Location based reward distribution system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10272342-B2
Application number	US-201715678928-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2017
Priority date	Nov 20, 2009
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention broadly contemplate a location based rewards distribution system. Various embodiments of the invention provide rewards, for example video game unlock codes, based on a user physically visiting a specific physical location.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system configured to provide location-based rewards for users of a virtual world, the system comprising:
one or more physical processors configured by machine-readable instructions to:
store user accounts for the users of the virtual world in a virtual world server, the users utilizing physical tokens to obtain rewards in the virtual world, individual physical tokens having individual unique identifications, the virtual world being accessible to individual users via individual user devices, a first user account associated with a first user including:
a first unique identification of a first physical token, the first unique identification providing an association of the first physical token with the first user account;
an association of a first user device with the first user account; and
one or more rewards credited to the first user account; and

responsive to obtaining indications of the individual physical tokens being physically present at one or more physical locations, transmit individual rewards to the individual user devices for storage on the individual user devices and credit the individual user accounts stored in the virtual world server with the individual rewards, the individual rewards being accessible to the individual users from the individual user devices storing the individual rewards and the individual user accounts to which the individual rewards are credited, such that responsive to obtaining a first indication of the first physical token being physically present at a first physical location a first reward is transmitted to, and stored on, the first user device and the first user account is credited with the first reward.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more physical processors are further configured by machine-readable instructions such that:
a requirement to transmit individual rewards to the individual user devices for storage on the individual user devices and to credit the individual user accounts stored in the virtual world server with the individual rewards includes making a positive determination that the individual physical tokens are associated with the individual user accounts, such that:
responsive to obtaining the first indication and determining that the first physical token is associated with the first user account, perform the transmission of the first reward to the first user device and the crediting of the first user account with the first reward; and
responsive to obtaining a second indication of a second physical token being physically present at the first physical location and determining that the second physical token is not associated with the first user account, store a second reward in the virtual world server without transmitting the second reward to the first user device or crediting the first user account with the second reward.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more physical processors are further configured by machine-readable instructions to:
responsive to determining that individual physical tokens are associated with the individual user accounts, transmit individual rewards not previously transmitted to individual user devices and credit individual user accounts not previously credited with the individual rewards, such that:
responsive to subsequently determining the second physical token is associated with the first user account, transmit the second reward to the first user device and credit the first user account with the second reward.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the individual RFID readers located at individual ones of the one or more physical locations.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the individual rewards for storage on the individual user devices comprises transmitting via a network connection.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:
one or more reward dispensers storing rewards, individual reward dispensers being located at individual ones of the one or more physical locations; and
wherein transmitting the individual rewards for storage on the individual user devices comprises transmitting the individual rewards from the individual reward dispensers to the individual user devices via the network connection.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first reward is available for immediate retrieval via the first user device responsive to the transmission of the first reward for storage on the first user device.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first user account includes the first unique identification of the first physical token responsive to registration of the first physical token with the first user account.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the individual rewards are not visible and/or ascertainable to the individual users such that the individual rewards cannot be freely exchanged between users.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the individual rewards are unlock codes.

11. A method to provide location-based rewards for users of a virtual world, the method being implemented in a system comprising one or more physical processors configured by machine-readable instructions, the method comprising:
storing user accounts for the users of the virtual world in a virtual world server, the users utilizing physical tokens to obtain rewards in the virtual world, individual physical tokens having individual unique identifications, the virtual world being accessible to individual users via individual user devices, a first user account associated with a first user including:
a first unique identification of a first physical token, the first unique identification providing an association of the first physical token with the first user account;
an association of a first user device with the first user account; and
one or more rewards credited to the first user account; and

responsive to obtaining indications of the individual physical tokens being physically present at one or more physical locations, transmitting individual rewards to the individual user devices for storage on the individual user devices and crediting the individual user accounts stored in the virtual world server with the individual rewards, the individual rewards being accessible to the individual users from the individual user devices storing the individual rewards and the individual user accounts to which the individual rewards are credited, such that responsive to obtaining a first indication of the first physical token being physically present at a first physical location a first reward is transmitted to, and stored on, the first user device and the first user account is credited with the first reward.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein a requirement to transmit individual rewards to the individual user devices for storage on the individual user devices and to credit the individual user accounts stored in the virtual world server with the individual rewards includes making a positive determination that the individual physical tokens are associated with the individual user accounts, the method further comprising:
responsive to obtaining the first indication and determining that the first physical token is associated with the first user account, performing the transmission of the first reward to the first user device and the crediting of the first user account with the first reward; and
responsive to obtaining a second indication of a second physical token being physically present at the first physical location and determining that the second physical token is not associated with the first user account, storing a second reward in the virtual world server without transmitting the second reward to the first user device or crediting the first us

Assignees

• Disney Entpr Inc

Inventors

• Dutilly Derek
• Jacob Michael
• Mcbride Greg

Classifications

• A63F2300/205

  for detecting the geographical location of the game platform · CPC title

• A63F2300/609

  for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels · CPC title

• A63F13/327 Primary

  using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet · CPC title

• A63F13/79

  involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories · CPC title

• A63F13/69 Primary

  by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions · CPC title