Method and apparatus for collecting user game play data and crediting users in a gaming environment

Abstract

A computer implemented method, a data processing system, and a computer program product are provided for collecting user game play data and crediting users in a gaming environment. The aspects of the present invention install and activate a software agent on a client prior to launching a game. The software agent collects game play data of a user on the client if a game state changes. The collected game play data is accumulated locally and sent to a server remotely for processing when the user is online. In turn, the aspects of the present invention credit a user account of the user based on the collected game play data.

1 . A computer implemented method for collecting user game play data on a gaming system, the computer implemented method comprising: 
 responsive to detecting execution of a game, initializing a software agent process;    responsive to a user actively playing the game, collecting the game play data through the software agent process to form collected game play data; and    transmitting the collected game play data to a destination over a communications link.    
   
   
       2 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the game play data comprises post sales data indicating behavior of the user after the game is purchased by the user.  
   
   
       3 . The computer implemented method of  1 , wherein the game play data comprises an amount of time the user spent playing the game, a time of day, a game title, and performance statistics.  
   
   
       4 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the collecting step comprises: 
 determining if a change in a state of the game is detected; and    if a change in a state of the game is detected, collecting game play statistics of the user.    
   
   
       5 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , further comprises: 
 crediting a user account of the user with account credits based on an amount of time the user spent playing the game.    
   
   
       6 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , further comprises: 
 crediting a user account of the user with account credits based on performance statistics.    
   
   
       7 . The computer implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein the performance statistics comprise a number of points the user scored, a number of kills the user made, a level of the game the user accomplished, a mission the user completed, a status of the user, a number of wins the user accomplished, and other measures of success relevant to the game.  
   
   
       8 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the destination is a server and wherein the transmitting step comprises: 
 transmitting the collected game play data from the user to the server for processing at a time interval if a network connection is available.    
   
   
       9 . The computer implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the server updates the collected game play data into a database.  
   
   
       10 . The computer implemented method of  claim 5 , further comprises: 
 managing spending of account credits in the user account on products and services in a virtual mall.    
   
   
       11 . The computer implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the collecting step comprises: 
 accumulating the collected user game play data in a client game data file.    
   
   
       12 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the collecting steps comprises: 
 accumulating the collected user game play data locally to produce dynamic data with a purpose of enhancing user services.    
   
   
       13 . The computer implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the collecting step further comprises: 
 creating dynamic services for purposes of interactive tips and hints and a dynamic user interface for purposes of communication amongst users, wherein the dynamic services comprise competitive leagues, tournament competition, statistical competitions, and other relevant services using the dynamic data.    
   
   
       14 . A gaming system for collecting user game play data, the gaming system comprising: 
 a bus,    a storage device, wherein the storage device contains computer usable code;    a communications unit connected to the bus;    a user input device; and    a processing unit connected to the bus, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable code to initialize a software agent process responsive to detecting execution of a game; collect the game play data through the software agent process to form collected game play data responsive to a user actively playing the game; and transmit the collected game play data to a destination over a communications link.    
   
   
       15 . The gaming system of  claim 14 , wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable code to credit a user account of the user with account credits based on an amount of time the user spent playing the game.  
   
   
       16 . The gaming system of  claim 14 , wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable code to credit a user account of the user with account credits based on performance statistics.  
   
   
       17 . The gaming system of  claim 14 , wherein the destination is a server and wherein the processing unit, in executing the computer usable code to transmit the collected game play data to a destination over a communications link, executes the computer usable code to transmit the collected game play data from the user to the server for processing at a time interval if a network connection is available.  
   
   
       18 . A computer program product comprising: 
 a computer usable medium having computer usable program code for collecting user game play data, said computer program product including:    computer usable program code for initializing a software agent process responsive to detecting execution of a game;    collecting the game play data through the software agent process to form collected game play data responsive to a user actively playing the game; and    transmitting the collected game play data to a destination over a communications link    
   
   
       19 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 computer usable program code for crediting a user account of the user with account credits based on an amount of time the user spent playing the game.    
   
   
       20 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 computer usable program code for crediting a user account of the user with account credits based on performance statistics.