Gaming Platform

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and system are provided for hosting a location-based virtual environment in which one or more users can participate. Data provided by a positioning system can be used to determine the real-world geographic coordinates of a user. The real-world geographic coordinates of the user can be mapped to the virtualized coordinates of an avatar in the virtual environment. The real-world geographic coordinates of the user can be compared with the real-world geographic coordinates of one or more entities present in the virtual environment. The user can be presented with an option to accept or activate a first reward from a list of rewards. In response to the user selecting the first reward, the first reward associated with one or more goods or services offered by the first entity can be activated within a first time period. The user can be rewarded in response to verifying that the user has purchased the offered goods or services during the first time period.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application hereby claims the benefit of the earlier filing date of provisional U.S. patent application 62 / 914,819, filed on October 14, 2019, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The disclosed subject matter generally relates to providing a video game platform in which players are incentivized to purchase goods or services from certain merchants or service providers. More specifically, the players can be incentivized by the option to receive one or more prizes or rewards in exchange for visiting an in-game virtual location or a real-world merchant location to purchase certain goods or services within a predetermined timeline. Background Art

[0004] Mobile-based video game platforms can be implemented in augmented reality, virtual reality, or mixed reality environments. Some of these gaming platforms provide players with a way to interact with both virtual and real environments. With increased connectivity, speed, and internet access, many players from around the world can interact between these environments and compete in various game adventures.

[0005] Mobile location-based augmented reality games typically feature a virtual world geography that parallels the real-world environment. These games typically focus on transitioning to specific locations (such as landmarks, monuments, or other points of interest in the real world) to complete virtual objectives. Most of these games do not offer any real-world engagement beyond traveling to specific real-world destinations to claim valuable digital goods, in-game items, or exploration items.

[0006] Currently, there are no gaming platforms that are configured to digitally reward players for purchasing real-world goods or services from real-world vendor locations. Therefore, even if a vendor at a real-world location receives a large amount of traffic from players in a location-based augmented reality game, there is no way to track or verify that the real-world goods or services were purchased by a specific player at a specific location.

[0007] It would be advantageous if a real-time virtual-to-real-world exchange platform could incentivize players to visit real, identifiable locations or virtual locations or sites where players could claim various in-game items or prizes in exchange for purchasing real-world services or goods from real-world brick-and-mortar merchants or service providers. Summary of the Invention

[0008] For purposes of summary, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features have been described herein. It should be understood that not all of these advantages may be achieved according to any particular embodiment. Thus, the disclosed subject matter may be embodied or implemented in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages without necessarily achieving all of the advantages that may be taught or suggested herein.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method and system for hosting a location-based reality game on a gaming platform is provided. The gaming platform can be configured to associate a player playing the location-based reality game with a funding source and determine the player's geographic coordinates within a real-world environment. The location-based reality game can include in-game geography that is parallel to at least a portion of the player's geographic coordinates in the real world. The player's relative location coordinates can be monitored based on information stored in a database. The database can include information regarding a list of real-world merchant locations, merchant offers, or merchant reward tiers.

[0010] In some embodiments, a list of rewards associated with at least one of the merchant offer, merchant location, and merchant reward tier can be determined based on the player interacting with a game interface or offer. The reward can be presented to the player in-game. The gaming platform can receive and process payment transaction data associated with the purchased real-world merchant offer (associated with the player). The real-world merchant offer can be matched with an in-game reward subscription based on the payment transaction data consisting of at least one of a purchase timestamp and a merchant ID.

[0011] According to one or more aspects, computer-implemented methods and systems are provided for hosting a location-based virtual environment in which one or more users can participate. Data provided by a positioning system can be used to determine the real-world geographic coordinates of a user. The real-world geographic coordinates of the user can be mapped to virtualized coordinates of an avatar in the virtual environment. The real-world geographic coordinates of the user can be compared with the real-world geographic coordinates of one or more entities present in the virtual environment. The user can be presented with an option to accept or activate a first reward from a list of rewards. In response to the user selecting the first reward, the first reward associated with one or more goods or services offered by the first entity can be activated within a first time period. In response to verifying that the user has purchased the offered goods or services during the first time period, the user can be rewarded.

[0012] In certain embodiments, a computer-implemented system is provided, comprising one or more processors in communication with a storage medium for storing location data for one or more users. The system may host a location-based virtual environment in which the one or more users participate and determine the real-world geographic coordinates of the users using data provided by a positioning system. The real-world geographic coordinates of the users may be compared with the real-world geographic coordinates of one or more entities present in the virtual environment. The one or more entities may be present in the virtual environment to promote goods or services via one or more offers presented in the virtual environment. Based on the comparison, a list of rewards associated with at least one of the offers may be accessed. The user may be presented with an option to accept or activate at least a first reward from the list of rewards, the first reward being associated with purchasing goods and services from a first entity. In response to the user selecting the first reward, the first reward associated with one or more goods or services offered by the first entity may be activated for a first time period.

[0013] In one aspect, payment transaction data may be received from a transaction processing entity in response to the user purchasing at least one of the one or more goods or services offered by the first entity. The payment transaction data may include at least one of a timestamp indicating the time of purchase and an identifier identifying the first entity or an offer of the first entity activated by the user. In response to verifying, based on the payment transaction data, that the user purchased the offered goods or services associated with the first reward during the first time period, the user may be notified that the first reward has been earned.

[0014] In some embodiments, the virtual environment is a location-based reality game. Information regarding the real-world coordinates of the entity or goods or services provided by the entity or associated rewards may be stored in a database accessible to the one or more processors. When the user uses the funding source to purchase at least one of the one or more goods or services, the funding source may be associated with a user identifier that identifies the user. The transaction data may include the user identifier.

[0015] Depending on the implementation, the user may not receive the first reward due to the system's failure to verify that the user purchased the offered goods or services associated with the first reward during the first time period, or due to insufficient funds, or due to an invalid funding source. Further, the user may not be able to accept or activate the first reward due to the system's inability to verify that the user is associated with a funding source.

[0016] In some aspects, the user can be offered to apply for a new funding source or enter information about a pre-established funding source. In response to approving the new funding source or verifying the pre-established funding source, a unique identifier can be associated with the user, thereby allowing the system to activate a selected reward for the user based on the unique identifier being associated with the user and the established funding source.

[0017] The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the following description. Other features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. However, the disclosed subject matter is not limited to any particular embodiment disclosed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate certain aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein and, together with the description, help explain some of the principles associated with the disclosed embodiments provided below.

[0019] Figure 1 An example operating environment is presented in which a gaming platform is provided for location-based reality gaming in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0020] Figure 2 is an example flow chart of a method of providing a player with bonus options in a digital game of a location-based game, according to some embodiments.

[0021] Figure 3 is an example flow chart of a method for providing in-game rewards for location-based games in exchange for real-world items in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0022] Figure 4A and Figure 4B Block diagrams and flow charts of example computing environments and methods are provided that can be used to perform one or more computing operations or processes consistent with one or more disclosed features related to player registration, purchase flow, offer activation, and reward processing.

[0023] Figure 5 、 Figure 6 、 Figure 7 、 Figure 8 and Figure 9 Shown are example screenshots of various graphical user interfaces for reporting, controlling, processing, or activating certain game features in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0024] Figure 10 is a block diagram of an example computing system that may be used to perform one or more computing operations or processes consistent with one or more disclosed features.

[0025] These figures may not be drawn to scale in absolute or comparative terms and are intended to be illustrative. The relative arrangement of features and elements may have been modified for clarity of illustration. Where practicable, identical or similar reference numerals denote identical, similar, or equivalent structures, features, aspects, or elements according to one or more embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In the following, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a comprehensive description of various embodiments. Certain embodiments may be practiced without these specific details or with some variations in detail. In some cases, the descriptions of certain features are less detailed so as not to obscure other aspects. The level of detail associated with each of the elements or features should not be interpreted as limiting the novelty or importance of one feature over other features.

[0027] refer to Figure 1 , shows an example operating environment 100 in which players can use a location-based reality game to interact with a virtual world with a geography parallel to the real world. The location-based reality game can be executed on one or more gaming computing systems 110, such as general-purpose computers, handheld mobile devices (e.g., smartphones), tablets (e.g., Apple ), game consoles, portable gaming devices, wearable computing devices, or other computing devices with communication capabilities. The location-based reality game can be configured to operate through a web browser as a dedicated application or other type of software application running entirely or partially on the gaming computing system 110.

[0028] In one example, the game computing system 110 can communicate with the game platform 120 via a communication network to access data stored in a database 130. The game computing system 110 can also access services provided by the transaction processing entity 140. Depending on the implementation, the database 130 can be located locally, remotely, or embedded in one or more of the following: the game computing system 110 or other systems on which the location-based reality game or the transaction processing entity 140 is executed. A server system can be configured on the game platform 120 or the transaction processing entity 140, or on both the game platform 120 and the transaction processing entity 140, to provide services for one or more requests submitted by the game computing system 110 (e.g., a client system) via the game platform 120. The game platform 120 can be implemented via a local area network or a wide area network (e.g., the Internet).

[0029] Depending on the implementation, the location-based reality game and the gaming platform 120 can be implemented as dedicated resources via a centralized or distributed (e.g., cloud-based) computing environment, or can be configured as a virtual machine defining shared processing or storage resources. Execution, implementation, or instantiation of the location-based reality game or associated in-game objects, as well as the gaming platform 120 and related features and components, can occur on a server system defining a dedicated machine that provides remotely located client systems (such as the computing system 110) with access to various data and services provided in further detail below.

[0030] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , discloses an example method for providing a gaming platform in which players are incentivized to visit selected geographic locations. A location-based gaming environment can be provided (in which a virtual space within a game is mapped to a player's geographic location on Earth) (S210). When a player is physically present in a certain geographic location, the virtual space within the game corresponds to the player's physical location on Earth, hereinafter referred to as the player's geographic space or geographic location. The player's geographic location can be monitored (S220). In response, a game graphical user interface or the in-game location of a player's avatar in the game can be updated in real time (or near real time) as the player moves through the geographic space (S230).

[0031] According to one or more embodiments, players may be incentivized to visit merchant locations (i.e., real-world physical merchant locations) in geographic space as identified in the game in order to claim valuable game prizes or features (e.g., digital goods, game products, etc.) within the virtual environment of the game. For example, when a player attempts to claim a prize (S240), the player's geographic location may be used to generate a map showing the location of one or more participating merchant stores (where the player can claim one or more prizes) (S250). Otherwise, the game may continue (S260).

[0032] refer to Figure 3 In some aspects, to claim a prize, a player may select a location on a map provided in the game environment and use the map to move toward the selected location in the real world. For example, once the player arrives at a desired destination on the map (e.g., a coffee shop), the player may then decide to purchase one or more identified real-world objects (e.g., a cup of coffee) from a real-world store or merchant at the destination as specified in the in-game menu. As provided in further detail below, the player may claim a prize in the game environment in exchange for making a specified purchase from the merchant, provided that the player can be identified.

[0033] Depending on the embodiment, and without limitation, in order to identify the player, the player can use an instrument that identifies the player (S310). The identification process is preferably performed at the time of purchase, or can be performed at a certain time before or after the purchase time (e.g., a pre-purchase or post-purchase registration process performed through a portal or social media account). The identification instrument can be a digital instrument, such as a magnetic card or chip-enabled card, a digital token, or other types of instruments that can electronically or digitally identify the player. In an example embodiment, the identification instrument can be associated with a source of funds (e.g., a credit card, debit card, cash pool, points pool, cryptocurrency, or other type of account) that the player can register and use to pay for items purchased from a merchant (S320).

[0034] If the player does not wish to be identified, or if the player uses an unregistered funding source, or decides not to purchase an identified item (e.g., an item suggested in the gaming environment), the player may not be able to claim the prize associated with the suggested sale item (S330). The player can be identified, for example, by using a registered funding source. The identification can be performed, for example, upon successfully completing a transaction to purchase the item (e.g., by swiping a credit card). Once the purchase is completed, a notification of the purchase can be submitted to the gaming platform 120 by the transaction processing entity 140 (S340).

[0035] In one or more aspects, the purchase notification may include identifying information associated with the player and the sales location, as well as data about the merchant, as provided in further detail herein. Based on the collected information and the purchase notification, the player can claim the prize in the gaming environment (S350). In one example embodiment, after purchasing an item from a merchant store, the player may receive a notification that the prize is available for claiming, or a notification that indicates that the corresponding in-game prize has been delivered or added to the player's in-game profile or account, or that the prize is available for redemption by the player the next time the player starts a gaming session.

[0036] Depending on the implementation, the gaming infrastructure (e.g., gaming platform 120) may be able to determine that a real-world purchase has been successfully completed based on identification information collected about the player at the time of the real-world transaction. The identification information may be obtained by a processing system, entity, or network (e.g., transaction processing entity 140) that verifies and clears the real-world transaction associated with the purchase of a target item from a target merchant. In addition to the player's location and purchase information, processing entity 140 may also collect and provide data about the store where the item was purchased and other information that can be inferred from the collected information.

[0037] Below is an example scenario where a player is Figure 1The player can claim prizes (e.g., digital coins) within the game environment of the operating environment 100 of the game. In the virtual space defined by the game, the prizes can be located at merchant locations, such as coffee shops or fast food vendors that have associated physical locations in the player's geographic space. Before or when the player arrives at the merchant's location in the geographic space, the gaming environment can display information to the player indicating what items can be purchased from the merchant's location by correlating the player's geographic location with the merchant's in-game presence.

[0038] In some aspects, additional information suggesting what prizes will be unlocked or claimed in the game may also be displayed before, during, or after purchasing one or more selectable items from a merchant at an identified geographic location. Notably, in some embodiments, the player does not necessarily need to actually visit the merchant's real-world geographic location to complete the purchase or activate the offer to obtain the in-game prize. In some aspects, the player may decide to complete the online purchase of goods or services by visiting a web page or through an application, and choose to receive delivery of the real-life goods or services at a later time. For example, the player may choose to purchase goods or services from a merchant at a later time. Order coffee and choose Uber Eats TM As an option for delivery to the player's current geographic location, or the movie can be purchased or rented for future viewing in order to activate or unlock an in-game offer or incentive.

[0039] In some embodiments, the player may select one or more of the items (e.g., from an in-game menu) to purchase the goods and services offered. The player may provide a credit card, for example, to pay the merchant for the selected items. The player's funding source (e.g., a credit card, debit card, cash pool, points pool, or other type of account) may be processed by a transaction processing entity 140 (e.g., ) process. Once the purchase is successfully completed, a notification confirming the purchase is provided to the gaming platform 120 (e.g., a gaming studio or gaming provider). Based on the purchase confirmation, one or more specific in-game prizes associated with the purchased real-world goods or services can be redeemed by the player, or can be digitally delivered or shipped to the player in the gaming environment at the time of purchase or at some time thereafter (e.g., by delivering a prize notification to the player's inbox).

[0040] Information about players and merchants can be collected directly or indirectly by the gaming platform 120 (or an agent entity) during a transaction and can be used to build a profile for the player, the merchant, or both. Based on the player or merchant profile, future offers can be delivered to the player, or advertising programs can be provided to the merchant. For example, a player can receive an offer to visit the same or similar merchant location in the future, either in-game or in the real world, depending on the type of information collected or obtained from the player at the time of, after, or before the transaction.

[0041] Merchants can also receive information about transaction timelines and demographics of players who purchased items. In some embodiments, merchants can also receive additional valuable consumer profile data, which may or may not be anonymized by the gaming platform 120, depending on player permission settings, opt-out options, and privacy laws. Advantageously, using the above process, there is no need for vendors or merchants to develop or incorporate any application programming structures or computing infrastructure into the merchant's transaction processing system. Merchants simply process players' credit cards or other funding sources in the normal course of business without the additional overhead associated with reserving or activating additional computing resources (whether in the form of processing resources or storage resources).

[0042] In some embodiments, as long as the player links or registers a source of funds (e.g., a credit card number) with the in-game service provider (i.e., one or more processing entities that manage transactions related to the game), the player will be identified and processed in an appropriate manner (e.g., based on the credit card number or other identifying data) and will be able to claim the associated prizes in the game. The merchant may have an arrangement with the in-game service provider to incorporate one or more merchant stores or geographic locations into one or more games managed by the in-game service provider. The incorporation of merchant stores or items offered at merchant stores can be in the form of any graphical user interface (e.g., in-game objects, banners, etc.).

[0043] As an example, a coffee shop merchant may have 100 locations in a specific geographic space (e.g., Seattle). The merchant may reach an arrangement with the in-game service provider to incorporate, for example, the geographic locations of 26 coffee shops into the first game, and the geographic locations of 24 coffee shops into the second game. In the game, the service provider may be able to use different prizes for different purchase items or geographic locations depending on the merchant's goals. For example, if a player purchases the first item on the menu from a merchant store in the first geographic location, the service provider may provide a highly desirable in-game prize in the game. If a player purchases the second item on the menu from a merchant store in the second geographic location, the service provider may provide a less desirable in-game prize in the game. In this way, merchants may be able to pay higher fees to encourage purchases in merchant stores (e.g., new stores) at geographic locations that do not have sufficient traffic by providing more valuable in-game prizes in stores with lower traffic in the game.

[0044] Depending on the statistics and demographic information associated with the prizes or games, merchants may be able to direct traffic to selected geographic locations of players that fit a certain category or consumer profile. For example, it may be known that a first game is popular among players in a first group (e.g., females aged 25 to 30), and it may be known that a second game is popular among players in a second group (e.g., males aged 12 to 18). Merchants can identify the demographics they want to target, and the gaming platform can therefore decide or push offers that give merchants an edge over others in some games. For example, a merchant or gaming platform may decide to offer in-game prizes in a first game that are associated with a first merchant store that sells goods or services appropriate for players that fit the first group (e.g., women's clothing or jewelry), and in a second game that are associated with a second merchant store that sells goods or services appropriate for players that fit the second group (e.g., youth men's shoes or athletic goods).

[0045] As provided in further detail herein, in some embodiments, the offers provided to players can be time-locked. That is, the offers obtained at one or more merchant locations can only be available during certain time windows. For example, the offers can be exchanged between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., or exchanged within 10 days or 30 days after the player activates or accepts the offer in the game. According to some variations, the player may be required to spend a certain amount of money (e.g., at least $10) or purchase a certain amount of products from one or more identified merchants during a specified time in order to grant the incentive or reward to the player. In some embodiments, the player may be required to spend a cumulative amount within a defined time period. For example, the player may be required to spend $100 at one or more identified merchant locations during a one-month cycle in order to receive or unlock one or more in-game prizes.

[0046] According to the methods and various embodiments disclosed herein, participating merchants can therefore benefit from increased revenue by attracting players with desirable profiles, backgrounds, or interests to choose their stores. Merchant participation can be based on a subscription fee arrangement or an ongoing royalty revenue generation scheme. Participating transaction processing entities 140 (e.g., Visa) can also benefit from collecting transaction fees for processing related transactions and providing identifying information about players and merchants to in-game service providers. In-game service providers can generate revenue based on arrangements made with merchants and can share some of the generated revenue with content providers (e.g., entities that develop or provide gaming environments).

[0047] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 4A, a player may interact with a user device (e.g., gaming computing system 110) to invoke a gaming session for a game supported on gaming platform 120 (S410). During the game, the player may receive in-game offers or incentives to purchase goods or services (S415). Such offers may be associated with or promoted by a service provider or merchant that has entered into an agreement with gaming platform 120 to advertise within the gaming environment. Gaming platform 120 may control, for example, a database 130 and one or more gaming servers (not shown) or have an arrangement (or agreement) with an entity (e.g., an agent) that controls the database and one or more gaming servers to implement and utilize one or more games or gaming platforms for the purpose of providing in-game incentives and offers to all or selected players.

[0048] In one embodiment, the player interacts with the user interface (e.g., see Figures 5 to 7 ) to activate or accept an in-game offer or incentive (S420). The offer may be for the player to accept an in-game task within a recognized time period, for example, during which the offered incentive is valid in the game. The incentive may be for the player to purchase a real-world item from a merchant at a regular or discounted rate. After validating the purchase, the player will receive (or may be eligible to receive) an in-game reward.

[0049] Depending on the implementation, the reward may include in-game currency, a free upgrade to a higher game level, free loot, extra energy or stamina, upgraded weapons, exclusive mini-games, a chance to win additional or better prizes, or other types of rewards or incentives that encourage the player to purchase items or subscribe to services outside of the game environment. In some embodiments, the player will continue to receive in-game rewards for the duration the incentive is valid.

[0050] To receive incentives, the player may be associated with a unique identifier (ID) provided and assigned to the player by the gaming platform 120. To obtain the ID, the player may be offered to register with a financial institution or transaction processing entity 140 (S425). If the player decides to register, the transaction processing entity 140 may provide the player with the option of entering information about a payment source, such as a credit card, debit card, bank account, or other payment mechanism.

[0051] In some aspects, the player can apply for a new credit card. Alternatively, if the player already has a credit card number, the player can interact with the gaming platform 120 to preferably enter the credit card number directly into the transaction processing entity 140. The payment source information is then associated with the unique ID of the specific player (S430). If the player is unable to register a new payment source or otherwise provide a payment source, the player's registration may be denied (S435).

[0052] After completing the registration process, the transaction processing entity 140 can tokenize the credit card number (e.g., using a hash or random number generator mechanism) to generate a token that represents the player's credit card number or other source of funds. The token can also be encrypted so that if intercepted by criminals, the player's sensitive credit card information cannot be easily leaked or stolen.

[0053] In some aspects, the token or a token ID associated with the token (desirably in addition to the user ID associated with the player) can be tokenized and passed from the transaction processing entity 140 to the gaming platform 120. This tokenization process limits the gaming platform 120's access rights and its responsibilities associated with maintaining or storing the player's sensitive data under certain regulations. The gaming platform 120 can store the token and user ID in the database 130 to identify the player and player-related transactions within the game.

[0054] Once a player has successfully applied for registration or registered in the incentive program of the gaming platform 120, an interface may be provided for the player to make purchases within or outside the gaming environment. Notably, items or services may be purchased in a physical store, or alternatively, online via a virtual store, application, webpage, or within the gaming environment. As further detailed herein, the player may be required to activate the offer within a valid or eligible time period and purchase the offered product or service using a funding source registered in the incentive program in order for the player to receive the offered in-game reward.

[0055] refer to Figure 4B and Figures 5 to 9 To activate the offer for the player, the gaming platform 120 determines whether the player has accepted the in-game offer and the conditions associated with the offer (S440). Figure 5 For example, a player may accept an in-game task and interact with a user interface to affirmatively confirm their acceptance of the offer and the terms of the offer, including when the offer expires. For example, a player may accept or activate an offer to purchase item 1 from merchant A during period P.

[0056] After the player accepts the offer, the gaming platform 120 preferably forwards the relevant offer information to the transaction processing entity 140 via an application programming interface (API) established between the gaming platform 120 and the transaction processing entity 140 (S445). The offer information may be transmitted in one or more communication packets and include data identifying the player (e.g., a unique ID), the offer, and the merchant. The transaction processing entity 140 may process the information and respond to the gaming platform 120 to confirm receipt and identify the offer information associated with the player (S450).

[0057] According to one or more embodiments, if the player registers with the transaction processing entity 140 (e.g., is identified based on a unique ID associated with a funding source), the offer is activated (S455, S460). Depending on the implementation, the offer may be activated for a specific time period, after which the offer expires (i.e., the offer is no longer valid). If the transaction processing entity 140 does not identify the player (e.g., if the player's unique ID is not identified, or if the player's funding source does not have sufficient funds, or if a credit card has expired), activation of the offer fails and the gaming platform 120 is notified so that appropriate measures can be taken, such as having the player re-register (S465).

[0058] For player offers to be activated and bonuses to be processed, the gaming platform 120 may monitor information regarding purchases made by registered players with active offers that is communicated to the gaming platform 120 from the transaction processing entity 140. When a registered player makes a purchase using his registered credit card, for example, the transaction processing entity 140 recognizes the purchase as being associated with the player's identification information maintained by the transaction processing entity 140 in the database 130.

[0059] The processing of in-game transactions can be based on activation information provided by the gaming platform 120 to the transaction processing entity 140. For example, when a player accepts an offer, the incentive can be activated and reported to the transaction processing entity 140 associated with a specific merchant. When the player purchases one or more goods or services from the specific merchant, the transaction processing entity 140 then notifies the gaming platform 120. In some aspects, the player is identified as a qualified purchaser for the merchant only during the time period that the offer remains valid.

[0060] If the above-mentioned necessary conditions are met, the transaction processing entity 140 desirably reports that the player has made a purchase via an API established between the transaction processing entity 140 and the gaming platform 120. The reported parameters may include the time and date of the purchase, the player's identification information, the amount of the purchase, and the merchant information. After receiving the reported parameters, the gaming platform 120 may determine whether the purchase meets the conditions of the offer (e.g., whether the purchase was made during a valid time period, for an acceptable amount, for a specific product / service, and from a valid merchant).

[0061] Thus, once the player's purchase is verified by the gaming platform 120, the player's reward is processed, unlocked, and delivered. In some embodiments, if the gaming platform 120 determines that some of the parameters or conditions of the offer have not been met, the player may be notified and the reward will not be processed unless the player takes further action. For example, if the offer is no longer valid, the player may be given the option to reactivate the offer (if still available) by accepting a new task within the gaming environment.

[0062] According to an example embodiment, the transaction processing entity 140 (e.g., Visa) can be configured to read identification data about goods purchased via a funding source (e.g., a Visa card), such as stock keeping unit (SKU) level data. SKU data is digital information associated with an item and is typically used by retailers to identify and track inventory. SKU level data can be forwarded to the gaming platform 120 and used to determine the total amount a player has spent on incentive items through gaming, and also to collect data about each individual transaction. Based on the fact that player profiles are typically updated using the collected SKU and transaction-related data, the ability to collect and analyze a higher level of transaction detail provides opportunities to reward users for specific items purchased by customizing in-game offers for goods and services that are more relevant to the player.

[0063] In some embodiments, the gaming platform 120 may associate a unique identifier (i.e., a player ID) with a source of funds (e.g., a credit card number) used by the player during in-game purchases. In this way, a player's individual in-game purchases can be identified and discreetly associated with the player. Based on this association, the player's purchases can be tracked and the player can be rewarded based on frequent visits or the total amount spent during a predetermined number of visits according to an incentive program or schedule.

[0064] Players can be rewarded for making one or more purchases from one or more merchants within a certain time period (e.g., from Burger King within the next 10 days). (e.g., buying five burgers and unlocking XYZ feature or reward in the game). To accomplish this, the gaming platform 120 can track the number of times a player makes qualifying in-game purchases and aggregate those purchases to unlock a particular reward. In one example embodiment, a metaphorical or virtual punch card object can be associated with a specific player and a specific merchant, such that a predetermined number of transactions between the player and the merchant must be identified before the in-game reward is provided to the player. For example, repeated purchases may need to occur within a certain time window in order for the player to qualify for the in-game reward.

[0065] In some aspects, an online game can be configured with a set of possible rewards and associated probabilities for each reward. That is, when a player makes a purchase at a given merchant, a random reward can be determined based on predefined statistics or probabilities. The player can then choose whether the player can earn additional rewards based on the rewards they have already earned. For example, in one approach, a player may need to claim a predefined set or subset of rewards in order to win a more desirable reward (e.g., a jackpot).

[0066] In some embodiments, the gaming platform 120 may be configured to host multiple games so that the same (or different) incentives may be offered to players in different games. In one example, a player may have the opportunity to select an incentive from a first merchant (e.g., Burger King) for a first game (e.g., Clash of Clans) during a predetermined time period (e.g., 24 hours). During the identified incentive period, the incentive offered by the first merchant may not be offered (i.e., visible) to a particular player in any other game. In this way, the first merchant's offer has a higher priority than other merchants because the player selected the first merchant's offer in the first place. The commission arrangement may therefore be shared exclusively with the selected game because the offer is not available in other games. After the predetermined time period for opting in expires, the same offer may be repeated for all games on the player's network.

[0067] In some embodiments, the game can be configured to include a rolling prize pool or lottery feature so that players can donate rewards to the lottery pool and receive random lottery numbers instead of receiving earned rewards. The more times a player donates, the more lottery numbers he receives, and the higher the chance of matching a series of lottery numbers when drawing a prize (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly). The prize can be structured based on the number of matching lottery numbers (e.g., matching 6 out of 6 and winning the lottery; matching 5 out of 6 and winning a smaller amount, and so on). In this way, players are encouraged to donate to the prize or prize pool. In some aspects, one or more suppliers can bid to sponsor each lottery draw. Sponsoring suppliers can also donate to the prize pool to obtain a larger payout, thereby attracting a large number of players to participate in the game and causing supplier traffic to increase.

[0068] Example Detailed Implementation Using Tokenized Funds

[0069] In one or more example embodiments, when a player opens a location-based game, they may be presented with a map. This map may have various elements, such as loot boxes or enemies, that the player can interact with. Typically, these elements exist within the game and are not associated with real-life structures, but are simply geospatially anchored and overlaid on the map. The game environment may present players with unique offers that are geospatially anchored to physical merchant locations. These offers will be displayed in-game, and players can select the offer-merchant combination they are interested in. The offer may indicate what digital goods the player will receive in exchange for a purchase at the merchant and whether there is a minimum purchase amount. If the player makes a purchase that meets the offer requirements, the player will receive a real-time notification indicating that their digital goods have been deposited into their account.

[0070] In order to determine whether a player has made a purchase at a brick-and-mortar merchant, the following information may be required: source of funds information, such as a credit card number or some hashed or tokenized form of it, a unique identifier for the merchant where the player made the purchase, and a stream of all payment transactions conducted at the merchant using the source of funds, which may have been previously tokenized. The transaction processing entity platform provides access to this information in a secure and compliant manner. The transaction processing entity provides the source of funds, such as a credit card, in a tokenized form that the gaming platform utilizes to securely obtain the player's source of funds information. Merchants that accept the transaction processing entity can be assigned a merchant ID so that the transaction processing entity can be disclosed to the merchant, and from then on, transactions conducted by the merchant using tokenized funds will be remitted to the gaming platform.

[0071] When a transaction is made using tokenized funds, the transaction processing entity will communicate with the gaming platform in real time and transmit transaction details, such as the tokenized funds, the merchant, and the transaction amount. The gaming platform can use this information to locate the associated player, determine the merchant's valid offers, and credit any digital goods advertised in the offers to the player's account. The gaming platform can then send a push notification to the player to inform him of the credit. In some embodiments, the gaming platform can utilize an application programming interface (API) that facilitates spatial queries for nearby offers and supports webhooks for offer verification. Webhooks refer to callbacks (e.g., transport protocol push APIs) and are a way for applications to provide real-time information to other applications.

[0072] The merchant portal allows merchants to manage their subscription levels, offers, and any content related to their accounts. The managed funding source tokenization form is a simple, branded form that allows players to securely provide their funding source details to the transaction processing entity, which then generates a tokenized funding source number for the game. When a transaction is made using a tokenized funding source, the transaction processing entity consumes a webhook and provides transaction details. In one embodiment, the card swipe interacts with the merchant item, the merchant platform, and the gaming platform to confirm merchant and player identity and purchases.

[0073] refer to Figure 5 、 Figure 6 and Figure 7 Card Swipe and Merchant Items allow players to connect a valid card, lock resources, and swipe the card to access resources. Furthermore, Card Swipe and Merchant Items allow certain locations to host game items at their physical locations, distribute game benefits to players, and notify the game in real time via the payment processor when a card purchase is made at the applicable merchant.

[0074] like Figure 5 As shown in, for example, players can connect or authenticate their credit card number once per game. Once the card is connected, the bonus will automatically be triggered upon purchase.

[0075] like Figure 6 As shown in , the gaming platform can read the player's location and give the opportunity to collect rewards from merchants within a radius around the player's geographic location. Once the player sees the reward in the game, the player can make a purchase to collect the reward in the game from the location in real time.

[0076] like Figure 7 As shown in , a world space corresponding to the real world and additional overlays on top of the real world can be provided to the player or user. As the player navigates the game environment, the system compares the current location with the reward database. A process can run in the background to determine one or more new rewards from a reward level. Merchant offers can be notified to the player based on the offer information available to the gaming platform. When a user locks an offer, a reservation object can be created in the database, which calls the transaction processing entity to activate the offer API and bind the user to the reward ID. When the user purchases a merchant offer, the offer is matched to the user's reservation using the purchase timestamp and merchant ID.

[0077] Once an offer is identified in a transaction, a database entry is created confirming the transaction. This database entry may have the following data fields: amount, timestamp, transaction processing entity transaction ID, transaction processing entity merchant ID, gaming platform merchant ID, gaming platform commission amount, transaction processing entity transaction fee, transaction processing entity funding source ID, transaction processing entity offer ID, user ID, and user funding source ID. When the transaction is processed, a push notification or email can be sent to the user in real time from the webhook. The computing system on which the game is executed then displays the received notification or email.

[0078] The merchant offer redemption process involves sending an activation request to the transaction processing entity's system when a user selects an offer. The transaction processing entity's system then links the user's funds to the offer linked to the transaction processing entity's funds. When the player physically swipes, scans, inserts, or clicks their funds at the merchant, the transaction processing entity will then send a data packet with the relevant transaction information to the webhook, as they are attached to the offer linked to the transaction processing entity's funds. The webhook function determines the reward for the user, sends a notification to the user, and stores the purchase information in a database.

[0079] refer to Figure 8 and Figure 9The merchant platform allows merchants to sign up via a portal website, select a reward tier level for use in the game, indicate valid locations to be used in the game, access a merchant analytics platform, and pay a fee, such as a monthly fee or a fee per attributed swipe or purchase. The gaming platform can allow game studios to use a software development kit (SDK) to integrate the gaming platform system into their game properties, set custom game rewards based on reward tier levels, and keep a percentage of the revenue paid to the merchant for each swipe or purchase.

[0080] like Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown in , merchants can view the frequency of merchant offers shown to players by games on the gaming platform, how many players ultimately swipe, lock, or purchase, as well as the average ticket price and total revenue. Merchants can add their businesses or other locations to the platform. Merchants can set spending limits for each activity at each location. In some embodiments, merchants on the gaming platform may not select the consequences of users making purchases at their locations. Merchants can subscribe to a tiered reward model. Video game studios decide what props to give away in their games based on what props are available in each tier.

[0081] It is noteworthy that the details and embodiments disclosed herein are provided by way of example and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosed subject matter to specific details or specific embodiments. Certain embodiments may provide or apply the disclosed concepts and processes to any game, gaming platform, or gaming device with some variations, regardless of whether location-based. For example, a player may register with one or more merchants or gaming platforms using an identification mechanism (e.g., a credit card). In-game offers may be presented to the player to incentivize the player to visit or shop at one or more merchant locations. If the player uses a registered card (e.g., to purchase certain items at certain minimum prices, at certain locations, within a certain time period) within defined parameters, the player will receive a reward in the game once these parameters are met.

[0082] refer to Figure 10 , a block diagram illustrating a computing system 1000 consistent with one or more embodiments is provided. The computing system 1000 may be used to implement or support one or more platforms, infrastructures, or computing devices or computing components that may be utilized in example embodiments to instantiate, implement, execute, or embody the methods disclosed herein in a computing environment using, for example, one or more processors or controllers as provided below.

[0083] like Figure 10As shown in , computing system 1000 may include processor 1010, memory 1020, storage device 1030, and input / output device 1040. Processor 1010, memory 1020, storage device 1030, and input / output device 1040 may be interconnected via system bus 1050. Processor 1010 is capable of processing instructions for execution within computing system 1000. Such executed instructions may implement, for example, one or more components of a cloud platform. In some embodiments of the current subject matter, processor 1010 may be a single-threaded processor. Alternatively, processor 1010 may be a multi-threaded processor. Processor 1010 is capable of processing instructions stored in memory 1020 and / or on storage device 1030 to display graphical information for a user interface provided via input / output device 1040.

[0084] Memory 1020 is a computer-readable medium, such as a volatile or non-volatile medium, that stores information within computing system 1000. For example, memory 1020 may store a data structure representing a configuration object database. Storage device 1030 can provide permanent storage for computing system 1000. Storage device 1030 may be a floppy disk device, a hard disk device, an optical disk device, a magnetic tape device, or other suitable permanent storage device. Input / output device 1040 provides input / output operations for computing system 1000. In some embodiments of the present subject matter, input / output device 1040 includes a keyboard and / or a pointing device. In various embodiments, input / output device 1040 includes a display unit for displaying a graphical user interface.

[0085] According to some embodiments of the current subject matter, the input / output device 1040 can provide input / output operations for a network device. For example, the input / output device 1040 can include an Ethernet port or other network port to communicate using one or more wired and / or wireless networks (e.g., a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the internet).

[0086] In some embodiments of the current subject matter, computing system 1000 can be used to execute various interactive computer software applications that can be used to display data in various (e.g., tables) formats (e.g., Microsoft and / or any other type of software) to organize, analyze and / or store data. Alternatively, the computing system 1000 can be used to execute any type of software application. These applications can be used to perform various functions, such as planning functions (e.g., generating, managing, editing spreadsheet documents, word processing documents and / or any other objects), computing functions, communication functions, etc. The application may include various add-in functions or may be independent computing products and / or functions. After activation within the application, the function may be used to generate a user interface provided via the input / output device 1040. The user interface can be generated and presented to the user by the computing system 1000 (e.g., on a computer screen monitor, etc.).

[0087] One or more aspects or features of the subject matter disclosed or claimed herein can be implemented in digital electronic circuits, integrated circuits, specially designed application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), computer hardware, firmware, software, and / or combinations thereof. These various aspects or features can be implemented in one or more computer programs that are executable and / or decipherable on a programmable system comprising at least one programmable processor (which can be dedicated or general purpose), the at least one programmable processor being coupled to receive data and instructions from a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device, and to transmit data and instructions to the storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. A programmable system or computing system can include a client and a server. The client and server can be remote from each other and can interact via a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on respective computers and having a client-server relationship with each other.

[0088] These computer programs, which may also be referred to as programs, software, software applications, applications, components or codes, may include machine instructions for programmable controllers, processors, microprocessors or other computing or computerized architectures and may be implemented in high-level programming languages, object-oriented programming languages, functional programming languages, logical programming languages ​​and / or in assembly / machine languages. As used herein, the term "machine-readable medium" refers to any computer program product, device and / or equipment, such as a disk, optical disk, memory and programmable logic device (PLD), for providing machine instructions and / or data to a programmable processor, the programmable processor including a machine-readable medium that receives machine instructions as a machine-readable signal. The term "machine-readable signal" refers to any signal for providing machine instructions and / or data to a programmable processor. The machine-readable medium may store such machine instructions in a non-transitory manner, such as a non-transitory solid-state memory or a magnetic hard drive or any equivalent storage medium. The machine-readable medium may alternatively or additionally store such machine instructions in a transient manner, such as a processor cache or other random access memory associated with one or more physical processor cores.

[0089] To enable interaction with a user, one or more aspects or features of the subject matter described herein may be implemented on a computer having: a display device, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD) or light emitting diode (LED) monitor for displaying information to the user; and a keyboard and pointing device, such as a mouse or trackball, through which the user can provide input to the computer. Other types of devices may also be used to provide interaction with the user. For example, the feedback provided to the user may be any form of sensory feedback, such as visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and the input from the user may be received in any form including auditory, voice, or tactile input. Other possible input devices include touch screens or other touch-sensitive devices, such as single-point or multi-point resistive or capacitive trackpads, voice recognition hardware and software, optical scanners, optical pointers, digital image capture devices and associated interpretation software, and the like.

[0090] the term

[0091] When a feature or element is referred to herein as being “on” another feature or element, it may be directly on the other feature or element, or intervening features and / or elements may also be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directly on” another feature or element, there may be no intervening features or elements. It will also be understood that when a feature or element is referred to as being “connected,” “attached,” or “coupled” to another feature or element, it may be directly connected, attached, or coupled to the other feature or element, or there may also be intervening features or elements. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directly connected,” “directly attached,” or “directly coupled” to another feature or element, there may be no intervening features or elements.

[0092] Although described or shown with respect to one embodiment, the features and elements described or shown in this manner may apply to other embodiments. It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that a structure or feature that is mentioned as being positioned "adjacent" to another feature may have a portion that overlaps or is located below the adjacent feature.

[0093] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing only specific embodiments and implementations and are not intended to be restrictive. For example, as used herein, the singular forms "a, an" and "the" may be intended to also include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should be further understood that the term "comprises and / or comprising" when used in this specification specifies the presence of stated features, steps, operations, processes, functions, elements and / or parts, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, processes, functions, elements, parts and / or groups thereof. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items and can be abbreviated as " / ".

[0094] In the above description and in the claims, phrases such as "at least one of" or "one or more of" may appear after a list of connective elements or features. The term "and / or" may also appear in a list of two or more or features. Unless the context in which it is used implies or explicitly contradicts otherwise, such a phrase is intended to mean any individual of the listed or features or any combination of any of the listed elements or features with any other listed elements or features. For example, the phrases "at least one of A and B," "one or more of A and B," and "A and / or B" are each intended to mean "A alone, B alone, or A and B together." A similar interpretation is also intended for a list comprising three or more items. For example, the phrases "at least one of A, B, and C," "one or more of A, B, and C," and "A, B, and / or C" are each intended to mean "A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A and B and C together." The term "based on" used above and in the claims is intended to mean "based at least in part on," so that unlisted features or elements are also permissible.

[0095] For ease of description herein, spatial relative terms such as "forward," "backward," "below," "lower," "above," "upper," etc. may be used to describe the relationship between an element or feature and another (or some) element or feature, as shown in the figures. It will be understood that, in addition to the orientations described in the figures, spatial relative terms are also intended to encompass different orientations of devices in use or operation. For example, if the devices in the figures are reversed, the elements described as being "below" or "under" other elements or features will then be oriented "above" other elements or features due to the reversed state. Therefore, the term "below" can encompass both above and below orientations, depending on the reference point or orientation. The device can be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations) and the spatial relative descriptors used in this article are interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms "upward," "downward," "vertical," "horizontal," etc. may be used herein only for the purpose of explanation unless otherwise specifically indicated.

[0096] Although the terms "first" and "second" may be used herein to describe various features / elements (including steps or processes), these features / elements should not be limited by these terms to indicate the order of features / elements or whether one is primary or more important than another, unless the context indicates otherwise. These terms can be used to distinguish one feature / element from another. Thus, a first feature / element discussed could be referred to as a second feature / element, and similarly, a second feature / element discussed below could be referred to as a first feature / element without departing from the teachings provided herein.

[0097] As used herein in the specification and claims, including as used in the examples and unless otherwise expressly specified, all numerals can be interpreted as if preceded by the word "about" or "approximately", even if the term does not clearly appear. The phrase "about" or "approximately" can be used to indicate that the described value and / or position are within a reasonable expected value and / or position range when describing a value and / or position. For example, numerical value can have a value that is + / -0.1% of a specified value (or value range), + / -1% of a specified value (or value range), + / -2% of a specified value (or value range), + / -5% of a specified value (or value range), + / -10% of a specified value (or value range), etc. Any numerical value given herein is also understood to include approximately or approximately this value, unless the context indicates otherwise.

[0098] For example, if the value "10" is disclosed, then "about 10" is also disclosed. Any numerical range listed herein is intended to include all subranges included therein. It is also understood that when a value "less than or equal to" the value is disclosed, "greater than or equal to" the value is also disclosed, as well as possible ranges between values, as appropriately understood by those skilled in the art. For example, if the value "X" is disclosed, then "less than or equal to X" and "greater than or equal to X" (e.g., where X is a numerical value) are also disclosed. It is also understood that throughout this application, data is provided in a variety of different formats, and this data can represent endpoints or starting points and ranges of any combination of data points. For example, if a specific data point "10" and a specific data point "15" can be disclosed, then it is understood that greater than, greater than or equal to, less than, less than or equal to, and equal to 10 and 15, as well as between 10 and 15, can be considered disclosed. It is also understood that every unit between two specific units can also be disclosed. For example, if 10 and 15 can be disclosed, then 11, 12, 13, and 14 can also be disclosed.

[0099] Although various illustrative embodiments have been disclosed, any of a number of changes may be made to the various embodiments without departing from the teachings herein. For example, the order in which the various described method steps are performed may be changed or reconfigured in different or alternative embodiments, and one or more method steps may be skipped altogether in other embodiments. Optional or desirable features of the various device and system embodiments may be included in some embodiments and not included in other embodiments. Therefore, the foregoing description is provided primarily for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims, the specific embodiments disclosed, or the specific details or features disclosed.

[0100] One or more aspects or features of the subject matter described herein can be implemented in digital electronic circuits, integrated circuits, specially designed application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), computer hardware, firmware, software, and / or combinations thereof. These various aspects or features can be implemented in one or more computer programs that are executable and / or decipherable on a programmable system comprising at least one programmable processor (which can be dedicated or general-purpose), the at least one programmable processor being coupled to receive data and instructions from a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device, and to transmit the data and instructions to the storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. A programmable system or computing system can include a client and a server. The client and server are typically remote from each other and typically interact via a communication network. The relationship between the client and server is generated by means of computer programs that run on respective computers and have a client-server relationship with each other.

[0101] These computer programs, which may also be referred to as programs, software, software applications, applications, components, or code, include machine instructions for a programmable processor and may be implemented in a high-level programming language, an object-oriented programming language, a functional programming language, a logic programming language, and / or in assembly / machine language. As used herein, the term "machine-readable medium" refers to any computer program product, apparatus, and / or device, such as magnetic disks, optical disks, memories, and programmable logic devices (PLDs), for providing machine instructions and / or data to a programmable processor that includes a machine-readable medium that receives the machine instructions as a machine-readable signal.

[0102] The term "machine-readable signal" refers to any signal used to provide machine instructions and / or data to a programmable processor. The machine-readable medium may store such machine instructions in a non-transitory manner, such as a non-transitory solid-state memory or a magnetic hard drive or any equivalent storage medium. The machine-readable medium may alternatively or additionally store such machine instructions in a transient manner, such as a processor cache or other random access memory associated with one or more physical processor cores.

[0103] The examples and demonstrations included herein show specific embodiments in an illustrative and non-limiting manner, in which the disclosed subject matter can be put into practice. As mentioned, other embodiments can be utilized and derived therefrom so that structural and logical substitutions and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. These embodiments of the disclosed subject matter can be referred to herein individually or collectively by the term "invention", which is merely for convenience and is not intended to voluntarily limit the scope of the present application to any single invention or inventive concept (if in fact more than one is disclosed). Therefore, although specific embodiments have been shown and described herein, any arrangement (whether explicitly stated or implied) intended to achieve expected, actual or disclosed purposes can replace the specific embodiments shown. The present disclosure is intended to encompass any and all changes or modifications of various embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand the combination of the above embodiments and other embodiments not specifically described herein after reviewing the above description.

[0104] The disclosed subject matter has been provided herein with reference to one or more features or embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize and appreciate that, despite the detailed nature of the example embodiments provided herein, changes and modifications may be applied to the described embodiments without limiting or departing from the generally intended scope. These and various other variations and combinations of the embodiments provided herein are within the scope of the disclosed subject matter, as defined by the disclosed elements and features and their full set of equivalents.

[0105] Portions of the disclosure of this patent document may contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by facsimile of any patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights. Certain marks referred to herein may be common law or registered trademarks of the applicant, the assignee, or third parties, whether affiliated or unaffiliated with the applicant or the assignee. The use of such marks is intended to provide permitted disclosure by way of example and should not be construed to limit the scope of the disclosed subject matter exclusively to the material associated with such marks.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system comprising one or more processors in communication with a storage medium for storing location data of one or more users, the one or more processors being configured to: hosting a location-based virtual environment in which the one or more users participate; Use data provided by a positioning system to determine the user's real-world geographic coordinates; mapping geographic coordinates of the user in the real world to virtualized coordinates of an avatar in the virtual environment, the avatar being associated with the user and the virtualized coordinates of the avatar in the virtual environment corresponding to the geographic coordinates of the user in the real world; comparing the real-world geographic coordinates of the user with the real-world geographic coordinates of one or more entities present in the virtual environment, the one or more entities present in the virtual environment to promote goods or services by way of one or more offers presented in the virtual environment, the comparison producing a first result, wherein the goods or services are real-world goods or services; accessing a rewards list associated with at least one of the offers based on the first result; presenting the user with an option to accept or activate at least a first reward from the list of rewards, the first reward being associated with purchasing goods and services from a first entity; activating, in response to the user selecting the first reward, the first reward associated with one or more goods or services provided by the first entity within a first time period; receiving payment transaction data from a transaction processing entity in response to the user purchasing at least one of the one or more goods or services provided by the first entity, the payment transaction data comprising at least one of a timestamp indicating a time of purchase and an identifier identifying the first entity or an offer of the first entity activated by the user, wherein upon completion of a registration process for the user, the transaction processing entity tokenizes a funding source associated with the user; and In response to verifying, based on the payment transaction data, that the user has purchased the offered good or service associated with the first reward (i) during the first time period and (ii) using a tokenized funding source, notifying the user that the user has earned the first reward.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the funding source is a user's credit or debit card.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual environment is a location-based reality game.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein information regarding the real-world geographic coordinates of the entity or the goods or services provided by the entity or associated rewards is stored in a database accessible to the one or more processors.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the funding source is associated with a user identifier that identifies the user when the user uses the funding source to purchase at least one of the one or more goods or services. The system of claim 5 , wherein the payment transaction data includes the user identifier.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein in response to a failure to verify that the user has purchased the offered good or service associated with the first reward during the first time period, the user does not receive the first reward.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein in response to a failure to verify a user purchase due to insufficient funds in the funding source, the user does not receive the first reward.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein in response to a failure to verify a user purchase due to an invalid source of funds, the user does not receive the first reward.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the user is offered to apply for a new source of funds.

11. A computer-implemented method comprising: hosting a location-based virtual environment in which one or more users participate; Use data provided by a positioning system to determine the user's real-world geographic coordinates; comparing the real-world geographic coordinates of the user with the real-world geographic coordinates of one or more entities present in the virtual environment, the one or more entities present in the virtual environment to promote goods or services by way of one or more offers presented in the virtual environment, the comparison producing a first result, wherein the goods or services are real-world goods or services; accessing a rewards list associated with at least one of the offers based on the first result; responsive to determining that the user is associated with a funding source, presenting to the user an option to accept or activate at least a first reward from the list of rewards, the first reward being associated with purchasing goods and services from a first entity; activating, in response to the user selecting the first reward, the first reward associated with one or more goods or services provided by the first entity within a first time period; receiving payment transaction data from a transaction processing entity in response to the user purchasing at least one of the one or more goods or services provided by the first entity, the payment transaction data comprising at least one of a timestamp indicating a time of purchase and an identifier identifying the first entity or an offer of the first entity activated by the user, wherein upon completion of a registration process for the user, the transaction processing entity tokenizes a funding source associated with the user; and In response to verifying, based on the payment transaction data, that the user has purchased the offered good or service associated with the first reward (i) during the first time period and (ii) using a tokenized funding source, notifying the user that the user has earned the first reward.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the virtual environment is a location-based reality game.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein information regarding the real-world geographic coordinates of the entity or the goods or services provided by the entity or associated rewards is stored in a database accessible to one or more processors.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein when the user uses the funding source to purchase at least one of the one or more goods or services, the funding source is associated with a user identifier that identifies the user.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the payment transaction data includes the user identifier.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein in response to a failure to verify that the user has purchased the offered good or service associated with the first reward during the first time period, the user does not receive the first reward.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein in response to a failure to verify that the user is associated with a funding source, the user is unable to accept or activate the first reward.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the user is offered to apply for a new funding source or to enter information about a pre-established funding source.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein in response to approving the new funding source or verifying the pre-established funding source, a unique identifier is associated with the user.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the unique identifier is included in the payment transaction data to verify, based on the payment transaction data, that the user has purchased the offered good or service associated with the first reward during the first time period.

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