US20070072676A1 - Using information from user-video game interactions to target advertisements, such as advertisements to be served in video games for example - Google Patents
Using information from user-video game interactions to target advertisements, such as advertisements to be served in video games for example Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20070072676A1 US20070072676A1 US11/239,662 US23966205A US2007072676A1 US 20070072676 A1 US20070072676 A1 US 20070072676A1 US 23966205 A US23966205 A US 23966205A US 2007072676 A1 US2007072676 A1 US 2007072676A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- video game
- information
- user
- computer
- request
- 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
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
- A63F13/60—Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
- A63F13/61—Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor using advertising information
-
- A63F13/10—
-
- A63F13/12—
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
- A63F13/30—Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
- A63F13/45—Controlling the progress of the video game
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
- A63F13/70—Game security or game management aspects
- A63F13/79—Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
-
- 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
-
- 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
- G06Q50/00—Systems or methods specially adapted for specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
- G06Q50/10—Services
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
- A63F2300/50—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by details of game servers
- A63F2300/55—Details of game data or player data management
- A63F2300/5506—Details of game data or player data management using advertisements
Definitions
- the present invention concerns targeting the serving of advertisements, such as advertisements to be rendered in virtual environments like video games for example.
- the present invention concerns determining user information for use in targeting ads, and determining and serving relevant ads in virtual environments such as video games.
- in-game advertising is becoming extremely popular. This trend is expected to continue since the 18 to 34 year old male demographic in the U.S. is watching less TV and spending more time playing video games than ever before.
- the video game industry is becoming a media force on par with the television and motion picture industries. Consequently, ad agencies and game producers are collaborating to introduce more ads into video games.
- in-game ads are used to advertise real products and services in a manner analogous to product placement in movies and television shows. For example, a decal on a virtual race car may advertise a product or service. As another example, a banner in a stadium or on a race track may advertise a product or service.
- Embodiments consistent with the present invention allow information about a person's interests and gaming behavior to be determined by monitoring their online gaming activities (and perhaps making inferences from such activities). Such information may be used to improve ad targeting. For example, such information may used to target ads to be rendered in a video game being played by the person.
- FIG. 1 is a bubble diagram of exemplary operations that may be performed in a manner consistent with the present invention, as well as information that may be used and/or generated by such operations.
- FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for performing video game selection and play (e.g., user-video game interaction) tracking operations in a manner consistent with the present invention.
- video game selection and play e.g., user-video game interaction
- FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for performing ad spot filling operations in a manner consistent with the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an exemplary system for performing ad serve operations in a manner consistent with the present invention.
- FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an exemplary apparatus that may perform various operations in a manner consistent with the present invention.
- FIG. 6 is a messaging diagram illustrating operations of an exemplary system consistent with the present invention.
- the present invention may involve novel methods, apparatus, message formats, and/or data structures for improving ads, such as ads served in video games for example, using information about a video game player determined from their interactions with a video game.
- the following description is presented to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of particular applications and their requirements.
- the following description of embodiments consistent with the present invention provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise form disclosed.
- Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles set forth below may be applied to other embodiments and applications.
- Online ads may have various intrinsic features. Such features may be specified by an application and/or an advertiser. These features are referred to as “ad features” below.
- ad features may include a title line, ad text, and an embedded link.
- ad features may include images, executable code, and an embedded link.
- ad features may include one or more of the following: text, a link, an audio file, a video file, an image file, executable code, embedded information, etc.
- An image ad may be scaled, rotated, skewed, etc., as needed, to fit within an ad spot.
- Serving parameters may include, for example, one or more of the following: features of (including information on) a video game or video game console (or more generally, “video game apparatus”) on which, or with which, the ad was served, or of a document on which, or with which, the ad was served, information in an ad request associated with the serving of the ad, a user characteristic (e.g., their geographic location, the language used by the user, the type of browser used, previous page views, previous behavior, user account, Web cookies, user device characteristics, etc.), a host or affiliate site (e.g., America Online, Google, Yahoo) that initiated the request, an absolute position of the ad on a screen or page on which it was served, position of the ad within a video game in which the ad was served, a position (spatial
- serving parameters may be extrinsic to ad features, they may be associated with an ad as serving conditions or constraints. When used as serving conditions or constraints, such serving parameters are referred to simply as “serving constraints” (or “targeting criteria”). For example, in some systems, an advertiser may be able to target the serving of its ad by specifying that it is only to be served on weekdays, no lower than a certain position, only to users in a certain location, etc. As another example, in some systems, an advertiser might specify that its ad is to be served in certain video games, or on certain video game apparatus. As yet another example, in some systems, an advertiser might specify that its ad is to be served only to a certain type of user, or a user having certain attributes.
- an advertiser may specify that its ad is to be served only if a page or search query includes certain keywords or phrases.
- an advertiser may specify that its ad is to be served only if a document, on which, or with which, the ad is to be served, includes certain topics or concepts, or falls under a particular cluster or clusters, or some other classification or classifications (e.g., verticals).
- an advertiser may specify that its ad is to be served only to (or is not to be served to) user devices having certain characteristics.
- an ad might be targeted so that it is served in response to a request sourced from a particular location, or in response to a request concerning a particular location.
- Ad information may include any combination of ad features, ad serving constraints, information derivable from ad features or ad serving constraints (referred to as “ad derived information”), and/or information related to the ad (referred to as “ad related information”), as well as an extension of such information (e.g., information derived from ad related information).
- the ratio of the number of selections (e.g., clickthroughs) of an ad to the number of impressions of the ad (i.e., the number of times an ad is rendered) is defined as the “selection rate” (or “clickthrough rate” or “CTR”) of the ad.
- a “conversion” is said to occur when a user consummates a transaction related to a previously served ad. What constitutes a conversion may vary from case to case and can be determined in a variety of ways. For example, it may be the case that a conversion occurs when a user clicks on an ad, is referred to the advertiser's Web page, and consummates a purchase there before leaving that Web page. Alternatively, a conversion may be defined as a user being shown an ad, and making a purchase on the advertiser's Web page within a predetermined time (e.g., seven days).
- a conversion may be defined by an advertiser to be any measurable/observable user action such as, for example, downloading a white paper, navigating to at least a given depth of a Website, viewing at least a certain number of Web pages, spending at least a predetermined amount of time on a Website or Web page, registering on a Website, etc.
- user actions don't indicate a consummated purchase, they may indicate a sales lead, although user actions constituting a conversion are not limited to this. Indeed, many other definitions of what constitutes a conversion are possible.
- the ratio of the number of conversions to the number of impressions of the ad (i.e., the number of times an ad is rendered) and the ratio of the number of conversions to the number of selections (or the number of some other earlier event) are both referred to as the “conversion rate” or “CR.”
- conversion rate The type of conversion rate will be apparent from the context in which it is used. If a conversion is defined to be able to occur within a predetermined time since the serving of an ad, one possible definition of the conversion rate might only consider ads that have been served more than the predetermined time in the past.
- a “property” is something on which ads can be presented.
- a property may include online content (e.g., a Website, an MP3 audio program, online (e.g., video) games, etc.), offline content (e.g., a video game played in a video game apparatus that is not online, a newspaper, a magazine, a theatrical production, a concert, a sports event, etc.), and/or offline objects (e.g., a billboard, a stadium score board, and outfield wall, the side of truck trailer, etc.).
- online content e.g., a Website, an MP3 audio program, online (e.g., video) games, etc.
- offline content e.g., a video game played in a video game apparatus that is not online, a newspaper, a magazine, a theatrical production, a concert, a sports event, etc.
- offline objects e.g., a billboard, a stadium score board, and outfield wall, the side of truck trailer,
- Properties with content may be referred to as “media properties.”
- properties may themselves be offline, pertinent information about a property (e.g., attribute(s), topic(s), concept(s), category(ies), keyword(s), relevancy information, type(s) of ads supported, etc.) may be available online.
- pertinent information about a property e.g., attribute(s), topic(s), concept(s), category(ies), keyword(s), relevancy information, type(s) of ads supported, etc.
- an outdoor jazz music festival may have entered the topics “music” and “jazz”, the location of the concerts, the time of the concerts, artists scheduled to appear at the festival, and types of available ad spots (e.g., spots in a printed program, spots on a stage, spots on seat backs, audio announcements of sponsors, etc.).
- a “document” is to be broadly interpreted to include any machine-readable and machine-storable work product.
- a document may be a file, a combination of files, one or more files with embedded links to other files, a display screen or a video sequence (e.g., of a video game), etc.
- the files may be of any type, such as text, audio, image, video, etc.
- Parts of a document to be rendered to an end user can be thought of as “content” of the document.
- a document may include “structured data” containing both content (words, pictures, etc.) and some indication of the meaning of that content (for example, e-mail fields and associated data, HTML tags and associated data, etc.)
- Ad spots in the document may be defined by embedded information or instructions.
- a common document is a Web page.
- Web pages often include content and may include embedded information (such as meta information, hyperlinks, etc.) and/or embedded instructions (such as JavaScript, etc.).
- embedded information such as meta information, hyperlinks, etc.
- embedded instructions such as JavaScript, etc.
- a document has an addressable storage location and can therefore be uniquely identified by this addressable location.
- a universal resource locator (URL) is an address used to access information on the Internet.
- a “Web document” includes any document published on the Web. Examples of Web documents include, for example, a Website or a Web page.
- Document information may include any information included in the document, information derivable from information included in the document (referred to as “document derived information”), and/or information related to the document (referred to as “document related information”), as well as an extensions of such information (e.g., information derived from related information).
- document derived information is a classification based on textual content of a document.
- document related information include document information from other documents with links to the instant document, as well as document information from other documents to which the instant document links.
- Content from a document may be rendered on a “content rendering application or device”.
- content rendering applications include an Internet browser (e.g., Explorer, Netscape, Opera, Firefox, etc.), a media player (e.g., an MP3 player, a Realnetworks streaming audio file player, etc.), a viewer (e.g., an Abobe Acrobat pdf reader), a video game apparatus (e.g., a video game console such as PlayStation2 from Sony, XBox from Microsoft, GameCube from Nintendo, etc., a personal computer, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant, etc.) etc.
- an Internet browser e.g., Explorer, Netscape, Opera, Firefox, etc.
- a media player e.g., an MP3 player, a Realnetworks streaming audio file player, etc.
- a viewer e.g., an Abobe Acrobat pdf reader
- a video game apparatus e.g., a video game console such as PlayStation2 from Sony, XBox from Microsoft, Game
- a “content owner” is a person or entity that has some property right in the content of a media property (e.g., document).
- a content owner may be an author of the content.
- a content owner may have rights to reproduce the content, rights to prepare derivative works of the content, rights to display or perform the content publicly, and/or other proscribed rights in the content.
- a content server might be a content owner in the content of the documents it serves, this is not necessary.
- a “Web publisher” is an example of a content owner.
- User information may include user behavior information and/or user profile information.
- FIG. 1 is a bubble diagram of exemplary operations that may be performed in a manner consistent with the present invention, as well as information that may be used and/or generated by such operations.
- the environment 100 depicted in FIG. 1 may be used to determine relevant ads and/or select relevant ad creatives to be shown in or with video games. Alternatively, or in addition, the environment 100 depicted in FIG. 1 may be used to track user-video game interaction information, where such user information may be used to help select relevant ads shown to a user, but not in a video game.
- the environment 100 may include game play tracking operations 114 , ad spot filling operations 138 and ad serving operations 170 .
- the game play tracking operations 114 may collect user input information 118 and provide it to the ad spot filling operations 138 . Furthermore, game state-based information 130 may also be provided to the ad spot filling operations 138 . Moreover, user information inference operations 122 may be used to generate additional user information 126 . Such inferences may be made using user input information 118 and/or game state-based information 130 . Finally, the video game apparatus 110 may store other game information 134 such as console name or brand, a console identifier, a console location, (currently loaded) game identifier, etc.
- the ad spot filling operations 138 may (i) generate a request for relevant ads, (ii) forward the request to ad serving operations 172 (through one or more networks 140 ) when an advertisement is to be displayed in the game, and (iii) render the ad(s) in one or more ad spots within the video game.
- Advertisers 150 may interact with an ad server 160 via ad information entry and management operations 164 and networks 140 in order to submit their advertisements and ad information.
- This information is stored as ad information 168 and may include ad creatives, serving constraints, offer information, etc.
- the ad information entry and management operations 164 may inform the advertisers 150 of various game attributes to which their ads can be targeted.
- the ad serving operations 172 may accept requests for ads from the ad spot filling operations 138 .
- Such requests may include game state-based information 130 , user input information 118 , user information (local) 126 , and/or other game information 134 , as well as other pertinent information (e.g., ad size, ad type, when the ad will be needed, etc.) necessary for proper ad selection and rendering (e.g., display, text dialog, audio segment, etc.).
- the ad serving operations 172 may select relevant ads and/or ad creatives from the ad information 168 .
- the ad serving operations 172 may run an arbitration to select the best ad or ads. Subsequently, the ad serving operations 172 may provide the ad spot filling operations 138 with the selected ad(s) so that these ad(s) may be rendered in the appropriate ad spots within the video game.
- the ad server may include accounting and/or billing operations 176 in addition to the ad serving operations 172 and the ad information entry and management operations 164 .
- a user information server 180 may be provided to accept, perhaps generate, and store user information (remote) 188 .
- User game registration operations 192 may accept and store user information provided in a game or game console product registration, or provided in an online gaming subscription registration.
- User information inference and storage operations 196 may infer certain attributes or characteristics of a user from user input information 118 .
- the user information serving operations 184 may be used to provide user information 188 to a requesting entity.
- the ad server 160 might have a user identifier, but no information (or incomplete information) about a user. It may forward a request to the user information server 180 , where the request includes a user identifier.
- the user information server 180 may use the user identifier to look up pertinent user information (remote) 188 and return it to the ad server 160 .
- the game play tracking operations 114 may track game player (also referred to as a “user”) input (e.g., play, selection, etc.) information 118 .
- game player also referred to as a “user”
- input e.g., play, selection, etc.
- a user may select a real world make/team of a car (e.g., Ferrari, Williams-BMW, McLaren-Mercedes, BMW, etc.), a particular driver (e.g., Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Rubens Barrichello, etc.) as well as the racing track desired to compete in (e.g., Monte Carlo/Monaco, Nurburgring/Europe, Indianapolis/USA, etc.), car color, type of tires, etc.
- a real world make/team of a car e.g., Ferrari, Williams-BMW, McLaren-Mercedes, Renault, etc.
- a particular driver e.g., Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Rubens Barrichello
- users may select their character's role such as a medic, a mercenary, an engineer, a warrior, a thief, a wizard, an alien, etc.
- the user may select a team, a stadium, or even a player from real team player rosters.
- users may select the sex of their character, pre-defined personalities of their characters, attire for their player(s), physical attributes of their players (fat, thin, muscular, tall, short, hair color and style, ethnicity, eye color, etc.), soundtrack and other sound/visual properties, and many other customizable features.
- Such selection inputs may be tracked by the game play tracking operations 114 and stored as user input information 118 , which are then available to the ad spot filling operations 138 .
- Such user input information 118 may be used to help select relevant ads.
- the system may show a Dodge ad or something related.
- the system may show ads for tickets for events in Miami.
- the system may suggest ads for rap/hip hop and other related music, not Britney Spears.
- the system may show ads with black cars, instead of car in other colors.
- the system may show ads tailored to males. If the user has been playing for over two hours continuously, the system may display ads for pizza-hut, coke, coffee and other related goods.
- Game state-based information 120 may include information about the user's game-play. For example it may include, how fast the players are going through the levels, how familiar the players are with the game, what level are the players in (i.e., in many games players attain levels of skill as they play along and become more experienced; for example a 99 th level wizard in a role playing game), how long have the players been playing the game, how frequently the user plays various games, play-pause habits, game information stored to non-volatile memory, etc.
- the game state-based information 130 may include session information (start time, play duration, etc.). This game state-based information 130 is then available to the ad spot filling operations 138 . For example, if the user has been playing for over two hours continuously, the system may display ads for pizza-hut, coke, coffee and other related goods.
- the user information inference operations (local and/or remote) 122 and/or 184 may use user input information 118 to infer attributes of the user 126 and/or 188 . Such inferred user information 126 and/or 188 may then be used when selecting eligible ad(s) in accordance with targeting attributes of the ads.
- the play characteristics of users may be particularly useful.
- User input information may be useful to help infer information about a user. Some other examples user information that may be inferred includes familiarity with a game(s), time spent playing a game(s), how fast is the user advancing and/or skill level, etc.
- Inferences drawn from such user input information may be made using known classification means such as neural networks, Bayesian networks, support vector machines, etc.
- Such inferred user information may be useful to help target ads. For instance, users that spend a long time bartering instead of stealing in a game may suggests that they are interested in the best deals rather than the flashiest items so the system may show ads reflecting value. As another example, users that spend a lot of time exploring suggest that they maybe interested in vacations, so the system may show ads for vacations. As another example, users that spend a lot of time chatting instead of fighting or performing other activities in online games suggest that they like to chat, so the system may show ads for cell phones, ads for long distance plans, chat messengers, etc.
- the ad spot filling operations 138 are responsible for requesting ads by the ad server and subsequently providing the ad for rendering on the ad spot.
- the ad spot filling operations 138 may submit a request an ad serving operations 172 .
- the request may include user information (Recall, e.g., 118 and 126 .), game information (Recall, e.g., 130 and 134 .), characteristics (e.g., type, size, etc.) of the ad that is to be delivered, an identifier for the game console 110 , etc.
- characteristics e.g., type, size, etc.
- Instances where ads may be displayed or otherwise rendered in video games are numerous.
- ads could be displayed at vending machines, billboards, posters on walls, a TV screen that the character walks by, etc.
- advertisements could be placed on the car or on signage or billboards along the streets and racetracks, or maybe even announced on the virtual radio of the car that the player is driving.
- advertisements may be displayed on score boards and along the sidelines of the court/field.
- Ads may be inserted as textual or spoke dialog, as an audio clip in a virtual radio, etc.
- RPGs online action-adventure and role playing games
- gamers may roam and interact through large city markets (e.g., stop for food at a McDonalds, get a haircut, go to a night club for drinks, buy a car, buy property, move through the city using a cab/bus/subway, buy goods from various stores, play a video game in an arcade, etc.), thus providing many potential spots where ads might be displayed just as in real city markets.
- large city markets e.g., stop for food at a McDonalds, get a haircut, go to a night club for drinks, buy a car, buy property, move through the city using a cab/bus/subway, buy goods from various stores, play a video game in an arcade, etc.
- the ad serving operations 172 may be used to select appropriate, relevant, ads and may use attributes and pertinent information gathered during game play. Such ad serving operation 172 may also use offer information (e.g., bids) submitted by the advertisers 160 along with their ads to select winning ads when multiple eligible ads compete for an ad spot (or too few ad spots). Once the winning ad(s) has been selected, the ad serving operations 172 may return the ads back to the ad spot filling operations 138 for rendering in the video game.
- offer information e.g., bids
- FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method 200 for performing selection and play tracking operations in a manner consistent with the present invention.
- the method 200 may be used to monitor and store information about how a user plays and interacts with a video game(s). (Recall FIG. 1, 130 .)
- Various actions may be performed by the method 200 depending on various events that may occur.
- Block 210 When a gaming system (e.g., Sony PlayStation, Nintendo GameCube, Microsoft Xbox, a PC, etc.) is powered on, the method 200 may start session tracking.
- the method 200 may end the session tracking (Block 230 ) and store and/or transmit the session information (Block 240 ).
- the method 200 may track such user input. (Block 250 ) The method may use the user input to infer user information. (Block 260 ) Subsequently, the method 200 may store and/or transmit the information about the user input and/or inferred user information for further use. (Block 270 )
- the method 200 may monitor the user's selections and game play every time a gaming system is in operation. Specifically, the method 200 may start a session tracking (begin monitoring and collecting user information) every time a gaming system is powered on. When a player turns off the gaming system, the method 200 may end the session tracking and store/transmit the session information collected during the operation of the gaming system. Session information may include, for example, a game identifier, a start time, a pause time(s), etc.
- the method 200 may simply track user inputs, but may also use the inputs of the user to infer user information/characteristics.
- User input may include user selections, user dialog, user play, etc.
- User selections may include, for example, one or more of characters, vehicles (e.g., a specific make of an automobile, car color, engine modifications, car modifications, etc.), tracks, courses or fields (e.g., a specific racetrack, a specific stadium, etc.), teams, players, attire, physical attributes, etc.
- User dialog e.g., from role playing games, simulation games, etc.
- user play may be used to characterize the user (e.g., cautious, strategic, risk-taker, aggressive, non-confrontational, stealthy, honest, dishonest, cooperative, uncooperative, etc.).
- the user input and/or inferred user information may be used to select ads more relevant to the user.
- FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method 300 for performing ad spot filling operations in a manner consistent with the present invention.
- the ad spot filling operations are responsible for requesting in-game ad(s) as well as receiving the requested ad(s) and rendering them in the appropriate spots within the video game.
- Different branches of the method 300 are performed in response to different events.
- Block 310 Specifically, if an ad (or ads) is desired (to be rendered in the game), the method 300 may obtain the ad spot information (Block 320 ) and at least one of (A) game state-based information, (B) user input information, (C) user information, and (D) other game information.
- the method 300 may generate a request for one or more ads.
- the request may include the ad spot information, and at least one of (A) game state-based information, (B) user input information, (C) user information, and (D) other game information.
- the method 300 may also receive one or more requested ad(s) (e.g., from the ad server). If so, the method 300 may proceed to place the ad(s) in the appropriate ad spot(s) for rendering.
- ads may be desired at various times. For example, ads may be desired at one or more of (a) at power up, (b) at game load, (c) during play, (d) as need, (e) prior to predicted need, etc.
- the ad spot information may include an ad spot identifier, ad size, ad type, ad duration, etc.
- the game state-based information may include information such as that described above with reference to 130 of FIG. 1
- the user input information may include information such as that described above with reference to 118 of FIG. 1
- the user information may include information such as that described above with reference to 126 of FIG. 1
- the other game information may include information such as that described above with reference to 134 of FIG. 1 .
- the method 300 may proceed to request ads from an ad server.
- the ad server uses the information included in the request to determine eligible, relevant ads. If there are too many eligible, relevant ads for a given ad spot(s), the ad server may arbitrate among the competing ads (e.g., using an auction). The determined ad(s) is returned back to method 300 wherein it is subsequently rendered in the appropriate ad spot.
- FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method 400 for performing ad serving operations in a manner consistent with the present invention.
- the method 400 is responsible for providing requested ads to gaming systems. Specifically, the method 400 may accept an ad request from a gaming system. (Block 420 ) Upon receiving such a request, the method 400 may determine one or more ads using at least one of (A) user information, (B) game state-based information, (C) user input information, (D) other information, and (E) ad spot information, perhaps in connection with ad serving constraints. Once the ad or ads have been determined, the method 400 may forward the ad(s) back to the gaming system. (Block 460 )
- the user information may include user information stored on the game system. Alternatively, or in addition user information from another source may be used. (Recall, e.g., 188 of FIG. 1 ). That is, the ad server might have sent a request for user information, where the request includes a user identifier, or a gaming system identifier.
- the method 400 may perform arbitration operations in order to determine winning ads among a number of competing ads since there may be too many ads contending for too few ad spots.
- advertisers may submit offer information (e.g., bids) along with their ads.
- the method 400 may consider the user information, game state-based information, user input information, ad spot information and/or other information to determine relevant ads, and then use offer information, perhaps in addition to other factors, to score or rank the relevant ads.
- FIG. 5 is high-level block diagram of a machine 500 that may perform one or more of the operations discussed above.
- the machine 500 basically includes one or more processors 510 , one or more input/output interface units 530 , one or more storage devices 520 , and one or more system buses and/or networks 540 for facilitating the communication of information among the coupled elements.
- One or more input devices 532 and one or more output devices 534 may be coupled with the one or more input/output interfaces 530 .
- the one or more processors 510 may execute machine-executable instructions (e.g., C or C++ running on the Solaris operating system available from Sun Microsystems Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif. or the Linux operating system widely available from a number of vendors such as Red Hat, Inc. of Durham, N.C.) to effect one or more aspects of the present invention. At least a portion of the machine executable instructions may be stored (temporarily or more permanently) on the one or more storage devices 520 and/or may be received from an external source via one or more input interface units 530 .
- machine-executable instructions e.g., C or C++ running on the Solaris operating system available from Sun Microsystems Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif. or the Linux operating system widely available from a number of vendors such as Red Hat, Inc. of Durham, N.C.
- the machine 500 may be one or more conventional personal computers, and/or one or more video game apparatus (i.e., any device on which a video game may be played such as, for example, a video game console, a personal computer, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, etc.).
- the processing units 510 may be one or more microprocessors.
- the bus 540 may include a system bus.
- the storage devices 520 may include system memory, such as read only memory (ROM) and/or random access memory (RAM).
- the storage devices 520 may also include a hard disk drive for reading from and writing to a hard disk, a magnetic disk drive for reading from or writing to a (e.g., removable) magnetic disk, and an optical disk drive for reading from or writing to a removable (magneto-) optical disk such as a compact disk or other (magneto-) optical media.
- a hard disk drive for reading from and writing to a hard disk
- a magnetic disk drive for reading from or writing to a (e.g., removable) magnetic disk
- an optical disk drive for reading from or writing to a removable (magneto-) optical disk such as a compact disk or other (magneto-) optical media.
- a user may enter commands and information into the personal computer through input devices 532 , such as a keyboard and pointing device (e.g., a mouse) for example.
- Other input devices such as a microphone, a joystick, a game pad, a satellite dish, a scanner, or the like, may also (or alternatively) be included.
- These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit(s) 510 through an appropriate interface 530 coupled to the system bus 540 .
- the output devices 534 may include a monitor or other type of display device, which may also be connected to the system bus 540 via an appropriate interface.
- the personal computer may include other (peripheral) output devices (not shown), such as speakers and printers for example.
- the methods for targeting online in-game ads is not limited by the methods described above. There could be a number of different ways and variations to the aforementioned for targeting online in-game ads. For instance, one could just simply target ads based on the type of the game and the expected demographics. Eligible ads could be selected using an arbitration process, such as an auction for example.
- embodiments consistent with the present invention need not perform all of these functions. Indeed, various embodiments consistent with the present invention may employ only one or perhaps two of these features. For example, at least some embodiments consistent with the present invention may track user video game inputs (and perhaps infer use information from such user input) and use such user information for other purposes, such as targeting ads not rendered in the video game. As another example, user information gathered or inferred from video game inputs or interactions need not be considered when determining an ad(s) relevant to an ad spot in a video game.
- some embodiments consistent with the present invention may only dynamically determine ads for a video game (or an instance thereof) without any relevance information provided from a particular video game console.
- user information from some other source may be used to target ads to ad spots in a video game being played on a gaming system associated with the user. Other combinations of these features are possible.
- the system may collect information about a user's game-play behavior.
- Examples of information that could be useful, particularly in massive multiplayer online RPG's, may be the specific dialogue entered by the users while chatting or interacting with other players/characters within the game.
- the dialogue could indicate that the player is aggressive, profane, polite, literate, illiterate, influenced by current culture or subculture, etc.
- decisions made by the players may provide more information such as whether the player is a risk taker, risk averse, aggressive, passive, intelligent, follower, leader, etc. This information may be used and analyzed in order to help select and deliver more relevant ads to users.
- ad creatives may be images akin to banner ads
- the system may use ad creatives that are text and speech of a character that the player may interact with.
- a character that a user interacts with may suggest (as an advertisement) to listen to the newly released Coldplay album. The user may reply positively (if given a choice) and listen to clips from the new Coldplay album.
- an announcer could be used to advertise by saying for instance “if he had a Hummer, he would have gotten the better of that altercation”, etc.
- Users' inputs may imply a positive or negative response to an advertisement.
- the ad might be a character saying “What to listen to the new Coldplay album.”
- a response such as “yes”, “sure”, “absolutely”, “you bet”, etc. could indicate a positive user response to the ad (like a selection of a text or banner ad on a Webpage), while a response such as “no”, “nah”, etc. could indicate a negative user response to the ad (like clicking the close box of an ad on a Webpage).
- Such user-ad actions may be tracked and used for various purposes such as billing, billing conditions, ad scoring, etc. For example, a rate of a particular user action or group of actions with respect to ad impressions can be tracked and used in a manner similar to ad selection rates, and/or ad conversion rates.
- Games may already have ads in place. For example, games may come with hundred or even thousand of ads of all different types already installed or loaded. This may be used to ensure that there will always be available ads to display in the game and not interfere with gameplay since there could be circumstances wherein, ads may not be returned soon enough, the gaming system is offline, a desired degree of relevancy could not be determined, etc.
- These ads may be shipped with targeting criteria and may be selected for ad display by a “lightweight” virtual ad server running on the user's gaming system to emulate how ads would be selected by a real ad server from a gaming system connected online.
- ads, and perhaps targeting criteria and other ad information may be provided on the same storage media (e.g., CD, ROM, DVD, etc.) as the video game.
- All popular current generation video consoles i.e., Playstation, Xbox, Gamecube, etc
- games shipped on non-writable optical disk media i.e., CD, DVD, BD, etc
- game state-based information and user information are saved onto memory cards (or some other non-volatile, readable and writable memory means) utilized by the consoles.
- memory cards or some other non-volatile, readable and writable memory means
- the present invention may examine the player's gaming history and stored status information. This may provide a large amount of information that may be used to better target ads to the user. Games the user is currently active and interested in can be determined. For instance, if a user has saved information from ten games and eight out of the ten games are racing games, then it may be inferred that the player is a racing fanatic and might find car-related ads, ads for other racing games the player might not have played already, etc., useful. The system could even examine the game state-based and user information of the various games saved on the memory card.
- FIG. 6 is a messaging diagram illustrating operations of an exemplary system consistent with the present invention.
- ad spot filling operations 138 may accept game information 610 as indicated by 620 .
- the game information 610 may include one or more of user input information 118 , game state-based information 130 , other game information 134 and user information (local) 126 .
- the ad spot filling operations 138 may generate an ad request including at least some of the ad information 610 .
- the request may include other pertinent information about the ad spot to be filled (e.g., ad type, number of ads, when needed, etc.).
- the ad request is forwarded to ad serving operations 172 .
- the ad serving operations 172 may simply use the information included in the request 630 , as well as ad information 168 , as indicated by 670 and 680 , to generate one or more relevant ads.
- the ad(s) may then be returned to the ad spot filling operations 138 as indicated by 690 .
- ad serving operations 172 may also query the user information serving operations 184 as indicated by 640 .
- User information serving operations 184 may obtain requested user information (remote) 188 as indicated by 650 and provide the requested user information (remote) back to the ad serving operations 172 as indicated by 660 .
- the game information may be different for different users.
- a virtual racing video game used by three (3) users—A, B, and C.
- user A selects an outdoor, dirt, 4 ⁇ 4 course, selects a yellow H2 Hummer, selects a male driver, and drives aggressively during the race.
- user B selects a city race, selects a tuned Toyota Supra in multi-color with a pink base, selects a female driver, and drives in a neutral manner during the race.
- user C selects a World Cup Race track in Madrid Spain, selects an Audi R8R in multi-color, selects a male driver, and drives in a strategic manner during the race.
- Dodge wants to place an advertisement. It may have various alternative ads with different serving constraints or targeting criteria. Suppose further that it has a variable color, with a default value. Thus, the system may show a “Dodge RAM-Tough Truck” ad creative with a yellow truck to user A, a “Dodge Neon Sport” ad creative with a pink car to user B, and a “Dodge Viper” ad creative with a Dodge Viper in a default color to user C.
- a ticket broker wants to advertise tickets for various events.
- Three ads for three events may be—tickets for an NFL football game, tickets for a Gwen Steffani concert, and tickets for the US Open Golf Tournament.
- the system may show the ad creative for the NFL football game tickets to user A, the ad creative for the Gwen Steffani concert tickets to user B, and the ad creative for tickets for the US Open Golf Tournament to user C.
- ad creatives for different television shows suppose that there are different ad creatives for different television shows.
- An ad creative for the TV show “Fear Factor” may be shown to user A
- an ad creative for the TV show “American Idol” may be shown to user B
- an ad creative for the “Nightly Business Report” may be shown to user C.
- embodiments consistent with the present invention may be used to serve more relevant and more useful ads to video game players. Such ads may be rendered on ad spots within the video games, though they may be rendered on ad spots on other documents instead or in addition.
- embodiments consistent with the present invention may be used to target in-game ads and serve more relevant and useful ads.
- Embodiments consistent with the present invention may monitor user video game inputs to improve ad targeting and provide more relevant and useful ads to the users.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Strategic Management (AREA)
- Development Economics (AREA)
- Finance (AREA)
- Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
- General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Economics (AREA)
- Marketing (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Game Theory and Decision Science (AREA)
- Entrepreneurship & Innovation (AREA)
- Tourism & Hospitality (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Human Resources & Organizations (AREA)
- Primary Health Care (AREA)
- Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
- Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
- Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)
- Slot Machines And Peripheral Devices (AREA)
Abstract
Information about a person's interests and gaming behavior may be determined by monitoring their online gaming activities (and perhaps making inferences from such activities). Such information may be used to improve ad targeting. For example, such information may used to target ads to be rendered in a video game being played by the person.
Description
- § 1.1 Field of the Invention
- The present invention concerns targeting the serving of advertisements, such as advertisements to be rendered in virtual environments like video games for example. In particular, the present invention concerns determining user information for use in targeting ads, and determining and serving relevant ads in virtual environments such as video games.
- § 1.2 Background Information
- In-game advertising is becoming extremely popular. This trend is expected to continue since the 18 to 34 year old male demographic in the U.S. is watching less TV and spending more time playing video games than ever before. The video game industry is becoming a media force on par with the television and motion picture industries. Consequently, ad agencies and game producers are collaborating to introduce more ads into video games. Presently, in-game ads are used to advertise real products and services in a manner analogous to product placement in movies and television shows. For example, a decal on a virtual race car may advertise a product or service. As another example, a banner in a stadium or on a race track may advertise a product or service.
- Unfortunately, ads placed in various video games are typically determined while the game is developed and are therefore relatively static. Further, the ads are typically targeted to a broad demographic group. Consequently, in-game ads are often not as relevant and useful as they could be.
- Another trend is that game producers are spending more money than before to develop video games. In the last generation of video game consoles (Sony Playstation, Sega Saturn, Nintendo 64, etc) game developers hardly reached the million dollar mark in development costs of a single video game. Presently, low end games often cost a few millions of dollars to develop, with high end games often costing even more. Game development costs are increasing while game prices have hit a ceiling. Although in-game ads help game publishers offset such development costs, revenue from such advertising has not increased fast enough to keep pace with development costs.
- In view of the foregoing, it would be useful to improve in-game advertising. One possible improvement would be to provide more useful and relevant ads. Another possible improvement would be to increase advertising revenues.
- Embodiments consistent with the present invention allow information about a person's interests and gaming behavior to be determined by monitoring their online gaming activities (and perhaps making inferences from such activities). Such information may be used to improve ad targeting. For example, such information may used to target ads to be rendered in a video game being played by the person.
-
FIG. 1 is a bubble diagram of exemplary operations that may be performed in a manner consistent with the present invention, as well as information that may be used and/or generated by such operations. -
FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for performing video game selection and play (e.g., user-video game interaction) tracking operations in a manner consistent with the present invention. -
FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for performing ad spot filling operations in a manner consistent with the present invention. -
FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an exemplary system for performing ad serve operations in a manner consistent with the present invention. -
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an exemplary apparatus that may perform various operations in a manner consistent with the present invention. -
FIG. 6 is a messaging diagram illustrating operations of an exemplary system consistent with the present invention. - The present invention may involve novel methods, apparatus, message formats, and/or data structures for improving ads, such as ads served in video games for example, using information about a video game player determined from their interactions with a video game. The following description is presented to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of particular applications and their requirements. Thus, the following description of embodiments consistent with the present invention provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise form disclosed. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles set forth below may be applied to other embodiments and applications. For example, although a series of acts may be described with reference to a flow diagram, the order of acts may differ in other implementations when the performance of one act is not dependent on the completion of another act. Further, non-dependent acts may be performed in parallel. No element, act or instruction used in the description should be construed as critical or essential to the present invention unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used. In the following, “information” may refer to the actual information, or a pointer to, identifier of, or location of such information. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown and the inventors regard their invention to include any patentable subject matter described.
- In the following definitions of terms that may be used in the specification are provided in § 4.1. Then, environments in which, or with which, the present invention may operate are described in § 4.2. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in § 4.3. Thereafter, specific examples illustrating the utility of one exemplary embodiment of the present invention are provided in § 4.4. Finally, some conclusions regarding the present invention are set forth in § 4.5.
- Online ads may have various intrinsic features. Such features may be specified by an application and/or an advertiser. These features are referred to as “ad features” below. For example, in the case of a text ad, ad features may include a title line, ad text, and an embedded link. In the case of an image ad, ad features may include images, executable code, and an embedded link. Depending on the type of online ad, ad features may include one or more of the following: text, a link, an audio file, a video file, an image file, executable code, embedded information, etc. An image ad may be scaled, rotated, skewed, etc., as needed, to fit within an ad spot.
- When an online ad is served, one or more parameters may be used to describe how, when, and/or where the ad was served. These parameters are referred to as “serving parameters” below. Serving parameters may include, for example, one or more of the following: features of (including information on) a video game or video game console (or more generally, “video game apparatus”) on which, or with which, the ad was served, or of a document on which, or with which, the ad was served, information in an ad request associated with the serving of the ad, a user characteristic (e.g., their geographic location, the language used by the user, the type of browser used, previous page views, previous behavior, user account, Web cookies, user device characteristics, etc.), a host or affiliate site (e.g., America Online, Google, Yahoo) that initiated the request, an absolute position of the ad on a screen or page on which it was served, position of the ad within a video game in which the ad was served, a position (spatial or temporal) of the ad relative to other ads served, an absolute size of the ad, a size of the ad relative to other ads, a color of the ad, a number of other ads served, types of other ads served, time of day served, time of week served, time of year served, etc. Naturally, there are other serving parameters that may be used in the context of the invention.
- Although serving parameters may be extrinsic to ad features, they may be associated with an ad as serving conditions or constraints. When used as serving conditions or constraints, such serving parameters are referred to simply as “serving constraints” (or “targeting criteria”). For example, in some systems, an advertiser may be able to target the serving of its ad by specifying that it is only to be served on weekdays, no lower than a certain position, only to users in a certain location, etc. As another example, in some systems, an advertiser might specify that its ad is to be served in certain video games, or on certain video game apparatus. As yet another example, in some systems, an advertiser might specify that its ad is to be served only to a certain type of user, or a user having certain attributes. As another example, in some systems, an advertiser may specify that its ad is to be served only if a page or search query includes certain keywords or phrases. As still yet another example, in some systems, an advertiser may specify that its ad is to be served only if a document, on which, or with which, the ad is to be served, includes certain topics or concepts, or falls under a particular cluster or clusters, or some other classification or classifications (e.g., verticals). In some systems, an advertiser may specify that its ad is to be served only to (or is not to be served to) user devices having certain characteristics. Finally, in some systems an ad might be targeted so that it is served in response to a request sourced from a particular location, or in response to a request concerning a particular location.
- “Ad information” may include any combination of ad features, ad serving constraints, information derivable from ad features or ad serving constraints (referred to as “ad derived information”), and/or information related to the ad (referred to as “ad related information”), as well as an extension of such information (e.g., information derived from ad related information).
- The ratio of the number of selections (e.g., clickthroughs) of an ad to the number of impressions of the ad (i.e., the number of times an ad is rendered) is defined as the “selection rate” (or “clickthrough rate” or “CTR”) of the ad.
- A “conversion” is said to occur when a user consummates a transaction related to a previously served ad. What constitutes a conversion may vary from case to case and can be determined in a variety of ways. For example, it may be the case that a conversion occurs when a user clicks on an ad, is referred to the advertiser's Web page, and consummates a purchase there before leaving that Web page. Alternatively, a conversion may be defined as a user being shown an ad, and making a purchase on the advertiser's Web page within a predetermined time (e.g., seven days). In yet another alternative, a conversion may be defined by an advertiser to be any measurable/observable user action such as, for example, downloading a white paper, navigating to at least a given depth of a Website, viewing at least a certain number of Web pages, spending at least a predetermined amount of time on a Website or Web page, registering on a Website, etc. Often, if user actions don't indicate a consummated purchase, they may indicate a sales lead, although user actions constituting a conversion are not limited to this. Indeed, many other definitions of what constitutes a conversion are possible.
- The ratio of the number of conversions to the number of impressions of the ad (i.e., the number of times an ad is rendered) and the ratio of the number of conversions to the number of selections (or the number of some other earlier event) are both referred to as the “conversion rate” or “CR.” The type of conversion rate will be apparent from the context in which it is used. If a conversion is defined to be able to occur within a predetermined time since the serving of an ad, one possible definition of the conversion rate might only consider ads that have been served more than the predetermined time in the past.
- A “property” is something on which ads can be presented. A property may include online content (e.g., a Website, an MP3 audio program, online (e.g., video) games, etc.), offline content (e.g., a video game played in a video game apparatus that is not online, a newspaper, a magazine, a theatrical production, a concert, a sports event, etc.), and/or offline objects (e.g., a billboard, a stadium score board, and outfield wall, the side of truck trailer, etc.). Properties with content (e.g., magazines, newspapers, Websites, email messages, etc.) may be referred to as “media properties.” Although properties may themselves be offline, pertinent information about a property (e.g., attribute(s), topic(s), concept(s), category(ies), keyword(s), relevancy information, type(s) of ads supported, etc.) may be available online. For example, an outdoor jazz music festival may have entered the topics “music” and “jazz”, the location of the concerts, the time of the concerts, artists scheduled to appear at the festival, and types of available ad spots (e.g., spots in a printed program, spots on a stage, spots on seat backs, audio announcements of sponsors, etc.).
- A “document” is to be broadly interpreted to include any machine-readable and machine-storable work product. A document may be a file, a combination of files, one or more files with embedded links to other files, a display screen or a video sequence (e.g., of a video game), etc. The files may be of any type, such as text, audio, image, video, etc. Parts of a document to be rendered to an end user can be thought of as “content” of the document. A document may include “structured data” containing both content (words, pictures, etc.) and some indication of the meaning of that content (for example, e-mail fields and associated data, HTML tags and associated data, etc.) Ad spots in the document may be defined by embedded information or instructions. In the context of the Internet, a common document is a Web page. Web pages often include content and may include embedded information (such as meta information, hyperlinks, etc.) and/or embedded instructions (such as JavaScript, etc.). In many cases, a document has an addressable storage location and can therefore be uniquely identified by this addressable location. A universal resource locator (URL) is an address used to access information on the Internet.
- A “Web document” includes any document published on the Web. Examples of Web documents include, for example, a Website or a Web page.
- “Document information” may include any information included in the document, information derivable from information included in the document (referred to as “document derived information”), and/or information related to the document (referred to as “document related information”), as well as an extensions of such information (e.g., information derived from related information). An example of document derived information is a classification based on textual content of a document. Examples of document related information include document information from other documents with links to the instant document, as well as document information from other documents to which the instant document links.
- Content from a document may be rendered on a “content rendering application or device”. Examples of content rendering applications include an Internet browser (e.g., Explorer, Netscape, Opera, Firefox, etc.), a media player (e.g., an MP3 player, a Realnetworks streaming audio file player, etc.), a viewer (e.g., an Abobe Acrobat pdf reader), a video game apparatus (e.g., a video game console such as PlayStation2 from Sony, XBox from Microsoft, GameCube from Nintendo, etc., a personal computer, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant, etc.) etc.
- A “content owner” is a person or entity that has some property right in the content of a media property (e.g., document). A content owner may be an author of the content. In addition, or alternatively, a content owner may have rights to reproduce the content, rights to prepare derivative works of the content, rights to display or perform the content publicly, and/or other proscribed rights in the content. Although a content server might be a content owner in the content of the documents it serves, this is not necessary. A “Web publisher” is an example of a content owner.
- “User information” may include user behavior information and/or user profile information.
- § 4.2 Exemplary Advertising Environments in which, or with which, the Present Invention may Operate
-
FIG. 1 is a bubble diagram of exemplary operations that may be performed in a manner consistent with the present invention, as well as information that may be used and/or generated by such operations. Theenvironment 100 depicted inFIG. 1 may be used to determine relevant ads and/or select relevant ad creatives to be shown in or with video games. Alternatively, or in addition, theenvironment 100 depicted inFIG. 1 may be used to track user-video game interaction information, where such user information may be used to help select relevant ads shown to a user, but not in a video game. Theenvironment 100 may include game play trackingoperations 114, adspot filling operations 138 and ad serving operations 170. - The game
play tracking operations 114 may collectuser input information 118 and provide it to the adspot filling operations 138. Furthermore, game state-basedinformation 130 may also be provided to the adspot filling operations 138. Moreover, userinformation inference operations 122 may be used to generateadditional user information 126. Such inferences may be made usinguser input information 118 and/or game state-basedinformation 130. Finally, thevideo game apparatus 110 may storeother game information 134 such as console name or brand, a console identifier, a console location, (currently loaded) game identifier, etc. Using the game state-basedinformation 130, theuser input information 118, theuser information 126, and/orother game information 134, the adspot filling operations 138 may (i) generate a request for relevant ads, (ii) forward the request to ad serving operations 172 (through one or more networks 140) when an advertisement is to be displayed in the game, and (iii) render the ad(s) in one or more ad spots within the video game. -
Advertisers 150 may interact with anad server 160 via ad information entry andmanagement operations 164 andnetworks 140 in order to submit their advertisements and ad information. This information is stored asad information 168 and may include ad creatives, serving constraints, offer information, etc. The ad information entry andmanagement operations 164 may inform theadvertisers 150 of various game attributes to which their ads can be targeted. - The
ad serving operations 172 may accept requests for ads from the adspot filling operations 138. Such requests may include game state-basedinformation 130,user input information 118, user information (local) 126, and/orother game information 134, as well as other pertinent information (e.g., ad size, ad type, when the ad will be needed, etc.) necessary for proper ad selection and rendering (e.g., display, text dialog, audio segment, etc.). Using the request information from the gaming system, thead serving operations 172 may select relevant ads and/or ad creatives from thead information 168. If there are more than one relevant ads competing for a given ad spot (or too many relevant ads competing for a limited number of ad spots), thead serving operations 172 may run an arbitration to select the best ad or ads. Subsequently, thead serving operations 172 may provide the adspot filling operations 138 with the selected ad(s) so that these ad(s) may be rendered in the appropriate ad spots within the video game. - The ad server may include accounting and/or
billing operations 176 in addition to thead serving operations 172 and the ad information entry andmanagement operations 164. - A
user information server 180 may be provided to accept, perhaps generate, and store user information (remote) 188. Usergame registration operations 192 may accept and store user information provided in a game or game console product registration, or provided in an online gaming subscription registration. User information inference andstorage operations 196 may infer certain attributes or characteristics of a user fromuser input information 118. The userinformation serving operations 184 may be used to provideuser information 188 to a requesting entity. For example, thead server 160 might have a user identifier, but no information (or incomplete information) about a user. It may forward a request to theuser information server 180, where the request includes a user identifier. Theuser information server 180 may use the user identifier to look up pertinent user information (remote) 188 and return it to thead server 160. - The game
play tracking operations 114 may track game player (also referred to as a “user”) input (e.g., play, selection, etc.)information 118. For instance, in most simulation games as in a Formula One racing game, a user may select a real world make/team of a car (e.g., Ferrari, Williams-BMW, McLaren-Mercedes, Renault, etc.), a particular driver (e.g., Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Rubens Barrichello, etc.) as well as the racing track desired to compete in (e.g., Monte Carlo/Monaco, Nurburgring/Europe, Indianapolis/USA, etc.), car color, type of tires, etc. In other games, as in first person shooters, users may select their character's role such as a medic, a mercenary, an engineer, a warrior, a thief, a wizard, an alien, etc. In sports games, the user may select a team, a stadium, or even a player from real team player rosters. Moreover, in many games, users may select the sex of their character, pre-defined personalities of their characters, attire for their player(s), physical attributes of their players (fat, thin, muscular, tall, short, hair color and style, ethnicity, eye color, etc.), soundtrack and other sound/visual properties, and many other customizable features. Such selection inputs may be tracked by the game play trackingoperations 114 and stored asuser input information 118, which are then available to the adspot filling operations 138. - Such
user input information 118 may be used to help select relevant ads. As example one example, if a user selected a racing car from Dodge, the system may show a Dodge ad or something related. As another example, if the user selected a sports team from Miami, the system may show ads for tickets for events in Miami. As another example, if a user selected a soundtrack of “Beastie Boys” in a video game, the system may suggest ads for rap/hip hop and other related music, not Britney Spears. As yet another example, if a user selected a black car to drive in a racing game, the system may show ads with black cars, instead of car in other colors. As still yet anther example, if the user selected a male character, the system may show ads tailored to males. If the user has been playing for over two hours continuously, the system may display ads for pizza-hut, coke, coffee and other related goods. - Game state-based information 120 may include information about the user's game-play. For example it may include, how fast the players are going through the levels, how familiar the players are with the game, what level are the players in (i.e., in many games players attain levels of skill as they play along and become more experienced; for example a 99th level wizard in a role playing game), how long have the players been playing the game, how frequently the user plays various games, play-pause habits, game information stored to non-volatile memory, etc. The game state-based
information 130 may include session information (start time, play duration, etc.). This game state-basedinformation 130 is then available to the adspot filling operations 138. For example, if the user has been playing for over two hours continuously, the system may display ads for pizza-hut, coke, coffee and other related goods. - The user information inference operations (local and/or remote) 122 and/or 184 may use
user input information 118 to infer attributes of theuser 126 and/or 188. Suchinferred user information 126 and/or 188 may then be used when selecting eligible ad(s) in accordance with targeting attributes of the ads. The play characteristics of users, particularly in online RPG games (e.g., time spent chatting with other virtual players versus fighting, time spent bartering versus stealing, time spent exploring versus building, time spent trying new items versus completing levels, decisions made by players leading to certain situations (good versus bad, strategic versus short term), avoiding conflict (risk averse) versus being aggressive, cooperating and collaborating versus doing things alone, friendly versus hostile, etc.) may be particularly useful. User input information may be useful to help infer information about a user. Some other examples user information that may be inferred includes familiarity with a game(s), time spent playing a game(s), how fast is the user advancing and/or skill level, etc. Inferences drawn from such user input information may be made using known classification means such as neural networks, Bayesian networks, support vector machines, etc. Such inferred user information may be useful to help target ads. For instance, users that spend a long time bartering instead of stealing in a game may suggests that they are interested in the best deals rather than the flashiest items so the system may show ads reflecting value. As another example, users that spend a lot of time exploring suggest that they maybe interested in vacations, so the system may show ads for vacations. As another example, users that spend a lot of time chatting instead of fighting or performing other activities in online games suggest that they like to chat, so the system may show ads for cell phones, ads for long distance plans, chat messengers, etc. - To summarize, the ad
spot filling operations 138 are responsible for requesting ads by the ad server and subsequently providing the ad for rendering on the ad spot. In particular whenever an ad is to be displayed in the game, the adspot filling operations 138 may submit a request anad serving operations 172. The request may include user information (Recall, e.g., 118 and 126.), game information (Recall, e.g., 130 and 134.), characteristics (e.g., type, size, etc.) of the ad that is to be delivered, an identifier for thegame console 110, etc. Instances where ads may be displayed or otherwise rendered in video games are numerous. For instance, in a first person shooter, ads could be displayed at vending machines, billboards, posters on walls, a TV screen that the character walks by, etc. In racing games, advertisements could be placed on the car or on signage or billboards along the streets and racetracks, or maybe even announced on the virtual radio of the car that the player is driving. In many sports games, advertisements may be displayed on score boards and along the sidelines of the court/field. Ads may be inserted as textual or spoke dialog, as an audio clip in a virtual radio, etc. In online action-adventure and role playing games (RPGs), it is common to simulate real world-like environments where gamers may roam vast environments thereby providing numerous locations where ads might be displayed. For instance, gamers may roam and interact through large city markets (e.g., stop for food at a McDonalds, get a haircut, go to a night club for drinks, buy a car, buy property, move through the city using a cab/bus/subway, buy goods from various stores, play a video game in an arcade, etc.), thus providing many potential spots where ads might be displayed just as in real city markets. - Thus, the
ad serving operations 172 may be used to select appropriate, relevant, ads and may use attributes and pertinent information gathered during game play. Suchad serving operation 172 may also use offer information (e.g., bids) submitted by theadvertisers 160 along with their ads to select winning ads when multiple eligible ads compete for an ad spot (or too few ad spots). Once the winning ad(s) has been selected, thead serving operations 172 may return the ads back to the adspot filling operations 138 for rendering in the video game. - § 4.3.1 Exemplary Methods
-
FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of anexemplary method 200 for performing selection and play tracking operations in a manner consistent with the present invention. Specifically, themethod 200 may be used to monitor and store information about how a user plays and interacts with a video game(s). (RecallFIG. 1, 130 .) Various actions may be performed by themethod 200 depending on various events that may occur. (Block 210) When a gaming system (e.g., Sony PlayStation, Nintendo GameCube, Microsoft Xbox, a PC, etc.) is powered on, themethod 200 may start session tracking. (Block 220) Conversely, when a gaming system is powered off or shut down, themethod 200 may end the session tracking (Block 230) and store and/or transmit the session information (Block 240). During the power-on state, user inputs occur. In response, themethod 200 may track such user input. (Block 250) The method may use the user input to infer user information. (Block 260) Subsequently, themethod 200 may store and/or transmit the information about the user input and/or inferred user information for further use. (Block 270) - Referring back to
blocks method 200 may monitor the user's selections and game play every time a gaming system is in operation. Specifically, themethod 200 may start a session tracking (begin monitoring and collecting user information) every time a gaming system is powered on. When a player turns off the gaming system, themethod 200 may end the session tracking and store/transmit the session information collected during the operation of the gaming system. Session information may include, for example, a game identifier, a start time, a pause time(s), etc. - Referring back to
blocks method 200 may simply track user inputs, but may also use the inputs of the user to infer user information/characteristics. User input may include user selections, user dialog, user play, etc. User selections may include, for example, one or more of characters, vehicles (e.g., a specific make of an automobile, car color, engine modifications, car modifications, etc.), tracks, courses or fields (e.g., a specific racetrack, a specific stadium, etc.), teams, players, attire, physical attributes, etc. There are many customizations a user may select from depending on the genre of the game. These selections may reflect the user's fondness, preferences, and/or interests. User dialog (e.g., from role playing games, simulation games, etc.) may be used to characterize the user (e.g., literate or illiterate, profane, blunt, or polite, quiet or chatty, etc.). Also, user play may be used to characterize the user (e.g., cautious, strategic, risk-taker, aggressive, non-confrontational, stealthy, honest, dishonest, cooperative, uncooperative, etc.). - As will be described in more detail below, the user input and/or inferred user information may be used to select ads more relevant to the user.
-
FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of anexemplary method 300 for performing ad spot filling operations in a manner consistent with the present invention. The ad spot filling operations are responsible for requesting in-game ad(s) as well as receiving the requested ad(s) and rendering them in the appropriate spots within the video game. Different branches of themethod 300 are performed in response to different events. (Block 310) Specifically, if an ad (or ads) is desired (to be rendered in the game), themethod 300 may obtain the ad spot information (Block 320) and at least one of (A) game state-based information, (B) user input information, (C) user information, and (D) other game information. (Block 330) Finally, themethod 300 may generate a request for one or more ads. The request may include the ad spot information, and at least one of (A) game state-based information, (B) user input information, (C) user information, and (D) other game information. (Block 340) Referring back to block 310, themethod 300 may also receive one or more requested ad(s) (e.g., from the ad server). If so, themethod 300 may proceed to place the ad(s) in the appropriate ad spot(s) for rendering. - Referring back to the right branch of
FIG. 3 , ads may be desired at various times. For example, ads may be desired at one or more of (a) at power up, (b) at game load, (c) during play, (d) as need, (e) prior to predicted need, etc. - Referring back to block 320, the ad spot information may include an ad spot identifier, ad size, ad type, ad duration, etc. Referring back to block 330, the game state-based information may include information such as that described above with reference to 130 of
FIG. 1 , the user input information may include information such as that described above with reference to 118 ofFIG. 1 , the user information may include information such as that described above with reference to 126 ofFIG. 1 , and the other game information may include information such as that described above with reference to 134 ofFIG. 1 . - Referring back to block 340, once the
method 300 has obtained the pertinent information mentioned above, it may proceed to request ads from an ad server. The ad server uses the information included in the request to determine eligible, relevant ads. If there are too many eligible, relevant ads for a given ad spot(s), the ad server may arbitrate among the competing ads (e.g., using an auction). The determined ad(s) is returned back tomethod 300 wherein it is subsequently rendered in the appropriate ad spot. -
FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of anexemplary method 400 for performing ad serving operations in a manner consistent with the present invention. Themethod 400 is responsible for providing requested ads to gaming systems. Specifically, themethod 400 may accept an ad request from a gaming system. (Block 420) Upon receiving such a request, themethod 400 may determine one or more ads using at least one of (A) user information, (B) game state-based information, (C) user input information, (D) other information, and (E) ad spot information, perhaps in connection with ad serving constraints. Once the ad or ads have been determined, themethod 400 may forward the ad(s) back to the gaming system. (Block 460) - Referring back to block 440, the user information may include user information stored on the game system. Alternatively, or in addition user information from another source may be used. (Recall, e.g., 188 of
FIG. 1 ). That is, the ad server might have sent a request for user information, where the request includes a user identifier, or a gaming system identifier. - Further, the
method 400 may perform arbitration operations in order to determine winning ads among a number of competing ads since there may be too many ads contending for too few ad spots. Hence, advertisers may submit offer information (e.g., bids) along with their ads. As a result, when selecting ads, themethod 400 may consider the user information, game state-based information, user input information, ad spot information and/or other information to determine relevant ads, and then use offer information, perhaps in addition to other factors, to score or rank the relevant ads. - § 4.3.2 Exemplary Apparatus
-
FIG. 5 is high-level block diagram of amachine 500 that may perform one or more of the operations discussed above. Themachine 500 basically includes one ormore processors 510, one or more input/output interface units 530, one ormore storage devices 520, and one or more system buses and/ornetworks 540 for facilitating the communication of information among the coupled elements. One ormore input devices 532 and one ormore output devices 534 may be coupled with the one or more input/output interfaces 530. - The one or
more processors 510 may execute machine-executable instructions (e.g., C or C++ running on the Solaris operating system available from Sun Microsystems Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif. or the Linux operating system widely available from a number of vendors such as Red Hat, Inc. of Durham, N.C.) to effect one or more aspects of the present invention. At least a portion of the machine executable instructions may be stored (temporarily or more permanently) on the one ormore storage devices 520 and/or may be received from an external source via one or moreinput interface units 530. - In one embodiment, the
machine 500 may be one or more conventional personal computers, and/or one or more video game apparatus (i.e., any device on which a video game may be played such as, for example, a video game console, a personal computer, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, etc.). In this case, theprocessing units 510 may be one or more microprocessors. Thebus 540 may include a system bus. Thestorage devices 520 may include system memory, such as read only memory (ROM) and/or random access memory (RAM). Thestorage devices 520 may also include a hard disk drive for reading from and writing to a hard disk, a magnetic disk drive for reading from or writing to a (e.g., removable) magnetic disk, and an optical disk drive for reading from or writing to a removable (magneto-) optical disk such as a compact disk or other (magneto-) optical media. - A user may enter commands and information into the personal computer through
input devices 532, such as a keyboard and pointing device (e.g., a mouse) for example. Other input devices such as a microphone, a joystick, a game pad, a satellite dish, a scanner, or the like, may also (or alternatively) be included. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit(s) 510 through anappropriate interface 530 coupled to thesystem bus 540. Theoutput devices 534 may include a monitor or other type of display device, which may also be connected to thesystem bus 540 via an appropriate interface. In addition to (or instead of) the monitor, the personal computer may include other (peripheral) output devices (not shown), such as speakers and printers for example. - § 4.3.3 Alternatives and Extensions
- The methods for targeting online in-game ads is not limited by the methods described above. There could be a number of different ways and variations to the aforementioned for targeting online in-game ads. For instance, one could just simply target ads based on the type of the game and the expected demographics. Eligible ads could be selected using an arbitration process, such as an auction for example.
- Although some of the embodiments described above facilitated (A) tracking user input or interaction with a video game (and perhaps inferring user information from such user input), and (B) dynamically determining ads, perhaps (C) using user information, embodiments consistent with the present invention need not perform all of these functions. Indeed, various embodiments consistent with the present invention may employ only one or perhaps two of these features. For example, at least some embodiments consistent with the present invention may track user video game inputs (and perhaps infer use information from such user input) and use such user information for other purposes, such as targeting ads not rendered in the video game. As another example, user information gathered or inferred from video game inputs or interactions need not be considered when determining an ad(s) relevant to an ad spot in a video game. That is, some embodiments consistent with the present invention may only dynamically determine ads for a video game (or an instance thereof) without any relevance information provided from a particular video game console. As yet another example, user information from some other source may be used to target ads to ad spots in a video game being played on a gaming system associated with the user. Other combinations of these features are possible.
- According to the aforementioned, the system may collect information about a user's game-play behavior. Examples of information that could be useful, particularly in massive multiplayer online RPG's, may be the specific dialogue entered by the users while chatting or interacting with other players/characters within the game. For example, the dialogue could indicate that the player is aggressive, profane, polite, literate, illiterate, influenced by current culture or subculture, etc. Also decisions made by the players may provide more information such as whether the player is a risk taker, risk averse, aggressive, passive, intelligent, follower, leader, etc. This information may be used and analyzed in order to help select and deliver more relevant ads to users.
- Furthermore, although ad creatives may be images akin to banner ads, the system may use ad creatives that are text and speech of a character that the player may interact with. For instance, in the popular game series Simms, a character that a user interacts with may suggest (as an advertisement) to listen to the newly released Coldplay album. The user may reply positively (if given a choice) and listen to clips from the new Coldplay album. As another example in a car racing game, after a user crashes his Honda civic, an announcer could be used to advertise by saying for instance “if he had a Hummer, he would have gotten the better of that altercation”, etc.
- Users' inputs may imply a positive or negative response to an advertisement. For example, in a Simms type game, the ad might be a character saying “What to listen to the new Coldplay album.” A response such as “yes”, “sure”, “absolutely”, “you bet”, etc. could indicate a positive user response to the ad (like a selection of a text or banner ad on a Webpage), while a response such as “no”, “nah”, etc. could indicate a negative user response to the ad (like clicking the close box of an ad on a Webpage). Such user-ad actions may be tracked and used for various purposes such as billing, billing conditions, ad scoring, etc. For example, a rate of a particular user action or group of actions with respect to ad impressions can be tracked and used in a manner similar to ad selection rates, and/or ad conversion rates.
- Games may already have ads in place. For example, games may come with hundred or even thousand of ads of all different types already installed or loaded. This may be used to ensure that there will always be available ads to display in the game and not interfere with gameplay since there could be circumstances wherein, ads may not be returned soon enough, the gaming system is offline, a desired degree of relevancy could not be determined, etc. These ads may be shipped with targeting criteria and may be selected for ad display by a “lightweight” virtual ad server running on the user's gaming system to emulate how ads would be selected by a real ad server from a gaming system connected online. Thus, ads, and perhaps targeting criteria and other ad information, may be provided on the same storage media (e.g., CD, ROM, DVD, etc.) as the video game.
- All popular current generation video consoles (i.e., Playstation, Xbox, Gamecube, etc) use games shipped on non-writable optical disk media (i.e., CD, DVD, BD, etc) hence, game state-based information and user information are saved onto memory cards (or some other non-volatile, readable and writable memory means) utilized by the consoles. This allows players to save their game and continue perhaps at a later time. These memory cards allow players to store game information from many different games depending on the memory capacity of the card. Typically, dozens of games may be saved. Such saved information may be thought of state information, and offers a valuable source of information to the advertisers and the present invention. Specifically, by examining a gaming system's memory card every time a player connects online, the present invention (system) may examine the player's gaming history and stored status information. This may provide a large amount of information that may be used to better target ads to the user. Games the user is currently active and interested in can be determined. For instance, if a user has saved information from ten games and eight out of the ten games are racing games, then it may be inferred that the player is a racing fanatic and might find car-related ads, ads for other racing games the player might not have played already, etc., useful. The system could even examine the game state-based and user information of the various games saved on the memory card. For example, if it is found that the player is mostly racing with a BMW and generally German automobiles throughout the saved racing games on the memory card, then it might be inferred that the user is a BWM and German automobile aficionado, and may find ads for such cars useful. As can be appreciated from the foregoing, by examining a gaming system's memory card(s), useful insights about the user may be gained.
- Although many of the exemplary embodiments described above concerned video games, embodiments consistent with the present invention may be used in other virtual environments or immersive environments.
-
FIG. 6 is a messaging diagram illustrating operations of an exemplary system consistent with the present invention. When generating a request to fill an ad spot, adspot filling operations 138 may acceptgame information 610 as indicated by 620. Thegame information 610 may include one or more ofuser input information 118, game state-basedinformation 130,other game information 134 and user information (local) 126. The adspot filling operations 138 may generate an ad request including at least some of thead information 610. The request may include other pertinent information about the ad spot to be filled (e.g., ad type, number of ads, when needed, etc.). As indicated by 630, the ad request is forwarded toad serving operations 172. Thead serving operations 172 may simply use the information included in therequest 630, as well asad information 168, as indicated by 670 and 680, to generate one or more relevant ads. The ad(s) may then be returned to the adspot filling operations 138 as indicated by 690. - Note that the
ad serving operations 172 may also query the userinformation serving operations 184 as indicated by 640. Userinformation serving operations 184 may obtain requested user information (remote) 188 as indicated by 650 and provide the requested user information (remote) back to thead serving operations 172 as indicated by 660. - The game information may be different for different users. Consider, for example, a virtual racing video game used by three (3) users—A, B, and C. Suppose that user A selects an outdoor, dirt, 4×4 course, selects a yellow H2 Hummer, selects a male driver, and drives aggressively during the race. Suppose, that user B selects a city race, selects a tuned Toyota Supra in multi-color with a pink base, selects a female driver, and drives in a neutral manner during the race. Finally, suppose that user C selects a World Cup Race track in Madrid Spain, selects an Audi R8R in multi-color, selects a male driver, and drives in a strategic manner during the race.
- Given the assumptions in the foregoing example, suppose that Dodge wants to place an advertisement. It may have various alternative ads with different serving constraints or targeting criteria. Suppose further that it has a variable color, with a default value. Thus, the system may show a “Dodge RAM-Tough Truck” ad creative with a yellow truck to user A, a “Dodge Neon Sport” ad creative with a pink car to user B, and a “Dodge Viper” ad creative with a Dodge Viper in a default color to user C. Suppose that a ticket broker wants to advertise tickets for various events. Three ads for three events, each having different serving constraints or targeting criteria, may be—tickets for an NFL football game, tickets for a Gwen Steffani concert, and tickets for the US Open Golf Tournament. Thus, the system may show the ad creative for the NFL football game tickets to user A, the ad creative for the Gwen Steffani concert tickets to user B, and the ad creative for tickets for the US Open Golf Tournament to user C. As a final example, suppose that there are different ad creatives for different television shows. An ad creative for the TV show “Fear Factor” may be shown to user A, an ad creative for the TV show “American Idol” may be shown to user B, and an ad creative for the “Nightly Business Report” may be shown to user C. As these examples, demonstrate, embodiments consistent with the present invention may be used to serve more relevant and more useful ads to video game players. Such ads may be rendered on ad spots within the video games, though they may be rendered on ad spots on other documents instead or in addition.
- As can be appreciated from the foregoing, embodiments consistent with the present invention may be used to target in-game ads and serve more relevant and useful ads. Embodiments consistent with the present invention may monitor user video game inputs to improve ad targeting and provide more relevant and useful ads to the users.
Claims (33)
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
a) generating an ad request, wherein the ad request includes video game information;
b) transmitting the ad request to an ad server;
c) determining at least one ad responsive to the ad request using at least the video game information included in the ad request;
d) transmitting the at least one ad to a video game apparatus; and
e) rendering the at least one ad in a video game being played by the video game apparatus.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the video game information included in the ad request includes video game state-based information.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the video game information included in the ad request includes user interactions with the video game.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 wherein the user interactions with the video game include at least one of (A) user video game character selections, (B) user video game character apparel selections, and (C) user video game character physical attribute selections.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 wherein the user interactions with the video game include at least one of (A) user video game team selections, (B) user video game sports player selections, and (C) user video game stadium selections.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the video game information included in the ad request includes video game apparatus location information.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the video game information included in the ad request includes an identifier of a video game being played.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:
tracking at least one of user selections and user game play; and
inferring user characteristics from the tracked at least one user selections and user game play, wherein the ad request includes at least some of the inferred user characteristics.
9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 wherein the act of inferring user characteristics occurs on the video game apparatus.
10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 wherein the act of inferring user characteristics occurs on a system remote from the video game system.
11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the video game information is session information.
12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the session information includes at least one of (A) start times, (B) stop times, and (C) pause times.
13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the act of determining at least one ad includes determining, from a plurality of ads including targeting information, at least one relevant ad using the targeting information and the video game information.
14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 wherein the targeting information includes a video game identifier.
15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 wherein the targeting information includes a video game type or genre.
16. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 wherein the targeting information includes video game apparatus location information.
17. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 wherein the targeting information includes at least one of time and date information.
18. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 wherein the targeting information includes user information.
19. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 includes the act of determining at least one ad further includes scoring each of the at least one relevant ad, and selecting the at least one ad from the ad least one relevant ad using the score.
20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19 wherein each of the relevant ads has offer information, and wherein the act of scoring each of the at least one relevant ad uses the offer information.
21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20 wherein the offer information is an offer per ad impression in a video game.
22. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the act of transmitting the ad request to the ad server occurs after the video game system is turned on and responsive to the video game system being turned on.
23. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the act of transmitting the ad request is responsive to an ad spot becoming available imminently.
24. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the act of transmitting the ad request is responsive to an ad spot becoming available with more than a predetermined probability.
25. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the video game information includes information for more than one video game.
26. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the video game information includes information, stored on a non-volatile readable and writeable memory means residing with a video game apparatus, for more than one video game.
27. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the ad server resides on the video game apparatus, and wherein the act of determining at least one ad responsive to the ad request using at least the video game information included in the ad request is performed on the video game apparatus resident ad server.
28. The computer-implemented method of claim 27 wherein the at least one ad determined responsive to the ad request is selected from a group of ads provided on a computer-readable medium on which the video game is also stored.
29. A computer-implemented method comprising:
a) tracking at least one of user selections and user play in the context of a video game;
b) inferring user characteristics from the tracked at least one user selections and user game play; and
c) determining ads relevant to the user using the inferred user characteristics.
30. A computer-implemented method comprising:
a) generating an ad request, wherein the ad request includes video game information;
b) transmitting the ad request to an ad server;
c) receiving at least one ad that was determined using at least the video game information included in the ad request; and
d) rendering the at least one ad in a video game being played by the video game apparatus.
31. A computer-implemented method comprising:
a) accepting an ad request, wherein the ad request includes video game information;
b) determining at least one ad responsive to the ad request using at least the video game information included in the ad request; and
c) transmitting the at least one ad to a video game apparatus for rendering in a video game being played by the video game apparatus.
32. Apparatus comprising:
a) means for accepting an ad request, wherein the ad request includes video game information;
b) means for determining at least one ad responsive to the ad request using at least the video game information included in the ad request; and
c) means for transmitting the at least one ad to a video game apparatus for rendering in a video game being played by the video game apparatus.
33. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform acts of:
a) accepting an ad request, wherein the ad request includes video game information;
b) determining at least one ad responsive to the ad request using at least the video game information included in the ad request; and
c) transmitting the at least one ad to a video game apparatus for rendering in a video game being played by the video game apparatus.
Priority Applications (7)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/239,662 US20070072676A1 (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2005-09-29 | Using information from user-video game interactions to target advertisements, such as advertisements to be served in video games for example |
PCT/US2006/038206 WO2007041371A2 (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-28 | Using information from user video game interactions to target advertisements |
CA002624126A CA2624126A1 (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-28 | Using information from user video game interactions to target advertisements |
KR1020087010349A KR20080054428A (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-28 | Using information from user video game interactions to target advertisements |
JP2008533707A JP2009509680A (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-28 | Use of information from user video game conversational processing to target advertisements, such as advertisements provided within video games |
CNA2006800436090A CN101313323A (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-28 | Using information from user video game interactions to target advertisements |
EP06815881A EP1933959A4 (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2006-09-28 | Using information from user video game interactions to target advertisements, such as advertisements to be served in video games for example |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/239,662 US20070072676A1 (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2005-09-29 | Using information from user-video game interactions to target advertisements, such as advertisements to be served in video games for example |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070072676A1 true US20070072676A1 (en) | 2007-03-29 |
Family
ID=37894795
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/239,662 Abandoned US20070072676A1 (en) | 2005-09-29 | 2005-09-29 | Using information from user-video game interactions to target advertisements, such as advertisements to be served in video games for example |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20070072676A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1933959A4 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2009509680A (en) |
KR (1) | KR20080054428A (en) |
CN (1) | CN101313323A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2624126A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2007041371A2 (en) |
Cited By (106)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20060135232A1 (en) * | 2004-12-17 | 2006-06-22 | Daniel Willis | Method and system for delivering advertising content to video games based on game events and gamer activity |
US20070079326A1 (en) * | 2005-09-30 | 2007-04-05 | Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. | Display of user selected advertising content in a digital environment |
US20070126749A1 (en) * | 2005-12-01 | 2007-06-07 | Exent Technologies, Ltd. | System, method and computer program product for dynamically identifying, selecting and extracting graphical and media objects in frames or scenes rendered by a software application |
US20070129146A1 (en) * | 2005-12-01 | 2007-06-07 | Exent Technologies, Ltd. | System, method and computer program product for dynamically measuring properties of objects rendered and/or referenced by an application executing on a computing device |
US20070129990A1 (en) * | 2005-12-01 | 2007-06-07 | Exent Technologies, Ltd. | System, method and computer program product for dynamically serving advertisements in an executing computer game based on the entity having jurisdiction over the advertising space in the game |
US20070130292A1 (en) * | 2005-12-01 | 2007-06-07 | Yoav Tzruya | System, method and computer program product for dynamically enhancing an application executing on a computing device |
US20070168309A1 (en) * | 2005-12-01 | 2007-07-19 | Exent Technologies, Ltd. | System, method and computer program product for dynamically extracting and sharing event information from an executing software application |
US20070233879A1 (en) * | 2005-10-07 | 2007-10-04 | Steven Woods | System and method for advertisement identification, selection, and distribution involving a peer-to-peer network |
US20070276721A1 (en) * | 2006-05-25 | 2007-11-29 | Invelus Communications Llc | Computer implemented shopping system |
US20070296718A1 (en) * | 2005-12-01 | 2007-12-27 | Exent Technologies, Ltd. | Dynamic resizing of graphics content rendered by an application to facilitate rendering of additional graphics content |
US20080004948A1 (en) * | 2006-06-28 | 2008-01-03 | Microsoft Corporation | Auctioning for video and audio advertising |
US20080004990A1 (en) * | 2006-06-28 | 2008-01-03 | Microsoft Corporation | Virtual spot market for advertisements |
US20080004122A1 (en) * | 2006-06-16 | 2008-01-03 | Douglas Macrae | System and Method for Generating Targeted Newsletters |
US20080146302A1 (en) * | 2006-12-14 | 2008-06-19 | Arlen Lynn Olsen | Massive Multiplayer Event Using Physical Skills |
US20080146339A1 (en) * | 2006-12-14 | 2008-06-19 | Arlen Lynn Olsen | Massive Multiplayer Online Sports Teams and Events |
US20080201285A1 (en) * | 2005-12-21 | 2008-08-21 | Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Ltd. | Method and apparatus for delivering network information |
US20080207328A1 (en) * | 2007-02-23 | 2008-08-28 | Neoedge Networks, Inc. | Interstitial advertising in a gaming environment |
US20080215961A1 (en) * | 2007-02-08 | 2008-09-04 | Utbk, Inc. | Systems and Methods to Facilitate Communications |
US20080250450A1 (en) * | 2007-04-06 | 2008-10-09 | Adisn, Inc. | Systems and methods for targeted advertising |
US20080255927A1 (en) * | 2007-04-12 | 2008-10-16 | Peter Sispoidis | Forecasting |
US20080275785A1 (en) * | 2007-05-03 | 2008-11-06 | Utbk, Inc. | Systems and Methods to Provide advertisements for Real Time Communications |
EP1998527A1 (en) * | 2007-05-31 | 2008-12-03 | Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix (also trading as Square Enix Co., Ltd.) | Online game server, online game program product and game apparatus |
US20080307412A1 (en) * | 2007-06-06 | 2008-12-11 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Cached content consistency management |
US20080306998A1 (en) * | 2007-06-08 | 2008-12-11 | Yahoo! Inc. | Method and system for rendering a collection of media items |
US20080313038A1 (en) * | 2006-08-21 | 2008-12-18 | Anedom Company Inc. | Method, system and apparatus for users to build and use digital products and for advertisers to communicate with users in a manner that does not mitigate user experience |
US20090119154A1 (en) * | 2007-11-07 | 2009-05-07 | Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware | Determining a demographic characteristic based on computational user-health testing of a user interaction with advertiser-specified content |
US20090150210A1 (en) * | 2007-12-10 | 2009-06-11 | Athellina Athsani | Advertising associated with multimedia content |
US20090157450A1 (en) * | 2007-12-18 | 2009-06-18 | Athellina Athsani | Adpack |
US20090164301A1 (en) * | 2007-12-21 | 2009-06-25 | Yahoo! Inc. | Targeted Ad System Using Metadata |
US20090198573A1 (en) * | 2008-01-31 | 2009-08-06 | Iwin, Inc. | Advertisement Insertion System and Method |
US20090210493A1 (en) * | 2008-02-15 | 2009-08-20 | Microsoft Corporation | Communicating and Displaying Hyperlinks in a Computing Community |
US20090300144A1 (en) * | 2008-06-03 | 2009-12-03 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Hint-based streaming of auxiliary content assets for an interactive environment |
US20100049344A1 (en) * | 2008-08-19 | 2010-02-25 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Traffic-based media selection |
WO2010035267A1 (en) * | 2008-09-25 | 2010-04-01 | Tictacti Ltd. | A system and method for precision placement of in-game dynamic advertising in computer games |
US20100100429A1 (en) * | 2008-10-17 | 2010-04-22 | Microsoft Corporation | Systems and methods for using world-space coordinates of ad objects and camera information for adverstising within a vitrtual environment |
US20100131355A1 (en) * | 2008-11-25 | 2010-05-27 | Skyworks Interactive, Inc. | Dynamic reassignment of advertisement placements to maximize impression count |
US20100312608A1 (en) * | 2009-06-05 | 2010-12-09 | Microsoft Corporation | Content advertisements for video |
US20100332319A1 (en) * | 2009-06-24 | 2010-12-30 | Craig Stephen Etchegoyen | Methods and Systems for Dynamic Serving of Advertisements in a Game or Virtual Reality Environment |
US20100332331A1 (en) * | 2009-06-24 | 2010-12-30 | Craig Stephen Etchegoyen | Systems and Methods for Providing an Interface for Purchasing Ad Slots in an Executable Program |
US20100332320A1 (en) * | 2009-06-24 | 2010-12-30 | Joseph Martin Mordetsky | Systems and Methods for Providing Conditional Authorization to Operate Licensed Software |
US20100333081A1 (en) * | 2009-06-24 | 2010-12-30 | Craig Stephen Etchegoyen | Remote Update of Computers Based on Physical Device Recognition |
US20110112915A1 (en) * | 2009-06-04 | 2011-05-12 | Viacom International, Inc. | Dynamic integration and non-linear presentation of advertising content and media content |
US20110263321A1 (en) * | 2010-04-26 | 2011-10-27 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | System and method for accessing content |
US20120266071A1 (en) * | 2011-04-13 | 2012-10-18 | Google Inc. | Audio control of multimedia objects |
US20120270650A1 (en) * | 2006-12-13 | 2012-10-25 | Voodoo Gaming Llc | Video games including selectable and/or geographically relevant advertising |
US20130035989A1 (en) * | 2011-08-05 | 2013-02-07 | Disney Enterprises, Inc. | Conducting market research using social games |
US8416247B2 (en) | 2007-10-09 | 2013-04-09 | Sony Computer Entertaiment America Inc. | Increasing the number of advertising impressions in an interactive environment |
US20130197982A1 (en) * | 2012-02-01 | 2013-08-01 | Yahoo! Inc. | Game Advertisements |
WO2014025971A1 (en) * | 2012-08-08 | 2014-02-13 | Skillz Inc. | Peer-to peer wagering platform |
WO2014035895A2 (en) * | 2012-08-27 | 2014-03-06 | Lamontagne Entertainment, Inc. | A system and method for qualifying events based on behavioral patterns and traits in digital environments |
US20140121007A1 (en) * | 2012-10-30 | 2014-05-01 | Zynga Inc. | Playing a social game with automatic players |
US8752083B2 (en) | 2009-11-05 | 2014-06-10 | Viacom International Inc. | Integration of an interactive advertising unit containing a fully functional virtual object and digital media content |
US20140214539A1 (en) * | 2011-08-17 | 2014-07-31 | Kamsung Co., Ltd. | Method and system for providing an advertisement service using game |
US8845423B1 (en) * | 2012-01-04 | 2014-09-30 | Zynga Inc. | Accessing a virtual media object within viewable location on gameboard |
US20140324596A1 (en) * | 2010-11-04 | 2014-10-30 | Digimarc Corporation | Smartphone-based methods and systems |
US20140349746A1 (en) * | 2013-05-22 | 2014-11-27 | Wesley John Boudville | Barcode-based methods to enhance mobile multiplayer games |
US20140358260A1 (en) * | 2013-05-30 | 2014-12-04 | Zynga Inc. | Dynamically variable advertising incentive rewards in online games |
US8996409B2 (en) | 2007-06-06 | 2015-03-31 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Management of online trading services using mediated communications |
US9105178B2 (en) | 2012-12-03 | 2015-08-11 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Remote dynamic configuration of telemetry reporting through regular expressions |
US9367862B2 (en) | 2005-10-25 | 2016-06-14 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Asynchronous advertising placement based on metadata |
US9386356B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2016-07-05 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Targeting with television audience data across multiple screens |
US9479602B1 (en) | 2015-05-20 | 2016-10-25 | Skillz Inc. | Event platform for peer-to-peer digital gaming competition |
US9474976B2 (en) | 2009-08-11 | 2016-10-25 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Management of ancillary content delivery and presentation |
US9519772B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2016-12-13 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Relevancy improvement through targeting of information based on data gathered from a networked device associated with a security sandbox of a client device |
US9525902B2 (en) | 2008-02-12 | 2016-12-20 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Discovery and analytics for episodic downloaded media |
US20160371929A1 (en) * | 2015-06-17 | 2016-12-22 | Facebook, Inc. | Determining Appearances of Objects in a Virtual World Based on Sponsorship of Object Appearances |
US9531686B2 (en) | 2004-08-23 | 2016-12-27 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Statutory license restricted digital media playback on portable devices |
US9560425B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2017-01-31 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Remotely control devices over a network without authentication or registration |
US9595040B2 (en) | 2009-10-09 | 2017-03-14 | Viacom International Inc. | Integration of an advertising unit containing interactive residual areas and digital media content |
US9716736B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2017-07-25 | Free Stream Media Corp. | System and method of discovery and launch associated with a networked media device |
US9864998B2 (en) | 2005-10-25 | 2018-01-09 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Asynchronous advertising |
US9870571B1 (en) | 2016-07-13 | 2018-01-16 | Trivver, Inc. | Methods and systems for determining user interaction based data in a virtual environment transmitted by three dimensional assets |
US9873052B2 (en) | 2005-09-30 | 2018-01-23 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Monitoring advertisement impressions |
US9904943B1 (en) | 2016-08-12 | 2018-02-27 | Trivver, Inc. | Methods and systems for displaying information associated with a smart object |
US9961388B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2018-05-01 | David Harrison | Exposure of public internet protocol addresses in an advertising exchange server to improve relevancy of advertisements |
US9986279B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2018-05-29 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Discovery, access control, and communication with networked services |
US20180165701A1 (en) * | 2016-12-09 | 2018-06-14 | Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. | Computer system, game system, and game device |
US10013703B2 (en) | 2016-09-30 | 2018-07-03 | Trivver, Inc. | Objective based advertisement placement platform |
US10016674B2 (en) | 2016-03-16 | 2018-07-10 | Skillz Inc | Management of streaming video data |
US10058782B2 (en) | 2013-02-22 | 2018-08-28 | Kabam, Inc. | System and method for providing a customized user experience based on a spend frequency of a user |
WO2018231393A1 (en) * | 2017-06-12 | 2018-12-20 | Gracenote, Inc. | Detecting and responding to rendering of interactive video content |
US10171385B1 (en) * | 2012-06-18 | 2019-01-01 | Kabam, Inc. | Dynamically providing system communications in a virtual space tailored to individual users responsive to specific user actions and individual current states |
US10275805B2 (en) | 2009-12-09 | 2019-04-30 | Viacom International Inc. | Integration of a wall-to-wall advertising unit and digital media content |
US10334324B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2019-06-25 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Relevant advertisement generation based on a user operating a client device communicatively coupled with a networked media device |
US10339592B2 (en) | 2015-06-17 | 2019-07-02 | Facebook, Inc. | Configuring a virtual store based on information associated with a user by an online system |
US10373431B2 (en) * | 2013-07-26 | 2019-08-06 | Blue Calypso, Llc | System and method for advertising distribution through mobile social gaming |
US10390101B2 (en) | 1999-12-02 | 2019-08-20 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Advertisement rotation |
US10419541B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2019-09-17 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Remotely control devices over a network without authentication or registration |
US10540670B1 (en) * | 2016-08-31 | 2020-01-21 | Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company | System and method for analyzing electronic gaming activity |
US10567823B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2020-02-18 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Relevant advertisement generation based on a user operating a client device communicatively coupled with a networked media device |
US10631068B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2020-04-21 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Content exposure attribution based on renderings of related content across multiple devices |
US10657538B2 (en) | 2005-10-25 | 2020-05-19 | Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC | Resolution of advertising rules |
US10722793B2 (en) | 2016-03-15 | 2020-07-28 | Skillz Inc | Synchronization model for virtual tournaments |
US10791370B1 (en) * | 2019-03-29 | 2020-09-29 | Rovi Guides, Inc. | Content recommendation based on game progress |
US10861056B2 (en) | 2015-06-17 | 2020-12-08 | Facebook, Inc. | Placing locations in a virtual world |
US10866646B2 (en) | 2015-04-20 | 2020-12-15 | Tiltsta Pty Ltd | Interactive media system and method |
US10880340B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2020-12-29 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Relevancy improvement through targeting of information based on data gathered from a networked device associated with a security sandbox of a client device |
US10902075B2 (en) | 2018-11-20 | 2021-01-26 | International Business Machines Corporation | Targeted content for simultaneous multi-users for a shared device |
US10977693B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2021-04-13 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Association of content identifier of audio-visual data with additional data through capture infrastructure |
CN112739432A (en) * | 2018-10-09 | 2021-04-30 | 深圳市欢太科技有限公司 | Game control method and related product |
US11004089B2 (en) | 2005-10-25 | 2021-05-11 | Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC | Associating media content files with advertisements |
US11043022B2 (en) | 2019-01-30 | 2021-06-22 | Trivver, Inc. | Viewability metrics of a multidimensional object in a multidimensional digital environment |
US11062569B2 (en) | 2016-03-15 | 2021-07-13 | Skillz Platform Inc. | Across-match analytics in peer-to-peer gaming tournaments |
US11620327B2 (en) * | 2005-10-26 | 2023-04-04 | Cortica Ltd | System and method for determining a contextual insight and generating an interface with recommendations based thereon |
US11636515B2 (en) | 2018-03-05 | 2023-04-25 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Electronic apparatus and control method thereof |
US11880954B2 (en) | 2016-07-13 | 2024-01-23 | Trivver, Inc. | Methods and systems for generating digital smart objects for use in a three dimensional environment |
Families Citing this family (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB0722117D0 (en) * | 2007-11-10 | 2007-12-19 | Blue Whale Systems Ltd | Digital data processing with electronic communication |
JP5615500B2 (en) * | 2009-02-05 | 2014-10-29 | 株式会社タイトー | Trend analysis server and trend analysis program |
WO2010099632A1 (en) * | 2009-03-03 | 2010-09-10 | Google Inc. | Method and system for providing advertising to users of social network |
US9996845B2 (en) | 2009-03-03 | 2018-06-12 | Google Llc | Bidding on users |
DE102010006077B4 (en) | 2010-01-28 | 2014-12-11 | Süd-Chemie Ip Gmbh & Co. Kg | Substituted lithium manganese metal phosphate |
KR101877508B1 (en) | 2010-12-28 | 2018-07-11 | 구글 엘엘씨 | Targeting based on social updates |
CN103297815B (en) * | 2012-03-02 | 2017-02-08 | 幻音科技(深圳)有限公司 | Advertisement display method and system |
JP5522236B2 (en) * | 2012-11-15 | 2014-06-18 | 株式会社セガ | Server device and server program |
JP2016522512A (en) * | 2013-06-20 | 2016-07-28 | ザ タラリアスト インク. | System and method for promoting items related to program content |
EP2822287A1 (en) | 2013-07-01 | 2015-01-07 | Thomson Licensing | Method and apparatus for frame accurate advertisement insertion |
EP2876890A1 (en) | 2013-11-21 | 2015-05-27 | Thomson Licensing | Method and apparatus for frame accurate synchronization of video streams |
US10949872B2 (en) * | 2017-04-28 | 2021-03-16 | Snap Inc. | Methods and systems for server generation of interactive advertising with content collections |
US20210383430A1 (en) * | 2018-06-15 | 2021-12-09 | Mgr System Plan Co., Ltd. | Advertising method and advertising device |
JP2019088841A (en) * | 2019-01-22 | 2019-06-13 | 株式会社 ディー・エヌ・エー | System, method, and program for providing game |
CN109886742A (en) * | 2019-02-18 | 2019-06-14 | 深圳市酷开网络科技有限公司 | A kind of data processing method based on user interaction, smart television and storage medium |
Citations (95)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2736888A (en) * | 1953-02-09 | 1956-02-28 | George H Mclain | Hospital annunciator system |
US2896021A (en) * | 1954-02-09 | 1959-07-21 | Standard Electric Time Co | Inter-communication system |
US3098220A (en) * | 1958-08-20 | 1963-07-16 | Nl Ind Radio Artikelen Nv | Personal call system |
US3439320A (en) * | 1967-09-21 | 1969-04-15 | Relton Corp | Personnel location system |
US3552383A (en) * | 1969-01-08 | 1971-01-05 | Ibm | Method and system for estimation of arterial pressure |
US3599200A (en) * | 1969-12-04 | 1971-08-10 | Bunting Sterisystems Inc | Doctors register |
US3599199A (en) * | 1968-12-06 | 1971-08-10 | Bunting Sterisystems Inc | System for simultaneously indicating a unit status at a plurality of stations |
US3739329A (en) * | 1971-05-24 | 1973-06-12 | Recognition Devices | Electronic system for locating |
US3805265A (en) * | 1971-10-06 | 1974-04-16 | Rcds Enterprises Inc | Radiant wave locating system |
US3973200A (en) * | 1972-11-07 | 1976-08-03 | Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson | Process for acknowledging calls in a system for wireless staff locators |
US4067005A (en) * | 1975-04-29 | 1978-01-03 | Joshuah Levy | Invalid bed system |
US4150284A (en) * | 1977-04-28 | 1979-04-17 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Medical patient condition monitoring system |
US4151407A (en) * | 1977-04-28 | 1979-04-24 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Low-power, infrared information transmission system |
US4183015A (en) * | 1978-06-26 | 1980-01-08 | Hill-Rom Company, Inc. | Side guard for bed including means for controlling remote electrical devices |
US4216462A (en) * | 1978-03-06 | 1980-08-05 | General Electric Company | Patient monitoring and data processing system |
US4264982A (en) * | 1979-03-29 | 1981-04-28 | Rca Corporation | Drive circuit for an infrared remote control transmitter |
US4275385A (en) * | 1979-08-13 | 1981-06-23 | Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated | Infrared personnel locator system |
US4279433A (en) * | 1979-04-30 | 1981-07-21 | Petaja Danny A | Emergency locator beacon for skis |
US4331953A (en) * | 1979-12-26 | 1982-05-25 | The Boeing Company | Communication system for use in hazardous confined areas |
US4455548A (en) * | 1981-01-26 | 1984-06-19 | Burnett Dorothy K | Call system and methods and apparatus for operating same |
US4495496A (en) * | 1981-12-15 | 1985-01-22 | Johnson Engineering Corp. | Personnel monitoring and locating system |
US4495495A (en) * | 1981-01-20 | 1985-01-22 | Ruhrkohle Aktiengesellschaft | Staff-location and signalling system for use in mines |
US4577185A (en) * | 1983-07-29 | 1986-03-18 | Saint Margaret Hospital | Construction for alerting health-care professionals |
US4578671A (en) * | 1984-12-05 | 1986-03-25 | International Business Machines Corp. | Remote indicating low battery voltage enunciator method and apparatus |
US4593273A (en) * | 1984-03-16 | 1986-06-03 | Narcisse Bernadine O | Out-of-range personnel monitor and alarm |
US4598275A (en) * | 1983-05-09 | 1986-07-01 | Marc Industries Incorporated | Movement monitor |
US4601064A (en) * | 1983-01-13 | 1986-07-15 | Fisher Berkeley Corporation | Communication system |
US4649385A (en) * | 1982-08-13 | 1987-03-10 | Teloc R & D Ltd. | Electronic locating system for persons receiving telephone calls |
US4680790A (en) * | 1985-08-22 | 1987-07-14 | Joerns Healthcare, Inc. | Bedside control module for healthcare stations and the like |
US4740788A (en) * | 1986-10-06 | 1988-04-26 | Konneker Lloyd K | Method of providing location dependent visitor dispatching service |
US4752951A (en) * | 1985-12-23 | 1988-06-21 | Konneker Lloyd K | Method of providing location dependent person locator service |
US4795905A (en) * | 1985-08-09 | 1989-01-03 | Richard Hirschmann Radiotechnisches Werk | Circuit layout for an infrared room surveillance detector |
US4814751A (en) * | 1987-02-27 | 1989-03-21 | Wildlife Materials, Inc. | Patient tracking system |
US4833467A (en) * | 1986-02-28 | 1989-05-23 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Data transmission system |
US4837568A (en) * | 1987-07-08 | 1989-06-06 | Snaper Alvin A | Remote access personnel identification and tracking system |
US4853692A (en) * | 1987-12-07 | 1989-08-01 | Wolk Barry M | Infant security system |
US4899135A (en) * | 1988-12-05 | 1990-02-06 | Mehdi Ghahariiran | Child monitoring device |
US4947152A (en) * | 1986-02-10 | 1990-08-07 | Mesa Vista Hospital | Patient monitoring system |
US4990892A (en) * | 1989-08-07 | 1991-02-05 | Westcom, A Division Of Westside Communications Of Jacksonville, Inc. | Personnel locator system |
US4998095A (en) * | 1989-10-19 | 1991-03-05 | Specific Cruise Systems, Inc. | Emergency transmitter system |
US4998939A (en) * | 1988-09-28 | 1991-03-12 | R & P Joint Venture | Hospital bed with guard rail actuated safety apparatus |
US5006830A (en) * | 1989-10-16 | 1991-04-09 | Rebecca Merritt | Method and device for deterring the unauthorized removal of a newborn from a defined area |
US5027314A (en) * | 1988-03-17 | 1991-06-25 | United Manufacturing Co., Inc. | Apparatus and method for position reporting |
US5041086A (en) * | 1987-12-04 | 1991-08-20 | Pacesetter Infusion, Ltd. | Clinical configuration of multimode medication infusion system |
US5086290A (en) * | 1990-03-08 | 1992-02-04 | Murray Shawn G | Mobile perimeter monitoring system |
US5103108A (en) * | 1985-10-17 | 1992-04-07 | Crimmins James W | Distributed infrared communication system |
US5124991A (en) * | 1989-03-30 | 1992-06-23 | Photonics Corporation | Error correction for infrared data communication |
US5137033A (en) * | 1991-07-15 | 1992-08-11 | Norton John L | Patient monitoring device |
US5291399A (en) * | 1990-07-27 | 1994-03-01 | Executone Information Systems, Inc. | Method and apparatus for accessing a portable personal database as for a hospital environment |
US5319355A (en) * | 1991-03-06 | 1994-06-07 | Russek Linda G | Alarm for patient monitor and life support equipment system |
US5319363A (en) * | 1990-08-31 | 1994-06-07 | The General Hospital Corporation | Network for portable patient monitoring devices |
US5396224A (en) * | 1991-11-22 | 1995-03-07 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Telemetered patient location system and method |
US5396227A (en) * | 1991-06-26 | 1995-03-07 | Jurismonitor, Inc. | Electronic system and method for monitoring compliance with a protective order |
US5416695A (en) * | 1993-03-09 | 1995-05-16 | Metriplex, Inc. | Method and apparatus for alerting patients and medical personnel of emergency medical situations |
US5424945A (en) * | 1993-08-31 | 1995-06-13 | Xerox Corporation | System for evaluating a psychological effect of a document |
US5434775A (en) * | 1993-11-04 | 1995-07-18 | The General Hospital Corporation | Managing an inventory of devices |
US5446678A (en) * | 1992-12-18 | 1995-08-29 | Hewlett-Packard Corporation | Transmission of information over an alphanumeric paging network |
US5537459A (en) * | 1994-06-17 | 1996-07-16 | Price; Evelyn C. | Multilevel cellular communication system for hospitals |
US5548637A (en) * | 1993-09-09 | 1996-08-20 | Precision Tracking Fm, Inc. | Method and apparatus for locating personnel and objects in response to telephone inquiries |
US5549113A (en) * | 1992-11-09 | 1996-08-27 | I Am Fine, Inc. | Apparatus and method for remote monitoring of physiological parameters |
US5594786A (en) * | 1990-07-27 | 1997-01-14 | Executone Information Systems, Inc. | Patient care and communication system |
US5621388A (en) * | 1993-06-10 | 1997-04-15 | Sherburne; Glenn M. | System for monitoring and locating a person within a preselected distance from a base-station |
US5636245A (en) * | 1994-08-10 | 1997-06-03 | The Mitre Corporation | Location based selective distribution of generally broadcast information |
US5635907A (en) * | 1993-08-10 | 1997-06-03 | Bernard; Hermanus A. | Location system |
US5640953A (en) * | 1995-03-09 | 1997-06-24 | Siemens Medical Systems, Inc. | Portable patient monitor reconfiguration system |
US5650770A (en) * | 1994-10-27 | 1997-07-22 | Schlager; Dan | Self-locating remote monitoring systems |
US5650769A (en) * | 1995-02-24 | 1997-07-22 | Ntp, Incorporated | Radio receiver for use in a radio tracking system and a method of operation thereof |
US5705980A (en) * | 1995-11-13 | 1998-01-06 | Motorola, Inc. | Method and apparatus for summoning police or security personnel for assistance in an emergency situation |
US5708421A (en) * | 1996-08-19 | 1998-01-13 | Radio Systems Corp. | System for tracking an article or person |
US5713856A (en) * | 1995-03-13 | 1998-02-03 | Alaris Medical Systems, Inc. | Modular patient care system |
US5719761A (en) * | 1993-01-15 | 1998-02-17 | Alaris Medical Systems, Inc. | Configuration control system for configuring multiple biomedical devices |
US5724424A (en) * | 1993-12-16 | 1998-03-03 | Open Market, Inc. | Digital active advertising |
US5731757A (en) * | 1996-08-19 | 1998-03-24 | Pro Tech Monitoring, Inc. | Portable tracking apparatus for continuous position determination of criminal offenders and victims |
US5742237A (en) * | 1995-11-30 | 1998-04-21 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Tag location monitor |
US5751246A (en) * | 1995-04-04 | 1998-05-12 | Itt Industries, Inc. | Accountability and theft protection via the global positioning system |
US5752917A (en) * | 1996-03-19 | 1998-05-19 | Siemens Medical Systems, Inc. | Network connectivity for a portable patient monitor |
US5760704A (en) * | 1992-04-03 | 1998-06-02 | Expeditor Systems | Patient tracking system for hospital emergency facility |
US5767791A (en) * | 1995-11-13 | 1998-06-16 | Vitalcom | Low-power circuit and method for providing rapid frequency lock in a wireless communications device |
US5781442A (en) * | 1995-05-15 | 1998-07-14 | Alaris Medical Systems, Inc. | System and method for collecting data and managing patient care |
US5867821A (en) * | 1994-05-11 | 1999-02-02 | Paxton Developments Inc. | Method and apparatus for electronically accessing and distributing personal health care information and services in hospitals and homes |
US5877675A (en) * | 1996-08-29 | 1999-03-02 | Jansys, Inc. | Wireless healthcare communication system |
US6036601A (en) * | 1999-02-24 | 2000-03-14 | Adaboy, Inc. | Method for advertising over a computer network utilizing virtual environments of games |
US6036061A (en) * | 1998-04-27 | 2000-03-14 | O'donnell; Thomas F. | Retainer for blank of split cap |
US6196920B1 (en) * | 1998-03-31 | 2001-03-06 | Masque Publishing, Inc. | On-line game playing with advertising |
US6267675B1 (en) * | 1999-09-28 | 2001-07-31 | Icorea Co. Ltd. | Advertising game |
US20020004743A1 (en) * | 2000-07-04 | 2002-01-10 | Ken Kutaragi | In-contents advertising method, in-contents advertising server, and program-transferring medium for realizing in-contents advertising |
US20020022516A1 (en) * | 2000-07-17 | 2002-02-21 | Forden Christopher Allen | Advertising inside electronic games |
US20020055949A1 (en) * | 2000-12-06 | 2002-05-09 | Masashi Shiomi | Information processing apparatus, communication apparatus, information processing terminal, information supplying apparatus, information supplying method, information supplying system and computer readable recording medium, providing desired information together with related advertisement information |
US20020098891A1 (en) * | 2000-10-10 | 2002-07-25 | Graham Michael B. | Computerized system and method for providing advertising to a consumer |
US6513052B1 (en) * | 1999-12-15 | 2003-01-28 | Imation Corp. | Targeted advertising over global computer networks |
US20040015608A1 (en) * | 2000-11-29 | 2004-01-22 | Applied Microsystems Corporation | Method and system for dynamically incorporating advertising content into multimedia environments |
US20040148221A1 (en) * | 2003-01-24 | 2004-07-29 | Viva Chu | Online game advertising system |
US20050086605A1 (en) * | 2002-08-23 | 2005-04-21 | Miguel Ferrer | Method and apparatus for online advertising |
US20050137015A1 (en) * | 2003-08-19 | 2005-06-23 | Lawrence Rogers | Systems and methods for a role-playing game having a customizable avatar and differentiated instant messaging environment |
US20060135232A1 (en) * | 2004-12-17 | 2006-06-22 | Daniel Willis | Method and system for delivering advertising content to video games based on game events and gamer activity |
Family Cites Families (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2001291004A (en) * | 2000-04-07 | 2001-10-19 | Nec Corp | Advertisement display system accompanying on-line game distribution and advertisement display method therefor |
JP4297048B2 (en) * | 2000-06-22 | 2009-07-15 | ヤマハ株式会社 | Content reproduction control device and advertisement information supply method |
JP2002159757A (en) * | 2000-11-24 | 2002-06-04 | Namco Ltd | Game device, information storage medium, information processing system, advertisement method and speaking toy |
JP2002251496A (en) * | 2001-02-21 | 2002-09-06 | Kotobuki Kikaku:Kk | Game software providing system with advertising function |
JP2002273060A (en) * | 2001-03-21 | 2002-09-24 | Tsubasa System Co Ltd | System, program and method for advertisement using network game |
US7136871B2 (en) * | 2001-11-21 | 2006-11-14 | Microsoft Corporation | Methods and systems for selectively displaying advertisements |
US20040044567A1 (en) * | 2002-09-03 | 2004-03-04 | Daniel Willis | Gaming service provider advertising system |
JP2004215722A (en) * | 2003-01-09 | 2004-08-05 | Aruze Corp | Network game system, network game server and advertisement display method |
JP4106687B2 (en) * | 2003-05-21 | 2008-06-25 | 山口ピタ | Advertising system using games |
US20050177431A1 (en) * | 2004-02-11 | 2005-08-11 | Daniel Willis | Broker system for combining computer gaming and advertising |
JP2007528030A (en) * | 2004-03-08 | 2007-10-04 | マッシブ インコーポレーテッド | Ad serving within multiple video games |
-
2005
- 2005-09-29 US US11/239,662 patent/US20070072676A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2006
- 2006-09-28 CA CA002624126A patent/CA2624126A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2006-09-28 KR KR1020087010349A patent/KR20080054428A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2006-09-28 JP JP2008533707A patent/JP2009509680A/en active Pending
- 2006-09-28 CN CNA2006800436090A patent/CN101313323A/en active Pending
- 2006-09-28 WO PCT/US2006/038206 patent/WO2007041371A2/en active Application Filing
- 2006-09-28 EP EP06815881A patent/EP1933959A4/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (98)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2736888A (en) * | 1953-02-09 | 1956-02-28 | George H Mclain | Hospital annunciator system |
US2896021A (en) * | 1954-02-09 | 1959-07-21 | Standard Electric Time Co | Inter-communication system |
US3098220A (en) * | 1958-08-20 | 1963-07-16 | Nl Ind Radio Artikelen Nv | Personal call system |
US3439320A (en) * | 1967-09-21 | 1969-04-15 | Relton Corp | Personnel location system |
US3599199A (en) * | 1968-12-06 | 1971-08-10 | Bunting Sterisystems Inc | System for simultaneously indicating a unit status at a plurality of stations |
US3552383A (en) * | 1969-01-08 | 1971-01-05 | Ibm | Method and system for estimation of arterial pressure |
US3599200A (en) * | 1969-12-04 | 1971-08-10 | Bunting Sterisystems Inc | Doctors register |
US3739329A (en) * | 1971-05-24 | 1973-06-12 | Recognition Devices | Electronic system for locating |
US3805265A (en) * | 1971-10-06 | 1974-04-16 | Rcds Enterprises Inc | Radiant wave locating system |
US3973200A (en) * | 1972-11-07 | 1976-08-03 | Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson | Process for acknowledging calls in a system for wireless staff locators |
US4067005A (en) * | 1975-04-29 | 1978-01-03 | Joshuah Levy | Invalid bed system |
US4151407A (en) * | 1977-04-28 | 1979-04-24 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Low-power, infrared information transmission system |
US4150284A (en) * | 1977-04-28 | 1979-04-17 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Medical patient condition monitoring system |
US4216462A (en) * | 1978-03-06 | 1980-08-05 | General Electric Company | Patient monitoring and data processing system |
US4183015A (en) * | 1978-06-26 | 1980-01-08 | Hill-Rom Company, Inc. | Side guard for bed including means for controlling remote electrical devices |
US4264982A (en) * | 1979-03-29 | 1981-04-28 | Rca Corporation | Drive circuit for an infrared remote control transmitter |
US4279433A (en) * | 1979-04-30 | 1981-07-21 | Petaja Danny A | Emergency locator beacon for skis |
US4275385A (en) * | 1979-08-13 | 1981-06-23 | Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated | Infrared personnel locator system |
US4331953A (en) * | 1979-12-26 | 1982-05-25 | The Boeing Company | Communication system for use in hazardous confined areas |
US4495495A (en) * | 1981-01-20 | 1985-01-22 | Ruhrkohle Aktiengesellschaft | Staff-location and signalling system for use in mines |
US4455548A (en) * | 1981-01-26 | 1984-06-19 | Burnett Dorothy K | Call system and methods and apparatus for operating same |
US4495496A (en) * | 1981-12-15 | 1985-01-22 | Johnson Engineering Corp. | Personnel monitoring and locating system |
US4649385A (en) * | 1982-08-13 | 1987-03-10 | Teloc R & D Ltd. | Electronic locating system for persons receiving telephone calls |
US4601064A (en) * | 1983-01-13 | 1986-07-15 | Fisher Berkeley Corporation | Communication system |
US4598275A (en) * | 1983-05-09 | 1986-07-01 | Marc Industries Incorporated | Movement monitor |
US4577185A (en) * | 1983-07-29 | 1986-03-18 | Saint Margaret Hospital | Construction for alerting health-care professionals |
US4593273A (en) * | 1984-03-16 | 1986-06-03 | Narcisse Bernadine O | Out-of-range personnel monitor and alarm |
US4578671A (en) * | 1984-12-05 | 1986-03-25 | International Business Machines Corp. | Remote indicating low battery voltage enunciator method and apparatus |
US4795905A (en) * | 1985-08-09 | 1989-01-03 | Richard Hirschmann Radiotechnisches Werk | Circuit layout for an infrared room surveillance detector |
US4680790A (en) * | 1985-08-22 | 1987-07-14 | Joerns Healthcare, Inc. | Bedside control module for healthcare stations and the like |
US5103108A (en) * | 1985-10-17 | 1992-04-07 | Crimmins James W | Distributed infrared communication system |
US4752951A (en) * | 1985-12-23 | 1988-06-21 | Konneker Lloyd K | Method of providing location dependent person locator service |
US4947152A (en) * | 1986-02-10 | 1990-08-07 | Mesa Vista Hospital | Patient monitoring system |
US4833467A (en) * | 1986-02-28 | 1989-05-23 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Data transmission system |
US4740788A (en) * | 1986-10-06 | 1988-04-26 | Konneker Lloyd K | Method of providing location dependent visitor dispatching service |
US4814751A (en) * | 1987-02-27 | 1989-03-21 | Wildlife Materials, Inc. | Patient tracking system |
US4837568A (en) * | 1987-07-08 | 1989-06-06 | Snaper Alvin A | Remote access personnel identification and tracking system |
US5041086A (en) * | 1987-12-04 | 1991-08-20 | Pacesetter Infusion, Ltd. | Clinical configuration of multimode medication infusion system |
US4853692A (en) * | 1987-12-07 | 1989-08-01 | Wolk Barry M | Infant security system |
US5027314A (en) * | 1988-03-17 | 1991-06-25 | United Manufacturing Co., Inc. | Apparatus and method for position reporting |
US4998939A (en) * | 1988-09-28 | 1991-03-12 | R & P Joint Venture | Hospital bed with guard rail actuated safety apparatus |
US4899135A (en) * | 1988-12-05 | 1990-02-06 | Mehdi Ghahariiran | Child monitoring device |
US5124991A (en) * | 1989-03-30 | 1992-06-23 | Photonics Corporation | Error correction for infrared data communication |
US4990892A (en) * | 1989-08-07 | 1991-02-05 | Westcom, A Division Of Westside Communications Of Jacksonville, Inc. | Personnel locator system |
US5006830A (en) * | 1989-10-16 | 1991-04-09 | Rebecca Merritt | Method and device for deterring the unauthorized removal of a newborn from a defined area |
US4998095A (en) * | 1989-10-19 | 1991-03-05 | Specific Cruise Systems, Inc. | Emergency transmitter system |
US5086290A (en) * | 1990-03-08 | 1992-02-04 | Murray Shawn G | Mobile perimeter monitoring system |
US5594786A (en) * | 1990-07-27 | 1997-01-14 | Executone Information Systems, Inc. | Patient care and communication system |
US5291399A (en) * | 1990-07-27 | 1994-03-01 | Executone Information Systems, Inc. | Method and apparatus for accessing a portable personal database as for a hospital environment |
US5319363A (en) * | 1990-08-31 | 1994-06-07 | The General Hospital Corporation | Network for portable patient monitoring devices |
US5319355A (en) * | 1991-03-06 | 1994-06-07 | Russek Linda G | Alarm for patient monitor and life support equipment system |
US5534851A (en) * | 1991-03-06 | 1996-07-09 | Russek; Linda G. | Alarm for patient monitor and life support equipment |
US5396227A (en) * | 1991-06-26 | 1995-03-07 | Jurismonitor, Inc. | Electronic system and method for monitoring compliance with a protective order |
US5137033A (en) * | 1991-07-15 | 1992-08-11 | Norton John L | Patient monitoring device |
US5396224A (en) * | 1991-11-22 | 1995-03-07 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Telemetered patient location system and method |
US5760704A (en) * | 1992-04-03 | 1998-06-02 | Expeditor Systems | Patient tracking system for hospital emergency facility |
US5549113A (en) * | 1992-11-09 | 1996-08-27 | I Am Fine, Inc. | Apparatus and method for remote monitoring of physiological parameters |
US5446678A (en) * | 1992-12-18 | 1995-08-29 | Hewlett-Packard Corporation | Transmission of information over an alphanumeric paging network |
US5719761A (en) * | 1993-01-15 | 1998-02-17 | Alaris Medical Systems, Inc. | Configuration control system for configuring multiple biomedical devices |
US5416695A (en) * | 1993-03-09 | 1995-05-16 | Metriplex, Inc. | Method and apparatus for alerting patients and medical personnel of emergency medical situations |
US5621388A (en) * | 1993-06-10 | 1997-04-15 | Sherburne; Glenn M. | System for monitoring and locating a person within a preselected distance from a base-station |
US5635907A (en) * | 1993-08-10 | 1997-06-03 | Bernard; Hermanus A. | Location system |
US5424945A (en) * | 1993-08-31 | 1995-06-13 | Xerox Corporation | System for evaluating a psychological effect of a document |
US5548637A (en) * | 1993-09-09 | 1996-08-20 | Precision Tracking Fm, Inc. | Method and apparatus for locating personnel and objects in response to telephone inquiries |
US5434775A (en) * | 1993-11-04 | 1995-07-18 | The General Hospital Corporation | Managing an inventory of devices |
US5724424A (en) * | 1993-12-16 | 1998-03-03 | Open Market, Inc. | Digital active advertising |
US5867821A (en) * | 1994-05-11 | 1999-02-02 | Paxton Developments Inc. | Method and apparatus for electronically accessing and distributing personal health care information and services in hospitals and homes |
US5537459A (en) * | 1994-06-17 | 1996-07-16 | Price; Evelyn C. | Multilevel cellular communication system for hospitals |
US5636245A (en) * | 1994-08-10 | 1997-06-03 | The Mitre Corporation | Location based selective distribution of generally broadcast information |
US5650770A (en) * | 1994-10-27 | 1997-07-22 | Schlager; Dan | Self-locating remote monitoring systems |
US5650769A (en) * | 1995-02-24 | 1997-07-22 | Ntp, Incorporated | Radio receiver for use in a radio tracking system and a method of operation thereof |
US5640953A (en) * | 1995-03-09 | 1997-06-24 | Siemens Medical Systems, Inc. | Portable patient monitor reconfiguration system |
US5713856A (en) * | 1995-03-13 | 1998-02-03 | Alaris Medical Systems, Inc. | Modular patient care system |
US5751246A (en) * | 1995-04-04 | 1998-05-12 | Itt Industries, Inc. | Accountability and theft protection via the global positioning system |
US5781442A (en) * | 1995-05-15 | 1998-07-14 | Alaris Medical Systems, Inc. | System and method for collecting data and managing patient care |
US5705980A (en) * | 1995-11-13 | 1998-01-06 | Motorola, Inc. | Method and apparatus for summoning police or security personnel for assistance in an emergency situation |
US5767791A (en) * | 1995-11-13 | 1998-06-16 | Vitalcom | Low-power circuit and method for providing rapid frequency lock in a wireless communications device |
US5742237A (en) * | 1995-11-30 | 1998-04-21 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Tag location monitor |
US5752917A (en) * | 1996-03-19 | 1998-05-19 | Siemens Medical Systems, Inc. | Network connectivity for a portable patient monitor |
US5731757A (en) * | 1996-08-19 | 1998-03-24 | Pro Tech Monitoring, Inc. | Portable tracking apparatus for continuous position determination of criminal offenders and victims |
US5708421A (en) * | 1996-08-19 | 1998-01-13 | Radio Systems Corp. | System for tracking an article or person |
US5877675A (en) * | 1996-08-29 | 1999-03-02 | Jansys, Inc. | Wireless healthcare communication system |
US6196920B1 (en) * | 1998-03-31 | 2001-03-06 | Masque Publishing, Inc. | On-line game playing with advertising |
US6036061A (en) * | 1998-04-27 | 2000-03-14 | O'donnell; Thomas F. | Retainer for blank of split cap |
US6036601A (en) * | 1999-02-24 | 2000-03-14 | Adaboy, Inc. | Method for advertising over a computer network utilizing virtual environments of games |
US6267675B1 (en) * | 1999-09-28 | 2001-07-31 | Icorea Co. Ltd. | Advertising game |
US6513052B1 (en) * | 1999-12-15 | 2003-01-28 | Imation Corp. | Targeted advertising over global computer networks |
US20020004743A1 (en) * | 2000-07-04 | 2002-01-10 | Ken Kutaragi | In-contents advertising method, in-contents advertising server, and program-transferring medium for realizing in-contents advertising |
US20020022516A1 (en) * | 2000-07-17 | 2002-02-21 | Forden Christopher Allen | Advertising inside electronic games |
US20020098891A1 (en) * | 2000-10-10 | 2002-07-25 | Graham Michael B. | Computerized system and method for providing advertising to a consumer |
US20070061203A1 (en) * | 2000-11-29 | 2007-03-15 | Ellis Richard D | Method and system for collecting and communicating dynamically incorporated advertising information |
US20040015608A1 (en) * | 2000-11-29 | 2004-01-22 | Applied Microsystems Corporation | Method and system for dynamically incorporating advertising content into multimedia environments |
US20020055949A1 (en) * | 2000-12-06 | 2002-05-09 | Masashi Shiomi | Information processing apparatus, communication apparatus, information processing terminal, information supplying apparatus, information supplying method, information supplying system and computer readable recording medium, providing desired information together with related advertisement information |
US20050086605A1 (en) * | 2002-08-23 | 2005-04-21 | Miguel Ferrer | Method and apparatus for online advertising |
US20040148221A1 (en) * | 2003-01-24 | 2004-07-29 | Viva Chu | Online game advertising system |
US20050137015A1 (en) * | 2003-08-19 | 2005-06-23 | Lawrence Rogers | Systems and methods for a role-playing game having a customizable avatar and differentiated instant messaging environment |
US20050143174A1 (en) * | 2003-08-19 | 2005-06-30 | Goldman Daniel P. | Systems and methods for data mining via an on-line, interactive game |
US20060135232A1 (en) * | 2004-12-17 | 2006-06-22 | Daniel Willis | Method and system for delivering advertising content to video games based on game events and gamer activity |
Cited By (210)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10390101B2 (en) | 1999-12-02 | 2019-08-20 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Advertisement rotation |
US9195991B2 (en) * | 2001-02-09 | 2015-11-24 | Sony Computer Entertainment America Llc | Display of user selected advertising content in a digital environment |
US9466074B2 (en) | 2001-02-09 | 2016-10-11 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Advertising impression determination |
US9984388B2 (en) | 2001-02-09 | 2018-05-29 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Advertising impression determination |
US20140019229A1 (en) * | 2001-02-09 | 2014-01-16 | Sony Computer Entertainment America Llc | Display of user selected advertising content in a digital environment |
US10380631B2 (en) | 2003-10-06 | 2019-08-13 | Yellowpages.Com Llc | Systems and methods to provide advertisements for real time communications |
US9531686B2 (en) | 2004-08-23 | 2016-12-27 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Statutory license restricted digital media playback on portable devices |
US10042987B2 (en) | 2004-08-23 | 2018-08-07 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Statutory license restricted digital media playback on portable devices |
US20060135232A1 (en) * | 2004-12-17 | 2006-06-22 | Daniel Willis | Method and system for delivering advertising content to video games based on game events and gamer activity |
US9873052B2 (en) | 2005-09-30 | 2018-01-23 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Monitoring advertisement impressions |
US10789611B2 (en) | 2005-09-30 | 2020-09-29 | Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC | Advertising impression determination |
US9129301B2 (en) * | 2005-09-30 | 2015-09-08 | Sony Computer Entertainment America Llc | Display of user selected advertising content in a digital environment |
US20070079326A1 (en) * | 2005-09-30 | 2007-04-05 | Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. | Display of user selected advertising content in a digital environment |
US11436630B2 (en) | 2005-09-30 | 2022-09-06 | Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC | Advertising impression determination |
US10467651B2 (en) | 2005-09-30 | 2019-11-05 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Advertising impression determination |
US10046239B2 (en) | 2005-09-30 | 2018-08-14 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Monitoring advertisement impressions |
US20070233879A1 (en) * | 2005-10-07 | 2007-10-04 | Steven Woods | System and method for advertisement identification, selection, and distribution involving a peer-to-peer network |
US20070237133A1 (en) * | 2005-10-07 | 2007-10-11 | Steven Woods | System and method for providing content, applications, services and digital media to users in a peer-to-peer network |
US20070239819A1 (en) * | 2005-10-07 | 2007-10-11 | Neoedge Networks, Inc. | Service and messaging infrastructure to support creation of distributed, peer to peer applications with a service oriented architecture |
US9367862B2 (en) | 2005-10-25 | 2016-06-14 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Asynchronous advertising placement based on metadata |
US9864998B2 (en) | 2005-10-25 | 2018-01-09 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Asynchronous advertising |
US10657538B2 (en) | 2005-10-25 | 2020-05-19 | Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC | Resolution of advertising rules |
US10410248B2 (en) | 2005-10-25 | 2019-09-10 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Asynchronous advertising placement based on metadata |
US11195185B2 (en) | 2005-10-25 | 2021-12-07 | Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC | Asynchronous advertising |
US11004089B2 (en) | 2005-10-25 | 2021-05-11 | Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC | Associating media content files with advertisements |
US11620327B2 (en) * | 2005-10-26 | 2023-04-04 | Cortica Ltd | System and method for determining a contextual insight and generating an interface with recommendations based thereon |
US8069136B2 (en) | 2005-12-01 | 2011-11-29 | Exent Technologies, Ltd. | System, method and computer program product for dynamically enhancing an application executing on a computing device |
US8629885B2 (en) | 2005-12-01 | 2014-01-14 | Exent Technologies, Ltd. | System, method and computer program product for dynamically identifying, selecting and extracting graphical and media objects in frames or scenes rendered by a software application |
US20070126749A1 (en) * | 2005-12-01 | 2007-06-07 | Exent Technologies, Ltd. | System, method and computer program product for dynamically identifying, selecting and extracting graphical and media objects in frames or scenes rendered by a software application |
US20070129146A1 (en) * | 2005-12-01 | 2007-06-07 | Exent Technologies, Ltd. | System, method and computer program product for dynamically measuring properties of objects rendered and/or referenced by an application executing on a computing device |
US20070296718A1 (en) * | 2005-12-01 | 2007-12-27 | Exent Technologies, Ltd. | Dynamic resizing of graphics content rendered by an application to facilitate rendering of additional graphics content |
US20100036785A1 (en) * | 2005-12-01 | 2010-02-11 | Exent Technologies, Ltd. | System, method and computer program product for dynamically measuring properties of objects rendered and/or referenced by an application executing on a computing device |
US20090307173A1 (en) * | 2005-12-01 | 2009-12-10 | Exent Technologies, Ltd. | System, method and computer program product for dynamically enhancing an application executing on a computing device |
US8060460B2 (en) | 2005-12-01 | 2011-11-15 | Exent Technologies, Ltd. | System, method and computer program product for dynamically measuring properties of objects rendered and/or referenced by an application executing on a computing device |
US20070129990A1 (en) * | 2005-12-01 | 2007-06-07 | Exent Technologies, Ltd. | System, method and computer program product for dynamically serving advertisements in an executing computer game based on the entity having jurisdiction over the advertising space in the game |
US7596536B2 (en) | 2005-12-01 | 2009-09-29 | Exent Technologies, Ltd. | System, method and computer program product for dynamically measuring properties of objects rendered and/or referenced by an application executing on a computing device |
US7596540B2 (en) | 2005-12-01 | 2009-09-29 | Exent Technologies, Ltd. | System, method and computer program product for dynamically enhancing an application executing on a computing device |
US20070130292A1 (en) * | 2005-12-01 | 2007-06-07 | Yoav Tzruya | System, method and computer program product for dynamically enhancing an application executing on a computing device |
US20070168309A1 (en) * | 2005-12-01 | 2007-07-19 | Exent Technologies, Ltd. | System, method and computer program product for dynamically extracting and sharing event information from an executing software application |
US20080201285A1 (en) * | 2005-12-21 | 2008-08-21 | Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Ltd. | Method and apparatus for delivering network information |
US20070276721A1 (en) * | 2006-05-25 | 2007-11-29 | Invelus Communications Llc | Computer implemented shopping system |
US8137197B2 (en) * | 2006-06-16 | 2012-03-20 | 38 Studios, Llc | System and method for generating targeted newsletters |
US20080004122A1 (en) * | 2006-06-16 | 2008-01-03 | Douglas Macrae | System and Method for Generating Targeted Newsletters |
US20080004948A1 (en) * | 2006-06-28 | 2008-01-03 | Microsoft Corporation | Auctioning for video and audio advertising |
US20080004990A1 (en) * | 2006-06-28 | 2008-01-03 | Microsoft Corporation | Virtual spot market for advertisements |
US8156004B2 (en) * | 2006-08-21 | 2012-04-10 | Skyworks Ventures Inc. | Method, system and apparatus for users to build and use digital products and for advertisers to communicate with users in a manner that does not mitigate user experience |
US20080313038A1 (en) * | 2006-08-21 | 2008-12-18 | Anedom Company Inc. | Method, system and apparatus for users to build and use digital products and for advertisers to communicate with users in a manner that does not mitigate user experience |
US20120270650A1 (en) * | 2006-12-13 | 2012-10-25 | Voodoo Gaming Llc | Video games including selectable and/or geographically relevant advertising |
US20080146339A1 (en) * | 2006-12-14 | 2008-06-19 | Arlen Lynn Olsen | Massive Multiplayer Online Sports Teams and Events |
US20080146302A1 (en) * | 2006-12-14 | 2008-06-19 | Arlen Lynn Olsen | Massive Multiplayer Event Using Physical Skills |
US20080215961A1 (en) * | 2007-02-08 | 2008-09-04 | Utbk, Inc. | Systems and Methods to Facilitate Communications |
US9209984B2 (en) | 2007-02-08 | 2015-12-08 | Yellowpages.Com Llc | Systems and methods to facilitate communications |
US20080207328A1 (en) * | 2007-02-23 | 2008-08-28 | Neoedge Networks, Inc. | Interstitial advertising in a gaming environment |
US11049138B2 (en) | 2007-04-06 | 2021-06-29 | Appbrilliance, Inc. | Systems and methods for targeted advertising |
US9959553B2 (en) | 2007-04-06 | 2018-05-01 | Appbrilliance, Inc. | Systems and methods for targeted advertising |
US20080250450A1 (en) * | 2007-04-06 | 2008-10-09 | Adisn, Inc. | Systems and methods for targeted advertising |
US9129305B2 (en) | 2007-04-06 | 2015-09-08 | Awel Llc | Systems and methods for targeted advertising |
US20080255927A1 (en) * | 2007-04-12 | 2008-10-16 | Peter Sispoidis | Forecasting |
US20090029752A1 (en) * | 2007-04-12 | 2009-01-29 | Peter Sispoidis | Content delivery |
US9105032B2 (en) | 2007-05-03 | 2015-08-11 | Yellowpages.Com Llc | Systems and methods to provide advertisements for real time communications |
US20080275785A1 (en) * | 2007-05-03 | 2008-11-06 | Utbk, Inc. | Systems and Methods to Provide advertisements for Real Time Communications |
EP1998527A1 (en) * | 2007-05-31 | 2008-12-03 | Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix (also trading as Square Enix Co., Ltd.) | Online game server, online game program product and game apparatus |
US20080300060A1 (en) * | 2007-05-31 | 2008-12-04 | Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix (Also Trading As Square Enix Co., Ltd.) | Online game server, online game program product and game apparatus |
US8480496B2 (en) | 2007-05-31 | 2013-07-09 | Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix | Online game server, online game program product and game apparatus |
US20080307412A1 (en) * | 2007-06-06 | 2008-12-11 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Cached content consistency management |
US8996409B2 (en) | 2007-06-06 | 2015-03-31 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Management of online trading services using mediated communications |
US20080306998A1 (en) * | 2007-06-08 | 2008-12-11 | Yahoo! Inc. | Method and system for rendering a collection of media items |
US8799249B2 (en) * | 2007-06-08 | 2014-08-05 | Yahoo! Inc. | Method and system for rendering a collection of media items |
US11660529B2 (en) | 2007-10-09 | 2023-05-30 | Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC | Increasing the number of advertising impressions in an interactive environment |
US9795875B2 (en) | 2007-10-09 | 2017-10-24 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Increasing the number of advertising impressions in an interactive environment |
US10343060B2 (en) | 2007-10-09 | 2019-07-09 | Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC | Increasing the number of advertising impressions in an interactive environment |
US9272203B2 (en) | 2007-10-09 | 2016-03-01 | Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC | Increasing the number of advertising impressions in an interactive environment |
US10974137B2 (en) | 2007-10-09 | 2021-04-13 | Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC | Increasing the number of advertising impressions in an interactive environment |
US8416247B2 (en) | 2007-10-09 | 2013-04-09 | Sony Computer Entertaiment America Inc. | Increasing the number of advertising impressions in an interactive environment |
US20090119154A1 (en) * | 2007-11-07 | 2009-05-07 | Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware | Determining a demographic characteristic based on computational user-health testing of a user interaction with advertiser-specified content |
US10248956B2 (en) * | 2007-12-10 | 2019-04-02 | Excalibur Ip, Llc | Advertising associated with multimedia content |
US20090150210A1 (en) * | 2007-12-10 | 2009-06-11 | Athellina Athsani | Advertising associated with multimedia content |
US8655718B2 (en) | 2007-12-18 | 2014-02-18 | Yahoo! Inc. | Methods for augmenting user-generated content using a monetizable feature |
US20090157450A1 (en) * | 2007-12-18 | 2009-06-18 | Athellina Athsani | Adpack |
US20090164301A1 (en) * | 2007-12-21 | 2009-06-25 | Yahoo! Inc. | Targeted Ad System Using Metadata |
US20090198573A1 (en) * | 2008-01-31 | 2009-08-06 | Iwin, Inc. | Advertisement Insertion System and Method |
US9525902B2 (en) | 2008-02-12 | 2016-12-20 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Discovery and analytics for episodic downloaded media |
US20090210493A1 (en) * | 2008-02-15 | 2009-08-20 | Microsoft Corporation | Communicating and Displaying Hyperlinks in a Computing Community |
US20090300144A1 (en) * | 2008-06-03 | 2009-12-03 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Hint-based streaming of auxiliary content assets for an interactive environment |
WO2009148833A1 (en) | 2008-06-03 | 2009-12-10 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Hint-based streaming of auxiliary content assets for an interactive environment |
US20100049344A1 (en) * | 2008-08-19 | 2010-02-25 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Traffic-based media selection |
US8447421B2 (en) * | 2008-08-19 | 2013-05-21 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Traffic-based media selection |
US20110184805A1 (en) * | 2008-09-25 | 2011-07-28 | Tictacti Ltd. | System and method for precision placement of in-game dynamic advertising in computer games |
WO2010035267A1 (en) * | 2008-09-25 | 2010-04-01 | Tictacti Ltd. | A system and method for precision placement of in-game dynamic advertising in computer games |
US20100100429A1 (en) * | 2008-10-17 | 2010-04-22 | Microsoft Corporation | Systems and methods for using world-space coordinates of ad objects and camera information for adverstising within a vitrtual environment |
US20100131355A1 (en) * | 2008-11-25 | 2010-05-27 | Skyworks Interactive, Inc. | Dynamic reassignment of advertisement placements to maximize impression count |
US8407090B2 (en) | 2008-11-25 | 2013-03-26 | Skyworks Ventures, Inc. | Dynamic reassignment of advertisement placements to maximize impression count |
US9519772B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2016-12-13 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Relevancy improvement through targeting of information based on data gathered from a networked device associated with a security sandbox of a client device |
US9854330B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2017-12-26 | David Harrison | Relevancy improvement through targeting of information based on data gathered from a networked device associated with a security sandbox of a client device |
US9967295B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2018-05-08 | David Harrison | Automated discovery and launch of an application on a network enabled device |
US9961388B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2018-05-01 | David Harrison | Exposure of public internet protocol addresses in an advertising exchange server to improve relevancy of advertisements |
US10032191B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2018-07-24 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Advertisement targeting through embedded scripts in supply-side and demand-side platforms |
US9386356B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2016-07-05 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Targeting with television audience data across multiple screens |
US10074108B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2018-09-11 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Annotation of metadata through capture infrastructure |
US10142377B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2018-11-27 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Relevancy improvement through targeting of information based on data gathered from a networked device associated with a security sandbox of a client device |
US10334324B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2019-06-25 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Relevant advertisement generation based on a user operating a client device communicatively coupled with a networked media device |
US10986141B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2021-04-20 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Relevancy improvement through targeting of information based on data gathered from a networked device associated with a security sandbox of a client device |
US10977693B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2021-04-13 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Association of content identifier of audio-visual data with additional data through capture infrastructure |
US9866925B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2018-01-09 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Relevancy improvement through targeting of information based on data gathered from a networked device associated with a security sandbox of a client device |
US10880340B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2020-12-29 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Relevancy improvement through targeting of information based on data gathered from a networked device associated with a security sandbox of a client device |
US9986279B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2018-05-29 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Discovery, access control, and communication with networked services |
US10791152B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2020-09-29 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Automatic communications between networked devices such as televisions and mobile devices |
US9560425B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2017-01-31 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Remotely control devices over a network without authentication or registration |
US9576473B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2017-02-21 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Annotation of metadata through capture infrastructure |
US9591381B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2017-03-07 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Automated discovery and launch of an application on a network enabled device |
US9589456B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2017-03-07 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Exposure of public internet protocol addresses in an advertising exchange server to improve relevancy of advertisements |
US10771525B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2020-09-08 | Free Stream Media Corp. | System and method of discovery and launch associated with a networked media device |
US10631068B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2020-04-21 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Content exposure attribution based on renderings of related content across multiple devices |
US10567823B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2020-02-18 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Relevant advertisement generation based on a user operating a client device communicatively coupled with a networked media device |
US9686596B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2017-06-20 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Advertisement targeting through embedded scripts in supply-side and demand-side platforms |
US9703947B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2017-07-11 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Relevancy improvement through targeting of information based on data gathered from a networked device associated with a security sandbox of a client device |
US9706265B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2017-07-11 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Automatic communications between networked devices such as televisions and mobile devices |
US9716736B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2017-07-25 | Free Stream Media Corp. | System and method of discovery and launch associated with a networked media device |
US9848250B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2017-12-19 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Relevancy improvement through targeting of information based on data gathered from a networked device associated with a security sandbox of a client device |
US10425675B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2019-09-24 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Discovery, access control, and communication with networked services |
US9838758B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2017-12-05 | David Harrison | Relevancy improvement through targeting of information based on data gathered from a networked device associated with a security sandbox of a client device |
US10419541B2 (en) | 2008-11-26 | 2019-09-17 | Free Stream Media Corp. | Remotely control devices over a network without authentication or registration |
US20110112914A1 (en) * | 2009-06-04 | 2011-05-12 | Viacom International, Inc. | Dynamic integration and linear presentation of advertising content and media content |
US20110112915A1 (en) * | 2009-06-04 | 2011-05-12 | Viacom International, Inc. | Dynamic integration and non-linear presentation of advertising content and media content |
US8571935B2 (en) | 2009-06-04 | 2013-10-29 | Viacom International Inc. | Dynamic integration and linear presentation of advertising content and media content |
US8571936B2 (en) | 2009-06-04 | 2013-10-29 | Viacom International Inc. | Dynamic integration and non-linear presentation of advertising content and media content |
US20100312608A1 (en) * | 2009-06-05 | 2010-12-09 | Microsoft Corporation | Content advertisements for video |
US8239852B2 (en) | 2009-06-24 | 2012-08-07 | Uniloc Luxembourg S.A. | Remote update of computers based on physical device recognition |
EP2270738A1 (en) * | 2009-06-24 | 2011-01-05 | Uniloc Usa, Inc. | Systems and methods for providing an interface for purchasing ad slots in an executable program |
US20100333081A1 (en) * | 2009-06-24 | 2010-12-30 | Craig Stephen Etchegoyen | Remote Update of Computers Based on Physical Device Recognition |
US20100332320A1 (en) * | 2009-06-24 | 2010-12-30 | Joseph Martin Mordetsky | Systems and Methods for Providing Conditional Authorization to Operate Licensed Software |
US20100332331A1 (en) * | 2009-06-24 | 2010-12-30 | Craig Stephen Etchegoyen | Systems and Methods for Providing an Interface for Purchasing Ad Slots in an Executable Program |
US20100332319A1 (en) * | 2009-06-24 | 2010-12-30 | Craig Stephen Etchegoyen | Methods and Systems for Dynamic Serving of Advertisements in a Game or Virtual Reality Environment |
US10298703B2 (en) | 2009-08-11 | 2019-05-21 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Management of ancillary content delivery and presentation |
US9474976B2 (en) | 2009-08-11 | 2016-10-25 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Management of ancillary content delivery and presentation |
US10460358B2 (en) | 2009-10-09 | 2019-10-29 | Viacom International Inc. | Integration of an advertising unit containing interactive residual areas and digital media content |
US9595040B2 (en) | 2009-10-09 | 2017-03-14 | Viacom International Inc. | Integration of an advertising unit containing interactive residual areas and digital media content |
US8752083B2 (en) | 2009-11-05 | 2014-06-10 | Viacom International Inc. | Integration of an interactive advertising unit containing a fully functional virtual object and digital media content |
US10275805B2 (en) | 2009-12-09 | 2019-04-30 | Viacom International Inc. | Integration of a wall-to-wall advertising unit and digital media content |
US9058062B2 (en) * | 2010-04-26 | 2015-06-16 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | System and method for accessing content |
US20110263321A1 (en) * | 2010-04-26 | 2011-10-27 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | System and method for accessing content |
US20140324596A1 (en) * | 2010-11-04 | 2014-10-30 | Digimarc Corporation | Smartphone-based methods and systems |
US8774955B2 (en) * | 2011-04-13 | 2014-07-08 | Google Inc. | Audio control of multimedia objects |
US20120266071A1 (en) * | 2011-04-13 | 2012-10-18 | Google Inc. | Audio control of multimedia objects |
US9489170B2 (en) | 2011-04-13 | 2016-11-08 | Google Inc. | Audio control of multimedia objects |
US20130035989A1 (en) * | 2011-08-05 | 2013-02-07 | Disney Enterprises, Inc. | Conducting market research using social games |
US20140214539A1 (en) * | 2011-08-17 | 2014-07-31 | Kamsung Co., Ltd. | Method and system for providing an advertisement service using game |
US8845423B1 (en) * | 2012-01-04 | 2014-09-30 | Zynga Inc. | Accessing a virtual media object within viewable location on gameboard |
US20130197982A1 (en) * | 2012-02-01 | 2013-08-01 | Yahoo! Inc. | Game Advertisements |
US10992545B2 (en) * | 2012-06-18 | 2021-04-27 | Kabam, Inc. | Dynamically providing system communications in a virtual space tailored to individual users responsive to specific user actions and individual current states |
US10171385B1 (en) * | 2012-06-18 | 2019-01-01 | Kabam, Inc. | Dynamically providing system communications in a virtual space tailored to individual users responsive to specific user actions and individual current states |
US20210250247A1 (en) * | 2012-06-18 | 2021-08-12 | Clive Henrick | Dynamically providing system communications tailored to individual users responsive to trigger events in virtual spaces |
US11551515B2 (en) | 2012-08-08 | 2023-01-10 | Skillz Platform, Inc. | Peer-to-peer wagering platform |
US10290179B2 (en) | 2012-08-08 | 2019-05-14 | Skillz Inc | Peer-to-peer wagering platform |
US11915548B2 (en) | 2012-08-08 | 2024-02-27 | Skillz Inc. | Peer-to-peer wagering platform |
US10748373B2 (en) | 2012-08-08 | 2020-08-18 | Skillz Inc. | Peer-to-peer wagering platform |
US8715077B2 (en) | 2012-08-08 | 2014-05-06 | Skillz Inc. | Dynamic gameplay advertisements |
US9649564B2 (en) | 2012-08-08 | 2017-05-16 | Skillz Inc. | Peer-to-peer wagering platform |
WO2014025971A1 (en) * | 2012-08-08 | 2014-02-13 | Skillz Inc. | Peer-to peer wagering platform |
WO2014035895A2 (en) * | 2012-08-27 | 2014-03-06 | Lamontagne Entertainment, Inc. | A system and method for qualifying events based on behavioral patterns and traits in digital environments |
WO2014035895A3 (en) * | 2012-08-27 | 2014-05-08 | Lamontagne Entertainment, Inc. | A system and method for qualifying events based on behavioral patterns and traits in digital environments |
US10600072B2 (en) | 2012-08-27 | 2020-03-24 | Trivver, Inc. | System and method for qualifying events based on behavioral patterns and traits in digital environments |
US20140121007A1 (en) * | 2012-10-30 | 2014-05-01 | Zynga Inc. | Playing a social game with automatic players |
US9105178B2 (en) | 2012-12-03 | 2015-08-11 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Remote dynamic configuration of telemetry reporting through regular expressions |
US9613147B2 (en) | 2012-12-03 | 2017-04-04 | Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. | Collection of telemetry data by a telemetry library within a client device |
US10058782B2 (en) | 2013-02-22 | 2018-08-28 | Kabam, Inc. | System and method for providing a customized user experience based on a spend frequency of a user |
US9339733B2 (en) * | 2013-05-22 | 2016-05-17 | Wesley John Boudville | Barcode-based methods to enhance mobile multiplayer games |
US20140349746A1 (en) * | 2013-05-22 | 2014-11-27 | Wesley John Boudville | Barcode-based methods to enhance mobile multiplayer games |
US9396608B2 (en) * | 2013-05-30 | 2016-07-19 | Zynga Inc. | Dynamically variable advertising incentive rewards in online games |
US20180068526A1 (en) * | 2013-05-30 | 2018-03-08 | Zynga Inc. | Dynamically variable advertising incentive rewards in online games |
US11727756B2 (en) | 2013-05-30 | 2023-08-15 | Zynga Inc. | Dynamically variable advertising incentive rewards in online games |
US20140358260A1 (en) * | 2013-05-30 | 2014-12-04 | Zynga Inc. | Dynamically variable advertising incentive rewards in online games |
US10878661B2 (en) * | 2013-05-30 | 2020-12-29 | Zynga Inc. | Dynamically variable advertising incentive rewards in online games |
US9846992B2 (en) | 2013-05-30 | 2017-12-19 | Zynga Inc. | Dynamically variable advertising incentive rewards in online games |
US10373431B2 (en) * | 2013-07-26 | 2019-08-06 | Blue Calypso, Llc | System and method for advertising distribution through mobile social gaming |
US10866646B2 (en) | 2015-04-20 | 2020-12-15 | Tiltsta Pty Ltd | Interactive media system and method |
US9479602B1 (en) | 2015-05-20 | 2016-10-25 | Skillz Inc. | Event platform for peer-to-peer digital gaming competition |
US10192403B2 (en) | 2015-06-17 | 2019-01-29 | Facebook, Inc. | Determining appearances of objects in a virtual world based on sponsorship of object appearances |
US10339592B2 (en) | 2015-06-17 | 2019-07-02 | Facebook, Inc. | Configuring a virtual store based on information associated with a user by an online system |
US20160371929A1 (en) * | 2015-06-17 | 2016-12-22 | Facebook, Inc. | Determining Appearances of Objects in a Virtual World Based on Sponsorship of Object Appearances |
US9786125B2 (en) * | 2015-06-17 | 2017-10-10 | Facebook, Inc. | Determining appearances of objects in a virtual world based on sponsorship of object appearances |
US10861056B2 (en) | 2015-06-17 | 2020-12-08 | Facebook, Inc. | Placing locations in a virtual world |
US11842609B2 (en) | 2016-03-15 | 2023-12-12 | Skillz Platform Inc. | Across-match analytics in peer-to-peer gaming tournaments |
US11062569B2 (en) | 2016-03-15 | 2021-07-13 | Skillz Platform Inc. | Across-match analytics in peer-to-peer gaming tournaments |
US11376499B2 (en) | 2016-03-15 | 2022-07-05 | Skillz Platform, Inc. | Synchronization model for virtual tournaments |
US10722793B2 (en) | 2016-03-15 | 2020-07-28 | Skillz Inc | Synchronization model for virtual tournaments |
US10960306B2 (en) | 2016-03-16 | 2021-03-30 | Skillz Inc. | Management of streaming video data |
US10016674B2 (en) | 2016-03-16 | 2018-07-10 | Skillz Inc | Management of streaming video data |
US11583764B2 (en) | 2016-03-16 | 2023-02-21 | Skillz Platform, Inc. | Management of streaming video data |
US10421011B2 (en) | 2016-03-16 | 2019-09-24 | Skillz Inc. | Management of streaming video data |
US11880954B2 (en) | 2016-07-13 | 2024-01-23 | Trivver, Inc. | Methods and systems for generating digital smart objects for use in a three dimensional environment |
US9870571B1 (en) | 2016-07-13 | 2018-01-16 | Trivver, Inc. | Methods and systems for determining user interaction based data in a virtual environment transmitted by three dimensional assets |
US10769859B2 (en) | 2016-07-13 | 2020-09-08 | Trivver, Inc. | Methods and systems for displaying digital smart objects in a three dimensional environment |
US9904943B1 (en) | 2016-08-12 | 2018-02-27 | Trivver, Inc. | Methods and systems for displaying information associated with a smart object |
US10540670B1 (en) * | 2016-08-31 | 2020-01-21 | Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company | System and method for analyzing electronic gaming activity |
US11200588B1 (en) | 2016-08-31 | 2021-12-14 | Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company | Gaming system for recommending financial products based upon gaming activity |
US10013703B2 (en) | 2016-09-30 | 2018-07-03 | Trivver, Inc. | Objective based advertisement placement platform |
US20180165701A1 (en) * | 2016-12-09 | 2018-06-14 | Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. | Computer system, game system, and game device |
CN110731085A (en) * | 2017-06-12 | 2020-01-24 | 格雷斯诺特公司 | Detecting and responding to presentation of interactive video content |
WO2018231393A1 (en) * | 2017-06-12 | 2018-12-20 | Gracenote, Inc. | Detecting and responding to rendering of interactive video content |
KR102242225B1 (en) | 2017-06-12 | 2021-04-21 | 그레이스노트, 인코포레이티드 | Detecting rendering of interactive video content and responding to it |
KR20190141019A (en) * | 2017-06-12 | 2019-12-20 | 그레이스노트, 인코포레이티드 | Detecting and Responding to Rendering of Interactive Video Content |
US10972203B2 (en) | 2017-06-12 | 2021-04-06 | Gracenote, Inc. | Detecting and responding to rendering of interactive video content |
US10972204B2 (en) | 2017-06-12 | 2021-04-06 | Gracenote, Inc. | Detecting and responding to rendering of interactive video content |
US11936467B2 (en) | 2017-06-12 | 2024-03-19 | Roku, Inc. | Detecting and responding to rendering of interactive video content |
US11636515B2 (en) | 2018-03-05 | 2023-04-25 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Electronic apparatus and control method thereof |
CN112739432A (en) * | 2018-10-09 | 2021-04-30 | 深圳市欢太科技有限公司 | Game control method and related product |
US10902075B2 (en) | 2018-11-20 | 2021-01-26 | International Business Machines Corporation | Targeted content for simultaneous multi-users for a shared device |
US11043022B2 (en) | 2019-01-30 | 2021-06-22 | Trivver, Inc. | Viewability metrics of a multidimensional object in a multidimensional digital environment |
US10791370B1 (en) * | 2019-03-29 | 2020-09-29 | Rovi Guides, Inc. | Content recommendation based on game progress |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP2009509680A (en) | 2009-03-12 |
CA2624126A1 (en) | 2007-04-12 |
EP1933959A4 (en) | 2011-04-13 |
WO2007041371A2 (en) | 2007-04-12 |
EP1933959A2 (en) | 2008-06-25 |
CN101313323A (en) | 2008-11-26 |
WO2007041371A3 (en) | 2007-11-29 |
KR20080054428A (en) | 2008-06-17 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20070072676A1 (en) | Using information from user-video game interactions to target advertisements, such as advertisements to be served in video games for example | |
US9028324B1 (en) | Method and apparatus for promoting desired on-line activities using on-line games | |
US7698178B2 (en) | Online game advertising system | |
US7901288B2 (en) | Embedded advertising enhancements in interactive computer game environments | |
US8156004B2 (en) | Method, system and apparatus for users to build and use digital products and for advertisers to communicate with users in a manner that does not mitigate user experience | |
US9589274B2 (en) | System and method for consumer-selected advertising and branding in interactive media | |
US20110159964A1 (en) | Facilitating sponsorship of game-play-based achievements | |
EP2463001A2 (en) | Matching and scoring of advertisements for targeted delivery into multiple video games, such as single and multiplayer games | |
US20040044567A1 (en) | Gaming service provider advertising system | |
US20130339111A1 (en) | Advertisement incentivized games | |
US20100205035A1 (en) | Providing Advertisements in Virtual Environments | |
KR20070067005A (en) | Delivery of advertising into multiple video games | |
WO2001069486A2 (en) | Method and system for advertising | |
US20200114263A1 (en) | Methods and apparatus for in-game advertising | |
US20150248687A1 (en) | Systems and methods to enhance the effectiveness of internet advertising | |
KR20100000680A (en) | Game system and contents provision method using thereof system | |
KR20100000681A (en) | Game system and contents provision method using thereof system | |
Hnátek | The Role of Banner and the Design of an Internet Campaign |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GOOGLE, INC., CALIFORNIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BALUJA, SHUMEET;REEL/FRAME:017113/0711 Effective date: 20051207 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |