US20220092631A1 - System and method for contextual virtual local advertisement insertion - Google Patents
System and method for contextual virtual local advertisement insertion Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20220092631A1 US20220092631A1 US17/542,643 US202117542643A US2022092631A1 US 20220092631 A1 US20220092631 A1 US 20220092631A1 US 202117542643 A US202117542643 A US 202117542643A US 2022092631 A1 US2022092631 A1 US 2022092631A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- virtual world
- avatar
- user
- data type
- end user
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
- G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
- G06Q30/0241—Advertisements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
- G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
- G06Q30/0241—Advertisements
- G06Q30/0251—Targeted advertisements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
- G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
- G06Q30/0241—Advertisements
- G06Q30/0251—Targeted advertisements
- G06Q30/0269—Targeted advertisements based on user profile or attribute
Definitions
- the present disclosure relates to the field of targeted advertising.
- a participant In recent years computer applications, such as massively multiplayer role-playing games have become extremely popular.
- One example of a computer application enables a participant to create and develop a fictional character represented by an avatar in a virtual world.
- a given participant may develop, among other things, a storyline, a reputation, and attributes of her fictional character by interacting in the virtual world via the avatar.
- Other examples of computer applications may not involve the creation of a virtual world representation of the participant.
- the virtual world typically includes an environment with a variety of virtual locations containing a variety of virtual objects.
- the virtual locations and the virtual objects mimic realistic locations and objects, while in other cases, the virtual locations and virtual objects are fanciful creations.
- Computer applications generally permit the fictional character to travel across the virtual locations and interact with the virtual objects and other fictional characters or avatars in the virtual world.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of an illustrative embodiment of network architecture diagram showing aspects of a network architecture capable of implement a virtual world.
- FIG. 2 is a depiction of a virtual world created in an illustrative embodiment.
- FIG. 3 is a depiction of a virtual world created in an illustrative embodiment.
- FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.
- an avatar may be provided with a virtual object containing an advertisement.
- an advertisement may be provided within the virtual world that utilizes the avatar within the advertisement.
- the avatar may be used to promote the advertisement by appearing within the advertisement.
- program computer program components include computer programs stored in a tangible, non-transitory computer readable storage medium that are executed by a processor to perform useful functions.
- the computer programs further comprise routines, programs, components, data structures, and other types of structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.
- routines, programs, components, data structures, and other types of structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.
- the subject matter described herein may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like.
- the term virtual world refers to a computer-implemented environment, which may include simulated, lifelike environments as well as fanciful, non-existing environments.
- exemplary virtual worlds may include any massively multiplayer online (“MMO”) computer application including, but not limited to, massively multiplayer online role-playing games (“MMORPGs”), virtual social communities, online video games, and virtual reality computer applications.
- MMO massively multiplayer online
- MMORPGs massively multiplayer online role-playing games
- the MMO computer application simulates a real world environment.
- the virtual world may be defined by a number of rules, such as the presence of gravity or the lack thereof.
- the MMO computer application includes a fanciful environment that does not simulate a real world environment.
- the virtual world is generally inhabited by avatars, which are virtual or symbolic representations of real world participants such as end users operating an end user device to interact with the virtual world (hereinafter referred to as participants). As such, each avatar is typically associated with and controlled by an end user device controlled by a particular participant.
- Avatars may include two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional images. Through the virtual world, the avatars may interact with other avatars, as well as with virtual objects and advertisements.
- Virtual objects may include virtual representations of real world objects, such as houses, cars, billboards, clothes, and soda cans, as well as fanciful creations, such as a teleportation machine or a flying car.
- one or more virtual objects and one or more avatars in the virtual world are capable of providing an advertisement.
- the avatars and the virtual objects utilized in the virtual world may or may not be animated images.
- the present disclosure relates to the concept of this idea is to provide a mechanism for local advertisements to be inserted into video games or any virtual world.
- the idea is to provide areas within a video game that can be sold as advertisements for local businesses, similar to the way that local advertisements are done for television.
- An example of this would be a video game in which the end user controlled avatar walks through a city with billboards.
- the billboards could display an advertisement.
- an illustrative embodiment might display a local financial company, for players in Seattle it might display a local coffee shop.
- This idea could be expanded almost infinitely to include virtually every aspect of the video games virtual world. Everything from local businesses such as car lots, restaurants, bars, to everyday items like local newspapers, local radio stations, local news, etc. could be integrated into the virtual world.
- the virtual city could be selected by the user or automatically determined based on their IP address. Then the advertisements will appear based on a virtual city in which the end user physically exists.
- the cityscape could even mimic the actual city or physical worldly terrain and have the same billboards as the real city layout, such as Pittsburgh or Copenhagen.
- the same advertisement as the real advertisement could be displayed or another advertisement could be displayed.
- the Coca-Cola sign in Time Square could become a sign for a local Manhattan business.
- a specific billboard could display the same advertisement for each player, and just like in the real world, the better locations could demand a higher price.
- This idea could be used for various types of games including virtual world games, multiplayer games, street race games, etc.
- each player is presented with a different advertisement.
- each player is presented with a different advertisement having a particular data type selected based on a context of other players present as a group in the game.
- Advertising data types can be video, audio, text, image, icon or enhancements to an avatar representing an end user.
- virtual local advertisements could also be dynamic and change automatically based on the agreement with the local business.
- Another option is to include interactive advertisements where the player could click on the ad or walk into a local restaurant and be able to download or email a coupon for that location.
- avatars representing players or end users in the virtual world can interact with a virtual host or hostess in a virtual business, such as a bar or restaurant in the virtual world. Rather than monitoring the players conversation with the virtual host or hostess, the responses from the virtual host or hostess, representing the hostess's portion of the interaction or conversation with the avatars, are monitored and used as part of the context for selecting advertisements and for selecting advertising data types based on the context.
- Context can also include but is not limited to profiles for players assembled together in a particular region of the virtual world and/or a current state (stage level, activity, etc.) of a game played by the end user avatars in the virtual world. Advertisements are selected and presented to individual players based on current context. In another embodiment, advertisements are also selected and presented to two or more individual players based on current context. Advertisement data types are selected based on a particular end user's historical response to a particular advertising data type in a particular context.
- each player in a virtual world has an associated data profile including but not limited to profile data indicating which data types for advertisements which have attracted each player's interest in the past.
- the data types include but are not limited to video, audio, text and image advertisements.
- a second player present with the first player in the virtual world in the first particular context will receive a video ad.
- a third player has responded to a text advertisement in the first particular context, when that particular player enters the virtual world in the first particular context, a text ad will be presented to the player.
- players participating as avatars in a virtual world are identified and included in an ad presented to them in their view of the virtual world. For example, a first player named Sam would be presented with an advertisement for a new car with the name “Sam” on the license plate. If Sam enters the car, music selected based on Sam's profile would play while Sam is in the car. Each player could have their own name shown on the car in the advertisement shown to them in the virtual world as a personal ad enhancement. Thus, Susan would see a car with Susan on the license plates and music selected based on Susan's profile would play while Susan is in the car.
- Personalized ad enhancements are stored at each end user's (player's) end user device.
- context further includes but is not limited to a context of a player's activities is used as an “activity context” for advertisements.
- Joes activity context represents this an audio advertisement is be played to Joe, such as, an announcement, “congratulations Joe, this Bud's for you.”
- Associated ads can be presented to Joe based on a context for Joe at the time he achieves the new level in the virtual world.
- a player named Susan could be offered a virtual diamond pendant shaped in the letters “S USA N” as a prize as a reward to achieving particular goal in a virtual world represented by her activity context.
- Associated ad can be presented to Susan based on a context for Susan at the time she achieves the goal.
- a context of one or more particular players being currently present or assembled together in a virtual world is used as a context to select an advertisement.
- a context of one or more players currently present or assembled together in a virtual world is used to select an advertisement data type based on an end user's response to data types in the virtual world. For example if a group of 18-22 year old boys is present in a virtual gaming world, then an advertisement with young women 18-22 can be presented to the group of boys. Vice versa, if a group of 18-22 year old girls is present in a virtual gaming world, then an advertisement with young men 18-22 can be presented to the group of girls.
- advertising data types are selected based on context, for example, visual advertisements (video, image, text) are presented during times when context indicates that conversations between avatars are occurring or loud back ground noise is occurring in the virtual world; and audible advertisements are presented to the avatars when the context indicates that quiet times without conversation and background noise are occurring in the virtual world.
- visual advertisements video, image, text
- audible advertisements are presented to the avatars when the context indicates that quiet times without conversation and background noise are occurring in the virtual world.
- end users that are represented by avatars in a virtual world, can communicate and interact with each other's avatars and with virtual beings such as a virtual host or hostess created in the virtual world.
- the communications with the hostess can be audible or textual such as text messages or selection from a menu in a virtual restaurant.
- a selection from the menu can cause a verbal response from the hostess, such as, “Okay, I'll bring your XYZ beer out to you”, indicating the brand of beer ordered by the avatar.
- the responses of the virtual beings or hostess in the virtual world are monitored for key words used to create context to select advertising data types to be presented to the avatars.
- the conversations whether audible or textual, of the avatars and are not monitored unless the players indicate that they want to be monitored so that their conversations can be used to select advertisements presented to the group or individually to members of the group.
- the contexts are derived from the virtual beings monitored responses in interactions with the avatars and interactions are used to select key words for targeted advertisements to be presented to each avatar in the virtual world.
- a method for presenting advertising, the method including but not limited to presenting on a first end user device, a first advertisement in a first avatar's view of a virtual world; and presenting on a second end user device, a second advertisement in a second avatar's view of the virtual world.
- the first advertisement is based on a first end user profile for a first end user associated with the first avatar and the second version of advertisement is based on a second end user profile for a second end user associated with the second avatar.
- the first end user profile further includes but is not limited to response data for an advertising data type selected from the group consisting of text, video, audio and image data indicating the first end user's preference for one of the advertising data types.
- the method further includes but is not limited to monitoring a virtual hostess' responses to interactions between the virtual hostess object and at least one of the first and second avatar in the virtual world; and selecting key words from the virtual hostess responses to select advertising to present to the first and second avatars.
- the method further includes but is not limited to selecting a first advertising data type for the advertisement presented to the first avatar; and selecting a second advertising data type for the advertisement presented to the second avatar, wherein the second advertising data type is different than the first advertising data type.
- the method further includes but is not limited to determining a current context based on a combination of a plurality of end users' profiles for two or more end users represented as avatars in the virtual world; and selecting an advertising data type for a particular one of the plurality of end profile data indicating the particular end user's response to a data type in the current context.
- a system for presenting advertising, the system including but not limited to a processor in data communication with a tangible non-transitory computer readable medium; and a computer program comprising instructions stored in the computer readable medium, the computer program comprising, instructions to present on a first end user device, a first advertisement in a first avatar's view of a virtual world; and instructions to present on a second end user device, a second advertisement in a second avatar's view of the virtual world.
- the first advertisement is based on a first end user profile for a first end user associated with the first avatar; and the second version of advertisement is based on a second end user profile for a second end user associated with the second avatar.
- the first end user profile further comprises preference data for an advertising data type selected from the group consisting of text, video, audio and image data indicating the first end user's preference for one of the advertising data types.
- the computer program further includes but is not limited to instructions to monitor a virtual hostess' responses to interactions between the virtual hostess object and at least one of the first and second avatar in the virtual world; and instructions to select key words from the virtual hostess responses to select advertising to present to the first and second avatars.
- the computer program further includes but is not limited to instructions to select a first advertising data type for the advertisement presented to the first avatar; and instructions to select a second advertising data type for the advertisement presented to the second avatar, wherein the second advertising data type is different than the first advertising data type.
- the computer program further includes but is not limited to instructions to determine a current context based on a combination of a plurality of end users' profiles for two or more end users represented as avatars in the virtual world; and instructions to select an advertising data type for a particular one of the plurality of end profile data indicating the particular end user's response to a data type in the current context.
- a tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium for storing a computer program executed by a processor in presenting advertising
- the computer program including but not limited to instructions stored in the computer readable medium, the computer program comprising, instructions to present on a first end user device, a first advertisement in a first avatar's view of a virtual world; and instructions to present on a second end user device, a second advertisement in a second avatar's view of the virtual world.
- the first advertisement is based on a first end user profile for a first end user associated with the first avatar; and the second version of advertisement is based on a second end user profile for a second end user associated with the second avatar.
- the first end user profile further comprises preference data for an advertising data type selected from the group consisting of text, video, audio and image data indicating the first end user's preference for one of the advertising data types.
- the computer program further includes but is not limited to instructions to monitor a virtual hostess' responses to interactions between the virtual hostess and at least one of the first and second avatar in the virtual world; and instructions to select key words from the virtual hostess responses to select advertising to present to the first and second avatars.
- the computer program further includes but is not limited to instructions to select a first advertising data type for the advertisement presented to the first avatar; and instructions to select a second advertising data type for the advertisement presented to the second avatar, wherein the second advertising data type is different than the first advertising data type.
- the computer program further includes but is not limited to instructions to determine a current context based on a combination of a plurality of end users' profiles for two or more end users represented as avatars in the virtual world; and instructions to select an advertising data type for a particular one of the plurality of end profile data indicating the particular end user's response to a data type in the current context.
- a server computer 102 or processor includes but is not limited to a virtual world server computer program component 110 and an advertising computer program component 112 .
- the virtual world server computer program component 110 generally administers the virtual world and serves as a conduit between multiple end user devices, including the end user device 104 .
- the advertising computer program component 112 generally enables an advertiser or other user to distribute advertising within the virtual world.
- the advertising computer program component 112 may include an advertisement database 114 , an advertising computer program component, including but not limited to advertising data of different data types, and a portal computer program component, as illustrated in FIG. 1 .
- the advertisement database 114 may store one or more advertisements including but not limited to advertising data of different data types.
- the different data types may include but are not limited to video, audio, text and image data types.
- the advertisement database 114 may include advertising data uploaded by an advertiser, for example.
- An advertiser or other user may access the advertisement database 114 via the portal computer program component.
- the portal computer program component provides a user interface that enables an advertiser to access the advertisement database 114 via a network such as the internet 108 .
- the advertiser may utilize the processor 106 to access the portal computer program component.
- the processor may include a portal access computer program component 122 that enables communication with the portal computer program component via the network 108 , as illustrated in FIG. 1 .
- the portal access computer program component 122 is a web browser or an end user device such as a cell phone, set top box on an internet protocol television system or a personal data assistant, or web tablet.
- the portal computer program component may enable an advertiser or other user to upload advertisements into the advertisement database 114 .
- the advertisements may be in any data type including, but not limited to text, audio, pictures, video, and combinations thereof.
- the portal computer program component may provide the advertiser or other user with a number of other options, such as an option to choose which avatars to select or target, how often avatars are selected or targeted, and the amount and type of compensation provided to the participants.
- Advertising data selection and/or targeting may be performed by specifying matching criteria such as the location of the participant, advertising data type preferred by the participant, the current context in the virtual world relative to the participant, relevant demographics, the presence of the participant with respect to other participants present in the virtual world, and relevant game attributes (e.g., the avatar is in a soccer stadium, the avatar has reached a threshold level within a game).
- the participant may initiate the virtual world from the end user device computer program component 120 to establish a session with the virtual world server computer program component 110 via the network 108 .
- the virtual world server computer program component 110 may transmit virtual world data (e.g., environment layouts, avatar movements of other participants) associated with the virtual world to the virtual world end user computer program component 120 .
- the virtual world end user computer program component 120 may transmit data from associated input devices to the virtual world server computer program component 110 .
- the virtual world end user computer program component 120 may further interact with the advertising computer program component 112 to provide advertisements in the virtual world.
- the virtual world server computer program component 110 may act as a conduit between the virtual world end user computer program component 120 and the advertising computer program component 112 such that virtual world end user computer program component 120 and the advertising computer program component 112 need not directly communicate.
- advertisements presented to each end user are personalized so that each end user sees a different version of an advertisement in their particular view of the virtual world.
- Personalized advertising data used to customize an advertisement so that it is personal to the particular end user, are down loaded to an end user device and stored in a data base at the end user device to which the advertisement personalization data pertains.
- advertisements presented to each end user are personalized so that each end user is presented with a different advertisement.
- advertisements presented to each end user are personalized so that each end user is presented with a different advertising data type for an advertisement.
- a virtual world 200 is created by a process in which a first avatar 201 and a second avatar 203 exist.
- the virtual world as shown in FIG. 2 includes but is not limited to a digital simulation of a city including but not limited to streets 222 , buildings 216 , 212 208 , 204 and 220 , cars 213 and advertising billboards 206 , 202 , 218 and 214 .
- Visual advertising including but not limited to video, text and icons can be presented as personalized advertisements to a particular end user's personalized view of the virtual world, as a visual display on the advertising billboards or on the building or cars or any other visual object in the virtual world.
- Audio advertising can be presented as personalized advertisements in a particular end user's personalized view of the virtual world, as an audible object in the virtual world.
- Personalized ads are presented only to the end user avatar for which the personalized ad is intended.
- the first avatar is presented with a first personalized ad
- the second avatar is presented with a second personalized ad
- the third avatar is presented with a third personalized ad.
- each avatar could see their own name on the tag of the same car in their view of the virtual world.
- End users response to advertising data types and current context in the virtual environment are monitored and stored in a data base for selecting advertisements based on an end user's past response in a particular context.
- text advertising data type is selected as the advertising data type for the particular end user when that context occurs again.
- avatars 301 , 303 , 305 and virtual hostess 307 are assembled together in particular region of the virtual world, such as a room 309 representing a restaurant in the virtual world.
- Personalized advertising including but not limited to visual or aural versions of the same advertisement or different advertisements, is presented to each avatar in their personal view of the virtual world.
- each avatar may see a personalized version of the same advertisement.
- Each avatar may be presented with a different data type for the same advertisement in the virtual world.
- Virtual objects 306 and 308 are used to represent items such as restaurant tables and a menu in the restaurant.
- Each avatar can interact with the hostess via spoken words, text messages or physical manipulation of a virtual object such as a menu.
- the virtual hostess' responses are monitored and used to change the context and associated advertisements presented based on the change in context.
- the hostess remarks can also be sent back to advertisers for feedback in preparing new advertisements for presentation in the virtual world.
- FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system 400 within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.
- the machine operates as a standalone device.
- the machine may be connected (e.g., using a network) to other machines.
- the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client user (end user) machine in server-client user network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.
- the machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a mobile device, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a communications device, a wireless telephone, a land-line telephone, a control system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, a pager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine.
- PC personal computer
- PDA Personal Digital Assistant
- a device of the present disclosure includes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video or data communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.
- the computer system 400 may include a processor 402 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (CPU), or both), a main memory 404 and a static memory 406 , which communicate with each other via a bus 408 .
- the computer system 400 may further include a video display unit 410 (e.g., liquid crystals display (LCD), a flat panel, a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)).
- LCD liquid crystals display
- CRT cathode ray tube
- the computer system 400 may include an input device 412 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 414 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 416 , a signal generation device 418 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interface.
- an input device 412 e.g., a keyboard
- a cursor control device 414 e.g., a mouse
- a disk drive unit 416 e.g., a hard disk drive
- a signal generation device 418 e.g., a speaker or remote control
- the disk drive unit 416 may include a machine-readable medium 422 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 424 ) embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein, including those methods illustrated in herein above.
- the instructions 424 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 404 , the static memory 406 , and/or within the processor 402 during execution thereof by the computer system 400 .
- the main memory 404 and the processor 402 also may constitute machine-readable media.
- Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to, application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement the methods described herein.
- Applications that may include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two or more specific interconnected hardware computer program components or devices with related control and data signals communicated between and through the computer program components, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.
- the example system is applicable to software, firmware
- the methods described herein are intended for operation as software programs running on a computer processor.
- software implementations can include, but not limited to, distributed processing or component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also be constructed to implement the methods described herein.
- the present disclosure contemplates a tangible, non-transitory machine or computer readable storage medium containing instructions 424 , or that which receives and executes instructions 424 so that a device connected to a network environment 426 can send or receive voice, video or data, and to communicate over the network 426 using the instructions 424 .
- the instructions 424 may further be transmitted or received over a network 426 via the network interface device 420 .
- the machine readable medium may also contain a data structure for containing data useful in providing a functional relationship between the data and a machine or computer in an illustrative embodiment of the disclosed system and method.
- machine-readable medium 422 is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the terms “machine readable medium” and “computer readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions.
- machine readable medium and “computer readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile) memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape; and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail or other self-contained information archive or set of archives is considered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a machine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listed herein and including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software implementations herein are stored.
- inventive subject matter may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventive concept if more than one is in fact disclosed.
- inventive concept merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventive concept if more than one is in fact disclosed.
Abstract
Description
- This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/017,334 filed Sep. 10, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/284,390 filed Feb. 25, 2019 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,810,612), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/834,166 filed Jul. 12, 2010 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,255,615). All sections of the aforementioned applications and patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
- The present disclosure relates to the field of targeted advertising.
- In recent years computer applications, such as massively multiplayer role-playing games have become extremely popular. One example of a computer application enables a participant to create and develop a fictional character represented by an avatar in a virtual world. A given participant may develop, among other things, a storyline, a reputation, and attributes of her fictional character by interacting in the virtual world via the avatar. Other examples of computer applications may not involve the creation of a virtual world representation of the participant.
- The virtual world typically includes an environment with a variety of virtual locations containing a variety of virtual objects. In some cases, the virtual locations and the virtual objects mimic realistic locations and objects, while in other cases, the virtual locations and virtual objects are fanciful creations. Computer applications generally permit the fictional character to travel across the virtual locations and interact with the virtual objects and other fictional characters or avatars in the virtual world.
- Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of an illustrative embodiment of network architecture diagram showing aspects of a network architecture capable of implement a virtual world. -
FIG. 2 is a depiction of a virtual world created in an illustrative embodiment. -
FIG. 3 is a depiction of a virtual world created in an illustrative embodiment. -
FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. - The following detailed description is directed to technologies for delivering advertising in a virtual world. Through the utilization of the technologies and concepts presented herein, an avatar may be provided with a virtual object containing an advertisement. Additionally, an advertisement may be provided within the virtual world that utilizes the avatar within the advertisement. In this case, the avatar may be used to promote the advertisement by appearing within the advertisement.
- While the subject matter described herein is presented in the general context of program computer program components that execute in conjunction with the execution of an operating system and application programs on a computer system, those skilled in the art will recognize that other implementations may be performed in combination with other types of program computer program components. Generally, program computer program components include computer programs stored in a tangible, non-transitory computer readable storage medium that are executed by a processor to perform useful functions. The computer programs further comprise routines, programs, components, data structures, and other types of structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the subject matter described herein may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like.
- As used herein, the term virtual world refers to a computer-implemented environment, which may include simulated, lifelike environments as well as fanciful, non-existing environments. Exemplary virtual worlds may include any massively multiplayer online (“MMO”) computer application including, but not limited to, massively multiplayer online role-playing games (“MMORPGs”), virtual social communities, online video games, and virtual reality computer applications. In one embodiment, the MMO computer application simulates a real world environment. For example, the virtual world may be defined by a number of rules, such as the presence of gravity or the lack thereof. In other embodiments, the MMO computer application includes a fanciful environment that does not simulate a real world environment.
- The virtual world is generally inhabited by avatars, which are virtual or symbolic representations of real world participants such as end users operating an end user device to interact with the virtual world (hereinafter referred to as participants). As such, each avatar is typically associated with and controlled by an end user device controlled by a particular participant. Avatars may include two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional images. Through the virtual world, the avatars may interact with other avatars, as well as with virtual objects and advertisements. Virtual objects may include virtual representations of real world objects, such as houses, cars, billboards, clothes, and soda cans, as well as fanciful creations, such as a teleportation machine or a flying car. According to exemplary embodiments, one or more virtual objects and one or more avatars in the virtual world are capable of providing an advertisement. The avatars and the virtual objects utilized in the virtual world may or may not be animated images.
- The present disclosure relates to the concept of this idea is to provide a mechanism for local advertisements to be inserted into video games or any virtual world. The idea is to provide areas within a video game that can be sold as advertisements for local businesses, similar to the way that local advertisements are done for television. An example of this would be a video game in which the end user controlled avatar walks through a city with billboards. The billboards could display an advertisement. For game players in New York, an illustrative embodiment might display a local financial company, for players in Seattle it might display a local coffee shop. This idea could be expanded almost infinitely to include virtually every aspect of the video games virtual world. Everything from local businesses such as car lots, restaurants, bars, to everyday items like local newspapers, local radio stations, local news, etc. could be integrated into the virtual world. The virtual city could be selected by the user or automatically determined based on their IP address. Then the advertisements will appear based on a virtual city in which the end user physically exists.
- The cityscape could even mimic the actual city or physical worldly terrain and have the same billboards as the real city layout, such as Pittsburgh or Copenhagen. In this situation the same advertisement as the real advertisement could be displayed or another advertisement could be displayed. For example, the Coca-Cola sign in Time Square could become a sign for a local Manhattan business. For multiplier games, a specific billboard could display the same advertisement for each player, and just like in the real world, the better locations could demand a higher price. This idea could be used for various types of games including virtual world games, multiplayer games, street race games, etc. In another embodiment each player is presented with a different advertisement. In another embodiment, each player is presented with a different advertisement having a particular data type selected based on a context of other players present as a group in the game. Advertising data types can be video, audio, text, image, icon or enhancements to an avatar representing an end user.
- These virtual local advertisements could also be dynamic and change automatically based on the agreement with the local business. Another option is to include interactive advertisements where the player could click on the ad or walk into a local restaurant and be able to download or email a coupon for that location. In another embodiment, avatars representing players or end users in the virtual world can interact with a virtual host or hostess in a virtual business, such as a bar or restaurant in the virtual world. Rather than monitoring the players conversation with the virtual host or hostess, the responses from the virtual host or hostess, representing the hostess's portion of the interaction or conversation with the avatars, are monitored and used as part of the context for selecting advertisements and for selecting advertising data types based on the context. Context can also include but is not limited to profiles for players assembled together in a particular region of the virtual world and/or a current state (stage level, activity, etc.) of a game played by the end user avatars in the virtual world. Advertisements are selected and presented to individual players based on current context. In another embodiment, advertisements are also selected and presented to two or more individual players based on current context. Advertisement data types are selected based on a particular end user's historical response to a particular advertising data type in a particular context.
- In another embodiment, each player in a virtual world has an associated data profile including but not limited to profile data indicating which data types for advertisements which have attracted each player's interest in the past. The data types include but are not limited to video, audio, text and image advertisements. Thus, if in the past a first particular player has responded to an audio advertisement in a first particular context, when that particular player enters a virtual world and the first particular context is repeated, an audio ad will be presented to the player. Likewise, if in the past a particular second player has responded to a video advertisement, when that particular player enters a virtual world in the first particular context, a video ad will be presented to the player. Thus, a second player present with the first player in the virtual world in the first particular context will receive a video ad. Likewise, if in the past a particular player, a third player has responded to a text advertisement in the first particular context, when that particular player enters the virtual world in the first particular context, a text ad will be presented to the player.
- In another embodiment, players participating as avatars in a virtual world are identified and included in an ad presented to them in their view of the virtual world. For example, a first player named Sam would be presented with an advertisement for a new car with the name “Sam” on the license plate. If Sam enters the car, music selected based on Sam's profile would play while Sam is in the car. Each player could have their own name shown on the car in the advertisement shown to them in the virtual world as a personal ad enhancement. Thus, Susan would see a car with Susan on the license plates and music selected based on Susan's profile would play while Susan is in the car. Personalized ad enhancements are stored at each end user's (player's) end user device.
- In another embodiment, context further includes but is not limited to a context of a player's activities is used as an “activity context” for advertisements. For example, when a player named Joe, via his avatar obtains a new level in virtual world, Joes activity context represents this an audio advertisement is be played to Joe, such as, an announcement, “congratulations Joe, this Bud's for you.” Associated ads can be presented to Joe based on a context for Joe at the time he achieves the new level in the virtual world. Likewise, a player named Susan could be offered a virtual diamond pendant shaped in the letters “S USA N” as a prize as a reward to achieving particular goal in a virtual world represented by her activity context. Associated ad can be presented to Susan based on a context for Susan at the time she achieves the goal.
- In another embodiment, a context of one or more particular players being currently present or assembled together in a virtual world is used as a context to select an advertisement. In another embodiment, a context of one or more players currently present or assembled together in a virtual world is used to select an advertisement data type based on an end user's response to data types in the virtual world. For example if a group of 18-22 year old boys is present in a virtual gaming world, then an advertisement with young women 18-22 can be presented to the group of boys. Vice versa, if a group of 18-22 year old girls is present in a virtual gaming world, then an advertisement with young men 18-22 can be presented to the group of girls. In another embodiment, advertising data types are selected based on context, for example, visual advertisements (video, image, text) are presented during times when context indicates that conversations between avatars are occurring or loud back ground noise is occurring in the virtual world; and audible advertisements are presented to the avatars when the context indicates that quiet times without conversation and background noise are occurring in the virtual world.
- In another embodiment, end users that are represented by avatars in a virtual world, can communicate and interact with each other's avatars and with virtual beings such as a virtual host or hostess created in the virtual world. The communications with the hostess can be audible or textual such as text messages or selection from a menu in a virtual restaurant. A selection from the menu can cause a verbal response from the hostess, such as, “Okay, I'll bring your XYZ beer out to you”, indicating the brand of beer ordered by the avatar. In a particular embodiment, the responses of the virtual beings or hostess in the virtual world are monitored for key words used to create context to select advertising data types to be presented to the avatars. The conversations, whether audible or textual, of the avatars and are not monitored unless the players indicate that they want to be monitored so that their conversations can be used to select advertisements presented to the group or individually to members of the group. The contexts are derived from the virtual beings monitored responses in interactions with the avatars and interactions are used to select key words for targeted advertisements to be presented to each avatar in the virtual world.
- In another particular embodiment, a method is disclosed for presenting advertising, the method including but not limited to presenting on a first end user device, a first advertisement in a first avatar's view of a virtual world; and presenting on a second end user device, a second advertisement in a second avatar's view of the virtual world. In another embodiment of the method, the first advertisement is based on a first end user profile for a first end user associated with the first avatar and the second version of advertisement is based on a second end user profile for a second end user associated with the second avatar. In another embodiment of the method, the first end user profile further includes but is not limited to response data for an advertising data type selected from the group consisting of text, video, audio and image data indicating the first end user's preference for one of the advertising data types.
- In another embodiment of the, the method further includes but is not limited to monitoring a virtual hostess' responses to interactions between the virtual hostess object and at least one of the first and second avatar in the virtual world; and selecting key words from the virtual hostess responses to select advertising to present to the first and second avatars. In another embodiment of the method, the method further includes but is not limited to selecting a first advertising data type for the advertisement presented to the first avatar; and selecting a second advertising data type for the advertisement presented to the second avatar, wherein the second advertising data type is different than the first advertising data type.
- In another embodiment of the method, the method further includes but is not limited to determining a current context based on a combination of a plurality of end users' profiles for two or more end users represented as avatars in the virtual world; and selecting an advertising data type for a particular one of the plurality of end profile data indicating the particular end user's response to a data type in the current context.
- In another embodiment, a system is disclosed for presenting advertising, the system including but not limited to a processor in data communication with a tangible non-transitory computer readable medium; and a computer program comprising instructions stored in the computer readable medium, the computer program comprising, instructions to present on a first end user device, a first advertisement in a first avatar's view of a virtual world; and instructions to present on a second end user device, a second advertisement in a second avatar's view of the virtual world. In another embodiment of the system, the first advertisement is based on a first end user profile for a first end user associated with the first avatar; and the second version of advertisement is based on a second end user profile for a second end user associated with the second avatar.
- In another embodiment of the system, the first end user profile further comprises preference data for an advertising data type selected from the group consisting of text, video, audio and image data indicating the first end user's preference for one of the advertising data types. In another embodiment of the system, the computer program further includes but is not limited to instructions to monitor a virtual hostess' responses to interactions between the virtual hostess object and at least one of the first and second avatar in the virtual world; and instructions to select key words from the virtual hostess responses to select advertising to present to the first and second avatars. In another embodiment of the system, the computer program further includes but is not limited to instructions to select a first advertising data type for the advertisement presented to the first avatar; and instructions to select a second advertising data type for the advertisement presented to the second avatar, wherein the second advertising data type is different than the first advertising data type. In another embodiment of the system, the computer program further includes but is not limited to instructions to determine a current context based on a combination of a plurality of end users' profiles for two or more end users represented as avatars in the virtual world; and instructions to select an advertising data type for a particular one of the plurality of end profile data indicating the particular end user's response to a data type in the current context.
- In another embodiment, a tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium for storing a computer program executed by a processor in presenting advertising is disclosed, the computer program including but not limited to instructions stored in the computer readable medium, the computer program comprising, instructions to present on a first end user device, a first advertisement in a first avatar's view of a virtual world; and instructions to present on a second end user device, a second advertisement in a second avatar's view of the virtual world. In another embodiment of the medium, the first advertisement is based on a first end user profile for a first end user associated with the first avatar; and the second version of advertisement is based on a second end user profile for a second end user associated with the second avatar.
- In another embodiment of the medium, the first end user profile further comprises preference data for an advertising data type selected from the group consisting of text, video, audio and image data indicating the first end user's preference for one of the advertising data types. In another embodiment of the medium, the computer program further includes but is not limited to instructions to monitor a virtual hostess' responses to interactions between the virtual hostess and at least one of the first and second avatar in the virtual world; and instructions to select key words from the virtual hostess responses to select advertising to present to the first and second avatars. In another embodiment of the medium, the computer program further includes but is not limited to instructions to select a first advertising data type for the advertisement presented to the first avatar; and instructions to select a second advertising data type for the advertisement presented to the second avatar, wherein the second advertising data type is different than the first advertising data type. In another embodiment of the medium, the computer program further includes but is not limited to instructions to determine a current context based on a combination of a plurality of end users' profiles for two or more end users represented as avatars in the virtual world; and instructions to select an advertising data type for a particular one of the plurality of end profile data indicating the particular end user's response to a data type in the current context.
- Turning now to
FIG. 1 , aserver computer 102 or processor includes but is not limited to a virtual world servercomputer program component 110 and an advertisingcomputer program component 112. The virtual world servercomputer program component 110 generally administers the virtual world and serves as a conduit between multiple end user devices, including theend user device 104. The advertisingcomputer program component 112 generally enables an advertiser or other user to distribute advertising within the virtual world. The advertisingcomputer program component 112 may include anadvertisement database 114, an advertising computer program component, including but not limited to advertising data of different data types, and a portal computer program component, as illustrated inFIG. 1 . Theadvertisement database 114 may store one or more advertisements including but not limited to advertising data of different data types. The different data types may include but are not limited to video, audio, text and image data types. Theadvertisement database 114 may include advertising data uploaded by an advertiser, for example. - An advertiser or other user may access the
advertisement database 114 via the portal computer program component. In one embodiment, the portal computer program component provides a user interface that enables an advertiser to access theadvertisement database 114 via a network such as theinternet 108. In particular, the advertiser may utilize the processor 106 to access the portal computer program component. The processor may include a portal access computer program component 122 that enables communication with the portal computer program component via thenetwork 108, as illustrated inFIG. 1 . In one embodiment, the portal access computer program component 122 is a web browser or an end user device such as a cell phone, set top box on an internet protocol television system or a personal data assistant, or web tablet. The portal computer program component may enable an advertiser or other user to upload advertisements into theadvertisement database 114. The advertisements may be in any data type including, but not limited to text, audio, pictures, video, and combinations thereof. The portal computer program component may provide the advertiser or other user with a number of other options, such as an option to choose which avatars to select or target, how often avatars are selected or targeted, and the amount and type of compensation provided to the participants. Advertising data selection and/or targeting may be performed by specifying matching criteria such as the location of the participant, advertising data type preferred by the participant, the current context in the virtual world relative to the participant, relevant demographics, the presence of the participant with respect to other participants present in the virtual world, and relevant game attributes (e.g., the avatar is in a soccer stadium, the avatar has reached a threshold level within a game). - When a participant desires to access the virtual world from an end user device, the participant may initiate the virtual world from the end user device
computer program component 120 to establish a session with the virtual world servercomputer program component 110 via thenetwork 108. During the session, the virtual world servercomputer program component 110 may transmit virtual world data (e.g., environment layouts, avatar movements of other participants) associated with the virtual world to the virtual world end usercomputer program component 120. Similarly, the virtual world end usercomputer program component 120 may transmit data from associated input devices to the virtual world servercomputer program component 110. The virtual world end usercomputer program component 120 may further interact with the advertisingcomputer program component 112 to provide advertisements in the virtual world. Alternatively, the virtual world servercomputer program component 110 may act as a conduit between the virtual world end usercomputer program component 120 and the advertisingcomputer program component 112 such that virtual world end usercomputer program component 120 and the advertisingcomputer program component 112 need not directly communicate. - In one particular embodiment, advertisements presented to each end user are personalized so that each end user sees a different version of an advertisement in their particular view of the virtual world. Personalized advertising data, used to customize an advertisement so that it is personal to the particular end user, are down loaded to an end user device and stored in a data base at the end user device to which the advertisement personalization data pertains. In another particular embodiment, advertisements presented to each end user are personalized so that each end user is presented with a different advertisement. In another particular embodiment, advertisements presented to each end user are personalized so that each end user is presented with a different advertising data type for an advertisement.
- Turning now to
FIG. 2 , as shown inFIG. 2 , in a particular illustrative embodiment, avirtual world 200 is created by a process in which afirst avatar 201 and asecond avatar 203 exist. The virtual world as shown inFIG. 2 includes but is not limited to a digital simulation of a city including but not limited tostreets 222,buildings cars 213 andadvertising billboards - End users response to advertising data types and current context in the virtual environment are monitored and stored in a data base for selecting advertisements based on an end user's past response in a particular context. Thus, if a particular end user has responded to text advertising data type over audible advertising in a particular context in the past, for example, in the presence of other avatars of the same sex or in a particular stage of a game, text advertising is selected as the advertising data type for the particular end user when that context occurs again.
- Turning now to
FIG. 3 , in particular embodiment of avirtual world 300avatars virtual hostess 307 are assembled together in particular region of the virtual world, such as aroom 309 representing a restaurant in the virtual world. Personalized advertising, including but not limited to visual or aural versions of the same advertisement or different advertisements, is presented to each avatar in their personal view of the virtual world. Thus, each avatar may see a personalized version of the same advertisement. Each avatar may be presented with a different data type for the same advertisement in the virtual world.Virtual objects -
FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system 400 within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. In some embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may be connected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client user (end user) machine in server-client user network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a mobile device, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a communications device, a wireless telephone, a land-line telephone, a control system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, a pager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. - It will be understood that a device of the present disclosure includes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video or data communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.
- The
computer system 400 may include a processor 402 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (CPU), or both), amain memory 404 and astatic memory 406, which communicate with each other via abus 408. Thecomputer system 400 may further include a video display unit 410 (e.g., liquid crystals display (LCD), a flat panel, a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). Thecomputer system 400 may include an input device 412 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 414 (e.g., a mouse), adisk drive unit 416, a signal generation device 418 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interface. - The
disk drive unit 416 may include a machine-readable medium 422 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 424) embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein, including those methods illustrated in herein above. Theinstructions 424 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within themain memory 404, thestatic memory 406, and/or within theprocessor 402 during execution thereof by thecomputer system 400. Themain memory 404 and theprocessor 402 also may constitute machine-readable media. Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to, application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement the methods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two or more specific interconnected hardware computer program components or devices with related control and data signals communicated between and through the computer program components, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, and hardware implementations. - In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the methods described herein are intended for operation as software programs running on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementations can include, but not limited to, distributed processing or component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also be constructed to implement the methods described herein.
- The present disclosure contemplates a tangible, non-transitory machine or computer readable storage
medium containing instructions 424, or that which receives and executesinstructions 424 so that a device connected to anetwork environment 426 can send or receive voice, video or data, and to communicate over thenetwork 426 using theinstructions 424. Theinstructions 424 may further be transmitted or received over anetwork 426 via thenetwork interface device 420. The machine readable medium may also contain a data structure for containing data useful in providing a functional relationship between the data and a machine or computer in an illustrative embodiment of the disclosed system and method. - While the machine-
readable medium 422 is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the terms “machine readable medium” and “computer readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The terms “machine-readable medium” and computer readable medium shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present disclosure. The terms “machine readable medium” and “computer readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile) memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape; and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail or other self-contained information archive or set of archives is considered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a machine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listed herein and including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software implementations herein are stored. - Although the present specification describes components and functions implemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standards and protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards and protocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, and HTTP) represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocols having the same functions are considered equivalents.
- The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived there from, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
- Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventive concept if more than one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.
- The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.
Claims (20)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US17/542,643 US20220092631A1 (en) | 2010-07-12 | 2021-12-06 | System and method for contextual virtual local advertisement insertion |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/834,166 US10255615B2 (en) | 2010-07-12 | 2010-07-12 | System and method for contextual virtual local advertisement insertion |
US16/284,390 US10810612B2 (en) | 2010-07-12 | 2019-02-25 | System and method for contextual virtual local advertisement insertion |
US17/017,334 US11222354B2 (en) | 2010-07-12 | 2020-09-10 | System and method for contextual virtual local advertisement insertion |
US17/542,643 US20220092631A1 (en) | 2010-07-12 | 2021-12-06 | System and method for contextual virtual local advertisement insertion |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US17/017,334 Continuation US11222354B2 (en) | 2010-07-12 | 2020-09-10 | System and method for contextual virtual local advertisement insertion |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20220092631A1 true US20220092631A1 (en) | 2022-03-24 |
Family
ID=45439258
Family Applications (4)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/834,166 Active 2032-07-09 US10255615B2 (en) | 2010-07-12 | 2010-07-12 | System and method for contextual virtual local advertisement insertion |
US16/284,390 Active US10810612B2 (en) | 2010-07-12 | 2019-02-25 | System and method for contextual virtual local advertisement insertion |
US17/017,334 Active US11222354B2 (en) | 2010-07-12 | 2020-09-10 | System and method for contextual virtual local advertisement insertion |
US17/542,643 Abandoned US20220092631A1 (en) | 2010-07-12 | 2021-12-06 | System and method for contextual virtual local advertisement insertion |
Family Applications Before (3)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/834,166 Active 2032-07-09 US10255615B2 (en) | 2010-07-12 | 2010-07-12 | System and method for contextual virtual local advertisement insertion |
US16/284,390 Active US10810612B2 (en) | 2010-07-12 | 2019-02-25 | System and method for contextual virtual local advertisement insertion |
US17/017,334 Active US11222354B2 (en) | 2010-07-12 | 2020-09-10 | System and method for contextual virtual local advertisement insertion |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (4) | US10255615B2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (47)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10255615B2 (en) | 2010-07-12 | 2019-04-09 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | System and method for contextual virtual local advertisement insertion |
US9183557B2 (en) * | 2010-08-26 | 2015-11-10 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Advertising targeting based on image-derived metrics |
US20120154434A1 (en) * | 2010-12-21 | 2012-06-21 | Microsoft Corporation | Human Interactive Proofs Leveraging Virtual Techniques |
US8880629B1 (en) | 2012-06-18 | 2014-11-04 | Kabam, Inc. | Dynamically providing system communications tailored to individual users responsive to trigger events in virtual spaces |
US8821260B1 (en) | 2012-11-06 | 2014-09-02 | Kabam, Inc. | System and method for granting in-game bonuses to a user |
US8790185B1 (en) | 2012-12-04 | 2014-07-29 | Kabam, Inc. | Incentivized task completion using chance-based awards |
US8920243B1 (en) | 2013-01-02 | 2014-12-30 | Kabam, Inc. | System and method for providing in-game timed offers |
US9098387B1 (en) | 2013-02-22 | 2015-08-04 | Kabam, Inc. | System and method for providing a customized user experience based on a spend frequency of a user |
US20140278847A1 (en) * | 2013-03-14 | 2014-09-18 | Fabio Gallo | Systems and methods for virtualized advertising |
US8831758B1 (en) | 2013-03-20 | 2014-09-09 | Kabam, Inc. | Interface-based game-space contest generation |
US9007189B1 (en) | 2013-04-11 | 2015-04-14 | Kabam, Inc. | Providing leaderboard based upon in-game events |
US9626475B1 (en) | 2013-04-18 | 2017-04-18 | Kabam, Inc. | Event-based currency |
US9613179B1 (en) | 2013-04-18 | 2017-04-04 | Kabam, Inc. | Method and system for providing an event space associated with a primary virtual space |
US10248970B1 (en) | 2013-05-02 | 2019-04-02 | Kabam, Inc. | Virtual item promotions via time-period-based virtual item benefits |
US8961319B1 (en) | 2013-05-16 | 2015-02-24 | Kabam, Inc. | System and method for providing dynamic and static contest prize allocation based on in-game achievement of a user |
US10789627B1 (en) | 2013-05-20 | 2020-09-29 | Kabam, Inc. | System and method for pricing of virtual containers determined stochastically upon activation |
US9138639B1 (en) | 2013-06-04 | 2015-09-22 | Kabam, Inc. | System and method for providing in-game pricing relative to player statistics |
US9463376B1 (en) | 2013-06-14 | 2016-10-11 | Kabam, Inc. | Method and system for temporarily incentivizing user participation in a game space |
US11893603B1 (en) * | 2013-06-24 | 2024-02-06 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Interactive, personalized advertising |
US9737819B2 (en) | 2013-07-23 | 2017-08-22 | Kabam, Inc. | System and method for a multi-prize mystery box that dynamically changes probabilities to ensure payout value |
US11164200B1 (en) | 2013-08-01 | 2021-11-02 | Kabam, Inc. | System and method for providing in-game offers |
US9561433B1 (en) | 2013-08-08 | 2017-02-07 | Kabam, Inc. | Providing event rewards to players in an online game |
US9799059B1 (en) | 2013-09-09 | 2017-10-24 | Aftershock Services, Inc. | System and method for adjusting the user cost associated with purchasable virtual items |
US9799163B1 (en) | 2013-09-16 | 2017-10-24 | Aftershock Services, Inc. | System and method for providing a currency multiplier item in an online game with a value based on a user's assets |
US11058954B1 (en) | 2013-10-01 | 2021-07-13 | Electronic Arts Inc. | System and method for implementing a secondary game within an online game |
US10282739B1 (en) | 2013-10-28 | 2019-05-07 | Kabam, Inc. | Comparative item price testing |
US10482713B1 (en) | 2013-12-31 | 2019-11-19 | Kabam, Inc. | System and method for facilitating a secondary game |
US9508222B1 (en) | 2014-01-24 | 2016-11-29 | Kabam, Inc. | Customized chance-based items |
US10226691B1 (en) | 2014-01-30 | 2019-03-12 | Electronic Arts Inc. | Automation of in-game purchases |
US9873040B1 (en) | 2014-01-31 | 2018-01-23 | Aftershock Services, Inc. | Facilitating an event across multiple online games |
US9795885B1 (en) | 2014-03-11 | 2017-10-24 | Aftershock Services, Inc. | Providing virtual containers across online games |
US9517405B1 (en) | 2014-03-12 | 2016-12-13 | Kabam, Inc. | Facilitating content access across online games |
US9610503B2 (en) | 2014-03-31 | 2017-04-04 | Kabam, Inc. | Placeholder items that can be exchanged for an item of value based on user performance |
US9675891B2 (en) | 2014-04-29 | 2017-06-13 | Aftershock Services, Inc. | System and method for granting in-game bonuses to a user |
US9744445B1 (en) | 2014-05-15 | 2017-08-29 | Kabam, Inc. | System and method for providing awards to players of a game |
US10307666B2 (en) | 2014-06-05 | 2019-06-04 | Kabam, Inc. | System and method for rotating drop rates in a mystery box |
US9744446B2 (en) | 2014-05-20 | 2017-08-29 | Kabam, Inc. | Mystery boxes that adjust due to past spending behavior |
US9717986B1 (en) | 2014-06-19 | 2017-08-01 | Kabam, Inc. | System and method for providing a quest from a probability item bundle in an online game |
US9452356B1 (en) | 2014-06-30 | 2016-09-27 | Kabam, Inc. | System and method for providing virtual items to users of a virtual space |
US9579564B1 (en) | 2014-06-30 | 2017-02-28 | Kabam, Inc. | Double or nothing virtual containers |
US9539502B1 (en) | 2014-06-30 | 2017-01-10 | Kabam, Inc. | Method and system for facilitating chance-based payment for items in a game |
WO2016008087A1 (en) * | 2014-07-15 | 2016-01-21 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Managing multiple data models over data storage system |
US10463968B1 (en) | 2014-09-24 | 2019-11-05 | Kabam, Inc. | Systems and methods for incentivizing participation in gameplay events in an online game |
US9656174B1 (en) | 2014-11-20 | 2017-05-23 | Afterschock Services, Inc. | Purchasable tournament multipliers |
US9827499B2 (en) | 2015-02-12 | 2017-11-28 | Kabam, Inc. | System and method for providing limited-time events to users in an online game |
US10554596B1 (en) * | 2019-03-28 | 2020-02-04 | Wormhole Labs, Inc. | Context linked messaging system |
US20240013262A1 (en) * | 2022-07-07 | 2024-01-11 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Avatar-based promotions |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20050080878A1 (en) * | 2000-04-07 | 2005-04-14 | Ryan Cunningham | Automatic video display on a computer |
US20080204448A1 (en) * | 2007-02-27 | 2008-08-28 | Dawson Christopher J | Unsolicited advertisements in a virtual universe through avatar transport offers |
US20090006193A1 (en) * | 2007-06-29 | 2009-01-01 | Microsoft Corporation | Digital Voice Communication Advertising |
US20090164919A1 (en) * | 2007-12-24 | 2009-06-25 | Cary Lee Bates | Generating data for managing encounters in a virtual world environment |
US20090254358A1 (en) * | 2008-04-07 | 2009-10-08 | Li Fuyi | Method and system for facilitating real world social networking through virtual world applications |
US20100036735A1 (en) * | 2008-08-11 | 2010-02-11 | International Business Machines Corporation | Triggering immersive advertisements in a virtual universe |
US20110295693A1 (en) * | 2010-06-01 | 2011-12-01 | Microsoft Corporation | Generating Tailored Content Based On Scene Image Detection |
Family Cites Families (26)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2981220A (en) | 1954-07-27 | 1961-04-25 | Leo F Fehlner | Paravane |
US5710884A (en) * | 1995-03-29 | 1998-01-20 | Intel Corporation | System for automatically updating personal profile server with updates to additional user information gathered from monitoring user's electronic consuming habits generated on computer during use |
US5926179A (en) * | 1996-09-30 | 1999-07-20 | Sony Corporation | Three-dimensional virtual reality space display processing apparatus, a three-dimensional virtual reality space display processing method, and an information providing medium |
US6256043B1 (en) * | 1997-09-26 | 2001-07-03 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Three dimensional virtual reality enhancement techniques |
US8527345B2 (en) * | 2000-01-06 | 2013-09-03 | Anthony Richard Rothschild | System and method for adding an advertisement to a personal communication |
JP4479051B2 (en) * | 2000-04-28 | 2010-06-09 | ソニー株式会社 | Information processing apparatus and method, and recording medium |
US6954728B1 (en) * | 2000-05-15 | 2005-10-11 | Avatizing, Llc | System and method for consumer-selected advertising and branding in interactive media |
US20020052788A1 (en) | 2001-10-18 | 2002-05-02 | Lumenati, Inc. | New-media monetary engine business method |
JP5520485B2 (en) * | 2006-01-05 | 2014-06-11 | 泓九 趙 | Advertisement information providing system and advertisement information providing method |
US20080201283A1 (en) * | 2006-09-28 | 2008-08-21 | Dudley Fitzpatrick | Apparatuses, methods and systems for anticipatory information querying and serving on mobile devices based on profiles |
US7805406B2 (en) * | 2006-10-27 | 2010-09-28 | Xystar Technologies, Inc. | Cross-population of virtual communities |
US20080153513A1 (en) * | 2006-12-20 | 2008-06-26 | Microsoft Corporation | Mobile ad selection and filtering |
US8560387B2 (en) * | 2007-06-07 | 2013-10-15 | Qurio Holdings, Inc. | Systems and methods of providing collaborative consumer-controlled advertising environments |
US9111285B2 (en) * | 2007-08-27 | 2015-08-18 | Qurio Holdings, Inc. | System and method for representing content, user presence and interaction within virtual world advertising environments |
US8924250B2 (en) * | 2007-09-13 | 2014-12-30 | International Business Machines Corporation | Advertising in virtual environments based on crowd statistics |
US20090083225A1 (en) * | 2007-09-26 | 2009-03-26 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Advertisement filtering and targeting through user-preferences |
US20090132361A1 (en) | 2007-11-21 | 2009-05-21 | Microsoft Corporation | Consumable advertising in a virtual world |
US20090150222A1 (en) * | 2007-12-10 | 2009-06-11 | Alexander Polonsky | Method for increasing the accuracy of social network profiles |
US20090299960A1 (en) * | 2007-12-21 | 2009-12-03 | Lineberger William B | Methods, systems, and computer program products for automatically modifying a virtual environment based on user profile information |
US20150324849A1 (en) * | 2008-02-21 | 2015-11-12 | Mayur Datar | Email signature advertisement targeting |
US20100211892A1 (en) * | 2009-02-17 | 2010-08-19 | Fuhu, Inc. | Widgetized avatar and a method and system of creating and using same |
US8233005B2 (en) * | 2008-04-24 | 2012-07-31 | International Business Machines Corporation | Object size modifications based on avatar distance |
US8271330B2 (en) * | 2008-12-04 | 2012-09-18 | International Business Machines Corporation | System and method for researching virtual markets and optimizing product placements and displays |
US8570325B2 (en) * | 2009-03-31 | 2013-10-29 | Microsoft Corporation | Filter and surfacing virtual content in virtual worlds |
US10255615B2 (en) * | 2010-07-12 | 2019-04-09 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | System and method for contextual virtual local advertisement insertion |
US20140201004A1 (en) * | 2013-01-14 | 2014-07-17 | Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha | Managing Interactive In-Vehicle Advertisements |
-
2010
- 2010-07-12 US US12/834,166 patent/US10255615B2/en active Active
-
2019
- 2019-02-25 US US16/284,390 patent/US10810612B2/en active Active
-
2020
- 2020-09-10 US US17/017,334 patent/US11222354B2/en active Active
-
2021
- 2021-12-06 US US17/542,643 patent/US20220092631A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20050080878A1 (en) * | 2000-04-07 | 2005-04-14 | Ryan Cunningham | Automatic video display on a computer |
US20080204448A1 (en) * | 2007-02-27 | 2008-08-28 | Dawson Christopher J | Unsolicited advertisements in a virtual universe through avatar transport offers |
US20090006193A1 (en) * | 2007-06-29 | 2009-01-01 | Microsoft Corporation | Digital Voice Communication Advertising |
US20090164919A1 (en) * | 2007-12-24 | 2009-06-25 | Cary Lee Bates | Generating data for managing encounters in a virtual world environment |
US20090254358A1 (en) * | 2008-04-07 | 2009-10-08 | Li Fuyi | Method and system for facilitating real world social networking through virtual world applications |
US20100036735A1 (en) * | 2008-08-11 | 2010-02-11 | International Business Machines Corporation | Triggering immersive advertisements in a virtual universe |
US20110295693A1 (en) * | 2010-06-01 | 2011-12-01 | Microsoft Corporation | Generating Tailored Content Based On Scene Image Detection |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US11222354B2 (en) | 2022-01-11 |
US20120011002A1 (en) | 2012-01-12 |
US10810612B2 (en) | 2020-10-20 |
US20200410527A1 (en) | 2020-12-31 |
US20190188751A1 (en) | 2019-06-20 |
US10255615B2 (en) | 2019-04-09 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US11222354B2 (en) | System and method for contextual virtual local advertisement insertion | |
US20170323306A1 (en) | System and method for consumer-selected advertising and branding in interactive media | |
US8725803B2 (en) | Method and system for sharing brand information | |
Lewis et al. | In-game advertising effects: Examining player perceptions of advertising schema congruity in a massively multiplayer online role-playing game | |
US9639864B2 (en) | Method and system for sharing brand information | |
US8606634B2 (en) | Providing advertising in a virtual world | |
US20160063556A1 (en) | Triggering immersive advertisements in a virtual universe | |
US8600779B2 (en) | Advertising with an influential participant in a virtual world | |
US20050086605A1 (en) | Method and apparatus for online advertising | |
US20040210634A1 (en) | Method enabling a plurality of computer users to communicate via a set of interconnected terminals | |
US20040220850A1 (en) | Method of viral marketing using the internet | |
JP2009509680A (en) | Use of information from user video game conversational processing to target advertisements, such as advertisements provided within video games | |
Ramadan et al. | The Pokémonisation of the first moment of truth | |
Albarran et al. | Traditional media companies in the US and social media: What’s the strategy? | |
POPESCU | Digital Advertising–The Management of Online Forwarding News and Products | |
Bajpai et al. | Impact of augmented reality marketing on customer engagement, behavior, loyalty, and buying decisions | |
Kuhn et al. | From MySpace to Brandspace: elements of brand-sponsored MySpace profiles | |
JP7389513B1 (en) | Advertising system, advertising method, advertising program | |
Hofman-Kohlmeyer | Method of product placement in computer games. Qualitative research amongst Polish players | |
Zwick et al. | The [E] business of sport sponsorship | |
Razek et al. | The Ergonomics of Designing Interactive Games User Interface as an Advertising Medium | |
KR20050075114A (en) | A portal service system using 3d avatar game and a method thereof | |
Adis et al. | Advergame: Potential And Prospects For Advertising Strategy | |
JP2022082282A (en) | Information processing device, information processing system, and program | |
Sivagnanasuntharam | New distribution channels for advertising through computer games and mobile devices. |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: DOCKETED NEW CASE - READY FOR EXAMINATION |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P., GEORGIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:CROWE, KEITH AUBREY;PRATT, JAMES;SULLIVAN, MARC;REEL/FRAME:058540/0105 Effective date: 20100712 |
|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: NON FINAL ACTION MAILED |
|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: NOTICE OF ALLOWANCE MAILED -- APPLICATION RECEIVED IN OFFICE OF PUBLICATIONS |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO PAY ISSUE FEE |