System and methods for online/offline synchronization

Abstract

Embodiments allocate and synchronize virtual currency balance of a user among multiple user devices. A user profile is maintained at a central server. The user profile stores a total virtual currency balance and a designation of multiple user devices associated with the user. The total virtual currency balance may be divided among and allocated to the multiple user devices, for example, based on usage data associated with each user device. The portion of the total virtual currency balance allocated to each user device may be stored locally at a local wallet of the corresponding user device. The local virtual currency balance on a user device may be used to purchase goods or services, such as playing a game. If the locally stored virtual currency balance of a given user device runs low, the user device may request additional virtual currency from other user devices without contacting the central server.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 determining, by a central server, a total virtual currency balance associated with a user profile, wherein the user profile is associated with a first user device and a second user device;   allocating and communicating a first portion of the total virtual currency balance to the first user device;   allocating and communicating a second portion of the total virtual currency balance to the second user device;   monitoring, by the central server, usage of the first user device to determine an actual usage data associated with the first user device; and   dynamically adjusting, by the central server, a value of the first portion of the total virtual currency balance allocated to the first user device based on the actual usage data associated with the first user device.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the total virtual currency balance are determined according to a first allocation scheme, the method further comprising:
 determining a second allocation scheme based on the monitoring, wherein dynamically adjusted value of the first portion of the total virtual currency balance is determined based on the second allocation scheme.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first portion of the total virtual currency balance is stored locally on a memory of the first user device as a first balance and the second portion of the total virtual currency balance is stored locally on a memory of the second user device as a second balance. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 receiving a current value of the first balance from the first user device;   receiving a current value of the second balance from the second user device;   determining a sum of the current value of the first balance and the current value of the second balance; and   transmitting a message to the first user device or the second user device offering additional virtual currency when the sum is below a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 determining that the sum is less than the total virtual currency balance associated with the user profile;   determining that virtual currency spent on the first user device is higher than the first portion of the total virtual currency balance assigned to the first user device; and   determining that a portion of the second portion of the total virtual currency balance was transferred from the second user device to the first user device.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the user profile includes a first pre-determined usage data assigned to the first user device and a second pre-determined usage data assigned to the second user device, wherein the pre-determined first usage data indicates an assigned usage frequency for the first user device and the pre-determined second usage data indicates an assigned usage frequency for the second user device. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the first portion of the total virtual currency balance is allocated to the first user device based on the first pre-determined usage data assigned to the first user device, and
 the second portion of the total virtual currency balance is allocated to the second user device based on the second pre-determined usage data assigned to the second user device.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first user device communicates with the second user device to receive part of the second portion from the second user device when the first user device is offline with respect to the central server, wherein the part of the second portion is subtracted from the second portion and added to the first portion on the first user device. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least part of the first portion is used to acquire a service or an item provided by one or more servers accessible via the first user device. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the total virtual currency balance is one of digital money, loyalty points, game points and game data. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 monitoring, by the central server, usage of the second user device to determine an actual usage data associated with the second user device; and   dynamically adjusting, by the central server, a value of the second portion of the total virtual currency balance allocated to the second user device based on the actual usage data associated with the second user device.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 preventing allocation of additional virtual currency from the total virtual currency balance to the first user device or the second user device before retrieving a current value of the first portion and the second portion from the first user device and the second user device, respectively.   
     
     
         33 . A central server computer comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer readable medium coupled to the processor, the computer readable medium comprising code, executable by the processor, to implement a method comprising:
 determining a total virtual currency balance associated with a user profile, wherein the user profile is associated with a first user device and a second user device; 
 allocating and communicating a first portion of the total virtual currency balance to the first user device; 
 allocating and communicating a second portion of the total virtual currency balance to the second user device; 
 monitoring usage of the first user device to determine actual usage data associated with the first user device; and 
 dynamically adjusting a value of the first portion of the total virtual currency balance allocated to the first user device based on the actual usage data associated with the first user device. 
   
     
     
         34 . The central server computer of  claim 33 , wherein the first portion of the total virtual currency balance is allocated to the first user device based on a first predetermined usage data associated with the first user device, and
 the second portion of the total virtual currency balance is allocated to the second user device based on a second predetermined usage data associated with the second user device.   
     
     
         35 . The central server computer of  claim 33 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the total virtual currency balance are determined according to a first allocation scheme, and wherein dynamically adjusted value of the first portion of the total virtual currency balance is determined based on a second allocation scheme adjusted based on the monitoring. 
     
     
         36 . The central server computer of  claim 33 , wherein the first portion of the total virtual currency balance is stored locally on a memory of the first user device as a first balance and the second portion of the total virtual currency balance is stored locally on a memory of the second user device as a second balance, wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving a current value of the first balance from the first user device;   receiving a current value of the second balance from the second user device;   determining a sum of the current value of the first balance and the current value of the second balance; and   transmitting a message to the first user device or the second user device offering additional virtual currency when the sum is below a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         37 . The central server computer of  claim 36 , wherein the method implemented by the code further comprises:
 preventing allocation of additional virtual currency from the total virtual currency balance to the first user device or the second user device before retrieving the current value of the first balance and the second balance.   
     
     
         38 . The central server computer of  claim 36 , wherein the method implemented by the code further comprises:
 determining that the sum is less than the total virtual currency balance associated with the user profile;   determining that virtual currency spent on the first user device is higher than the first portion of the total virtual currency balance assigned to the first user device; and   determining that a portion of the second portion of the total virtual currency balance was transferred from the second user device to the first user device.   
     
     
         39 . The central server computer of  claim 33 , wherein at the total virtual currency balance is one of digital money, loyalty points, game points and game data. 
     
     
         40 . The central server computer of  claim 33 , wherein the method implemented by the code further comprises:
 monitoring, by the central server, usage of the second user device to determine an actual usage data associated with the second user device; and   dynamically adjusting a value of the second portion of the total virtual currency balance allocated to the second user device based on the actual usage data associated with the second user device.