US 8,784,198 B2 · Method and apparatus for conducting or facilitating a promotion

Abstract

A method and apparatus for conducting a promotion and for distributing promotions to potential users provide a merchant or promotion organizer flexibility in the way they conduct the promotion as well as an ability to change one or more aspects of the promotion during the operation of the promotion. One or more outcomes are generated by a controller and provided to a user. In addition, one or more codes which allow the outcomes to be revealed or unlocked are generated by the controller and provided to an intermediary. In exchange for completing or satisfying a qualifying action or criteria, the user may receive a code from the intermediary. The user can then unlock an outcome to reveal a prize, benefit, symbol, value, etc., associated with the unlocked outcome. The user may provide a redemption request to either the controller or the intermediary based on the unlocked outcome to receive a benefit or prize associated with the unlocked outcome.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A mobile device operable to facilitate a game playable on the mobile device, the mobile device comprising:

an input mechanism for receiving input from a user of the mobile device;
a display screen for outputting results of the game;
a processor;
a memory, the memory operable to store a first software program for conducting the game on the mobile device and a locked outcome of the game such that, upon the first software program being stored in the memory, the processor is operable with the first software program to:
facilitate play of the game by recognizing inputs from the user via the input mechanism;
receive a signal comprising an unlock code;
unlock the locked outcome of the game using the unlock code, thereby determining an unlocked outcome;
determine an intra-game benefit associated with the unlocked outcome;
and
incorporate the intra-game benefit into the game while it is being played on the mobile device by the user.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

13/734,034Filed 4 Jan 2013 · continuation

Priority

18 Feb 2000

Published

US 2013/0130787 A123 May 2013

Granted

22 Jul 2014

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

G06Q 30/0209
Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates: incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
A63F 13/49
Controlling the progress of the video game: saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
A63F 13/50
Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions: controlling the output signals based on the game…
G06Q 30/02
Commerce: marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Family

Application60/183,391Us provisional application · filed 18 Feb 2000

Application09/604,898Parent of this continuation · filed 28 Jun 2000

Application11/425,027Parent of this continuation · filed 19 Jun 2006

Application13/226,191Parent of this continuation · filed 6 Sep 2011

US 2013/0130787 A1Pre-grant publication · published 23 May 2013

US 8,366,544 B2Parent of this continuation

US 2006/0229944 A1Published application

US 2012/0071235 A1Published application

US 8,784,198 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Method and apparatus for conducting or facilitating a promotion

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for conducting or facilitating a promotion

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33