US20080300045A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20080300045A1
Application number: US11/806,487
Authority: US
Inventors: Trey Ratcliff
Original assignee: JG Games Holdings LLC
Current assignee: ELECTRIC BAT INTERACTIVE LLC; JG Games Holdings LLC
Priority date: 2007-05-31
Filing date: 2007-05-31
Publication date: 2008-12-04
Also published as: WO2008151135A1

Abstract

A method and system is provided for operating prize-contest in a gaming space. In a virtual space associated with an online game having a plurality of participants, a prize-contest operation is conducted to promote a prize contest to the participants of the online game. At the completion of the prize-contest, information associated with the participants is updated based on the outcome of the prize-contest.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Disclosure

The inventions presented herein relate to methods and systems for conducting an electronic lottery. More specifically, the inventions relate to methods and systems offering and conducting an electronic lottery in a gaming environment.

2. Discussion of Related Art

The rapid growth in the Internet technologies and electronics has presented new ways to conduct transactions between business entities and individuals. Goods are now offered for sale over the Internet. Interested purchasers can view those goods through a variety of interfaces installed on various types of electronic devices.

Contests where contestants are offered the chance to win prizes have historically been and continue to be very popular. People love to enter contests to win prizes. Lotteries and sweepstakes are conducted all over the world. Typically, entering prize contests involves some manual process. Examples include bidding on an auction, buying a lottery ticket, and filling out a sweepstakes form.

These entry methods have several shortcomings. First, they often require a manual process. To make an entry, the contestants may need to, e.g., make a transit driving to a location in order to, e.g., make a bid, submit a form, or buy a lottery ticket. Second, even when the applicants do not need to make a transit drive to submit a form, it is often required that the applicants mail the filled form to a specific address. Third, in conventional lottery systems, the contestants are usually not provided with feedback unless he or she is at least one of the winners. The participants who do not win are usually ignored.

There is recently a new electronic means for entering prize contests via a mobile phone. Prize contest organizers offer or advertise a prize or a series of prizes via mobile phones to the phone users. For example, the contest organizer may correspond to the phone service provider. To advertise, the contest organizer may broadcast a text message to all of its users. The contest organizer may also broadcast a voice message to its users. When a mobile phone user receives the message, text or voice, and is interested in entering the contest, the user can send a message via a short message service (SMS) to a particular address, usually indicated in the advertisement from the contest organizer. Upon receiving the user's SMS message, the user is automatically entered into the contest. In such a scheme, the entry fee for a participant, who is a mobile phone user, may be charged to his/her mobile phone service account. Via the same mechanism, after one or more winners are selected, the contest organizer then announces the outcome through either the text message means or voice message means.

The business model behind this mobile-SMS entry technique is quite simple. The contest organizer may offer, for example, a trip to Hawaii. If the trip may cost the contest organizer $1000 and the number of participants is 5,000 each with a $2 entrance fee, the contest organizer can still make a sizable profit margin after paying the costs associated with the contest such as the advertising and operational expense.

This SMS-mobile prize contest method has several shortcomings. It is often not easy for a mobile phone user to enter a contest unless the user knows how to send an SMS message. In addition, quite a high percentage of mobile users may be afraid to enter a contest in such a manner because they may not have trust in the company offering the prize. Furthermore, people may not have enough credit on their mobile account to pay for the required entry fee. As in case of the conventional prize contest, participants are rarely informed when they do not actually win.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The inventions claimed and/or described herein are further described in terms of exemplary embodiments. These exemplary embodiments are described in detail with reference to the drawings. These embodiments are non-limiting exemplary embodiments, in which like reference numerals represent similar structures throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1adepicts an exemplary framework in which a prize-contest operation is performed in a gaming or chat-room environment, according to an embodiment of the present teaching;

FIG. 1bdepicts a different exemplary framework in which a prize-contest operation is performed in a gaming or chat-room environment, according to an embodiment of the present teaching;

FIG. 1cdepicts an exemplary framework in which a prize-contest operation is performed in a gaming or chat-room environment via a service provider, according to an embodiment of the present teaching;

FIG. 2 illustrates exemplary types of prizes, according to an embodiment of the present teaching;

FIG. 3 depicts exemplary interconnections between a game/chat-room operator and a prize-contest operator, according to different embodiments of the present teaching;

FIG. 4 illustrates exemplary types of information stored in a prize-contest system, according to an embodiment of the present teaching;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in which a player in a gaming/chat-room environment participates in a prize contest, according to an embodiment of the present teaching;

FIG. 6ais a flowchart of an exemplary process in which a game/chat-room operator facilitates a player to participate in a prize-contest conducted in a gaming or chat-room environment, according to an embodiment of the present teaching;

FIG. 6bis a flowchart of a different exemplary process in which a game/chat-room operator facilitates a player to participate in a prize-contest conducted in a gaming or chat-room environment, according to an embodiment of the present teaching;

FIG. 7ais a flowchart of an exemplary process in which a prize-contest operator facilitates a player to participate in a prize-contest conducted in a gaming or chat-room environment, according to an embodiment of the present teaching;

FIG. 7bis a flowchart of a different exemplary process in which a prize-contest operator facilitates a player to participate in a prize-contest conducted in a gaming or chat-room environment, according to an embodiment of the present teaching;

FIG. 8ais a flowchart of an exemplary process in which a third-party service provider facilitates interactions between a game/chat-room operator and a prize-contest operator to enable a prize-contest in a gaming or chat-room environment, according to an embodiment of the present teaching; and

FIG. 8bis a flowchart of a different exemplary process in which a third-party service provider facilitates interactions between a game/chat-room operator and a prize-contest operator to enable a prize-contest in a gaming or chat-room environment, according to an embodiment of the present teaching.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Online games are, nowadays, a popular platform for people to play and interact. For example, in addition to providing a game playing place, most online game operators also provide a chat system. Although most of such a chat system is mainly a text-based system, it can also be or coupled with a voice-based system. Many gamers often do not just participate in online gaming but also take part in game chat with other people who are also online. For this reason, in this disclosure, the words “user”, “gamer”, and “player” may be used interchangeably.

In an online gaming environment, a prize contest operation may be performed.FIG. 1adepicts anexemplary framework100 in which a prize-contest operation is performed in a gaming or chat-room environment, according to an embodiment of the present teaching. Theframework100 comprises agroup110 of a plurality of gamers110-a,110-b, . . . ,110-c, agroup120 of one or more games120-a,120-b, . . . ,120-c, agroup130 of one or more chat rooms130-a,130-b, . . . ,130-c, agame system140, and a prize-contest system160. In this illustratedframework100, thegame system140 has control over the operation of thegames120, the operation of thechat rooms130, as well as theprice contest system160. In addition, thegame system140 may have control over information associated with thegamers110.

In theframework100, garners in110 may sign up with thegame system140 and have access to different games in120 and chat rooms in130. In some embodiments, each chat room in130 may be associated with a particular game or with multiple games in120. In some embodiments, multiple chat sessions may be associated with a particular game. Chat sessions may take place based on a number of different groupings. Gamers who are active in one area of the game may chat only with people in that area, while garners in a different area may chat with people in that different area. Accordingly, chatting may be segmented into private groups. One group of garners may create a special channel, where their chatting is kept private and not exposed to other groups. There may also be public channels where people can chat with a variety of groups of people. In addition, there may be a global chat room, where people can chat with anyone.

Each gamer may participate in just one chat session or in multiple chat sessions simultaneously. Thegame system160 that hosts the game and the associated chat rooms may have certain properties and may impose certain requirements on the gamers. Thegame system160 may require each player to have an active account with the game operator. Thegame system160 may also monitor who the players are at any particular time. For example, the game operator in thegame system160 may record who is logged into which game and when.

In theframework150, theprize contest system170 is part of and controlled by thegame system160. Theprize contest system170 may invite gamers, either during a game or while chatting, to participate in a prize contest. Theprize contest system170 may initiate such operations when thegame system160 determines an appropriate time. In some embodiments, it may be theprize contest system170 that determines such an appropriate time and then obtains an approval from thegame system160 before proceeding to the operation.

To invite garners to participate in a prize contest, theprize contest system170 may broadcast or send through thegame system160 one or more messages to all or a subgroup of garners in a targeted area (e.g., either in a game or a chat room). Each message may be directed to a subgroup of the targeted garners and may correspond to a different prize contest. The prize contest invitation sent to a gamer may be determined according to different considerations. For example, it may be determined based on the game in which the gamer is playing. It may also be determined based on the group of garners associated with the chat room or the subject matter the garners in a particular chat room chat about which may require intelligent detection of such subject matter on the fly. In some embodiments, the determination may also be made based on the demographics of the gamer such as the personal profile of the gamer, preference of the gamer, etc.

The participants in each game or each chat room may be classified into one or more target groups based on the above mentioned criteria. Theprize contest system170 may send each target group a message offering the opportunity for the participants in that target group to enter into a contest that is determined to be appropriate to that target group. That is, different garners participating in the same game or in the same chat room may receive and view a different message inviting an entrance to an individually selected prize contest.

There may be different types of prizes.FIG. 2 illustrates exemplary types ofprizes200, according to an embodiment of the present teaching. A prize may correspond to avirtual prize220 or a real-world prize230. A virtual prize may correspond to a virtual item only to be used in a virtual world, such as a new set of virtual tires or a virtual sword. Avirtual prize220 may include a gamespecific award240 or a non-gamespecific award250. The gamespecific award240 may include a particular component or tool that is useful in playing a particular game. For instance, a car engine in a car racing game may be such a game specific award.

The non-gamespecific award250 may include some virtual article that can be generally useful to a gamer in a manner that is not specific to a game. For example, a virtual non-slippery joystick can be a useful tool that can be applied in many different games such as a car racing game, airplane flying game, or a star wars game. A virtual award may correspond to a virtual item only to be used in the game, such as a new set of virtual tires or a virtual sword, a set of virtual items, a month of free online service, a set amount of online credits.

Thereal world award230 includes awards that are useful in real life, whether tangible or intangible. For example, acash award260 is an award that has practical use in real world day-to-day life. In addition,goods270 awarded to a gamer such as a cooking pot also has practical use. There may be other types of awards in the category of real-world awards such as a car, a trip, a music player, or a certificate to a restaurant.

The contest-prize system may comprise a database that lists at least one prize with a description, e.g., the total number of entries for that prize, the conditions under which the prize will be awarded such as the date/time, the number of winners, etc. The prize contest system may retrieve appropriate information from the database to create an offering for the target group(s) of gamers. Every prize offering may include various descriptive elements such as a prize description, the criterion to enter, the conditions to be met to win the prize, the selection procedure, and the date/time the announcement of the winner(s) is to be made.

The invitation message sent by the prize contest system or the game system may be displayed on a gamer's screen. When a gamer, who is participating in the game or chat room views the displayed message, the gamer may elect to participate by accepting the invitation. In this case, the gamer may express the acceptance by simply clicking on the message or via other automatic means performed online by following the instructions in the invitation message.

Once a gamer expresses the acceptance to the invitation, the decision of entering the contest is sent to theprize contest system160, either directly or indirectly, so that the gamer can be automatically entered into the contest. When different garners who are invited to different contests elect to enter into these different contests, theprize contest system160 automatically, upon receiving the gamers' indication of acceptance, registers the individual garners with the corresponding prize contests the individual garners were invited to enter.

Invitations to enter into a prize contest may have a specific cut-off date/time for entrance. At the closing date/time, theprize contest system160 may process information associated with all the participants to prepare for the selection of winner(s) according to certain criteria or conditions set forth in the invitations. The selection may be made based on information about the participants. In this case, it is more like a contest. The selection may also be made on a random basis, much like in a lottery system.

When one or more winners for a prize contest are chosen in a particular prize contest, theprize contest system160 proceeds to inform the winner(s) and losers. The notification is sent to only those who participated in this specific contest. Such participants may be garners from a single game or a single chat room and may or may not correspond to the entire population of the game or the chat room at the time of entering the contest. The fact that all participants come from the same game/chat room may be due to the fact that the invitation to enter the contest was sent at the time only to participants in a single game/chat room or because only the garners from this specific game/chat room decided to participate even though the invitation was sent to garners in other games/chat rooms. Theprize contest system160 may analyze the situation and record the result, e.g., whether a gamer who is interested in a specific game(s) is interested in which kind of prize contest. Such recorded information may serve as feedback to the prize contest system to help to determine, adaptively in the future, which gamers to invite to enter what kind(s) of prize contest.

Participants in a particular prize contest may also be from more than one game or chat room. Similarly, the participants from each game or chat room may constitute the entire population in that game or that chat room at the time the invitation was sent and the decision to enter was made. Theprize contest system160 may analyze the distribution of the participants as feedback for future adaptive decisions as to sending what kinds of contest invitations to which garners based on their likings expressed in the past.

The notification of winner/loser status of a participant may be sent individually to each participant. For example, theprize contest system160 may send a notification directed to a participant only when the prize contest system detects that the participant is presently online. Thus, different participants may receive their notifications at different times and in different settings in the game world. At the time the notification is sent, the participant may or may not be in the same game/chat room as the one the participant was in at the time the entry to the contest was made. To notify, theprize contest system160 may send a message to the gamer's display screen, whichever game/chat room the gamer is in at the time, to inform the gamer the outcome of the prize contest that he/she elected to enter previously.

Theprize contest system160 may record the outcome, e.g., winner or loser, of each participant for a prize contest. Theprize contest system160 may then proceed with other steps to implement the outcome of the contest. For example, for a winner, if the prize involves a virtual award such as a game tool, theprize contest system160 automatically updates or invokes thegame system140 to update the winner's inventory. If the contest award involves a real-world award, the prize contest system or the game system may automatically process papers that are needed for sending the real-world award to each winner gamer based on information about the winner gamer stored in the system (e.g., contact information such as home address, etc.). Such papers may subsequently be forwarded to some other service provider(s) or appropriate components within the game system (not shown in Figs.) to deliver the real-life award to the winner gamer.

Inframework100, thegame system140 is in full control of theprize contest system160 or theprize contest system160 is a subcomponent of thegame system140. Therefore, thegame system140 operates to control the interactions with the gamers, the game operations, and the chat room operations. In some embodiments, such controls may be channeled to theprize contest system160 when appropriate. In some embodiments, control of such interactions may be handed over from thegame system140 to theprize contest system160 temporarily when it is appropriate.

FIG. 1bdepicts a differentexemplary framework150, in which a prize-contest operation is performed in a gaming or chat-room environment, according to an embodiment of the present teaching. Theframework150 has the same components as those in theframework100, shown inFIG. 1a, except that the game system, labeled as165 here, and the prize contest system, labeled as170 here, are now two independent yet connected systems, operating in a separate but coordinated manner. Inframework150, thegame system165 may not be in full control of theprize contest system170 and theprize contest system170 is not a subcomponent of thegame system165.

Inframework150, thegame system165 and theprize contest system170 may coordinate to interact with the gamers, for either gaming or prize contest purposes. While thegame system165 may have control of the games and chat rooms, it may, either in its own initiative or upon request by theprize contest system170, temporarily hand over control to the prize contest system for operating the prize contests. That is, in some embodiments, such controls may be channeled from the game system to theprize contest system170 when appropriate. In some embodiments, controls of such interactions may be handed over when it is appropriate.

Inframework150, thegame system165 and theprize contest system170 are two separate systems, each of which may have independent access to the game and chat room environments, as shown inFIG. 1b. However, the two systems may communicate in order to coordinate their activities or operations. In theframework150, theprize contest system170 may still be a system that is directed to online gaming prize contests. Details of exemplary types of coordination are described in reference toFIGS. 6a,6b,7a, and7b.

FIG. 1cdepicts anexemplary framework190 in which a prize-contest operation is performed in a gaming or chat-room environment via a service provider, according to an embodiment of the present teaching. Theframework190 has substantially the same components as those in the

frameworks

100 and150, as shown inFIGS. 1aand1b, except that prize contests in the gaming environment are conducted via a third partyinter-operational service provider180 by offering garners prize contests enlisted by an independent prizecontest enlistment system172 through agame system165.

As depicted inFIG. 1c, thegame system165 now has control over the interactions with the gamers, the games, and the chat rooms. All operations and activities related to prize contests in the gaming or chat room environments are conducted through thegame system165. This includes updating a gamer winner's inventory according to the outcome of a prize contest. Although thegame system165 controls those aspects of the prize contest, thegame system165 may operate in a more passive manner because it may not control what prizes are offered, rules governing each prize contest, or selection of the winner, etc.

To facilitate online prize contests in a gaming environment, in this embodiment, thegame system165 may provide theinter-operational service provider180 information related to online gamers and other information needed to determine what prizes to offer to which gamers. In addition, thegame system165 may also update gamers' records according to the outcome of the prize contests conducted.

Theinter-operational service provider180 may act as a contest operator. For example, it may gather, from thegame system165, information useful in determining appropriate prize contest(s) given the population currently online in the gaming environment. Theinter-operational service provider180 may also acquire information from the prizecontest enlistment system172 on all contests enlisted that can be offered to gamers in an online gaming environment. Based on the information from thegame system165 and the information from the prizecontest enlistment system172, theinter-operational service provider180 may then determine prize contest(s) that are appropriate for garners currently online in the gaming environment operated by thegame system165.

A determination of which prize contests may be appropriate may be made based on an analysis of the online gamers' profiles, preferences, or other demographic data as well as the descriptions of the available prize contests provided by the prizecontest enlistment system172. Such descriptions may include the criteria for entrance, conditions to win, procedures to be followed during the contest, or the prizes and terms according to which the prizes are to be delivered. By matching the prize contests with the population currently online in the game environment operated by thegame system165, theinter-operational service provider180 may further make determinations as to which online garners are to be offered which prize contests to maximize the percentage of enrollment.

In some embodiments, theinter-operational service provider180 may select appropriate prize contests for thegame system165 without matching the contests with the gamers. For example, thegame system165 may contract with the inter-operational service provider to perform only that function so that thegame system165 can maintain more control as to how the prize contests are to be offered or conducted. In such situations, the game system may determine, based on its own considerations, whether to broadcast the contests to the entire online population or selectively broadcast to subgroups of online gamers.

In some embodiments, theinter-operational service provider180 may serve simply as a pass through agent. It may regularly check what prize contests are enlisted in the prizecontest enlistment system172 and select the ones that are appropriate for a gaming environment. If such contests are available, the inter-operational service provider may then pass on the information related to such relevant contests to thegame system165. The role played by theinter-operational service provider180 may vary depending on the contractual terms between the game system and the inter-operational service provider. For example, the role played by theinter-operational service provider180 may change depending on the size of the online gamer population. When the online gamer population is very small, theinter-operational service provider180 may play a role as a simple pass through agent. When the population exceeds a certain size, theinter-operational service provider180 may start to match available prize contests with online gamers. Such terms may be stipulated to maximize the efficiency in running the prize contests.

As described above, a player who is targeted to enter a prize contest, may enter a contest in a variety of ways. For example, the player may click on the contest-offering message itself or may click on a particular word or series of words in the offering message. The offering message may also include another address such as an address for a web page that lists all the prize contests offered at that time. In this case, the targeted gamer may follow the link for viewing other prize contests and subsequently may select one to enter. In some embodiments, the additional web page linked in the offering message may be operated by thegame system165. In some embodiments, the additional web page linked in the offering message may be operated by a third party service provider that is contracted with thegame system165 or theinter-operational service provider180.

Theinter-operational service provider180 may be connected to a plurality of prize contest enlistment systems (only one is shown inFIG. 1c). It may contract with both thegame system165 and the prize contest enlistment system to be paid to identify online prize contests for a gaming environment and the delivery thereof. The payment from thegame system165 and the prizecontest enlistment system172 may vary depending on the materialization of the contest and the economics of the contests conducted. For example, if theinter-operational service provider180 identifies an enlisted contest and passes the information thereof to thegame system165, theinter-operational service provider180 may be paid, by thegame system165, for the service for finding such information. When thegame system165 actually advertises the contest and there are garners enrolled in the contest, theinter-operational service provider180 may be paid by the prizecontest enlistment system172.

In different embodiments in which the online prize contests are conducted in a gaming environment, it may be required that an online gamer who elects to enter into an advertised contest have an active account that can be debited for the cost of entering into a contest. If such a gamer does not yet have an account at the time of electing the entrance, the gaming system (140 or165) may provide the option for the gamer to set up an account or make a payment to cover the entrance fee prior to registering the gamer with the contest. The account may be required to have certain features such as online debit, etc.

When a gamer elects to enter into a prize contest and acts to indicate so, various operations may be carried out to facilitate the rest of the activities.FIG. 3 depicts exemplary system interconnections between the game system and the prize-contest system, according to an embodiment of the present teaching. The game system may comprise agame operator320, achat room operator325, asystem administration340, and avarious databases345 storing different types of information needed to carry out the operations. Example types of information stored in the databases includedatabase350 for storing gamers' information,database355 for storing gamer's inventory information, adatabase360 for storing game logs, and adatabase365 for storing chat logs.

Thegame operator320 is responsible for running different games, e.g., game i310 as shown inFIG. 3. In each game, e.g., game i, there may be a plurality of gamers, e.g., the garners in305. Similarly, thechat room operator325 is responsible for running chat rooms, e.g., chat room j, and there may be a plurality of gamers, e.g., the gamers in335, in each chat room. Thegame operator320 and thechat room operator325 may independently have access to the databases in345. For instance, thegame operator320 may log a gamer in the game log when it detects that the gamer enters the game. Thechat room operator325 may access gamer's information whenever a gamer enters into the chat room.

Thegame operator320 and thechat room operator325 may interact with each other or with thesystem administrator340. Thesystem administrator340 may instruct the game and chat room operators to perform certain functions. For example, the system administrator may instruct thegame operator320 to broadcast an announcement to all garners that are online playing games. Thesystem administrator340 may, for example, analyze gamers' profiles and make determinations as to which garners should receive an advertisement for a particular prize contest. Thesystem administrator340 may also instruct thechat room operator325 to make the similar announcements to all garners who are participating in some chat rooms. Such announcements may be related to a prize contest to advertise or to invite the garners to enter into the contest.

Thegame operator320 and thechat room operator325 may also interact with theprize contest system370. For example, thechat room operator325 may send information to theprize contest system370 indicating which garners have decided to enter into a prize contest. The game operator may perform similar acts. There may be other interactions between the game system and the prize contest system. For example, the prize contest system may access information stored in the databases of the game system. Theprize contest system370 may also sometimes take control temporarily and interface with the gamers directly.

Theprize contest system370 may have its own prize contest system database, which stores information useful to facilitate operating prize contests. The prize contest system may determine the prize contest that is appropriate at certain time based on the information accessible from both thegame system database345 and the prizecontest system database375. For example, thegame system database345 may provide information that indicates not only who is presently online but also provide the profiles of these online gamers.

The prizecontest system database375 may provide information regarding available prize contests, including the entrance criteria, the conditions to win, the selection process, as well as the prize involved. By analyzing the description of the available prizes and the profiles of the online gamers, theprize contest system370 may determine which prize contests it should send to the game system so that the game system can advertise to the online gamers. When a plurality of prize contests are sent to the game system, the game system may further perform matching to determine which prize contests to advertise to which subgroups of online gamers.

FIG. 4 illustrates exemplary types of information stored in a prize-contest system, according to an embodiment of the present teaching. The prizecontest system database375 comprises agamer information database420, aprize database430, agamer activity log440, and agamer inventory database450. The information stored in the prize contest databases may relate to the prize contests. For example, thegamer information database420 may include information relating to the gamer's account information for, e.g., entry fee payment or for cash reward purposes. Theprize database430 stores descriptions related to all available prizes. The gamer'sactivity database440 and thegamer inventory database450 may record information useful to the prize contest system in making determination as to winners. They may also simply be duplicated copies of what is stored in the game system.

As discussed above, a gamer who elects to enter a prize contest may be required to provide account information and the account may be required to have some feature that allows a prize contest system or a game system to withdraw an entry fee from the account. For instance, it may be required for a gamer to have the ability to make “micropayments” out of the account. Micropayments are small electronic payments. By electing to make an entry in the contest-prize system, a gamer may either specify an account that can be used to pay the entry fee or may open an account for the same purpose. In this case, the entry fee is automatically charged or deducted from an existing balance. In some embodiments, the payment may be handled by sending the gamer a bill with a balance for the amount of the entrance fee.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in which a gamer in a gaming/chat-room environment participates a prize contest, according to an embodiment of the present teaching. The gamer may first log onto, at505, an online game and then enter, at510, a chat room associated with a game. The gamer may also first enter into, at510, a chat room and then, at505, log onto an online game. In some embodiments, the gamer may either simply log onto an online game at505 or simply enter into a chat room at510.

Either in an online game environment or in a chat room, the gamer observes, at515, a message offering a prize or a link for available prizes. At520, the gamer elects to enter the prize contest. If the gamer already has an account for making the required payment, determined at530, the gamer will receive a notification, at535, for account withdrawal to pay for the entry fee. If the gamer does not yet have an account at the time of the election, the gamer is requested, at525, for permission to set up such an account at525 and subsequently receives a notification for account withdrawal. The gamer then receives, at540, a notification of entrance into the prize contest. Subsequently, the gamer then receives another notification, at545, which reports the outcome of the prize contest, e.g., who is the winner, etc. If the gamer is a winner, the gamer receives, at550, a prize.

FIG. 6ais a flowchart of an exemplary process in which a game system facilitates a prize contest conducted in an online gaming or chat-room environment, according to an embodiment of the present teaching. The game system first establishes, at602, an information database about the gamers/players. When the game system receives, at604, requests from gamers to play or to enter the chat room, the game operator updates, at606, relevant databases/logs. To run a game or a chat room, the game system activates and monitors, at608, an online game or an online chat room. The game system may then check, at610, whether it is appropriate for a prize contest promotion. The game system may perform such check on a regular basis with some predetermined time interval or the check can be performed in a dynamic fashion, triggered by some event or observation such as inactive behavior of the gamers.

If the game system reaches the conclusion that it is not an appropriate time to run a prize contest promotion, the game system keeps monitoring the game/chat room at608. If it is decided that it is an appropriate time to run a prize contest promotion, the game system activates or invokes, at612, the prize contest system. When the game system receives, at614, a request from the prize contest system for handing over control, the game system hands over, at616, the control to the prize contest system. As discussed above, when the prize contest system receives control, it may broadcast a message to the online gamers, either the entire online population or one or more subgroups of the online population, to invite participation in the prize contest. It may also request the game system to do so (not shown). The prize contest system may also receive responses directly from the garners and receive the elections for entrance and register with the prize contest system. It may also request the game system to perform such acts and then the responses are channeled from the game system to the prize contest system:

The control hand-over from the game system to the prize contest system may be temporary so that when the game system receives, at618, a request from the prize contest system to hand back the control, the game system resumes control, at620, over the game/chat room. When the prize contest system concludes the prize contest, the game system may receive, at622, a request to update the inventory of a gamer winner according to the terms of the prize contest. In this case, the game system updates, at624, the inventory associated with the gamer winner based on the specification provided in the request.

FIG. 6bis a flowchart of a different exemplary process in which the game system facilitates a prize contest conducted in a gaming environment in a different operational mode, according to an embodiment of the present teaching. The game system operates in the same manner at steps652-658 as that described with respect to steps602-608 inFIG. 6a. At670, the game system receives a request from the prize contest system for running a prize contest promotion in the gaming environment. The game system then checks, at672, whether it is an appropriate time for a prize contest promotion. The game system may perform such check on a regular basis with some predetermined time interval or the check can be performed in a dynamic fashion, triggered by some event or observation such as inactive behavior of the gamers.

If the game system reaches the conclusion that it is not an appropriate time to run a prize contest promotion, the game system keeps monitoring the game/chat room at658. If it is decided that it is an appropriate time to run a prize contest promotion, the game system authorizes, at674, the prize contest system to proceed. The game system then grants permission, at676, to allow the prize contest system to access the game system's databases related to the gamers. With the authorization and permission, the prize contest system proceeds with various activities within the gaming environment to promote the prize contest, such as broadcasting offers for entering the prize contest and registering gamers who elect to participate, etc.

If the prize contest involves a prize associated with the gaming environment such as a virtual gaming tool, the game system receives, at678, a request for updating the inventory database for a gamer winner. The game system then updates, at680, the inventory associated with the gamer winner based on the specification provided in the request. As discussed above, when the prize contest system is given authorization, it may broadcast a message to the online gamers, either the entire online population or one or more subgroups of the online population, to invite participation in the prize contest. It may also request the game system to do so (not shown). The prize contest system may also receive responses directly from the gamers and receive the elections for entrance and register with the prize contest system. It may also request the game system to perform such acts and then the responses are channeled from the game system to the prize contest system.

FIG. 7ais a flowchart of an exemplary process in which a prize-contest operator facilitates a prize-contest conducted in a gaming environment, according to an embodiment of the present teaching. The prize contest system receives, at702, a request from the game/chat room operator to check whether any prize contest offering is available. If no prize contest is available, determined at704, the prize contest system does not respond or returns nothing to the game system. If any prize contest is available, the prize contest system sends, at706, a request to the game system to gain permission to access the online gamers' information. Based on the online gamers' information accessed, the prize contest system selects, at708, one or more prize contests that are appropriate with respect to the online gamers.

The prize contest system then retrieves, at710, the descriptions associated with the selected prize contests and establishes, at712, the criteria for winning the selected prize contest(s). Such criteria may be established based on the online players' information and other information such as funds available, etc. The prize contest system then sends a request, at714, to the game system for promoting the selected prize contest(s). When the prize contest system receives, at716, the authorization from the game system, it broadcasts the offering message to online gamers to invite participation. The recipients of the offering messages may be selected by matching the gamers' information to the descriptions of the offerings.

The prize contest system then receives, at720, responses from the online gamers who are targeted for entering into the contest(s). With the authorization provided by the game system, the prize contest system accesses, at722, information related to the online gamers who entered the contest and select one or more winners, at724, based on the terms specified in the offering message. Once winners are selected, the prize contest system informs, at726, participants as to their winner/loser status and then requests, if needed, the game system to update, at728, the inventory of the winner.

FIG. 7bis a flowchart of a different exemplary process in which a prize contest operator facilitates a prize-contest conducted in a gaming environment, according to an embodiment of the present teaching. In this flowchart, the prize contest system operates in a different mode. The prize contest system checks whether there are any suitable prize contests, determined at754, that can be offered to online gamers based on information associated with the online garners accessed at752. If a suitable prize is identified, the prize contest system retrieves, at756, descriptive information associated with the identified prize contest and sends, at758, a request to the game system to offer a prize contest promotion in the gaming environment.

When the prize contest system receives, at760, an authorization from the game system, it establishes, at762, the criteria for winning the selected prize contest(s). Such criteria may be established based on the online players' information and other information such as funds available, etc. the prize contest system then sends a request, at764, to the game system for a permission to promote the selected prize contest(s). When the prize contest system receives, at766, the authorization from the game system, it broadcasts, at768, the offering message to online garners to invite participation. The recipients of the offering messages may be selected by matching the gamers' information to the descriptions of the offerings.

The prize contest system then receives, at770, responses from the online garners who are targeted for entering into the contest(s). With the authorization provided by the game system, the prize contest system accesses, at772, information related to the online garners who entered the contest and selects one or more winners, at774, based on the terms specified in the offering message. Once winners are selected, the prize contest system informs, at776, participants as to their winner/loser status and then requests, if needed, the game system to update, at778, the inventory of the winner.

FIG. 8ais a flowchart of an exemplary process in which a third-party inter-operational service provider facilitates a prize-contest in a gaming environment by interfacing both a game system and a prize contest enlistment system, according to an embodiment of the present teaching. When the inter-operational service provider receives, at802, a request from the game system, it sends, at804, an inquiry to one or more prize contest enlistment systems. The request received from the game system may include information related to online gamers. For instance, it may indicate who is online and their profiles. Upon receiving, at806, response(s) from the prize contest enlistment systems, the inter-operational service provider selects, at808, one or more prizes based on information related to the online gamers.

The inter-operational service provider then acquires, at810, information regarding the selected prizes and forwards, at812, such information to the game system. The inter-operational service provider then may send a request or notification to the prize contest enlistment system for service payment. When the authorization is received, at816, the inter-operational service provider updates, at818, the account receivable. When the prize contest result is received from the game system at820, the inter-operational service provider updates, at824, the service records to indicate a successful promotion and may then forward, at826, the service record to the prize contest enlistment system for, e.g., additional service fee.

FIG. 8bis a flowchart of a different exemplary process in which a third-party inter-operational service provider facilitates prize-contest in a gaming or chat-room environment, according to an embodiment of the present teaching. In this embodiment, upon receiving, at852, a request from a prize-contest enlistment system, the inter-operational service provider sends an inquiry to one or more game systems at854. When the inter-operational service provider receives, at856, response(s) from game system(s), it retrieves, at858, additional information about the advertised prize(s) and forwards, at860, such information to the responding game system(s). The inter-operational service provider than perform other activities relating to receiving service fees in the similar manner as what is described with respect toFIG. 8a.

While the inventions have been described with reference to certain illustrated embodiments, the words that have been used herein are words of description, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention in its aspects. Although the inventions have been described herein with reference to particular structures, acts, and materials, the invention is not to be limited to the particulars disclosed, but rather can be embodied in a wide variety of forms, some of which may be quite different from those of the disclosed embodiments, and extends to all equivalent structures, acts, and, materials, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for a game operator, comprising:

operating a virtual space associated with an online game having a plurality of participants;

enabling a prize-contest operation that promotes a prize-contest to the plurality of participants;

receiving a signal indicating a status of the prize-contest;

updating information associated with one or more participants based on the signal and the outcome of the prize contest.

2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the virtual space is a gaming environment.

3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the virtual space is a chat room associated with the online game.

4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of participants are online game players.

5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of participants are participants of an online chat room associated with the online game.

6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the enabling comprises:

invoking the prize-contest operation;

handing at least some control for operating the virtual space to the prize-contest operation; and

resuming the at least some control for operating the virtual space upon receiving a notification from the prize-contest operation indicating a completion of the prize-contest operation.

7. The method ofclaim 6, wherein the at least some control includes control to access information associated with the plurality of participants.

8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the enabling comprises:

authorizing the prize-contest operation to be performed in the virtual space; and

granting a permission for the prize-contest operation to access information associated with the plurality of participants.

9. The method ofclaim 7 or8, wherein the information associated with each of the plurality of participants includes at least one of:

a profile of the participant;

a game inventory of the participant;

a gaming history of the participant; and

a chat history of the participant.

10. The method ofclaim 7 or8, wherein the prize-contest operation comprises:

promoting, within the virtual space, the plurality of participants to enter into a contest for a prize;

conducting the contest among one or more participants who enter the contest;

selecting at least one winner from the one or more participants;

awarding a prize in connection with the contest to the at least one winner.

11. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the entrance to the contest is permitted upon receiving entrance fee submitted in the form of one of real money or virtual money.

12. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the prize includes at least one of a virtual prize and a real-world prize.

13. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the virtual prize includes at least one of a game specific award and a non game specific award.

14. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the virtual prize includes virtual money.

15. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the real-world prize includes at least one of cash award and goods award.

16. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the at least one winner is selected based on the information associated with the one or more participants.

17. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the signal comprises at least one of:

one or more participants who enter the prize contest;

at least one winner selected from the one or more participants; and

a prize to be awarded to each of the at least one winner.

18. The method ofclaim 17, wherein the updating comprises updating an inventory associated with each of the at least one winner in accordance with the prize awarded to the winner.

19. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising determining an appropriate time for enabling the prize contest operation.

20. A method for a prize-contest operator, comprising:

selecting a prize contest based on information related to a plurality of participants in a virtual space associated with an online game;

accessing information relating to the selected prize contest; and

conducting a prize-contest operation that promotes the prize-contest to the plurality of participants in the virtual space.

21. The method ofclaim 20, further comprising receiving a request for selecting a prize contest.

22. The method ofclaim 21, wherein the request enables an access to the information related to the plurality of participants.

23. The method ofclaim 20, further comprising accessing the information related to a plurality of participants in a virtual space associated with an online game before the selecting.

24. The method ofclaim 20, wherein the conducting comprises:

determining at least one criterion based on which the prize contest is to be conducted;

advertising the prize contest to the plurality of participants in the virtual space with the at least one criterion;

receiving one or more responses from one of the plurality of participants to enter the prize contest; and

selecting at least one winner based on the at least one criterion.

25. The method ofclaim 24, further comprising updating information associated with the at least one winner based on the at least one criterion.

26. The method ofclaim 25, wherein the updating comprises sending a request to update the inventory associated with each of the at least one winner.

27. A method for a service provider, comprising:

receiving, from a first party in connection with an online game, a request relating to a prize contest to be conducted in a virtual space associated with the online game;

sending an inquiry, constructed based on the request, to a second party as a source for providing a prize contest;

receiving a response from the second party, wherein the response includes information associated with one or more available prize contests;

forwarding information associated with at least one of the one or more available prize contests to the first party.

28. The method ofclaim 27, wherein the first party is a game operator.

29. The method ofclaim 27, wherein the second party is a prize contest provider.

30. The method ofclaim 27, wherein the second party is a prize contest advertiser.

31. The method ofclaim 27, wherein the second party is a prize contest enlister.

32. The method ofclaim 27, wherein the virtual space corresponds to at least one of a gaming environment and a chat room associated with the online game.

33. The method ofclaim 28, wherein the request includes information relating to one or more participants associated with an online game operated by the game operator.

34. The method ofclaim 28, wherein the request includes information relating to one or more participants of a chat room associated with an online game operated by the game operator.

35. The method ofclaim 33 or34, further comprising selecting a prize contest from the one or more available prize contests, wherein the selected prize contest is forwarded to the second party.

36. The method ofclaim 33 or34, wherein the information relating to a participant comprises at least one of:

a profile of the participant;

a game inventory of the participant;

a gaming history of the participant; and

a chat history of the participant.

37. The method ofclaim 27, further comprising receiving a fee from the first or the second party.