger servers122.

Instances of online games may be executed within one or more online gaming platforms105. As used herein, online gaming platform105may refer to either an individual game (e.g., an interactive online game), a type of gaming console and its ecosystem, and/or both. Online gaming platform105may be configured to host the one or more (online) games. Online gaming platform105may be operated, hosted, and/or owned by one or more stakeholders of online gaming platform105. For example, a platform operator (and/or another stakeholder) may sell in-game digital assets (e.g., characters, weapons, resources, etc.) to users123of online gaming platform105. However, such a sale is not a player-to-player exchange/transaction. As used herein, exchanges or transactions may refer to player-to-player actions that facilitate individual players to auction, sell, purchase, trade, barter, and/or otherwise exchange digital assets. In other words, individual players may own individual virtual items, and exchange these items with other individual players. Due to an exchange, ownership rights of a digital asset transitions from an original owner to a new owner (even if there may, in some implementations, be one or more intermediary and/or temporary owners during the process of performing the exchange). Due to an exchange, a holder of distribution rights of a digital asset may remain and the holder of the distribution rights may receive distribution gains.

The distribution rights of digital assets may reflect rights held by the individual ones of the users to receive certain distributions of benefits upon exchanges involving particular digital assets. That is, the individual users may own/hold rights to particular digital assets that guarantee them benefits upon (future) exchanges involving those digital assets regardless of whether the individual users owns/hold the ownership rights for those digital assets. In some implementations, the distribution gains may result from a particular action or activity (such as, e.g., a sale of a particular digital asset), e.g., within online gaming platform105, of a particular digital asset. As used herein, a distribution gain resulting from a particular action or activity may include one or more of a portion of the proceeds of the particular action or activity, a fee related to the particular action or activity, a minimum payment triggered by the occurrence of the particular action or activity (or a set of particular actions or activities), and/or another arrangement for payment and/or compensation, including but not limited to combinations of fixed fees, minimum fees, percentages of sales, percentages of profits, and/or other arrangements. The term “portion” does not imply or require a percentage or ratio, but rather is intended to signify that beneficiaries (i.e., the users that hold the distribution rights) receive something of value and/or use.

The administrators may include one or more of a stakeholder, an owner, a platform operator, and/or other administrators. The group agreements may (i) commit the distribution gains to group account balances associated with the user groups, and (ii) disperse at least a portion of the group account balances to the users within the respective user groups.

The distribution gains may include proceeds from transactions pertaining to digital assets that the users of the user groups hold the distribution rights to. The distribution gains may include one or more virtual currencies such as virtual tokens, virtual stars, virtual points, virtual real-world currencies (e.g., US Dollars (USD)), and/or other gains that are based on the particular digital assets. The group account balances may refer to a cumulation of the one or more virtual currencies that include the distribution gains associated with the digital assets and thus associated with the users participating in the corresponding group agreements. In some implementations, the group account balances may accumulate multiple of the virtual currencies. The one or more virtual currencies may be converted to another one of the virtual currencies. For example, a given group account balance may accumulate USD and virtual points, and the virtual points may be converted to USD to be included in the given group account balance.

In some implementations, the digital assets may include and/or be virtual items that are not fungible and may be usable within an online gaming platform105. In some implementations, the digital assets may represent three-dimensional in-game user-controllable characters that can interact with other virtual items within online gaming platform105. By way of non-limiting example, digital assets may represent virtual items. In some implementations, virtual items may include one or more of weapons, toys, characters, abilities, skills, tools, pets, clothing, vehicles, game levels, missions, assignments, chapters, tasks, mini-games, restricted areas within a virtual space, restricted modes of gameplay, access rights within an online game, and/or other virtual items. In some implementations, virtual items may refer to any item or object within gaming platform105that a user may use, own, sell, trade, destroy, and/or otherwise effectuate a change of ownership of.

As used herein, a digital asset is fungible if it is functionally and/or physically indistinguishable from another digital asset. For example, a payment token such as a Bitcoin may be a fungible digital asset. A digital asset may be non-fungible if it is unique, or one-of-a-kind. For example, a specific individual Crypto Kitty™ may be a non-fungible digital asset. A digital asset may be semi-fungible if there is a set of a limited number of similar but distinguishable digital assets. For example, a limited-edition Blanko™ or another in-game character may be a semi-fungible digital asset. For example, one of a limited number of 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional in-game virtual items may be a semi-fungible digital asset. For example, a digital ticket to a show, concert, exhibition, and/or other event may be a semi-fungible digital asset. For example, a piece of art or jewelry (e.g., as a virtual item or as representing a physical item) may be a semi-fungible digital asset. As used herein, both non-fungible and semi-fungible digital assets are considered as “not fungible” digital assets. In some implementations, digital assets may be usable within one or more games.

The group agreements may disperse at least a portion of the group account balances to the users within the respective user groups. In some implementations, dispersion of at least the portion of the group account balances may be determined individually for the individual users of the user groups (i.e., participating in the group agreements). In some implementations, determining the dispersion (that is, the portion of a particular group account balance) for the individual users may be based on the distribution gains committed to the particular group account balance by the individual participating users, time spent on online gaming platform105by the individual participating users, progress within the game by (or attributable to) the individual participating users, damage done to another digital asset by using the digital asset, victory within the game by the individual participating users, contribution to a goal of the individual participating users, and/or information.

In some implementations, determining the dispersion of at least the portion of the group account balances to the users of the user groups may include dividing the group account balances evenly between the users of the respective user groups. In some implementations, the dispersion of at least the portion of the group account balances to the users of the user groups may include dividing the group account balances proportionally (based on distribution gains of the users committed by the group agreement) between the users.

The group agreements may specify and/or select trigger events that may cause the dispersion of the group account balances to the users within the respective user groups. The trigger events may determine a time that the user groups are dispersed the portion of the group account balances. By way of non-limiting example, the trigger events may include recorded transactions, particular ones of the recorded transactions, a particular amount of the transactions, a particular amount of a given transaction (e.g., 10 exchanges of digital assets), the group account balance reaching a predefined amount, a reoccurring a predefined time (e.g., every 15thday of a month), and/or other trigger events.

Server(s)102may be configured to communicate with one or more client computing platforms104according to a client/server architecture and/or other architectures. Client computing platform(s)104may be configured to communicate with other client computing platforms via server(s)102and/or according to a peer-to-peer architecture and/or other architectures. Users may access system100via client computing platform(s)104.

In some implementations, system100and/or decentralized ledger server(s)122may be configured to communicate with one or more of online gaming platform(s)105, users123, and/or other components. Users123may include players who play and/or otherwise interact on online gaming platform105.

Decentralized ledger server(s)122may include one or more of electronic storage134a, processor(s)136a, machine-readable instructions106a, blockchain117, and/or other components. Machine-readable instructions106amay include one or more instruction components. The instruction components may include computer program components. The instruction components may include one or more of an instructions component124and/or other instruction components.

In some implementations, blockchain117may be maintained by a distributed computing platform (not shown inFIG.1). In some implementations, the distributed computing platform may be implemented by a set of client computing platforms and/or servers (including, for example, one or more decentralized ledger servers122). The distributed computing platform may support a virtual machine (not shown inFIG.1). The distributed computing platform and/or the virtual machine may form a runtime environment for smart contracts and/or other executable code. In some implementations, the distributed computing platform may include electronic storage configured to store part or all of blockchain117. The smart contracts may be stored on blockchain117. In some implementations, the distributed computing platform may be the EOSIO platform. In some implementations, the distributed computing platform may be Ethereum. In some implementations, the distributed computing platform may be similar to Ethereum. In some implementations, the virtual machine may be a decentralized virtual machine.

Server(s)102may include electronic storage134, processor(s)136, machine-readable instructions106, and/or other components. Processor(s)136amay be similar to processor(s)136as described elsewhere in this disclosure, though included in decentralized ledger servers122. Machine-readable instructions106amay be similar to machine-readable instructions106as described elsewhere in this disclosure, though included in decentralized ledger servers122. Server(s)102may be configured by machine-readable instructions106. Machine-readable instructions106may include one or more instruction components. The instruction components may include computer program components. The instruction components may include one or more of a game component107, administrative interface component108, presentation effectuation component110, instruction initiation component114, activity execution component120, instructions component124, user behavior monitoring component128, and/or other instruction components.

In some implementations, game component107may be configured to execute, via online gaming platform105, an instance of a game. The instance of the game may facilitate presentation of the game to users123. For example, the instance of the game may be an online game executed with online gaming platform105. Game component107may be configured to implement in-game actions in the instance of the game in response to action requests for the in-game actions by the users. In some implementations, game component107may be arranged, organized, and/or otherwise included in online gaming platform105. As used herein, the term “game” may refer to one or more games within gaming platform105. In some implementations, the game may be provided via a virtual space, and may include a plurality of resource types and/or maps.

The presentation of the game may be based on the views of the game that are determined during execution of the game. In some implementations, the view may be communicated (e.g., by streaming, via object/position data, and/or other information) from decentralized ledger server(s)122and/or other sources to client computing platforms104for presentation to users123. The view determined and transmitted to a given client computing platform104may 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. In some implementations, one or more view parameters may be selectable by a user.

The instance of the game may include a simulated space that is accessible by users123by clients (e.g., client computing platforms104) 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 users123, and/or include one or more objects positioned within the topography that are capable of locomotion and/or movement within the topography. In some implementations, the topography may be a 2-dimensional topography. In some implementations, the topography may be a 3-dimensional topography. The topography may include dimensions of the simulated space, and/or surface features of a surface or objects that are native to the simulated space. In some implementations, the topography may include a surface (e.g., a ground surface) that runs through at least a substantial section of the simulated space. In some implementations, the topography may describe a volume with one or more bodies positioned therein. The instance executed by the computer components may be synchronous, asynchronous, and/or semi-synchronous.

Within the instance of the game, users123may control characters, objects, simulated physical phenomena, and/or other elements within the virtual space to interact with the virtual space and/or each other. The user characters may include avatars. As used herein, the term “user character” may refer to an object or group of objects present in the virtual space, that correspond(s) to an individual user. A particular user character may be controlled by the particular user with which it is associated. Such user characters may be referred to as user-controlled characters. 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, etc.). User-controlled elements controlled by and/or associated with a given user may be created and/or customized by the given user. Individual users123may have an “inventory” of virtual goods and currency (e.g., resources of the plurality of resource types) that the individual user can use (e.g., by manipulation of a user character and/or other user-controlled elements) and/or other items, to perform in-game actions within the virtual space. By way of non-limiting illustration, users123may include the first user and the second user that interact with online gaming platform105. The first user and the second user may control digital assets (e.g., characters) in a game hosted by online gaming platform105. In some implementations, user inventories may be managed using blockchain117. For example, ownership of individual virtual items included in an individual user inventory may be recorded on blockchain117. In some implementations, individual user inventories may correspond to individual smart contracts stored on blockchain117.

Administrative interface component108may be configured to effectuate presentation of administrative agreement interfaces112that enables administrators to define formation proposals and activity proposals. Administrative agreement interface112may be presented within or outside online gaming platforms105. Administrative agreement interface112may include one or more user interface elements. The user interface elements may be configured to facilitate user interaction with administrative agreement interface112, user entry, and/or selections to define the formation proposals and the activity proposals. By way of non-limiting example, the user interface elements may include one or more of text input fields, drop down menus, check boxes, display windows, virtual buttons, and/or other user interface elements.

The formation proposals may include new group agreements to be formed, a formation incentive to be provided upon formation of the new group agreements, users that are prospective participants of the new group agreements, and/or other information. The formation proposals may be suggestions of new group agreements that particular users are recommended to agree to/form. The particular users may be recommended to agree to/join the new group agreements by transmitting the formation to the particular users. Responsive to the formation of the group agreements, the formation incentives may be provided to the users that agreed to the new group agreements. Thus, users may be incentivized to agree to/join group agreements within online gaming platforms105.

The activity proposals may include proposed activities for users of the user groups governed by the group agreements already established. The activity proposals may further include activity incentives to be provided upon execution of the proposed activities. The activity proposals may be suggestions of particular activities that the users of the user groups (that are governed by the group agreements) are to execute and in return for execution, receive the activity incentives. Thus, the users that are already included in the user groups that are governed by the group agreements are incentivized to execute the proposed activities and/or change their behavior patterns within online gaming platforms105.

Administrative agreement interfaces112may enable the administrators to define the new group agreements. Defining the new group agreements of the formation proposals may include defining the distribution gains committed to group account balances associated with the new group agreements, a time for the dispersion of at least a portion of the group account balances to the users within the respective user groups, individual portions of the group account balances that are dispersed to the users, and/or other features of the new group agreements.

Administrative agreement interfaces112may enable the administrators to define the formation incentives that are responsive to formation of the new group agreements. The formation incentives may include one or more of contributions to the group account balances, matching the distribution gains that are committed to the group account balances, dispersing a direct bonus to the users within the respective user groups, and/or other formation incentives. The contributions to the group account balances may be in the form of a virtual currency. A contribution to match the distribution gains may be in the same form of the virtual currency of the distribution gains committed. In some implementations, the contribution to match the distribution gains may be in a different form of the virtual currency of the distribution gains committed. The direct bonus may be dispersed directly to the users. The direct bonus may include one or more of the virtual items (e.g., 50 tons of wood), the virtual currency, both, and/or other bonuses.

Administrative agreement interfaces112may enable the administrators to specify and/or select users that are prospective participants for the new group agreements defined. Prospective participants may refer to users that are likely to or suitable to join/agree to the new group agreements defined. In some implementations, the administrators may specify and/or select the users that are prospective participants by entering names of the users, usernames, avatar names, and/or other names associated with the users. In some implementations, specifying and/or selecting the users for the new group agreements may be limited to a particular amount of users (e.g., maximum of 20 users).

Administrative agreement interfaces112may enable the administrators to initiate transmission of formation proposals to client computing platforms104associated with the users that are the prospective participants. The formation proposals may correspond to the new group agreements and the formation incentives defined. The transmissions of the formation proposals may be initiated by selection of a particular one of the user interface elements (e.g., a virtual button) that executions transmission of the formation proposals. The formation proposals may be transmitted to respectively client computing platforms104via network113.

By way of non-limiting illustration, a given formation proposal may propose formation of a given group agreement between a given set of users. The given set of users may be prospective participants for the given group agreement. The given formation proposal may further propose a given formation incentive upon formation of the given group agreement.

Administrative agreement interfaces112may enable the administrators to specify and/or select proposed activities for the user groups. The user groups may already be governed by respective group agreements. By way of non-limiting example, the proposed activities for the user groups may include one or more of modifying the group agreements, recruiting new users to online gaming platform105, referring other users to join the user groups, and/or other proposed activities. Modifying the group agreements may include one or more of modifying the trigger events, modifying the distribution gains committed to the group account balances associated with the user groups, modifying the user groups (i.e., the users of the user groups, e.g., removing or adding users), and/or other modifications to the group agreements. In some implementations, participating users may be prompted to agree to modifications of group agreements. For example, in some implementations, a particular user may opt in and/or opt out a modified group agreement.

Some of the proposed activities may cause changes in behavior patterns of the users of the user groups. Behavior patterns may include actions performed by the users within a virtual space of a game. The user behavior patterns may include individual ones of the actions, sets of actions, ordered sets of actions, and/or multiple of the individual actions, the sets of actions, and the ordered set of actions. The actions may include one or more of a purchase, a sale, a trade, a selection of a user interface element, time spent on a particular user interface, amount of time of sessions of the game, times of the sessions of the game (e.g., 9 PM to 12 AM), engagement with virtual content, communication of the users with particular users, completion of tasks by the users or lack thereof, failure of tasks by the users, frequent interaction with the virtual items, formation of alliances by the users, and/or other actions performed by the users.

The changes in the behavior patterns caused by proposed activities may include increasing time spent on online gaming platform105, playing the game via online gaming platform105during a particular time of day (e.g., 8 PM to 10 PM), in-game victories frequency (e.g., winning 60% of games played), changes in the individual actions of the users, the sets of actions, the ordered sets of actions, and/or other changes in the behavior patterns. In some implementations, administrative agreement interfaces112may enable the administrators to specify the changes in the behavior patterns so that the user groups may perform the behavior patterns and/or activities (e.g., same as the proposed activities) to achieve the behavior patterns. In some implementations, some of the user interface elements may facilitate the selection and/or entry of one or more of the behavior patterns to change via the proposed activities and/or other ones of the actions by the users.

In some implementations, the proposed activities may be for execution by a particular user of a user group. By way of non-limiting illustration, all activities of a given set of activities may be for execution by a particular user of a given user group. In some implementations, individual ones of the proposed activities may be for execution by an individual particular user. By way of non-limiting illustration, individual ones of the given set of the activities may be for execution by particular users of the given user group. For example, the given user group may include a first user and a second user. The given set of activities may include a first activity and a second activity. The first activity may be for execution by the first user and the second activity may be for execution by the second user.

Administrative agreement interfaces112may enable the administrators to specify and/or select activity incentives for the proposed activities. The activity incentives may be the same as or similar to the formation incentives and/or other activity incentives different from the formation incentives. The activity incentives may encourage the users to execute the proposed activities and/or the changes in the behavior patterns.

Administrative agreement interfaces112may enable the administrators to initiate transmission of the activity proposals to client computing platforms104associated with the users of the user groups. The activity proposals may correspond to the proposed activities and the activity incentives specified by the administrators. The transmissions of the activity proposals may be initiated by selection of a particular one of the user interface elements (e.g., a virtual button). The activity proposals may be transmitted to respectively client computing platforms104via network113.

By way of non-limiting illustration, a given activity proposal may propose the given set of activities to the users of the given user group and a given activity incentive.

In some implementations, administrative agreement interface112may enable selection and/or entry of one or more of the behavior patterns for user behavior monitoring component128to determine particular ones of the users that perform those one or more behavior patterns. For example, particular ones of the user interface elements may facilitate the selection or entry of the behavior patterns. By way of non-limiting illustration, a first administrator may select a first behavior pattern.

User behavior monitoring component128may be configured to monitor the behavior patterns of the users of online gaming platforms105to determine the users that perform the behavior patterns (selected or entered) within online gaming platforms105. The user behaviors may be monitored in an ongoing manner. The term “ongoing manner” as used herein may refer to continuing to perform an action (e.g., monitor) periodically (e.g., every 30 seconds, every minute, every hour, etc.) until receipt of an indication to terminate. For example, the indication to terminate may include powering off client computing platform104, selection by individual users to opt-out of their behavior patterns being monitored, and/or other indications of termination. By way of non-limiting illustration, the given set of the users may be determined to perform the first behavior pattern.

In some implementations, effectuating the presentation of the activity proposal may be based on the one or more behavior patterns selected and the users determined to perform the one or more behavior patterns. By way of non-limiting illustration, the given set of the users may be presented the given activity proposal based on the determination that the given set of the users perform the first behavior pattern.

In some implementations, administrative agreement interface112may enable selection and/or entry of one or more of the bonus benefits for the users within the user groups, a bonus trigger that causes dispersion of the bonus benefits, a message, and/or other information. Particular ones of the user interface elements may facilitate such selection and/or entry (e.g., text boxes, dropdown menus, etc.). The bonus benefits may be added incentives for the user groups or particular users of the user groups to form the new group agreements or execute the proposed activities in accordance with the formation proposals and the activity proposals, respectively.

For example, in some implementations, the bonus benefit may be one or more of an additional contribution to the group account balances of the respective user groups, a virtual item dispersed to the users, virtual currency dispersed to the users, and/or other bonus benefits. The bonus triggers may include particular ones of the recorded transactions, a particular amount of the transactions, a particular amount of a particular transaction (e.g., 10 trades of digital assets), the group account balance reaching a predefined amount within a predefined amount of time, and/or other bonus triggers. In some implementations, the bonus trigger that causes the dispersion of the bonus benefits may be the same as the trigger events so that the bonus benefits are dispersed at the same time as the dispersion of the group account balances. In some implementations, the bonus benefits may be dispersed only once. That is, the bonus benefits may be dispersed at a first occurrence of a trigger event and not dispersed at every occurrence of the trigger event. In some implementations, the bonus trigger may be different than the trigger events. In some implementations, the bonus benefits may be dispersed to all of the users of the respective user groups. In some implementations, the bonus benefits may be dispersed individually to particular ones of the users of the user groups.

For example, a given trigger event that causes dispersion of a given group account balance associated with the given user group may be the given group account balance reaching $500. A given bonus trigger that causes dispersion of a given bonus benefit may be the given group account balance reaching $500 in 5 days or less. The given bonus benefit may be an additional $50 for each user of the given user group. Thus, in some implementations, the dispersion of the group account balances to the users to the respective user groups may include the bonus benefit. The message may provide information related to the bonus trigger. That is, the message may include the bonus trigger to describe the dispersion of the bonus benefit (e.g., “The given group account balance reached $500 in 4 days”).

In some implementations, presentation effectuation component110may be configured to generate the formation proposals and the activity proposals based on the respective definitions and specifications entered by the administrators. That is, for example, the given formation proposal may be generated based on the given group agreement, the given formation incentive, and/or other information.

Presentation effectuation component110may be configured to effectuate presentation of the formation proposals and the activity proposals. The presentations may be effectuated via the online gaming platforms105to respective client computing platforms104. By way of non-limiting illustration, the given formation proposal may be presented to client computing platforms104associated with the given set of the users and the given activity proposal may be presented to client computing platforms104associated the users of the given user group.

In some implementations, presentation effectuation component110may be configured to effectuate, via online gaming platforms105, presentation of the message that provides the information related to the bonus trigger. In some implementations, the presentation of the message may be effectuated at the time of the dispersion.

Instruction initiation component114may be configured to receive indications of acceptance to form the new group agreements. The indications of acceptance may be received from client computing platforms104associated with the users that are the prospective participants. The indications of acceptance may be received from client computing platforms104via network113. By way of non-limiting illustration, a given indication of acceptance may be received from client computing platform104associated with a user from the given set of users to form the given group agreement in accordance with the given formation proposal.

Instruction initiation component114may be configured to generate sets of instructions to form the new group agreements as smart contracts. The sets of instructions may be generated responsive to receipt of the indications of acceptance. In some implementations, the smart contracts may be added to blockchain117implemented by decentralized ledger server122. For example, a blockchain, such as blockchain117, is a type of ledger, as well as a type of decentralized database that records rights pertaining to digital assets, transactions, and/or other information.

By way of non-limiting illustration, a given set of instructions may be generated to form the given group agreement as a given smart contract. Instruction initiation component114may be configured to transfer the generated sets of instructions to decentralized ledger server122for recording on blockchain117. By way of non-limiting illustration, the given set of instructions may be transferred to decentralized ledger server122.

Instruction initiation component114may be configured to provide the formation incentives to the respective set of the users in accordance with the formation proposals. The formation incentives may be provided subsequent to generation of the sets of instructions. By way of non-limiting illustration, subsequent to generation of the given set of instructions, the given formation incentive may be provided to the given set of the users in accordance with the given formation proposal. For example, a given contribution of virtual currency may be added to a group account balance associated with the given group agreement newly formed.

Activity execution component120may be configured to receive information indicating execution of the activities. The information may be received from online gaming platforms105. By way of non-limiting illustration, particular information may be received from online gaming platform105that indicates execution of the given set of the activities by the users of the given user group.

Activity execution component120may be configured to provide, responsive to the receipts of the information indicating the executions, the activity incentives to the users of the respective user groups in accordance with the activity proposals. By way of non-limiting illustration, the given activity incentive may be provided to the users of the given user group in accordance with the given activity proposal responsive to the receipt of the particular information.

Instructions component124of decentralized ledger server122may be configured to receive the sets of instructions. Subsequently, instructions component124may be configured to execute the sets of instructions to record the new group agreements on blockchain117as the smart contracts. By way of non-limiting illustration, the given set of instructions may be received and executed to record the given smart contract on blockchain117. In some implementations, once a smart contract has been added to a blockchain, the smart contract may be referred to as published, posted, registered, and/or recorded.

Elements of blockchain117may be grouped together in units that are referred to as blocks. For example, an individual block may include one or more assets and one or more transactions. For example, an individual block may be linked to one or more other individual blocks. Individual blocks may be linked or chained together to form a structure of blocks and/or a hierarchy of blocks, such as, e.g., a chain of blocks. An individual block may include one or more assets, one or more transactions, and/or other information.

In some implementations, blockchain117may be publicly accessible and append-only. In some implementations, existing blocks of blockchain117can substantially not be altered or deleted, unless multiple copies are altered. This is unlikely to happen provided that the multiple copies stored on different computing platforms, e.g., in different geographical locations. Blockchain117may be replicated on multiple computing platforms, preferably in multiple different geographical locations. Additionally, individual blocks may be linked together in a manner that prevents tampering, such as, e.g., using a hash chain and/or digital signatures. In particular, hash values may be generated using fixed-output-length one-way hashing functions that take variable-length input, and may be effectively impossible (or, at least, computationally infeasible) to reverse. As such, a hashing function may provide one-way encryption. By way of non-limiting example, the hashing function may be SHA-256, BLAKE2, SHAKE256, and/or another hashing function. Contents of individual blocks, transactions, and/or assets may be digitally signed in a manner that proves integrity and/or prevents tampering, e.g., by providing authentication.

FIG.3A-Billustrates an example implementation of an agreement interface as may be used by system100, in accordance with one or more implementations.FIG.3Amay illustrate an administrative agreement interface300. Administrative agreement interface300may enable users to interact with formation proposal interface350to create formation proposals. Formation proposal interface350may include agreement section302and incentive section304. Agreement section302may enable an administrator to define a new group agreement. Defining the new group agreement via agreement section302may be facilitated by user interface elements that enable the administrator to specify distribution gains committed (e.g., all distribution gains), trigger events (e.g., $500 amount reached in group account balance), dispersion (e.g., equally divide the group account balance amongst users participating), and prospective participants for the new group agreement (e.g., user10,17,25, and6). Incentive section304may enable the administrator to select formation incentive(s) that may be provided to the prospective participants upon formation of the new group agreement (e.g., contribute $100 to the group account balance). The user interface elements may include a custom/other option that may enable the administrator to define an option not presented. Formation proposal interface350may include a virtual button306that initiates transmission of the formation proposals to the prospective participants specified in agreement section302.

FIG.3Bmay illustrate an administrative agreement interface300that same asFIG.3B. Administrative agreement interface300(the same asFIG.3A) may enables users to interact with activity proposal interface352to create activity proposals. Activity proposal interface352may include activities section312and incentive section314. Activities section312may enable an administrator to specify proposed activities for users of a user group (e.g., governed by group agreement800) to execute. Specifying the proposed activities via activities section312may be facilitated by user interface elements (e.g., recruit 5 new users and refer 5 users to join the user group checkboxes). Incentive section314may include user interface elements that enable the administrator to select activity incentive(s) to be provided to the user group upon execution of the proposed activities specified in activities section312(e.g., direct dispersion of virtual item). Incentive section314may include an option313to add a bonus benefit and bonus trigger for the bonus benefit. The user interface elements may include a custom/other option that may enable the administrator to define an option not presented. Activity proposal interface352may include a virtual button316that initiates transmission of the activity proposals to the user(s) of the user group in accordance with a recipient section318. Recipient section318may include user interface elements to enable the administrator to select to send the activity proposal to all the users in the user group or particular users of the user group.

FIG.3Cillustrates administrative agreement interface300the same as inFIG.3A-Bthat enables an administrator502to select formation option320and activity option322. Selection of formation option320may open formation proposal interface350ofFIG.3A. Selection of activity option322may open activity proposal interface352ofFIG.3B.

FIGS.4A-4Billustrate exemplary blockchains as may be used by a system configured for operating a bridge server to support multiple shards of blockchains, in accordance with one or more implementations.FIG.4Aillustrates a blockchain117athat includes a block0, a block1, and a block2. As time progresses, more blocks may be added to blockchain117a. The blocks within blockchain117aare ordered. In block0, three assets (indicated by a capital “A”) are generated and/or assigned to three users or participants: a first digital asset, Ax, is assigned to user i (Ui), a second digital asset, Ay, is assigned to user j (Ui), and a third digital asset, Az, is assigned to user k (Uk).

For example, the assets in block0may be individual distribution rights recorded for particular digital assets within an online gaming platform. Block1is connected to block0(as indicated by a link30a), for example by including an address of block1in block0, or vice versa. Likewise, block1is connected to block2, as indicated by a link30b.

In block1, a smart contract41(indicated by a capital “S”) is recorded and/or posted. For example, smart contract41may have been generated by a component similar to instructions component124, and may have been posted to blockchain117aby a component similar to instructions component124(shown inFIG.1). Smart contract41may define a group agreement G. In some implementations, smart contract41may be recorded on a distributed blockchain as soon as all participants are known and/or have accepted. In some implementations, smart contract41may be recorded on a distributed blockchain subsequent to all participants being known and have accepted, and the particular details regarding the distribution gains, the dispersion, and trigger events being defined and agreed upon. Group agreements posted may be associated with an individual group account balance (indicated by a capital “B”). Group agreement G may be associated with a group account balance, BG, in block1(illustrated as being separate from smart contract41, though in some implementations, group balance BGmay be embedded within and/or otherwise part of smart contract41).

In block2, a smart contract42(indicated by a capital “S”) is posted. For example, smart contract42may have been generated by a component similar to instructions component124, and may have been recorded on blockchain117aby a component similar to instructions component124(shown inFIG.1). Smart contract42may define a new group agreement N. New group agreement N may be associated with a group account balance, BN, in block2(illustrated as being separate from smart contract42, though in some implementations, group balance BNmay be embedded within and/or otherwise part of smart contract42).

FIG.4Billustrates a blockchain117bthat includes the same blocks as blockchain117aofFIG.4A, plus additional blocks (block3, block4) that have been appended to the blockchain. Block3may be connected to block2(as indicated by a link30c), and block4may be connected to block3(as indicated by a link30d).

Block3includes a transaction (indicated by a capital “T”): a first transaction. The first transaction may be a contribution from an administrator a to group account balance BGresponsive to a user group governed by SGexecuting proposed activities included in an activity proposal transmitted to the user group, presented to the user group, and accepted by the user group. For example, the activity proposal may have been specified and transmitted to the user group by administrator a.

In block4, upon occurrence of at least one trigger event as defined by SG, at least a portion of group account balance BGmay be dispersed (indicated by a capital “D”). For example, group account balance BGmay be evenly divided and dispersed amongst user i, user j, and user k who are included in the user group. In some implementations, dispersements and/or disbursements may be implemented as transactions recorded on blockchain117b, e.g., depicted as T(BG→Ui), and so forth. In some implementations, dispersements and/or disbursements may be implemented by autonomous transfers that are initiated by smart contract41(e.g., in case group balance BNis held by smart contract41). For example, such transfers may be triggered when user behavior monitoring component128monitors particular activities that have been incentivized by a group agreement, and instructions component124receives one or more instructions that invoke one or more functions of smart contract41(through blockchain addresses that correspond to the functions of smart contract41that effectuate the autonomous transfers). As used herein, a transfer may be autonomous if initiated without manual intervention from a user or administrator, but automatically as defined by a smart contract.

Referring toFIG.1, in some implementations, server(s)102, client computing platform(s)104, and/or external resources132may 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 server(s)102, client computing platform(s)104, and/or external resources132may be operatively linked via some other communication media.

A given client computing platform104may include one or more processors configured to execute computer program components. The computer program components may be configured to enable an expert or user associated with the given client computing platform104to interface with system100and/or external resources132, and/or provide other functionality attributed herein to client computing platform(s)104. By way of non-limiting example, the given client computing platform104may 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.

External resources132may include sources of information outside of system100, external entities participating with system100, and/or other resources. In some implementations, some or all of the functionality attributed herein to external resources132may be provided by resources included in system100.

Server(s)102may include electronic storage134, one or more processors136, and/or other components. Server(s)102may include communication lines, or ports to enable the exchange of information with a network and/or other computing platforms. Illustration of server(s)102inFIG.1is not intended to be limiting. Server(s)102may include a plurality of hardware, software, and/or firmware components operating together to provide the functionality attributed herein to server(s)102. For example, server(s)102may be implemented by a cloud of computing platforms operating together as server(s)102.

Electronic storage134may comprise non-transitory storage media that electronically stores information. The electronic storage media of electronic storage134may include one or both of system storage that is provided integrally (i.e., substantially non-removable) with server(s)102and/or removable storage that is removably connectable to server(s)102via, for example, a port (e.g., a USB port, a firewire port, etc.) or a drive (e.g., a disk drive, etc.). Electronic storage134may 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 storage134may include one or more virtual storage resources (e.g., cloud storage, a virtual private network, and/or other virtual storage resources). Electronic storage134may store software algorithms, information determined by processor(s)136, information received from server(s)102, information received from client computing platform(s)104, and/or other information that enables server(s)102to function as described herein.

Processor(s)136may be configured to provide information processing capabilities in server(s)102. As such, processor(s)136may 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 processor(s)136is shown inFIG.1as a single entity, this is for illustrative purposes only. In some implementations, processor(s)136may include a plurality of processing units. These processing units may be physically located within the same device, or processor(s)136may represent processing functionality of a plurality of devices operating in coordination. Processor(s)136may be configured to execute components107,108,110,114,120,124and/or128, and/or other components. Processor(s)136may be configured to execute components107,108,110,114,120,124and/or128, and/or other components by software; hardware; firmware; some combination of software, hardware, and/or firmware; and/or other mechanisms for configuring processing capabilities on processor(s)136. As used herein, the term “component” may refer to any component or set of components that perform the functionality attributed to the component. This may include one or more physical processors during execution of processor readable instructions, the processor readable instructions, circuitry, hardware, storage media, or any other components.

It should be appreciated that although components107,108,110,114,120,124and/or128are illustrated inFIG.1as being implemented within a single processing unit, in implementations in which processor(s)136includes multiple processing units, one or more of components107,108,110,114,120,124and/or128may be implemented remotely from the other components. The description of the functionality provided by the different components107,108,110,114,120,124and/or128described below is for illustrative purposes, and is not intended to be limiting, as any of components107,108,110,114,120,124and/or128may provide more or less functionality than is described. For example, one or more of components107,108,110,114,120,124and/or128may be eliminated, and some or all of its functionality may be provided by other ones of components107,108,110,114,120,124and/or128. As another example, processor(s)136may be configured to execute one or more additional components that may perform some or all of the functionality attributed below to one of components107,108,110,114,120,124and/or128.

FIG.2illustrates a method200to enable administrators to incentivize one or both of particular in-game user behaviors and particular in-game user activities via group agreements that govern user groups within an online game, in accordance with one or more implementations. The operations of method200presented below are intended to be illustrative. In some implementations, method200may 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 method200are illustrated inFIG.2and described below is not intended to be limiting.

In some implementations, method200may 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 method200in 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 method200.

An operation202may include effectuating presentation of an administrative agreement interface that enables administrators to define formation proposals, define activity proposals, specify (prospective) users for the formation proposals, and specify user groups for the activity proposals (as previously described inFIG.1). The prospective users may be users that are prospective participants of new group agreements defined by the administrators via the administrative agreement interface. The formation proposals may define a new group agreement and include formation incentives. The activity proposals may define proposed activities and include activity incentives. Operation202may be performed by one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readable instructions including a component that is the same as or similar to administrative interface component108, in accordance with one or more implementations.

An operation204may include initiating transmission of formation proposals and activity proposals to client computing platforms of respective users. That is, transmission of the formation proposals to client computing platforms associated with the prospective users is initiated and transmission of the activity proposals to client computing platforms of the users of the user groups is initiated. Operation204may be performed by one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readable instructions including a component that is the same as or similar to administrative interface component108, in accordance with one or more implementations.

An operation206may include effectuating, via an online gaming platform, presentation of the formation proposals and the activity proposals to the respective users. Operation206may be performed by one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readable instructions including a component that is the same as or similar to presentation effectuation component110, in accordance with one or more implementations.

An operation208may include receiving, from client computing platforms associated with the users that are prospective participants, indications of acceptance to form the group agreements in accordance with the formation proposals. Operation208may be performed by one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readable instructions including a component that is the same as or similar to instruction initiation component114, in accordance with one or more implementations.

An operation210may include generating, responsive to receipt of the indications of acceptance, sets of instructions to form the new group agreements as smart contracts. Operation210may be performed by one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readable instructions including a component that is the same as or similar to instruction initiation component114, in accordance with one or more implementations.

An operation212may include transferring the set of instructions to a decentralized ledger server. Operation212may be performed by one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readable instructions including a component that is the same as or similar to instruction initiation component114, in accordance with one or more implementations.

An operation214may include providing, subsequent to generation of the set of instructions, the formation incentives to the prospective users in accordance with the formation proposals. Operation214may be performed by one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readable instructions including a component that is the same as or similar to instruction initiation component114, in accordance with one or more implementations.

An operation216may include receiving, from the online gaming platform, information indicating execution of the activities the users of the user groups. Operation216may be performed by one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readable instructions including a component that is the same as or similar to activity execution component120, in accordance with one or more implementations.

An operation218may include providing, responsive to the receipt of the information, the activity incentives to the users of the user groups in accordance with the activity proposals. Operation218may be performed by one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readable instructions including a component that is the same as or similar to activity execution component120, in accordance with one or more implementations.

An operation220may include receiving and executing, by the decentralized ledger server, the sets of instructions to record the new group agreements on a blockchain as the smart contracts. Operation220may be performed by one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readable instructions including a component that is the same as or similar to instructions component124, in accordance with one or more implementations.

Although the present technology has 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 technology 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 technology 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.