Intermediation Regarding Actions and Rewards

Abstract

One embodiment may include a first interface configured to be connected to a first party's computer system, a second interface configured to be connected to a second party's computer system, and a computer circuit connected to the first and second interfaces. The computer circuit may be configured to receive from the first party information regarding an action related to the first party performed by a third party and associate the action performed by the third party with a reward that can be obtained from the second party. Further, the computer circuit may be further configured to associate the second party with a fourth party and notify the second party that the fourth party is eligible with respect to the reward.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Claims of Priority and Cross - References to Related Applications This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 376,838, titled "TRANSACTION INTERFACING BETWEEN PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL ASSESTS", filed on September 23, 2022, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 392,049, titled "TRANSACTION INTERFACING BETWEEN GOODS / SERVICES AND VIRTUAL ASSETS", filed on July 25, 2022, and the content of each of these above - mentioned applications is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.

Background Art

[0002] Digital games, such as virtual games, exist everywhere in modern entertainment. On a computer, laptop, tablet, smartphone, or other computing device, an individual can access the Internet and play social games with others, such as gambling games or fantasy sports leagues. On a mobile smartphone, an individual can download a software application (often called an "app") from a game provider and play puzzle games, racing games, action / adventure games, role - playing games, logic games, and virtually any other type of game regardless of the presence of other players. On a game console (and gaming computer), a player can purchase a video game disk and play it on the game console, and can even directly download a wide range of video games or game content to their console or computer via a game marketplace.

[0003] Virtual games generally have several types of digital assets that players may wish to acquire during the play and progression of the game. For example, in a shooting game with multiple players, a player may desire to obtain virtual currency (e.g., credits) to unlock better weapons or armor. In a role-playing game, a player may seek the opportunity to receive rare implements or items (swords, shields, spells, rings, etc.) that enhance the player's statistics (often referred to as "stats") by defeating a specific type of virtual enemy within the game, but such rare implements or items may have a very low chance of appearing, and thus, players may be expected to habitually play the game for a very long time to acquire these items. In more social games, a player may wish to collect tokens or gems to advance within the game level, but may have to wait for a certain period, perhaps several hours, until their assets are sufficiently replenished to continue advancing at the game level. In any game, players who find a particular game enjoyable typically desire to acquire the game's digital assets to be able to play the game better.

[0004] On the other hand, merchants and retailers are interested in promoting the sale of their assets (e.g., physical assets such as food or merchandise) to consumers for profit or other value. For example, a merchant may have goods in its inventory that are about to expire. If the merchant cannot sell the goods either because the consumer does not see value in purchasing the goods or because the consumer has not noticed the goods by the expiration date, the merchant typically disposes of the goods, resulting in a waste of money and a loss of profit for the merchant. The merchant can promote the sale of the inventory, but the merchant generally lacks the expertise or resources to collaborate with other entities to create incentives to induce customer purchases in areas outside of the field in which the merchant operates. Even if a competitive price is set for the inventory or even after the price of the inventory is discounted, the merchant may struggle to sell the inventory on its own or may not be able to generate a fair and successful sales promotion in other areas that can induce consumer purchases for the inventory being promoted. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the following summary and detailed description. Features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment can be combined with features of other embodiments. Accordingly, any combination of the various embodiments described herein can be provided to yield further embodiments. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified as necessary using the concepts of various patents, applications, and publications that can be specified herein to yield still further embodiments.

[0006] According to some embodiments, a device is provided that may include a first interface configured to be connected to a first party's computer system, a second interface configured to be connected to a second party's computer system, and a computer circuit connected to the first and second interfaces and configured to receive, from the first party, information regarding an action related to the first party performed by a third party and associate the action performed by the third party with a reward available from the second party. The computer circuit connected to the first and second interfaces may be further configured to associate the second party with a fourth party and notify the second party that the fourth party is eligible with respect to the reward.

[0007] Furthermore, according to some embodiments, a device is provided that includes a first interface configured to be connected to a first party's computer system, a second interface configured to be connected to a second party's computer system, and a computer circuit connected to the first and second interfaces. The computer circuit may be configured to receive, from the first party, an identification of an action related to the first party, and receive, from the second party, an identification of a reward available from the second party. The computer circuit may be further configured to associate the execution of the action with eligibility to receive the reward.

[0008] The present disclosure enables transaction mediation between physical assets and digital assets (such as virtual assets) regardless of the inherent or essential correlation between the assets or between the providers of said assets. In various examples, a merchant can promote a physical asset by correlating one or more of their physical assets with one or more digital assets from a game managed by a digital asset provider, based on characteristics related to both physical and digital assets, such as the type of asset, the scarcity of the asset, and / or the value of the asset. Not only can the merchant's physical assets and digital assets from the game be promoted in real time, but the promotion parameters covering the assets can be changed, re-evaluated, or deleted in real time to take into account changes in the situation, changes in the merchant's preferences, and / or changes in the digital asset provider's preferences. By doing so, the present disclosure can bridge the economic parity between two otherwise very different asset providers and dynamically link assets and consumer data across multiple independent networks.

[0009] Embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented via an independent third - party system that can receive data regarding physical assets associated with a merchant and characteristics of patrons (i.e., humans and / or entities), as well as data regarding digital assets (e.g., digital games and / or virtual games) and characteristics of users associated with games managed by digital asset providers. The third - party system can include artificial intelligence “AI” or an artificial neural network or other machine - learning capabilities to match at least one of the physical assets to at least one of the digital assets and vice versa. The artificial intelligence “AI” or artificial neural network or other machine - learning capabilities described herein and / or with respect to the third - party system can not only match assets including at least one of the physical assets to at least one of the digital assets, but can also perform any other functions and / or operations. The third - party system can generate advertising events designed to promote the sale of the matched assets and display the advertising events on a website, software application, and / or other media platform accessible to the merchant, the digital asset provider, and / or patrons of both of them.

[0010] In some embodiments, the third-party system can utilize data from transactions related to a merchant or a patron of a digital asset provider to determine whether to issue a reward, which may be a physical or digital asset, to the patron. The third-party system can determine characteristics of the transaction, such as the type, quantity, and / or price of the assets obtained from the transaction, and can include an artificial neural network or other machine learning function to evaluate whether the transaction meets each parameter of the advertising event. If the transaction meets each parameter of the advertising event, the third-party system can instruct the merchant and / or digital asset provider to issue a reward (e.g., a (digital and / or physical) asset that matches another (digital and / or physical) asset obtained in the transaction) to one or more patrons associated with the transaction. In embodiments such as the embodiments described herein, transactions can generally include one or more physical assets that match one or more digital assets, and vice versa, as well as transactions in which one or more physical assets match one or more other physical assets and one or more digital assets match one or more other digital assets. Additionally, one or more physical assets and / or one or more digital assets can be matched with one or more other types of assets.

[0011] Methods directed to the above-described embodiments are also disclosed, and those methods can be performed by a third-party system or by one or more of its subsystems or networks.

[0012] As further described below, other embodiments are also disclosed.

[0013] It should be understood that the drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments only and should not be considered as limiting the scope. The exemplary embodiments will be described with further specificity and detail using the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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[0027] In accordance with common practice, the various features described are not drawn to scale and are drawn to emphasize specific features relevant to the exemplary embodiments.

[0028] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and which show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. However, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, software, configuration, and electrical changes may be made. Further, the order in which the individual steps of the one or more methods presented in the figures and the specification can be executed should not be construed as limiting, and the one or more methods can include steps or other items not explicitly disclosed for purposes of clarity. Accordingly, the following detailed description should not be construed in a limiting sense.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system 100 including an access point interface (API) 102 connected to at least one first-party system, which may be a computer system such as a merchant system 106, and at least one second-party system, which may be a computer system such as a digital asset provider system 104 (e.g., a host of a gaming platform). The API 102 can be implemented as a conventional API that functions as an access point to one or more networks operated by a third party (not shown in FIG. 1) separate from the network operated by the merchant and the network operated by the digital asset provider. Only one merchant system 106 and one digital asset provider system 104 are explicitly shown in FIG. 1, but any number of merchant systems and digital asset provider systems can be connected to the API 102. For example, each merchant system 106 corresponds to a different merchant, and each digital asset provider system 104 corresponds to a different digital asset provider.

[0030] The merchant system 106 is operated by a merchant such as a grocery store, bookstore, vehicle dealership, lawn mowing service, organization, or other type of merchant, or includes one or more networks (e.g., local area network, wide area network, corporate network) associated with such a merchant. In some embodiments, the merchant can operate a website that can be accessed by consumers on a computer, or manage a software application or other media platform that can be downloaded and accessed on a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet. In some embodiments, the merchant system 106 is managed by a merchant partner entity that coordinates with the merchant regarding the physical assets or services provided by the merchant and / or the value / cost (if any) associated with the physical items or services.

[0031] As used herein, the term "merchant" means an individual, group of individuals, organization, or entity that provides physical items and / or services (sometimes referred to as "physical assets"), regardless of their value. For example, a grocery store can be classified as a merchant because it sells physical goods (food, greeting cards, plants, etc.) in exchange for a price paid by consumers. A lawn mowing service can also typically be classified as a merchant because it provides services that include mowing a customer's lawn, other landscaping, and other property improvement or maintenance work. However, a non-profit organization such as a church can also be considered a "merchant" in the sense of the term used herein because such an entity can provide goods and / or services (e.g., a church can provide worship services), even if the entity does not have a commercial value. For example, the worship services provided by a church can be free to the general public, or a non-profit organization can provide services that support the non-profit organization's mission and request donations for the services. Thus, the term "merchant" is intended to be interpreted broadly and is not necessarily given its usual meaning as understood in a commercial or contractual context. In fact, the transactions described herein with respect to merchants need not involve any money and may involve other forms of value such as virtual currency, cryptocurrency, barter, and / or trade.

[0032] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the assets and / or services provided by a merchant may include, for example, audio services, movie services, television services, streaming services, multimedia services, and / or other subscription-based services. For example, a TV / cable company or a movie streaming service (the merchant) may be interested in providing a reward to a gamer (e.g., a child) who plays a virtual game (e.g., provided by a game hosting platform) when a customer (e.g., a parent, sibling, or the gamer themselves) purchases a movie or TV series or simply watches a movie that is already available as part of the customer's subscription service. In such embodiments, it is understood that the audio services, movie services, television services, or other subscription-based services provided by the merchant can be considered digital assets and / or digital services provided by the merchant. As described above, the term "merchant" is intended to be construed broadly and can include merchant service providers and / or merchant asset providers as described above that provide digital services and / or digital assets.

[0033] The digital asset provider system 104 is operated by an entity that provides digital assets or includes one or more networks (e.g., local area network, wide area network, enterprise network) associated with such an entity. In some embodiments, the digital asset provider system 104 hosts or manages virtual games on the Internet, for example, that players can access. Alternatively, the digital asset provider system 104 may be configured to host or manage games in software apps on mobile devices and / or may sell video games for game consoles or game computers that include digital assets. In other embodiments, the digital asset provider system 104 can manage a database or "library" of games (or digital assets from games) from multiple different game developers in a centralized virtual marketplace, and consumers can purchase or download games or digital assets from games directly from the virtual marketplace.

[0034] In one embodiment, the term "digital asset" means any non-physical asset for a virtual game. Digital assets can be weapons, armor, experience points, power-ups, cheat codes, digital achievements or events, or script flags (e.g., defeating a special enemy in the game, clearing a specific map, reaching a specific level, participating in an in-game event, or logging in a specific number of times in a month, etc.), or any type of item that can be obtained in a virtual game. Digital assets can also include virtual currency that can be spent on digital items in the game. "Customer", "consumer", or "patron" refers to an individual who conducts transactions with a merchant or digital asset provider.

[0035] In addition to "digital assets" in the context of games and virtual game spaces, digital assets can generally include any valuable thing created and stored digitally. This can include videos, audio, logos, websites, digitally rendered images, photos, documents, spreadsheets, data, and non-fungible tokens on a blockchain. Such digital assets may be uniquely identifiable and may be used to realize value.

[0036] Referring further to FIG. 1, the merchant system 106 is configured to record data regarding physical assets (e.g., inventory of goods or services) that a merchant provides to consumers such as individuals. For example, the merchant system 106 can store in the asset database 122 a list of physical assets 125A, 125B, 125C that are currently available for acquisition by a patron (e.g., a customer or other consumer). The asset database 122, in one embodiment, is configured to store metadata including an identification (ID) indicator of the physical asset and other characteristics of the physical asset such as its name, description, value and / or cost, category, manufacturer, and / or type. For example, in a convenience store, the asset database 122 can store ID indicators for candy bars, sodas, and / or other various types of snacks. When a merchant receives new inventory or updates its list of services, the merchant system 106 can update the asset database 122 in a timely manner to reflect the changes in the physical assets.

[0037] Furthermore, the merchant system 106 includes a user database 120 configured to store characteristics of the merchant's patrons. In some embodiments, the asset database 122 and the user database 120 are the same database. As shown in FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the user database 120 is configured to store a user ID 123A and a customer (consumer) ID 123B. The merchant system 106 is configured to store data regarding the personal characteristics of the patrons, which may include age or gender, and associate it with the user ID 123A. The merchant system 106 is configured to store data regarding transactions related to the consumer (or other users), such as the consumer's transaction history, and associate it with the consumer ID 123B. Some merchants use a loyalty program or other incentive-based reward system such that customers shop repeatedly at the merchant and purchase physical assets at various times. The merchant system 106 can use this data to associate customers with specific physical assets that are of interest to the customers. Furthermore, the merchant system 106 can determine and / or collect other customer / consumer-related metadata, such as purchase preferences, and store it in the database 120.

[0038] The digital asset provider system 104 includes a digital asset database 114 configured to store characteristics of digital assets 115A, 115B, 115C provided with respect to a game or games managed by the digital asset provider. The digital asset database 114 is configured to store characteristics such as the name, description, category, rarity, type, and other such characteristics of each digital asset in one embodiment. For example, if the game includes a digital asset that unlocks a rare playable character, the playable character and the game in which it can be unlocked can be stored in the digital asset database 114.

[0039] Furthermore, the digital asset provider system 104 includes a user database 116 configured to store characteristics of users who play virtual games or otherwise engage with the offerings of the digital asset provider. For example, the user database 116 is configured to store a user ID 117A that identifies personal characteristics of the user, such as the user's age or gender. Additionally, the user database 116 may be configured to store asset characteristics 117B associated with the user, such as any digital assets previously acquired by the user while playing a virtual game. In some embodiments, the digital asset database 114 and the user database 116 are the same database.

[0040] API 102 is communicatively connected to merchant system 106 and digital asset provider system 104. API 102 is configured to receive characteristics of both physical assets from each merchant system 106 and digital assets from each digital asset provider system 104, along with user characteristics from each system, and register the physical and digital assets. For example, FIG. 2 is a diagram of a system 200 including an exemplary access point interface (API) 102 that can be implemented as the API 102 of FIG. 1 to mediate between a merchant and a digital asset provider. Referring to FIG. 2, API 102 is communicatively connected to a merchant system API 260 connected to at least one first-party system, which may be a computer system such as merchant system 106. Further, API 102 is communicatively connected to a digital asset provider system API 262 connected to at least one second-party system, which may be a computer system such as digital asset provider system or game platform host 104. Based on asset characteristic data and user characteristic data provided from both merchant system 106 and digital asset provider system 104, API 102 is configured to register new or updated assets and register users. On the merchant system 106 side, API 102 can send and query advertising events to merchant system 106 and receive customer transactions from merchant system 106, such as the date of the transaction, the assets described in the transaction, and the cost of the assets. On the digital asset provider side, API 102 can send and query advertising events to digital asset provider system 104, check claims that a patron can redeem for a digital asset, and post claims redeemed by the patron.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 6C in connection with FIG. 1, an embodiment of system 100 including an access point interface (API) 102 connected to at least one merchant system 106 and at least one digital asset provider system 104, as will be described in more detail below, can further include a blockchain ledger 112, or some other type of record-keeping or database system connected to API 102. System 600 shown in FIG. 6C can be implemented using system 100 described in the context of FIG. 1, and the same reference numbers between FIGS. 1 and 6C refer to similar components that perform the same functions as those described in FIG. 1 in FIG. 6C, i.e., system 100 can form part of system 600. The blockchain ledger 112 or other database / backend storage 109 connected to API 102 can be configured to store any previously generated advertising events, user transactions, and / or reward information. In the blockchain ledger 112 and / or other database / backend storage 109, all information can be updated when new advertising events, transactions, and rewards are generated. For example, as will be described in more detail herein, when system 100 generates a new advertising event or modifies an existing event, advertising event information including the parameters of the advertising event can be sent to API 102 and recorded in the blockchain ledger 112 or other database / backend storage 109 of system 100. When a patron of merchant system 106 or digital asset provider system 104 completes a transaction or an asset reward is issued, the verification system can send the reward information to API 102 and it is recorded in the blockchain ledger 112. The blockchain ledger 112 can record the patron's claim for the reward. As an example, the blockchain ledger 112 can record any of the following parameters: i.e., merchant ID, digital asset provider ID, user ID and metadata, transaction ID and metadata, physical asset ID and metadata, and / or digital asset ID and metadata.

[0042] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 which is a flowchart of an exemplary method 300 for registering physical and digital assets or services, API 102 can register users and assets. Although the blocks of the flowchart are generally arranged continuously for ease of explanation, this arrangement should be understood to be exemplary only, and it should be understood that the processes associated with the methods described herein (and the blocks shown in the figures) may be performed in a different order (e.g., at least some of the processes associated with the blocks may be performed in parallel or in an event-driven manner). Also, for clarity and ease of explanation, the description of standard exception handling is omitted, but it should be understood that method 300 can and typically does include such exception handling.

[0043] Method 300 includes, at step 302, receiving a request from a merchant system, such as merchant system 106 of FIG. 1, to register at least one physical asset or service. For example, API 102 receives a POST request from merchant system API 260 with at least one physical asset or service that the merchant wishes to register for promotional use. Referring to FIG. 1, merchant system 106 can read at least one physical asset or service from asset database 122 and send the read at least one physical asset or service to API 102.

[0044] Furthermore, method 300 includes, at step 304, receiving a request from merchant system 106 to register at least one user. In some embodiments, the request to register a user also includes a request to register a physical asset or service, as described at step 302. Referring to FIG. 1, merchant system 106 can read information regarding at least one user from user database 120 and send the read information to API 102.

[0045] In step 306, API 102 receives a request to register at least one digital asset from digital asset provider system 104. For example, API 102 receives a POST request from digital asset provider system API 262. Referring to FIG. 1, digital asset provider system 104 can describe at least one digital asset from digital asset database 114, or read information otherwise related to at least one digital asset from digital asset database 114, and send the read information to API 102.

[0046] In step 308, API 102 receives a request to register at least one user of a virtual game hosted or managed by a digital asset provider from digital asset provider system 104. For example, digital asset provider system 104 can read information regarding at least one user from user database 116 and send the information to API 102. In some embodiments, the request to register at least one digital asset in step 306 also includes the request to register at least one user described in step 308.

[0047] Method 300 proceeds to step 310, where API 102 registers at least one physical asset from merchant system 106 and at least one digital asset from digital asset provider system 104 within a third-party network connected to the database of API 102 (e.g., in the database of the third-party network connected to API 102). Additionally, the user identities received by merchant system 106 and digital asset provider system 104 are also registered in the same database and / or a different database. The database used to register users and assets can exist on a network separate from merchant system 106 and digital asset provider system 104, such as blockchain ledger 112 (as shown in FIG. 6C) or another type of record-keeping or database system connected to API 102.

[0048] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a system 400 according to one embodiment that includes a promotion generation system 108 configured to generate advertising events for at least one merchant and at least one digital asset provider. System 400 shown in FIG. 4 can be implemented using system 100 described in the context of FIG. 1, and the same reference numbers between FIGS. 1 and 4 refer to similar components that perform the same functions as those described in FIG. 1 in FIG. 4, i.e., system 100 can form part of system 400.

[0049] In system 400, API 102 is connected to a promotion generation system 108 that can be located on a network separate from merchant system 106 and digital asset provider system 104. At a basic level, the promotion generation system 108 uses user and asset characteristic data provided by the merchant system 106 and the digital asset provider system 104 to facilitate or otherwise associate a physical asset provided by a merchant with a digital asset provided by a digital asset provider, or vice versa, by generating one or more advertising events 144. As part of the promotion generation process, the promotion generation system 108 evaluates the characteristics of at least one physical asset and at least one digital asset to determine an appropriate pairing between the physical asset and the digital asset.

[0050] Merchant system 106 can optionally send a list of one or more selected physical assets that the merchant wishes to promote to API 102 (e.g., by the same request used to register at least one physical asset as described above). For example, a grocery store merchant may want to sell additional products that would normally not sell without a promotion targeted at old products set to expire on the same day or within a very short time frame. In another example, a video game store may want to promote the sale of a new video game on the day the new video game is released to the general public and may want to use a targeted promotion (perhaps by one or more digital assets within the video game) to entice customers to purchase the new video game. If the merchant wishes to select a particular physical asset (including any service provided by the merchant), merchant system 106 can send the selected physical asset (and / or service) to API 102 along with a request to use the selected physical asset (and / or service) in an advertising event. Additionally, the merchant can specify other preferred characteristics such as the length of the advertising event or the price (or price range) of the physical asset during the advertising event. Further, the merchant can select a combination of one or more physical assets to use in the advertising event, such as mounting a set of tires on a vehicle or purchasing one or more tires in relation to a tire rotation performed by the merchant, within the same advertising event. However, the merchant's selection of physical assets is optional and not necessarily required for the generation of an advertising event, because promotion generation system 108 can select registered physical assets associated with merchant system 106 without the need for additional input from the merchant.

[0051] The promotion generation system 108 includes a promotion module 130. The promotion module 130 is configured to identify registered physical assets from the merchant system 106 including relevant metadata containing all related history, status, and purchase data from all user IDs, and registered digital assets from the digital asset provider system 104 in order to appropriately generate and modify all promotion criteria. A combination of consumer metadata (or other information) of physical assets in the merchant system 106 and gamer metadata (or other information) in the digital asset provider system 104 can be utilized by the promotion generation system 108 to generate an advertising event 144. For example, when the API 102 receives a request from the merchant system 106 to generate an advertising event using its physical assets, the promotion module 130 can search for the registered physical assets corresponding to that particular merchant. Further, the promotion module 130 can select physical assets registered with a merchant corresponding to a specific consumer segment based on the registered patron's user characteristic data. For example, assume a toy store merchant wishes to generate a promotion for boys aged 5 to 8. The promotion module 130 reviews the registered inventory from the toy store merchant and selects toy items that can be used in the advertising event 144 based on the characteristics associated with the registered inventory. In this example, the promotion module 130 determines from the types of toys (an example of an asset type characteristic) registered with the toy merchant that toy cars, action figures, and water guns should be used as possible items in the advertising event 144. Further, the promotion module 130 may be configured to ensure that the promotion presents selected physical assets suitable for a particular merchant. In particular, an appropriate selection of physical assets suitable for the target merchant can be made based on the registered patron's user characteristic data.For example, in the foregoing example of generating a promotion for young teenagers aged 5 to 8, the promotion module 130 can identify whether to offer a toy or a household detergent according to the user characteristic data of registered patrons aged 5 to 8. That is, in one embodiment, the promotion module 130 is configured to determine that it is appropriate to offer a toy to a 5- to 8-year-old teenager, but inappropriate to offer a detergent to a 5- to 8-year-old teenager.

[0052] In another example of the promotion module 130, an automobile dealership may wish to promote the sale of automobile maintenance services to customers who have recently purchased a used car. The promotion module 130 identifies an oil change or tire rotation service (an example of an asset type or asset description characteristic) from the registered services corresponding to the automobile dealership. Optionally, the promotion module 130 identifies one or more patrons linked to the most recent automobile purchase from the automobile dealership in the registered user database 120, where the automobile may require an oil change or tire rotation service.

[0053] Furthermore, the promotion module 130 identifies one or more digital assets corresponding to the digital asset provider system 104 based on the registered digital assets and user data. For example, in the case of a promotion designed to target older (50 years or older) patrons who are more likely to play social or puzzle games, the promotion module 130 can identify digital assets from crossword games provided by the digital asset provider, such as free letters to solve puzzle hints or virtual currency in a puzzle game. Furthermore, the promotion module 130 can identify digital assets from agricultural simulation games provided by the same or different digital asset providers, such as rakes or rare crops, for use in generating the advertising event 144. The promotion module 130 then provides the possible physical and digital assets to the evaluation engine 132. Additionally, the promotion module 130 can exclude a particular patron from a particular promotion or provide a completely different promotion pairing based on the patron's relevant information, metadata, history, and status. For example, a merchant can choose not to offer any sales promotions related to sandwiches to customers who already have a history of purchasing sandwiches. Alternatively, the game can choose that gamers who have recently spent money in the game cannot receive a promotion regardless of other factors (because the promotion module or merchant recognizes that such gamers do not need an incentive to spend money in the game). In one embodiment, the system 100 can include a dedicated additional database for storing patrons excluded from a particular sales promotion or patrons for whom inspection and approval by the physical asset provider may be required prior to the issuance of a sales promotion by the promotion generation system 108.

[0054] The evaluation engine 132 is configured to evaluate the characteristics of the physical and digital assets identified by the promotion module 130 and match one or more physical assets to one or more digital assets based on the characteristics. For example, the evaluation engine 132 can consider any one or more of the characteristics of the registered physical assets (e.g., price / value, asset description, product line, asset type, historical sales data, target end-user layer data, inventory / availability, asset rarity, asset manufacturer, and other characteristics), and any one or more of the characteristics of the registered digital assets (e.g., asset description, asset type, asset rarity, asset category, price / value, historical sales / purchase data, past engagement data regarding the popularity of the asset for purchase or frequency of consumption in a game, and other characteristics).

[0055] In an exemplary embodiment, the evaluation engine 132 is configured to calculate a pairing score between a physical asset and a digital asset. For example, a physical asset can be selected and paired with a first digital asset, and the pairing score is calculated based on an evaluation of characteristics associated with the physical asset and the digital asset. The physical asset can then be paired with a second digital asset, and a second pairing score is calculated based on the characteristics associated with the physical asset and the second digital asset. This process can be repeatedly iterated for each permutation of the pairing of each physical asset and digital asset. The pairing scores are then ranked, and the physical asset and digital asset associated with the highest pairing score can be used as assets for the advertising event 144. Optionally, multiple pairing scores can be calculated for a given pairing of a physical asset and a digital asset, and each pairing score is calculated with a different weighted evaluation of characteristics. For example, between a given physical asset and digital asset, one pairing score can be calculated that weighs the scarcity of the digital asset more heavily against the value of the physical asset, while another pairing score for the same physical asset and digital asset can result in a different pairing score that weighs the type of the physical asset more heavily against past engagement data of the digital asset.

[0056] Physical assets can be paired with multiple digital assets. For example, bagged chips can be paired with a sword in a video game, digital currency in a mobile game, and a temporary power-up in a virtual multiplayer game. Multiple physical assets, including physical assets from multiple merchants, can also be paired with a single digital asset. Advertising event 144 can include each of a pair of assets (e.g., if each of the pair of assets belongs to the same merchant), or separate advertising events can be generated for each of the pair of assets. Physical assets or digital assets can also be paired at no cost or at a discounted rate, depending on the asset pairing and criteria, particularly where the criteria for the digital asset are in-game achievements, events, or digital script flags.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 4, evaluation engine 132 generates an output indicating at least one digital asset 136 and at least one paired physical asset 134. In some embodiments, physical asset 138 is paired with multiple digital assets 142 and 140. Each physical asset 134 and each digital asset 136 includes one or more characteristics such as an identifier for the physical / digital asset and the type of the asset. For example, a physical asset of a grocery store can include an identifier used by the store to classify inventory, while a digital asset identifier can correspond to a code segment used in a virtual game.

[0058] In some embodiments, the evaluation engine 132 includes one or more machine learning algorithms implemented by one or more artificial neural networks (ANNs). The ANN includes an input layer that receives input parameters (e.g., identified physical and digital assets from the promotion module 130, and their associated characteristic data), and an output layer that generates an output indicating a correlation between the physical and digital assets. The ANN further includes one or more hidden layers between the input layer and the output layer configured to implement machine learning techniques. The ANN can include any type of neural network, such as a deep neural network (DNN), a recurrent neural network (RNN), and other such networks. Each layer of the ANN can include one or more nodes, each implemented by one or more processing units or a portion of one or more processing units. Other engines described herein can be executed using one or more ANNs.

[0059] The promotion generation system 108 is configured (e.g., by the evaluation engine 132) to generate an advertising event 144 that includes one or more physical assets matched with one or more digital assets. The parameters of the advertising event 144 are related to the characteristics, time, period (seasonality) of any current promotion between the merchant and the digital asset provider, temperature or weather events related to the location of the merchant or users associated with the merchant, holidays, local events, historical promotion data, merchant data stored in real time, and / or other information such as data. For example, to promote the sale of food products with a sales date that expires at the end of the day, the food products are matched with appropriate digital assets, and an advertising event 144 is generated in real time that gives the patron the digital assets if the patron purchases the appropriate amount of food products by the earlier of the time the store closes or midnight in the specified amount or other manner (e.g., in the advertisement). In another example, the advertising event 144 can span several weeks in mid-October and the patron of the grocery store can obtain the appropriate digital assets if they purchase fancy candies of the appropriate amount and / or value for Halloween. In another example, the advertising event 144 can be for a discounted or free physical asset from the merchant if the digital assets required for the promotion are to achieve a particular result (such as obtaining a very rare item in a computer or other type of virtual game). Also, the promotion generation system 108 may be configured to avoid promoting the sale of a product to a particular consumer who is already known to purchase such a product without a sales promotion incentive. In such a situation, the promotion generation system 108 can promote the sale of other products that the particular consumer has not yet purchased to that particular consumer.

[0060] In the context of generating an advertising event 144 that includes possible rewards in the form of digital assets, the promotion generation system 108 and / or the digital assets themselves may provide or unlock access to specific items for use in a virtual game, or may correspond to the probability of obtaining a specific quantity of items within the game (e.g., in exchange for a code that gives a patron an 80% chance of obtaining 100 gems, a 15% chance of obtaining 500 gems, or a 5% chance of obtaining 1000 gems in a mobile game based on a single purchase), or the digital assets themselves may be the access or probability. Also, the rewards associated with the pending advertising event 144 may vary (e.g., increase) based on the number of transactions the patron has completed. As an example, the score multiplier in a virtual game can be increased by 1 each time the patron completes an eligible transaction during the advertising event 144. Further, the rewards associated with the pending advertising event 144 can vary in the type of physical or digital assets that can be awarded so as to avoid similar point incentives where the reward is a credit card reward point system or points only are awarded, and can change.

[0061] In addition to the paired assets, the advertising event 144 can include other parameters such as the duration of the event, the start and end dates of the event, the maximum spending amount, the sales commission rate, the digital artwork / text for the event, and other parameters. The digital artwork or text may be provided by the merchant or digital asset provider, or may be generated as part of the advertising event 144 by the promotion generation system 108. In some embodiments, the advertising event 144 is a one-time promotion set during a specific period (e.g., a few hours, an entire month, or a range specified by date). Alternatively, the advertising event 144 is a recurring promotion that can be redeemed by the patron multiple times a day, daily, weekly, or monthly. The sales promotion targeted by the advertising event 144 is tracked via the API 102, and the patron can be rewarded with a special reward for participating in the sales promotion over time. For example, the advertising event 144 may be configured to promote a special "combination" bonus and unlock an additional reward for the patron after completing multiple sales promotions within a given time period (day, week, month, etc.). For example, the patron participates in three promotions in a day (obtains the rewards for all three promotions), and then can also obtain the bonus reward on that day simply by participating in multiple (here, three) promotions in a day. These types of rewards can be different from the rewards offered in other promotions because they reward recurring activities instead of rewarding the purchase of a specific product or other activities. In addition to the "combination" bonus, the advertising event 144 can include a "chance" bonus, and participation in the promotion can involve a retention rate or chance in obtaining additional rewards.

[0062] The promotion generation system 108 is configured to send advertising events 144 to each merchant system 106 (e.g., by the merchant interface module 126) and to each digital asset provider system 104 (e.g., by the app interface module 128). Merchants and digital asset providers can review advertising events 144 that include physical and digital assets selected for the promotion. If both the merchant and the digital asset provider approve the advertising event 144, the merchant and the digital asset provider can simply enable the advertising event 144 without taking any further action. If either the merchant or the digital asset provider does not approve the advertising event 144, the merchant or the digital asset provider can select one or more of their own assets to replace the assets paired by the promotion generation system 108. The merchant or the digital asset provider can change other parameters of the advertising event 144, such as the length of the advertising event, the start date and / or end date of the event, the minimum and / or maximum consumption amount, the type of advertisement, the type of merchant / digital asset provider owning the asset, and other parameters.

[0063] When a merchant and / or digital asset provider changes the advertising event 144, the change is sent back to the promotion generation system 108, which is configured to replace the original pair of assets with the assets selected by the merchant or digital asset provider that sent the change. The advertising event 144 approved by the merchant and digital asset provider, or the advertising event 144 changed based on feedback from the merchant and / or digital asset provider, can be finalized and enabled in the merchant interface module 126 and / or the app interface module 128. The patron can then access the merchant interface module 126 or the app interface module 128 via their mobile device (smartphone, laptop, etc.) and view the advertising event 144 displayed on the device. In one embodiment, the advertising event 144 may be viewed by the patron while playing a virtual game, while visiting a virtual game store associated with the digital asset provider system 104, while reviewing a merchant loyalty application associated with the merchant system 106, and / or in any other suitable manner.

[0064] The promotion generation system 108 can modify or cancel the advertising event 144 based on updated asset data provided in real time by the merchant system 106 and / or the digital asset provider system 104. If an asset is selling too quickly, the promotion generation system 108 can be configured to determine an alternative asset (e.g., by the evaluation engine 132) and replace the current asset with the alternative asset. As another example, the promotion generation system 108 can dynamically adjust the parameters of the advertising event 144 at a specific time of day to prioritize physical assets that will expire at the end of the day.

[0065] An example of a method for generating an advertising event that matches physical assets to digital assets is shown in FIG. 5. In one embodiment, the method represented by flow diagram 500 is executed by the promotion generation system 108 of FIG. 4, or is executed in conjunction with the promotion generation system 108 of FIG. 4 in some other manner. Although the method 500 of the figure is described as being executed by the promotion generation system 108, it is understood that any other suitable device can execute this method.

[0066] The method of flow diagram 500 optionally includes, at step 502, the promotion generation system 108 receiving a selection of at least one physical asset or service from a merchant. This step is optional because the physical asset can be matched to the digital asset without input from the merchant. However, if a physical asset is provided to the promotion generation system 108 by the merchant at step 502, that physical asset is used for matching with the digital asset at step 504. Conversely, the promotion generation system 108 can receive, at step 502, a digital asset from a digital asset provider to match with the physical asset.

[0067] The method of flow diagram 500 proceeds to step 504, where the promotion generation system 108 matches physical assets and / or services to digital assets based on at least one characteristic of the physical assets and / or services and digital assets. The characteristics can include price / value, asset description, product line, asset type, historical sales data, target end-user layer data, inventory / availability, asset rarity, asset manufacturer, and / or other characteristics, and / or any one or more of the characteristics of the registered digital assets (e.g., asset description, asset type, asset rarity, asset category, price / value, historical sales / purchase data, past engagement data regarding the popularity of the asset for purchase or frequency of consumption in a game, and other characteristics). The promotion generation system 108 can pair multiple physical assets associated with one or more merchants with digital assets, and / or can pair multiple digital assets associated with one or more digital asset providers with physical assets. In some embodiments, the matching of the physical asset or service and the digital asset includes the promotion generation system 108 generating at least one pairing score between the physical asset or service and the digital asset. Then, rank the at least one pairing score, and the physical asset and digital asset associated with the highest pairing score can be used as assets for the advertising event 144. Optionally, the promotion generation system 108 can calculate multiple pairing scores using different weighted evaluations of characteristics for a given pairing of a physical asset and a digital asset.

[0068] In step 506, the promotion generation system 108 generates an advertising event having the matched physical assets and / or services and digital assets. The promotion generation system 108 determines the parameters of the advertising event 144 based on data such as the characteristics, time, period (seasonality), temperature or weather events related to the location of the merchant or the users associated with the merchant, holidays, local events, historical promotion data, merchant data stored in real time, and / or other information of any currently effective promotion between the merchant and the digital asset provider. In addition to the paired assets, the advertising event 144 can include other parameters such as the duration of the event, start date and / or end date, minimum and / or maximum consumption amount, sales commission rate, digital artwork / text for the event, and / or other parameters. The digital artwork or text can be provided by the merchant and / or the digital asset provider, or can be generated by the promotion generation system 108 as part of the advertising event 144. In some embodiments, the advertising event 144 is a one-time promotion set during a specific period (e.g., a few hours, the entire month, or a range specified by date). Alternatively, the advertising event 144 is a recurring promotion that can be redeemed by the patron multiple times a day, weekly, and / or monthly.

[0069] Next, the promotion generation system 108 proceeds to step 508 and transmits the advertising event 144 to at least one merchant and at least one digital asset provider by displaying the advertising event 144 on, for example, a website or software application associated with the merchant or digital asset provider. Optionally, the merchant or digital asset provider may review the advertising event 144 and modify one or more parameters of the advertising event 144 before the promotion generation system 108 displays the advertising event 144. In this case, the promotion generation system 108 changes the advertising event 144 based on the feedback from the merchant or digital asset provider, and when the advertising event 144 is finalized, it is displayed by the merchant system 106 or the digital asset provider system 104 and can be viewed by the patrons of the merchant or digital asset provider, for example, on their mobile devices.

[0070] FIG. 6A is a diagram of an exemplary system 605 that may include at least one first party system that may be a computer system (e.g., merchant system 106), at least one second party system that may be a computer system (e.g., digital asset provider system or game platform host 104), and at least one computer circuit (e.g., advertising and reward generation unit 101, which may be independent or included as part of promotion generation system 108) configured to determine whether a user transaction in a physical or digital asset event meets the parameters of an advertising event. As will be described in more detail, exemplary system 605 of FIG. 6A is generally configured to determine whether to match the assets of a first party system to the rewards of a second party system (or the assets of a second party system to the rewards of a first party system), and to determine whether an action regarding an asset meets the conditions for receiving a reward. System 605 may be further configured to notify either or both of the first party system and the second party system that a patron or user (e.g., grocery shopper or virtual gamer) of system 605 or its components (e.g., first party system 106 or second party system 104) is eligible for a reward.

[0071] As shown in exemplary system 605 of FIG. 6A, each of the first party system (e.g., merchant system 106), at least one computer circuit (e.g., advertising and reward generation unit 101, which may be independent or included as part of promotion generation system 108), and the second party system (e.g., digital asset provider system or game platform host 104) can include respective input / output ports that communicate with an interface such as a bus. For example, first party system 106 may include an input / output port 181 that is connected to an input / output port 182 of at least one computer circuit 101 via interface 185. Second party system 104 may include an input / output port 184 that is connected to an input / output port 183 of at least one computer circuit 101 via interface 186.

[0072] As further shown in FIG. 6A, the system 605 may be communicatively connected to at least one first-party system, which may be a computer system such as the merchant system 106, and may include an advertisement and reward generation unit 101 connected to at least one second-party system, which may be a computer system such as the digital asset provider system 104. The advertisement and reward generation unit 101 may be part of a promotion generation system 108, may be a promotion generation system, or may include a promotion generation system, as described in the embodiments herein. The promotion generation system 108 is configured to use user and asset characteristic data provided by the merchant system 106 and the digital asset provider system 104 to generate one or more advertising events 144 that promote the sale of physical assets provided by the merchant in conjunction with digital assets provided by the digital asset provider, or vice versa. As part of the promotion generation process, the promotion generation system 108 can evaluate the characteristics of at least one physical asset and at least one digital asset to determine an appropriate pairing between the physical asset and the digital asset.

[0073] Referring again to FIG. 6A, the advertisement and reward generation unit 101 may further include a verification system 110 configured to determine whether a patron's transaction meets the criteria of the advertising event 144, as described in the embodiments herein. The verification system 110 and the promotion generation system 108 of the advertisement and reward generation unit 101 in FIG. 6A can cooperate to exchange and associate data for the purpose of generating advertisements and rewards.

[0074] To describe an exemplary hypothetical scenario considering the exemplary system 605 of FIG. 6A, the advertisement and reward generation unit 101 can receive information regarding actions such as purchases made by a third-party grocery shopper to purchase goods in the merchant system 106 from a first-party system, which may be a computer system such as the merchant system 106. Next, the advertisement and reward generation unit 101 can associate an action or purchase made by a third party (e.g., the parent of a gamer, where the parent is a member of a loyalty program associated with the merchant who owns the merchant system 106) with a digital reward (e.g., "life" or other assets related to a virtual game) available from a second-party system, which may be a computer system such as the game platform host or digital asset provider system 104. Then, the advertisement and reward generation unit 101 can associate a second-party system, which may be a computer system such as the digital asset provider system 104, with a fourth party, such as a virtual gamer, and notify the digital asset provider system 104 that the fourth party is eligible for the digital reward due to the third party's purchase of an asset from the merchant. The foregoing exemplary virtual scenario considering the embodiment of FIG. 6A is described in the context of an action or purchase made by a grocery shopper to obtain goods from a first-party system, which may be a computer system such as the merchant system 106, where the purchase results in a digital asset reward from a digital asset provider system 104, such as a game platform host, but it should be understood that other exemplary virtual scenarios are also conceivable where a virtual action or achievement performed by a virtual gamer in a second-party system, which may be a computer system such as the game platform host or digital asset provider system 104, may result in a physical asset reward from the merchant system 106.

[0075] Furthermore, each of interfaces 185 and 186 may also be respective access point interfaces (APIs) that may be connected to at least one first party system, which may be a computer system such as merchant system 106, and at least one second party system, which may be a computer system such as digital asset provider system or game platform host 104. Such APIs may be implemented as conventional access point interfaces that function as access points to one or more networks operated by a third party, separate from the networks operated by the merchant and the digital asset provider. Although only one merchant system 106 and only one digital asset provider system 104 are explicitly shown in FIG. 6A, any number of merchant systems and digital asset provider systems can be connected to their respective APIs, with each merchant system 106 corresponding to a different merchant and each digital asset provider system 104 corresponding to a different digital asset provider.

[0076] FIG. 6B is another diagram of an exemplary system 610 that may include at least one first-party system that may be a computer system (e.g., merchant system 106), at least one second-party system that may be a computer system (e.g., digital asset provider system or game platform host 104), and at least one computer circuit (e.g., advertising and reward generation unit 101) configured to determine whether a user transaction related to a physical or digital asset event meets the parameters of an advertising event. The exemplary system 610 of FIG. 6B is generally configured to determine whether to match the assets of the first-party system to the rewards of the second-party system (or the assets of the second-party system to the rewards of the first-party system), and to determine whether an action related to the asset meets the conditions for receiving a reward. The system 610 may be further configured to notify either or both of the first-party system and the second-party system that a patron or user of the system 610 (grocery shopper or virtual gamer) is eligible with respect to the reward.

[0077] The exemplary system 610 shown in FIG. 6B can achieve functions similar to those of the embodiment of FIG. 6A and has additional functions provided by direct interaction between the first-party system (e.g., merchant system 106) and the second-party system (e.g., digital asset provider system 104). Further, the embodiment of FIG. 6B can include similar components (e.g., the advertising and reward generation unit 101, which may be independent or included as part of the promotion generation system 108) including the promotion generation system 108 and the verification system 110 of at least one computer circuit.

[0078] As shown in the exemplary system 610 of FIG. 6B, each of a first-party system (e.g., merchant system 106), at least one computer circuit (e.g., advertising and reward generation unit 101), and a second-party system (e.g., a digital asset provider system such as game platform host 104) can include respective input / output ports connected by an interface such as a bus. For example, the first-party system 106 may include an input / output port 187 connected to the input / output port 189 of the second-party system 104 via an interface 197. The interfaces 197 of the first-party system 106 and the second-party system 104 may further communicate with the input / output port 188 of at least one computer circuit 101 via an interface 195. Alternatively, the interfaces 195 and 197 may be combined into a single interface.

[0079] Each of the interfaces 195 and 197 may be an access point interface (API) that communicates with at least one first-party system such as the merchant system 106 and at least one second-party system such as a digital asset provider system such as the game platform host 104. The API may be implemented as a conventional access point interface that functions as an access point to one or more networks operated by a third party separate from the network operated by the merchant and the network operated by the digital asset provider. Although only one merchant system 106 and only one digital asset provider system 104 are explicitly shown in FIG. 6B, any number of merchant systems and digital asset provider systems can be connected to such an API, and each merchant system 106 corresponds to a different merchant, and each digital asset provider system 104 corresponds to a different digital asset provider.

[0080] FIGS. 6C-6D are diagrams of a system 600 according to one embodiment that includes a verification system 110 configured to determine whether a patron transaction meets the criteria of an advertising event 144. The system 600 shown in FIGS. 6C-6D can be implemented using the systems 100 and 400 described in the context of FIGS. 1 and 4, and like reference numerals between FIGS. 1, 4, and 6 refer to similar components that perform the same functions as those described in FIGS. 1 and 4 in FIGS. 6C-6D.

[0081] In system 600, a patron 180 (e.g., an individual) uses their mobile device (smartphone, laptop, etc.) to access the merchant interface module 126 or the app interface module 128. In this way, the patron 180 can view advertising events 144 that are currently being promoted by a merchant or digital asset provider. For example, the advertising event 144 can be displayed as a tab, window, or "pop-up" on a website or app page related to the merchant or digital asset provider. In one embodiment, the advertising event 144 can be viewed by the patron while playing a virtual game, while visiting a virtual game store related to the digital asset provider system 104, while reviewing a merchant loyalty application related to the merchant system 106, and / or in any other suitable way. The advertising event 144 can be unique to each patron 180 according to criteria determined in the promotion module 130. For example, based on the requirements of the promotion module 130, it may be possible to reduce, increase, modify, or completely delete the advertising event 114 for some patrons. For example, the advertising event 144 for an 8-year-old child may be different compared to the advertising event 144 for a 30-year-old adult. The advertising event 144 for an 8-year-old child may relate to a specific children's serial, while the advertising event 144 for a 30-year-old adult may relate to a hair shampoo. Also, the advertising event 144 for an 8-year-old child may differ in terms of the frequency of the advertising event, such that the frequency of the advertising event 144 can be increased or decreased with respect to how frequently the advertising event 144 is advertised to an 8-year-old child. Furthermore, the frequency of the advertising event 144 for a 30-year-old adult may be different from the frequency of the advertising event 144 for an 8-year-old child.

[0082] A merchant or digital asset provider can cause Patron 180 to recognize advertising event 144 by using other sales promotion methods, such as sending an email associated with Patron 180. Even if Patron 180 is not aware of the advertising event, Patron 180 may still be eligible for a reward if Patron 180 completes the conditions of the advertising event (e.g., by completing a transaction that meets the conditions of the advertising event). For example, in a hypothetical scenario where Patron 180 is not aware of the advertising event but is still eligible to receive a reward, it is possible that Patron 180 has not yet installed a related virtual game on their mobile device (smartphone, laptop, etc.) or game console. In such a scenario, the merchant or digital asset provider can notify Patron 180 that they can obtain the unwittingly acquired reward by installing the related virtual game and linking it to a website or app page associated with the merchant or digital asset provider.

[0083] When the patron 180 conducts a transaction, the transaction receipt 171 is sent to the point-of-service (POS) terminal 190 of the merchant system 106. The transaction receipt 171 includes information such as the customer ID 170 associated with the patron 180 and the transaction ID 173 including the characteristics of each asset 172, 174, 176 purchased by the patron 180. Next, the characteristics of the assets 172, 174, 176 are stored in the physical asset database 122, and the customer ID 170 is stored as the user ID 146 in the merchant user database 120 (which may be the same database as the physical asset database 122 or a different database). Then, the information of the customer ID 170 and the transaction ID 173 can be embedded in a message sent from the merchant system 106 to the API 102. The message includes the user ID 146 associated with the customer ID 170 and the transaction data 148 extracted from the transaction ID 173. The API 102 provides the customer information having the consumer ID 150 corresponding to the customer ID 170 and the transaction information including the assets 152, 154, 158 purchased by the customer to the verification system 110.

[0084] The verification system 110 is configured to determine whether a transaction completed by a patron 180 satisfies the conditions of any advertising event 144 that is currently pending and generated for the merchant system 106. For example, the verification system 110 receives information regarding assets 152, 154, 158 purchased by the patron 180, determines whether one or more of the assets 152, 154, 158 correspond to a matched asset pairing with one or more digital assets, and includes a redemption engine 156 configured to determine whether the patron meets user criteria based on their metadata, history, or status. Further, the redemption engine 156 determines, as some examples, whether the transaction meets other required parameters, such as whether the transaction was completed within a time frame (e.g., verifying that the transaction occurred after 5:00 PM for a promotion that was valid from 4:00 PM to 11:59 PM), or whether the patron 180 spent a sufficient amount of money, or whether the patron 180 purchased a sufficient number of target assets. The redemption engine 156 can evaluate the user's promotion engagement information or similar historical metadata received from the API 102. For example, part of a promotion can include a bonus reward after redeeming five promotion rewards within a week. Another example can be that the patron, or someone associated with the patron (e.g., a parent), visits a store and purchases a physical asset, or receives a valuable promotion offer each day that the conditions of the pending advertising event 144 are met. Also, part of a promotion can include receiving a larger promotion offer for logging into a mobile game and playing daily. Further, the promotion can include a guarantee of a minimum reward for repeated participation and engagement in the promotion generated by the promotion generation system 108.

[0085] In the case where there is no asset pairing that matches the digital assets for the assets purchased by Patron 180, or for assets that have a matching asset pairing but do not meet all of the parameters of advertising event 144, the exchange engine 156 discards those assets and lists only the assets that meet all of the parameters of advertising event 144 and are thus eligible for digital asset rewards.

[0086] Once one or more assets that meet all of the parameters of advertising event 144 are determined, the exchange engine 156 correlates the assets to at least one digital asset reward. For example, for each eligible asset 152, the exchange engine 156 searches for the matching digital asset corresponding to each asset 152 and generates an exchange receipt 163 that lists the digital assets 162, 164, 166 acquired by Patron 180. Further, the exchange receipt 163 includes the user ID 160 corresponding to Patron 180 so that the digital asset provider can determine that the digital assets should be issued to the user profile of the virtual game corresponding to Patron 180.

[0087] Also, it is possible that the person associated with the patron 180 and the user ID 160 is not the same person, and a many-to-one relationship (N:1 relationship) may exist, and system limitations can impose a limit on the maximum number of relationships. In other words, multiple users within the merchant database 120 can be associated with a single user within the app user database 116. Consider an example within a family where a child may play a popular mobile game but never goes shopping at a grocery store and does not have a grocery store rewards account. Due to the N:1 relationship between the consumer ID 150 (the family that shops) and the user ID 160 (the child who plays the game), the system can link the consumer ID 150 to the child's user ID 160 for a particular game account, enabling rewards to be given to the child's game account for purchases made by parents, grandparents, siblings, etc. In some embodiments, only one user (game account) ID can be the recipient of a single transaction. In other embodiments, multiple user (game account) IDs 160 may be linked to the consumer ID 150, in which case multiple user (game account) IDs 160 can be the recipient of a single transaction. For example, in a family that includes a father of four children, a many-to-one relationship (N:1 relationship) can exist between the user IDs 160 (game accounts) of those four children and the consumer ID 150 of the father (the family that shops) associated with them. In such an example, the father may be a loyalty rewards member of a particular grocery store, and as a result, when the father makes a purchase at the grocery store, the system can reward one or more of the four children's user IDs 160 (game accounts) for the purchase made with the father's consumer ID 150.

[0088] The verification system 110 generates a reward message 168 that is sent to the digital asset provider system 104, such as the app interface module 128, and instructs the digital asset provider to issue a digital asset (e.g., a reward) to the patron 180. In some embodiments, the reward message 168 is also sent to the merchant system 106, such as the merchant interface module 126, such that the merchant also knows that the patron 180 has successfully completed the advertising event 144 or otherwise complied with the advertising event 144. The patron 180 then claims the digital asset by accessing the virtual game via the app interface module 128 and obtains the digital asset provided by the digital asset provider as a reward in response to the completion of the advertising event 144. In some embodiments, the patron 180 is notified by the digital asset provider that it has successfully completed the advertising event 144 and has obtained the listed assets determined by the redemption engine 156. Additionally, the digital asset provider or the merchant can send feedback to the patron 180 or request a review of the product, service, or other advertising event 144, and in exchange, can offer additional asset rewards for such actions.

[0089] In some embodiments, the verification system 110 and the promotion generation system 108 exchange data. In such embodiments, the verification system 110 and the promotion generation system 108 can collaboratively include an advertisement and reward generation unit 101. When generating an advertising event, the promotion generation system 108 can collect information regarding which physical or digital assets have been recently or frequently issued as rewards as a factor in determining which physical or digital assets can be promoted in subsequent advertising events. Conversely, the verification system 110 can review the parameters of valid advertising events stored in a database within the promotion generation system 108 when determining whether a given transaction receipt 171 meets the parameters of a valid advertising event.

[0090] In some embodiments, a provider of physical goods or services within the merchant system 106 may be connected or associated with a game application within the digital asset provider system 104 via each code issued by the game application. For example, when a grocery shopper purchases a physical asset at a grocery store, the shopper can provide or enter a code at the grocery store to associate an account within the merchant system 106 with a related account within the digital asset provider system 104. Entering the code at the grocery store can associate a user ID (within the merchant system 106) with a game ID (within the digital asset provider system 104). In one embodiment, the number of game IDs that can be associated with a user ID (and the number of user IDs that can be associated with a game ID) may be restricted for the purpose of issuing rewards based on participation in promotions.

[0091] Furthermore, system 600 can include a blockchain ledger 112 or other type of record-keeping or database system that may be connected to API 102 to provide an additional database to backend storage 109. Previously generated advertising events 144, user transactions, and reward information can be stored in the blockchain ledger 112 or an additional database having the backend storage 109 and updated when new advertising events 144, transactions, and rewards are generated. For example, when the promotion generation system 108 generates a new advertising event 144 or modifies an existing advertising event, information on the advertising event 144, including the parameters of the advertising event, is sent to API 102 and recorded in the blockchain ledger 112. Further, when a patron 180 completes a transaction or an asset reward is issued, the verification system 110 can send to API 102 for recording in the blockchain ledger 112 that can record the reward information for the acquisition and / or billing of the reward by the patron 180. As an example, the blockchain ledger 112 can record any of the following parameters, namely merchant ID, digital asset provider ID, user ID and metadata, transaction ID and metadata, physical asset ID and metadata, digital asset ID and metadata.

[0092] System 600 is described in the context of exchanging digital assets for physical assets purchased by a patron 180 (or someone associated with the patron). However, in some embodiments (such as the embodiments of FIGS. 8A - 8B), system 800 is configured to issue physical assets to patron 180 based on the purchase or other acquisition of digital assets. In this embodiment, promotion generation system 108 is configured to generate an advertising event 144 that is displayed on application interface module 128 of digital asset provider system 104. Next, patron 180 performs an action such as achieving an outcome in a virtual game or purchasing a particular type of asset, and a record of the action is sent to verification system 110. When it is determined that the action meets the parameters of advertising event 144, verification system 110 determines one or more physical assets that match the action within the virtual game that patron 180 (or someone corresponding to the patron) can claim as described above.

[0093] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram 700 of an exemplary method for determining a reward for a patron (or someone corresponding to the patron, such as a parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt / uncle, and / or friend of the patron) who has transacted with either a merchant or a digital asset provider. Method 700 may be implemented based on, for example, the functions described in relation to verification system 110, as described in the context of system 600.

[0094] Method 700 includes, at step 702, the system 600 receiving transaction data from a merchant or a digital asset provider. For example, when a patron (or someone corresponding to the patron) purchases a physical asset, merchant system 106 provides data regarding the user ID corresponding to the patron, as well as data regarding the physical asset or service purchased by the patron. Alternatively, digital asset provider system 104 provides data regarding the user ID and the digital assets acquired or purchased by the patron in relation to a virtual game managed by the digital asset provider.

[0095] In step 704, system 600 matches the received transaction data with a registered user based on the stored user ID information. The transaction data may be received in the form of a transaction receipt 171 correlated with a specific customer ID. The system 600 then matches the transaction data with a specific patron by comparing the customer ID with the user ID stored in the database or blockchain ledger 112, or can identify the user based only on the transaction receipt 171.

[0096] The system 600 proceeds to step 706 and determines the matched assets correlated with the assets within the transaction data. In one embodiment, the system 600 identifies each physical or digital asset acquired by the patron from the transaction and determines which assets are matched to the assets described in the transaction data by, for example, searching a database managed by the promotion generation system 108. As an example, if a patron purchases bagged chips and the bagged chips are matched to a set of currency in a virtual game, the system 600 identifies the bagged chips from the transaction data and examines the database to determine the matched set of currency.

[0097] From step 706, system 600 proceeds to step 708 and sends a message indicating the reward to be issued to the patron to the digital asset provider and / or merchant. In some embodiments, when a digital asset is acquired, system 600 sends a reward indicator to both the digital asset provider and the merchant, instructing the digital asset provider to issue the acquired digital asset to the patron, and notifying the merchant that the customer has completed the promotion with a physical asset. The patron can then claim their digital asset reward by interacting with the digital asset provider, for example, by accessing a virtual game on their mobile device. If the reward is a physical asset, system 600 sends a reward indicator to the merchant to notify the merchant that the patron has the right to receive the reward, and to the digital asset provider to notify the digital asset provider that the patron has completed the promotion related to the merchant and acquired a digital asset as a reward.

[0098] System 60 then proceeds from step 708 to step 710 and updates ledger 112 with the transaction data and reward indicator sent to the digital asset provider and / or merchant.

[0099] System 600 is described in the context of exchanging digital assets for the purchase of physical assets by a patron 180 (or someone related to or corresponding to the patron in some other manner). However, in some embodiments, such as the embodiment corresponding to system 800 shown in FIGS. 8A-8B, system 800 is further configured to issue physical assets to patron 180 in exchange for the purchase of digital assets, digital achievements, or other video game-related items in a video game by a patron (or someone related to or corresponding to the patron in some other manner). In the embodiment of FIGS. 8A-8B, the promotion generation system 108 is configured to generate an advertising event 144 that is displayed on the app interface module 128 of the digital asset provider system 104 (e.g., in a virtual game). Next, patron 180 performs an action such as achieving an in-game achievement or purchasing a particular type of digital asset within the game, and a record of the digital action is sent to the verification system 110. When it is determined that the digital action meets the parameters of the advertising event 144, the verification system 110 determines one or more physical assets that match the digital action within the virtual game that patron 180 can claim as described above.

[0100] Figures 8A - 8B are diagrams of a system 800 that includes a verification system 110 configured to determine whether a patron's digital transaction or digital achievement meets the criteria of an advertising event 144. The system 800 shown in Figures 8A - 8B can be implemented using the systems 100, 400 described in the context of Figures 1 and 4, and the same reference numbers between Figures 1, 4, and 6 refer to similar components that perform the same functions as those described in Figures 1 and 4 in Figures 8A - 8B. Similar to the system 600 of Figures 6C - 6D, the system 800 of Figures 8A - 8B can include at least one first - party system, which may be a computer system such as a merchant system 106, and at least one second - party system, which may be a computer system such as a digital asset provider system like a game platform host 104.

[0101] As shown in Figures 8A - 8B in the promotion generation system 108, the evaluation engine 132 generates an output indicating at least one physical asset 135 and at least one paired digital asset 133. In some embodiments, the digital asset 137 is paired with a plurality of physical assets 141 and 143. Each digital asset 133 and physical asset 135 includes one or more characteristics such as a digital / physical asset identifier and the type of the asset. For example, a physical asset of a grocery store can include an identifier used by the store to classify inventory, while the digital asset identifier can correspond to a code segment or display item used in a virtual game.

[0102] In system 800, patron 180 uses their mobile device (smartphone, laptop, etc.) to access merchant interface module 126 or app interface module 128. In this way, patron 180 can view advertising event 144 that is currently being promoted by a merchant or digital asset provider. For example, advertising event 144 can be displayed as a tab, window, or "pop-up" on a website or app page related to the merchant or digital asset provider. Advertising event 144 may be unique to each patron 180 according to criteria determined in promotion module 130. For example, based on requirements set by promotion module 130, it may be possible to reduce, increase, or modify the frequency of advertising events, or completely remove advertising event 144, for some patrons. For example, advertising event 144 for an 8-year-old child may differ from advertising event 144 for a 30-year-old adult. Advertising event 144 for an 8-year-old child may relate to a specific children's serial, while advertising event 144 for a 30-year-old adult may relate to a hair shampoo. Also, advertising event 144 for an 8-year-old child may differ in the frequency of advertising event 144 such that the frequency of how often advertising event 144 is advertised to an 8-year-old child can be increased or decreased. Further, the frequency of advertising event 144 for a 30-year-old adult may differ from the frequency of advertising event 144 for an 8-year-old child.

[0103] A merchant or digital asset provider can cause Patron 180 to recognize Advertising Event 144 by using other sales promotion methods, such as sending an email associated with Patron 180. Even if Patron 180 is unaware of the advertising event, Patron 180 may still be eligible for the reward if Patron 180 completes the conditions of the advertising event (e.g., by completing a digital transaction or digital achievement that meets the specified conditions of the advertising event). For example, in a virtual scenario where Patron 180 (or another person related to or corresponding with the patron in some other manner) is unaware of the advertising event but is still eligible to receive the reward, it is possible that Patron 180 has not yet installed the associated virtual game on their mobile device (smartphone, laptop, etc.) or game console. In such a scenario, the merchant or digital asset provider can notify Patron 180 that by installing the associated virtual game and linking it to a website or app page related to the merchant or digital asset provider, Patron 180 can obtain the reward that was acquired without their knowledge.

[0104] When the patron 180 conducts a digital transaction or achieves some form of digital achievement in a video game or other virtual game, the transaction receipt 191 is sent to the application interface module 128 of the digital asset provider system 104. The transaction receipt 191 includes information such as the customer or user ID 192 associated with the patron 180, and the transaction ID 193 including the characteristics of each digital asset (or digital achievement) 194, 196, 198 purchased or achieved by the patron 180. Next, the characteristics of the assets 194, 196, 198 are stored in the digital asset database 114, and the user ID 192 is stored in the user database 116 (which may be the same database as the digital asset database 114) as the user ID 117A. Then, the information of the user ID 192 and the transaction ID 193 can be embedded in a message sent from the digital asset provider system 104 to the API 102. The message includes the user ID 117A associated with the user ID 192 and the asset characteristics 117B extracted from the transaction ID 193. The API 102 provides the verification system 110 with customer information having the user ID 111 corresponding to the user ID 192 and transaction information including the digital assets 153, 155, 157 purchased (or achieved) by the customer.

[0105] The verification system 110 is configured to determine whether a transaction completed by a patron 180 meets the conditions of any advertising event 144 that is currently pending and generated for the digital asset provider system 104. The verification system 110 receives information regarding digital assets 153, 155, 157 purchased or achieved by a patron 180 (or the corresponding person), determines whether one or more of the digital assets 153, 155, 157 correspond to a matched asset pairing with one or more physical assets, and includes a redemption engine 156 configured to determine whether the patron meets user criteria based on the patron's metadata, history, or status. Further, the redemption engine 156 determines whether the transaction meets other required parameters, such as, by way of example, whether the transaction was completed within a time frame (e.g., verifying that a transaction was made after 5:00 PM for a promotion that was valid from 4:00 PM to 11:59 PM), or whether the patron 180 spent a sufficient amount of money, or whether the patron 180 purchased a sufficient number of target digital assets, or whether a particular level or status was achieved in a video game. The redemption engine 156 can evaluate user promotion engagement information or similar historical metadata received from the API 102. For example, part of a promotion can include a bonus reward after redeeming five promotion rewards within a week. Another example can be that the patron 180 (or another person corresponding to the patron) visits a store to purchase digital assets or receives a valuable promotion offer each day that the conditions of a pending advertising event 144 are met. Also, part of a promotion can include receiving a larger promotion offer for logging into a mobile game and playing daily. Further, the promotion can include a guarantee of a minimum reward for repeated participation and engagement in promotions generated by the promotion generation system 108.

[0106] For digital assets purchased or acquired by Patron 180 for which there is no matched asset pairing with a physical asset, or for digital assets that have a matched asset pairing but do not meet all of the parameters of advertising event 144, the exchange engine 156 discards those digital assets and lists only the digital assets that meet all of the parameters of advertising event 144 and are thus eligible with respect to physical asset rewards.

[0107] Once the digital assets that meet all of the parameters of advertising event 144 are determined, the exchange engine 156 correlates the digital assets to at least one physical asset reward. For example, for each eligible digital asset 153, the exchange engine 156 searches for the matched physical asset corresponding to each digital asset 153 and generates an exchange receipt 165 that lists the physical assets 161, 167, 169 acquired by Patron 180. Further, the exchange receipt 165 also includes the customer ID 113 corresponding to Patron 180 so that it can be determined that the physical asset provider should issue the physical asset to the user profile corresponding to Patron 180 within the merchant system 106 (e.g., the user profile of the person corresponding to Patron or the user profile of a person such as a parent or spouse corresponding to Patron).

[0108] Also, it is possible that the patron 180 and the customer ID 113 are not the same person, and a many-to-one relationship (N:1 relationship) may exist, and system limitations can impose a limit on the maximum number of relationships. In other words, multiple users within the merchant database 120 can be associated with a single user within the user database 116 of the digital asset provider system 104. Consider a family where a gamer in the family may be playing a popular mobile game but never goes shopping at the grocery store and does not have a grocery store rewards account. Due to the 1:N relationship between user ID 111 (the gamer) and customer ID 113 (the shopping family: parents, grandparents, siblings, etc.), the system can link the gamer's user ID 111 to the accounts of the customer ID 113 of the parents, grandparents, and / or siblings, and thus provide rewards to the accounts of the shopping family (parents, grandparents, siblings, etc.) in the family for the digital asset events of the gamer in the family. In some embodiments, only the account of a single shopping family member can be the recipient of a single digital transaction by the gamer. In other embodiments, two or more customer IDs 113 of the shopping family can be associated with the gamer's user ID 111, and as a result, two or more customer IDs 113 of the shopping family can be the recipients of rewards for a single digital transaction. For example, in a family that includes four grandparents and one grandchild, a many-to-one relationship (N:1 relationship) can exist between the customer ID 113 of the four grandparents (the shopping family) and the grandchild's user ID 160 (the game account) associated with them. In such an example, when the grandchild's user ID 111 (the game account) participates in a digital asset event, the system provides rewards to the customer ID 113 of the four grandparents (the shopping family) regarding the digital asset event of the grandchild's user ID 111 (the game account).

[0109] The verification system 110 generates a reward message 168 that is sent to the merchant system 106, such as the merchant interface module 126, and instructs the merchant system 106 to issue one or more physical assets to the patron 180 (or other corresponding party). In some embodiments, the reward message 168 is also sent to the digital asset provider system 104, such as the app interface module 128, such that the digital asset provider system 104 also learns of the advertising event 144 successfully completed by the patron 180. The patron 180 can then claim the physical asset by accessing the merchant interface module 126 and obtaining (e.g., by visiting the merchant's physical place of business or by delivery) the physical asset provided by the merchant system 106 in response to the completion of the advertising event 144. In some embodiments, the patron 180 is notified by the merchant system 106 that it has successfully completed the advertising event 144 and has obtained one or more of the listed assets determined by the exchange engine 156. Additionally, the digital asset provider or merchant can send feedback to the patron 180 or request a review of the product, service, and / or other advertising event 144, and in exchange, can offer additional asset rewards for such actions.

[0110] In some embodiments, the verification system 110 and the promotion generation system 108 exchange data. In such embodiments, the verification system 110 and the promotion generation system 108 can collaboratively include an advertisement and reward generation unit 101. When generating an advertising event, the promotion generation system 108 can collect information regarding which physical or digital assets have been recently or frequently issued as rewards as a factor in determining which physical or digital assets can be promoted in subsequent advertising events. Conversely, the verification system 110 can review the parameters of valid advertising events stored in a database within the promotion generation system 108 when determining whether a given transaction receipt 191 meets the parameters of a valid advertising event.

[0111] Furthermore, system 800 can include a blockchain ledger 112 or other type of record-keeping or database system that may be connected to API 102 to provide an additional database to backend storage 109. Previously generated advertisement events 144, user transactions, and reward information can be stored in the blockchain ledger 112 or an additional database having backend storage 109 and updated when new advertisement events 144, transactions, and / or rewards are generated. For example, when promotion generation system 108 generates a new advertisement event 144 or modifies an existing event, information for advertisement event 144, including the parameters of the advertisement event, is sent to API 102 and recorded in blockchain ledger 112. Further, when a patron 180 completes a transaction or an asset reward is issued, verification system 110 can send to API 102 for recording in a blockchain ledger 112 that can record reward information for claims of rewards by patron 180. As an example, blockchain ledger 112 can record any of the following parameters, namely merchant ID, digital asset provider ID, user ID and metadata, transaction ID and metadata, physical asset ID and metadata, and / or digital asset ID and metadata.

[0112] Figure 9 is a flow diagram 900 of an exemplary method for determining a reward for a patron who has transacted with either a merchant or a digital asset provider. Method 900 can be implemented as described by system 600 and / or system 800, or can be implemented as described in the context of system 600 and / or system 800 in other manners, for example, can be implemented based on the functions described in relation to verification system 110, and more generally, can be implemented in the context of the functions described in relation to advertising and reward generation unit 101 that includes both verification system 110 and promotion generation system 108. For clarity, method 900 is described as being executed by system 600, but it is understood that this method may be executed by system 800 or any of the other suitable subsystems and components described herein.

[0113] In step 902, system 600 receives transaction data from a merchant. For example, when a patron purchases a physical asset, merchant system 106 provides system 600 with data regarding the user ID corresponding to the patron, as well as data regarding the physical asset and / or service purchased by the patron.

[0114] In step 904, system 600 matches the received transaction data with a registered user based on the stored user ID information. System 600 can receive transaction data in the form of a transaction receipt 171 correlated with a specific customer ID. System 600 then matches the transaction data with a specific patron by comparing the customer ID with the user IDs stored in a database (e.g., databases 114, 120, and / or 122) or blockchain ledger 112 or other database / backend storage 109 connected to API 102, or can identify the user based on transaction receipt 171 alone.

[0115] System 600 proceeds to step 906 to determine the matched digital assets correlated with the physical assets in the transaction data. In one embodiment, System 600 identifies each physical asset acquired by the patron from the transaction and determines which digital assets are matched to the physical assets described in the transaction data by, for example, searching a database managed by the promotion generation system 108. As an example, if a patron purchases bagged chips and the bagged chips are matched to a set of currency in a virtual game, System 600 identifies the bagged chips from the transaction data and examines the database to determine that the set of currency is matched to the bagged chips.

[0116] Regarding the determination of the matched digital assets correlated with the physical assets in the transaction data in step 906, the verification system 110 and the promotion generation system 108 of System 600 can exchange data to identify the matched digital assets. As described above, the advertisement and reward generation unit 101 can include both the verification system 110 and the promotion generation system 108. Therefore, the matched digital assets can be determined based on the information exchanged within the advertisement and reward generation unit 101. For example, in the context of System 600 shown in FIGS. 6C - 6D and the flowchart 900 of FIG. 9, when generating an advertisement event, the promotion generation system 108 can collect information regarding which digital assets have been issued as rewards in response to recent or frequent purchases of physical assets as a factor in determining which physical assets can be promoted in subsequent advertisement events. Conversely, the verification system 110 can review the parameters of valid advertisement events stored in the database within the promotion generation system 108 when determining whether a given transaction receipt 171 meets the parameters of a valid advertisement event.

[0117] From step 906, system 600 proceeds to step 908 and sends a message indicating the digital reward to be issued to the patron to the digital asset provider and / or merchant. In some embodiments, when a digital asset is acquired, system 600 sends a reward indicator to both the digital asset provider and the merchant, instructs the digital asset provider to issue the acquired digital asset to the patron, and notifies the merchant that the patron has completed a promotion related to a physical asset. The patron can then claim their digital assets by interacting with the digital asset provider, such as accessing a virtual game on their mobile device.

[0118] System 600 can proceed from step 908 to step 910 and update ledger 112 or other database / backend storage 109 connected to API 102 with the transaction data and the reward indicator sent to the digital asset provider and / or merchant.

[0119] FIG. 10 is a flowchart 1000 of an exemplary method for determining a reward for a patron who has transacted with a digital asset provider. Method 1000 can be implemented as described in the context of system 800, for example, based on the functions described in relation to verification system 110, and more generally, in the context of the functions described in relation to advertising and reward generation unit 101, which includes both verification system 110 and promotion generation system 108. For clarity, method 1000 is described as being executed by system 800, but it is understood that the method may be executed by system 600 or any of the other suitable subsystems and components described herein.

[0120] In step 1002, system 800 receives transaction data from a digital asset provider. For example, when a patron purchases or acquires a digital asset within a virtual game, the digital asset provider system 104 provides data regarding the user ID corresponding to the patron, as well as data regarding the digital asset purchased or acquired by the patron.

[0121] In step 1004, system 800 matches the received transaction data with registered users based on the stored user ID information. System 800 can receive transaction data in the form of a transaction receipt 191 correlated with a specific customer ID. Then, system 800 matches the transaction data with a specific patron by comparing the customer ID with the user IDs stored in a database (e.g., databases 114, 120, and / or 122) or the blockchain ledger 112 or other database / backend storage 109 connected to API 102, or system 800 can identify the user based only on the transaction receipt 191.

[0122] System 800 proceeds to step 1006 to determine the matching physical assets correlated with the digital assets in the transaction data. In one embodiment, system 800 identifies each digital asset acquired or achieved by the patron from the transaction and determines, for example, by searching a database managed by the promotion generation system 108, which physical assets are matched to the digital assets described in the transaction data. As an example, if a patron achieves a specific level in a virtual game and that digital achievement is matched to bagged chips sold by a merchant, system 800 identifies that digital achievement from the transaction data, examines the database, and determines that the digital achievement is matched to the bagged chips sold by the merchant.

[0123] Regarding the determination of the matched physical assets correlated with the digital assets within the transaction data in step 1006, the verification system 110 and the promotion generation system 108 can exchange data to identify the matched physical assets. As described above, the advertisement and reward generation unit 101 can include both the verification system 110 and the promotion generation system 108. Thus, the system 800 can determine and / or identify the matched physical assets within the information exchanged within the advertisement and reward generation unit 101 based thereon. For example, in the context of the systems shown in FIGS. 8A - 8B and the flowchart of FIG. 10, when generating an advertisement event, the promotion generation system 108 can collect information regarding which physical assets have been recently or frequently issued as rewards in response to the purchase or achievement of digital assets as a factor in determining which digital assets can be promoted in subsequent advertisement events. Conversely, the verification system 110 can review the parameters of valid advertisement events stored in the database within the promotion generation system 108 when determining whether a given transaction receipt 191 meets the parameters of a valid advertisement event.

[0124] From step 1006, the system 800 proceeds to step 1008 and transmits a message indicating the physical reward issued to the patron to the merchant and / or the digital asset provider. In some embodiments, when the physical asset is provided based on a digital purchase or digital achievement, the system 800 transmits a reward indicator to both the physical asset provider and the digital asset provider, instructs the physical asset provider to issue the acquired physical asset to the patron, and notifies the digital asset provider that the patron has completed a promotion regarding the digital asset. The patron can then interact with the merchant to claim their physical asset, for example, by accessing the merchant system, visiting the merchant's physical location, or claiming the physical asset via mail or other delivery methods.

[0125] System 800 proceeds from step 1008 to step 1010 and can update ledger 112 or other database / backend storage 109 connected to API 102 with transaction data and reward indicators sent to merchants and / or digital asset providers.

[0126] Referring to FIGS. 1-10, it is contemplated that any of the functions, operations, or tasks described herein can be performed in software, firmware, and / or hardware (e.g., hardwired circuitry, field programmable gate array (FPGA)), and / or any combination or partial combination thereof.

[0127] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a hardware system 1160 that can instantiate or otherwise implement one or more of the systems (e.g., system 108, system 110, system 600, system 800), subsystems, and components described herein, and circuits and electronic devices and other electronic apparatuses that can execute or otherwise implement program instructions, firmware, and configuration data streams (e.g., for configuring an FPGA). For example, the hardware system 1160 can include, or alternatively be, one or more smartphones, laptop computers, tablet computers, desktop computers, and / or other computing devices. The hardware system 1160 includes a computing circuit configured to execute one or more software applications (apps), one or more display devices configured to display pages and other information generated by one or more apps or other display generators, one or more memory circuits or devices configured to store program instructions such as program code that configures one or more apps, and a communication circuit configured to enable communication between components of the hardware system either directly or via one or more communication networks (e.g., the cloud) or one or more databases. Examples of suitable communication networks include cellular networks, wireless local area networks (LANs), and the Internet. Also, examples of suitable databases include merchant databases, game platform databases, and any other suitable databases. Alternatively, some or all of the devices and other circuits of the hardware system 1160 can be configured to communicate directly with each other via one or more wireless connections such as, for example, a WiFi® or a Bluetooth® wireless connection. For security purposes, communication between a patron and either a merchant and / or a digital asset provider can be encrypted in one or both directions. Further, data stored in any of the devices or databases can be encrypted for an additional level of security.

[0128] Referring further to FIG. 11, according to one embodiment, the hardware system 1160 can be configured to implement the hardware systems, subsystems, and components described herein, and to download, store, install, and execute embodiments of the software applications described above that are accessible to merchants and / or patrons of digital asset providers. Examples of the hardware system 1160 include, but are not limited to, smartphones, tablet computers, laptop computers, personal computers, local server computers, and cloud server computers.

[0129] The hardware system 1160 includes a computing circuit 1162 that includes a processor 1164, and the hardware system further includes at least one input device 1166, at least one output device 1168, at least one data storage device 1170, at least one transceiver circuit 1174 that includes at least one antenna, and a network circuit 1176.

[0130] The at least one output device 1168 includes a display 1172 and a power source 1110 that supplies power to the display. For example, the display 1172 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) for a smartphone. Although not shown in FIG. 11, the device 1160 can include one or more additional power sources for supplying power to components and circuits of the device other than the display 1172, or the power source 1110 may be configured to supply power to other components and circuits in addition to the display.

[0131] Processor 1164 may be, for example, a microprocessor or a microcontroller, and is configured to form, or be part of, a software application (also referred to herein as an "app") that is accessible to patrons of merchants and / or digital asset providers, and to execute program instructions thereof. For example, when executing the program instructions of the app, in response to the program instructions of the app, processor 1164 is configured to, and executes, alone or in cooperation with other circuits and components of hardware system 1160, some or all of the functions and operations described above that are attributable to the software application.

[0132] An input device (e.g., a keypad or keyboard by display, or a physical keypad or keyboard, a voice command component, a mouse) 1166 enables the provision of data, programming, and commands to computing circuit 1162.

[0133] Display 1172 (and any other included output device 1168) enables computing circuit 1162 to provide data in a perceptible form (e.g., a still image, a video, a menu, a web, or other page such as a data input or data display page) to human operators such as merchants and / or patrons of digital asset providers, including merchants, digital asset providers, gamers, and customers, as well as family members and other associates of the patrons. In one embodiment, display 1172 is a touch screen configured to enable a user to select an icon or other item displayed on the screen by touching a portion of the screen that overlays the displayed icon or other item.

[0134] A data storage device (e.g., a hard disk drive, an optical drive, and solid state memories such as flash drives, RAM, EPROM, and EEPROM) 1170 enables the storage of programs and data, such as embodiments of the software applications described above, accessible to, for example, patrons of merchants and / or digital asset providers, and data obtained or generated by, or related to, the software applications.

[0135] The transmit and receive circuitry 1174 (also referred to as a transceiver) includes one or more antennas and is configured to transmit data from the hardware system 1160 to one or more remote devices or components of the hardware system 1160 that are far from each other (e.g., a merchant or digital asset provider server that stores information about a gamer associated with a merchant's customer or digital asset provider, where the merchant or digital asset provider servers are located far from each other or from other components of the hardware system) or to other remote destinations, and to receive data from one or more remote devices (e.g., the merchant or digital asset provider servers described above) or other remote sources. The transmit and receive circuitry 1174 is configured to communicate with one or more such remote devices using one or more appropriate protocols such as cellular network protocols (e.g., 4G, 5G), Bluetooth®, and WiFi®, and can include respective antennas for each protocol by which the device 1160 is configured. For example, in one embodiment, the device 1160 is configured to download a software application accessible to patrons of merchants and / or digital asset providers and to transmit and receive data related to the software application via the transmit and receive circuitry 1174.

[0136] In addition, network circuit 1176 is configured to enable hardware system 1160 to communicate with remote devices or enable components of the hardware system that are far apart from each other to communicate via one or more networks such as a cellular network and a local area network (LAN). For example, in one embodiment, network circuit 1176 includes an input port (e.g., a USB port) configured to enable computing circuit 1162 and other components of device 1160 to communicate with another device via a conductive cable such as an Ethernet cable. Alternatively, network circuit 1176 can cooperate with transmission and reception circuits 1174 to enable computing circuit 1162 and other components of device 1160 to communicate with one or more other devices via a wireless channel. For example, in one embodiment, device 1160 is configured to download a software application accessible to patrons of merchants and / or digital asset providers and transmit and receive data related to the software application via network circuit 1176 and transmission and reception circuits 1174.

[0137] As described throughout this disclosure, physical assets need not have any thematic relationship with digital assets to generate advertising events. Physical assets (including services) may be completely different from digital assets, and vice versa. For example, a soda purchase can be matched to the receipt of a riding horse in a role-playing game even if the soda has little or no physical or thematic correlation with the horse. Thus, physical assets can be matched to substantially any type of digital asset (and vice versa), enabling economic parity between merchants and digital asset providers who are typically thought not to cooperate with each other with respect to asset promotion. Further, the matching of physical assets and digital assets can be performed with a dynamic and fair assessment so that one asset is not significantly overvalued or undervalued relative to the paired asset.

[0138] The methods and techniques described in this specification can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in firmware, software, or in various combinations thereof, of a programmable processor, e.g., a special purpose processor, or a general purpose processor such as a computer. Apparatus embodying these techniques can include appropriate input and output devices, a programmable processor, and a storage medium tangibly embodying program instructions for execution by the programmable processor. The process embodying these techniques may be performed by a programmable processor executing a program of instructions to perform the desired functions by operating on input data to produce appropriate output. The technology may advantageously be implemented in one or more programs executable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. Generally, a processor receives instructions and data from a read only memory and / or a random access memory. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include, by way of example, semiconductor memory devices, such as erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and optical disks such as digital video disks (DVD). Any of the foregoing may be supplemented by, or incorporated in, specially designed application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).

[0139] The terms "about" or "substantially" mean that some variation in the specified value or parameter is possible, provided that such variation does not render the process or structure inoperable from the perspective of one of ordinary skill in the art with respect to the exemplified embodiments. For example, unless otherwise specified, a numerical value modified by the term "substantially" can vary within ±20% of the specified value. Finally, the term "exemplary" indicates that the accompanying description is used only as an example and does not imply an ideal, essential, or preferred feature of the invention.

[0140] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that any configuration calculated to achieve the same purpose can be used in place of the specific illustrated embodiments. Thus, it is clearly intended that the invention be limited only by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method performed by an intermediary computer circuit, The steps include receiving identification information of a second party and identification information of an action performed by the second party from a first party computer circuit separate from the aforementioned intermediary computer circuit, A step of identifying a third party related to the aforementioned second party, The steps include determining, based on the fact that the second party has performed the aforementioned action, that the third party is entitled to receive compensation from the fourth party, A step of notifying the fourth party's computer circuit, which is separate from the aforementioned intermediary computer circuit, that the third party is qualified to receive the aforementioned remuneration. Methods that include...

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of recording the actions performed by the second party in a database independent of both the first party and the fourth party.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein performing the aforementioned action includes purchasing a physical or digital asset.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein performing the aforementioned action includes performing the aforementioned action with respect to a physical asset or a digital asset.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of associating a physical or digital asset with the action as the reward.

6. The steps include receiving identification information of the action from the aforementioned fourth party, The steps include receiving the identification information of the reward from the aforementioned first party and The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

7. The steps include generating an advertisement indicating that the reward can be obtained by the second party performing the action, The steps include providing the advertisement to the fourth party for presentation to the third party, and The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of providing the advertisement includes providing the fourth party with a digitally encoded advertisement message having an identification code relating the second party to the third party.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of associating the reward with the performance of the action in response to the promotion by the first or fourth party.

10. A tangible, non-temporary, computer-readable medium storing instructions, wherein, when the instructions are executed by an intermediary computer circuit, the intermediary computer circuit... The system receives identification information of the second party and identification information of actions performed by the second party from a computer circuit of a first party, separate from the aforementioned intermediary computer circuit. Identifying a third party related to the aforementioned second party, Based on the actions performed by the aforementioned second party, it is determined that the aforementioned third party is entitled to receive compensation from the fourth party, To notify the aforementioned fourth party's computer circuit, which is separate from the aforementioned intermediary computer circuit, that the aforementioned third party is qualified to receive the aforementioned remuneration. A computer-readable medium that enables execution.

11. The computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the instruction, when executed by the intermediary computer circuit, further causes the intermediary computer circuit to advertise the association between the reward and the action to the second or third party.

12. The computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the instruction, when executed by the intermediary computer circuit, causes the intermediary computer circuit to further perform the task of tracking the reward for the third party.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the aforementioned first or fourth party includes a merchant.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first or fourth party includes a host for a game platform.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the aforementioned second party includes a consumer.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the aforementioned third party includes a gamer.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compensation includes physical assets or digital assets.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the aforementioned second person and the aforementioned third party may be the same person.

19. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of tracking eligibility to receive compensation across multiple parties.

20. A step of receiving first information relating to at least one physical asset or at least one digital asset, including the inventory level of the physical asset, the scarcity of the digital asset, the price of the physical asset, the price of the digital asset, the purchase history of the physical asset, or the purchase history of the digital asset. The steps include receiving second information relating to the actions of the second party to the first party or the fourth party, the actions of the third party to the first party or the fourth party, the involvement of the second party to the first party or the fourth party, or the involvement of the third party to the first party or the fourth party, A step of calculating a score for each of at least one combination of at least one physical asset and at least one digital asset, in response to the first and second information received, the third information received from an external service or provider of the intermediary computer circuit, and at least one characteristic of the second or third party relative to the first or fourth party. In response to the one or more scores calculated above, the step of selecting one or more of the at least one combinations above to include in the advertisement: The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of recalculating the score and the combination used for advertising in response to a change in received information, a change in information received from a service or provider, and a change in at least one characteristic of the second or third party relative to the first or fourth party, and deleting or modifying an effective advertisement.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second party performing the action includes the second party purchasing a physical or digital asset.

23. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of advertising the association between the reward and the action to the second or third party.

24. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of associating the reward with the action in response to the promotion by the first or fourth party.

25. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of tracking the compensation of the said third party.

26. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of associating the granting of compensation with an indicator relating to the involvement of the second or third party with respect to the first or fourth party.

27. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of verifying the eligibility of the second or third party to receive compensation in response to criteria set by the first or fourth party.

28. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of notifying the first or fourth party that the third party is entitled to receive the remuneration or that the remuneration has been granted to the third party.

29. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving notification from the first or fourth party that the remuneration has been paid to the third party.

30. The steps include determining that the third party is entitled to receive the compensation in response that the action performed by the second party has satisfied at least one condition of the promotion carried out by the first party or the fourth party, The step of notifying the aforementioned second party or the aforementioned third party that the aforementioned third party is entitled to receive the aforementioned remuneration. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

31. The steps include determining that the aforementioned third party cannot access the aforementioned reward, The steps include providing the aforementioned third party with access to the aforementioned first or fourth party in order to receive the aforementioned compensation. The method according to claim 30, further comprising:

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