| Networked electronic game tracking -> Monitor Keywords |
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Networked electronic game trackingRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), With Communication Link (e.g., Television Broadcast, Etc.), Network Type (e.g., Computer Network, Etc.)Networked electronic game tracking description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080070699, Networked electronic game tracking. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of the following provisional application that is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety: [0002] U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/825,870 filed Sep. 15, 2006. BACKGROUND [0003] 1. Field [0004] This invention generally relates to electronic gaming and particularly relates to tracking the use of electronic games and other digital media. [0005] 2. Description of the Related Art [0006] Handheld electronic game platforms frequently use proprietary platforms that limit the available community of sponsors and in turn limit the number of available games and related media. Due to the proprietary nature of game platforms, many game developers do not have access to the platforms without working out costly and complex business arrangements with the providers of the proprietary electronic game platforms. Game developers and users have found electronic games to by an excellent source of entertainment and skill develop that should be available without the constraints described above. Game developers and users may also desire access to free or low cost games that provide a level of visualization and challenge similar to the proprietary games. Therefore, a need exists for methods and systems that allow the development of games and related media by a wider community of sponsors, while supporting measured distribution and/or use of the games to allow for methods and systems that reward content providers for usage of the games. SUMMARY [0007] An electronic game tracking platform may facilitate deployment, use, and sponsoring of electronic games in a manner that avoids limitations associated with proprietary solutions. The electronic game tracking platform may provide a basis for rewarding game developers, sponsors, and the like. The platform may further provide methods and systems for game assessment, feedback, market research, trial offers, subscription, pay-per-use and the like. An electronic game tracking platform may be embodied as a game console, handheld game, handheld game controller, a USB dongle, electronic components within a standard computing facility, software deployed on a gaming device or computer, and the like. [0008] An electronic game tracking platform may facilitate tracking aspects of a game, such as a count of executions that may include the number of times the game is played, the duration of time a game is played, a count of game events (such as number of laps completed, levels completed, opponents defeated, items captured, property accumulated, goals achieved, items acquired, challenges overcome, lives lost, levels failed, times defeated, items lost, property lost, goals not achieved, and a wide range of other game events), processor time used, or the like. An electronic game tracking platform may facilitate local and on-line gaming, including multi-player games, online interactive games, sample games, downloaded games, uploading games, and the like. Access to games, features of games, and repeated use of a game may be enabled by the methods and systems provided by the electronic game tracking platform. [0009] The electronic game tracking platform may facilitate aspects of social networking, such as determining membership in online clubs, access to individuals' online information associated with a social networking site or page, distribution and tracking of games offered through social networking sites, and the like. [0010] In an aspect of the invention, a method includes providing an electronic game program; providing tracking criteria associated with game activity occurring over a network; tracking one or more game events associated with the tracking criteria to provide a tracking report; and transmitting a tracking report signal over the network. [0011] In the method, the electronic game program includes a tracking program for providing the report. The electronic game program is an open-source program. [0012] In the method, the tracking criteria are transmitted over the network. [0013] In the method, the activity occurring over the network includes one or more of a request for online game play, accessing a network resource, an online participant interacting with the game, downloading a game, uploading a game, sending a tracking report, requesting access to a feature of the game, and downloading a feature of the game. [0014] In the method, the tracking criteria include at least two of a game execution, game time, and a game event. Game time includes one or more of an accumulation of time the game is played, duration of a game execution, and a percent of idle time during a game execution. A game event is selected from the group consisting of downloading a game, uploading a game, starting a game, ending a game, pausing a game, defeating an opponent, capturing a game item, accumulating a game property, attempting a game level, completing a game level, achieving a goal, overcoming a challenge, loosing a game life, defeat, losing items, losing acquired property, reaching a game start count threshold, accessing a game feature, and adding a game participant to a game execution session. [0015] In the method, transmitting the report signal is based on a comparison of the tracked game events with a tracking criteria threshold. The threshold is one or more of a number of game starts, a number of online participants, a number of requests for online participation, completing a game level, and completing a game [0016] The method further includes transmitting the report over the network in response to a request from a network resource. Transmitting the report includes transmitting a request to download a new game. [0017] In the method, the report includes data representing the tracked events. [0018] In another aspect of the invention, a system includes a networked electronic game facility for executing a electronic game program; tracking criteria associated with game activity occurring over the network; a transaction facility for tracking one or more game events associated with the tracking criteria to provide a tracking report; and a report signal associated with an aspect of the report, wherein the electronic game facility transmits the report signal over the network. [0019] In the system, the electronic game program includes a tracking program for providing the report. In the system, the electronic game program is an open-source program. The system further includes a host for transmitting the tracking criteria over the network. [0020] In the system, activity occurring over the network includes one or more of a request for online game play, accessing a network resource, an online participant interacting with the game, downloading a game, uploading a game, sending a tracking report, requesting access to a feature of the game, and downloading a feature of the game. [0021] In the system, the tracking criteria include at least two of a game execution, game time, and a game event. Game time includes one or more of an accumulation of time the game is played, duration of a game execution, and a percent of idle time during a game execution. A game event is selected from the group consisting of downloading a game, uploading a game, starting a game, ending a game, pausing a game, defeating an opponent, capturing a game item, accumulating a game property, attempting a game level, completing a game level, achieving a goal, overcoming a challenge, loosing a game life, defeat, losing items, losing acquired property, reaching a game start count threshold, accessing a game feature, and adding a game participant to a game execution session. Continue reading about Networked electronic game tracking... Full patent description for Networked electronic game tracking Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Networked electronic game tracking patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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