US-12626269-B2 - Systems and methods for distributing rewards tied to user behavior in an interactive virtual reality system

US12626269B2US 12626269 B2US12626269 B2US 12626269B2US-12626269-B2

Abstract

Systems and methods for distributing rewards based on user behavior in an interactive virtual reality system are provided. A map corresponding to a user's location is displayed on a user device, the map including a virtual avatar within the map having a virtual avatar position indicating the user's location within the map. One or more virtual reward locations are displayed within the map, wherein each virtual reward location within a predetermined proximity of the avatar position is identified with a merchant-specific icon and each virtual reward location outside the predetermined proximity is identified with a general reward icon. A notification is displayed that the user has collected a virtual reward when the user provides an indication that they have moved to a first virtual reward location. When collecting a virtual reward for the first reward location, the user device receives reward data corresponding to the virtual reward.

Inventors

Catherine D. PALMIERI
Samuel D. DILLENER
Roger W. FERGUSON, JR.

Assignees

Qubi, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230106

Claims (19)

1 . A method of displaying a map in an interactive virtual reality system, the method comprising: transmitting virtual reality data to a user device, the virtual reality data corresponding to the map that includes a user location corresponding to a real-world location of the user device within the map and an avatar position corresponding to the real-world location, the avatar position updating as the user location updates; transmitting reward location data to the user device, the reward location data corresponding to a plurality of virtual reward locations located within the map wherein each virtual reward location within a predetermined proximity of the avatar position is identified with a specific reward icon and each virtual reward location outside the predetermined proximity is identified with a general reward icon; displaying the avatar position and reward location data on the map at the user device; receiving from the user device a first user input comprising a movement of a user to a first real-world user location such that a first virtual reward location is within the predetermined proximity of a first avatar position at a virtual location corresponding to the first real-world user location; in response to receiving the first user input, transforming a first general reward icon of the first virtual reward location into a first specific reward icon; receiving from the user device a second user input comprising a selection of the first specific reward icon, wherein the second user input is associated with collecting a virtual reward at the first virtual reward location; in response to receiving the second user input, determining whether the user has satisfied criteria for collecting the virtual reward while within a predetermined proximity of the first real-world user location, wherein determining whether the user has satisfied criteria for collecting the virtual reward is based on data received by the user device in response to the user device scanning an optical code or an RFID tag; in response to determining that the user has satisfied criteria for collecting the virtual reward while within the predetermined proximity of the first real-world user location, transmitting notification data to the user device, the notification data indicating that the user has collected the virtual reward; in response to determining that the user has satisfied criteria for collecting the virtual reward while within the predetermined proximity of the first real-world user location, transmitting reward data to the user device, the reward data corresponding to the virtual reward for the first virtual reward location, wherein an indication of the notification data and an indication of the reward data are displayed on a screen of the user device; determining that a total number of virtual rewards collected at the first virtual reward location exceed a predetermined number of rewards; in accordance with determining that the total number of virtual rewards collected at the first virtual reward location exceeds the predetermined number: transmitting a command to the user device, the command comprising instructions to remove the first virtual reward location from the map; and updating, by the user device, the display of the map to remove the first virtual reward location.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the reward data includes a first option and a second option and the method further comprises receiving from the user device a selection of either the first option or the second option.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first option enables a user to redeem a full-value reward usable at a specific real-world merchant and the second option enables a user to redeem a lesser-value digital unit that can be stored in a digital wallet.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the specific reward icon is a merchant-specific icon corresponding to a real-world merchant offering a reward at the virtual reward location identified by the specific reward icon.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein when the avatar position is within a predetermined proximity of a first virtual reward location and a second virtual reward location, the specific reward icon identifying each of the first virtual reward location and the second virtual reward location is a unique merchant-specific icon corresponding to different real-world merchants.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the second user input from the user device occurs automatically when the user device scans the QR code or the RFID tag at a real-world location corresponding to the first virtual reward location.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the second user input from the user device occurs automatically when the user location is within a predetermined distance of a GPS beacon located at a real-world location corresponding to the first virtual reward location.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual reward can only be used within a predetermined time after transmitting the reward data.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual reward is a digital unit that can be used at a real-world merchant corresponding to the first virtual reward location.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the digital unit can only be used at the real-world merchant within a predetermined time after transmitting the reward data.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the real-world merchant pays a fee when the virtual reward is collected at a virtual location corresponding to the real-world merchant.
12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting bonus reward data to the user device, the bonus reward data being transmitted randomly.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual reward is a digital unit that corresponds to a real-world currency.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising, after receiving a third user input, converting the digital unit to the real-world currency; and transmitting currency data to the user device, the currency data corresponding to the real-world currency value of the digital unit.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising, after receiving a fourth user input, transferring the real-world currency value of the converted digital unit to a bank account.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein converting the digital unit to real-world currency cannot occur until after completion of a vesting schedule.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein completion of the vesting schedule requires allowing a predetermined period of time to pass after transmitting the reward data.
18 . A non-transitory machine readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing system, cause the system to perform operations comprising: transmitting virtual reality data to a user device, the virtual reality data corresponding to a map that includes a user location corresponding to a real-world location of the user device within the map and an avatar position corresponding to the real-world location, the avatar position updating as the user location updates; transmitting reward location data to the user device, the reward location data corresponding to a plurality of virtual reward locations located within the map wherein each virtual reward location within a predetermined proximity of the avatar position is identified with a specific reward icon and each virtual reward location outside the predetermined proximity is identified with a general reward icon; displaying the avatar position and reward location data on the map at the user device; receiving from the user device a first user input comprising a movement of a user to a first real-world user location such that a first virtual reward location is within the predetermined proximity of a first avatar position at a virtual location corresponding to the first real-world user location; in response to receiving the first user input, transforming a first general reward icon of the first virtual reward location into a first specific reward icon; receiving from the user device a second user input comprising a selection of the first specific reward icon, wherein the second user input is associated with collecting a virtual reward at the first virtual reward location; in response to receiving the second user input, determining whether the user has satisfied criteria for collecting the virtual reward while within a predetermined proximity of the first real-world user location, wherein determining whether the user has satisfied criteria for collecting the virtual reward is based on data received by the user device in response to the user device scanning an optical code or an RFID tag; in response to determining that the user has satisfied criteria for collecting the virtual reward while within the predetermined proximity of the first real-world user location, transmitting notification data to the user device, the notification data indicating that the user has collected the virtual reward; transmitting reward data to the user device, the reward data corresponding to the virtual reward for the first virtual reward location, wherein an indication of the notification data and an indication of the reward data are displayed on a screen of the user device; determining a total number of virtual rewards collected at the first virtual reward location; if the total number of virtual rewards collected at the first virtual reward location exceeds a predetermined number: transmitting a command to the user device, the command comprising instructions to remove the first virtual reward location from the map; and updating, by the user device, the display of the map to remove the first virtual reward location.
19 . An interactive virtual reality system comprising: one or more processors coupled to one or more memory devices, wherein the one or more memory devices include instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the system to: transmit virtual reality data to a user device, the virtual reality data corresponding to a map that includes a user location corresponding to a real-world location of the user device within the map and an avatar position corresponding to the real-world location, the avatar position updating as the user location updates; transmit reward location data to the user device, the reward location data corresponding to a plurality of virtual reward locations located within the map wherein each virtual reward location within a predetermined proximity of the avatar position is identified with a specific reward icon and each virtual reward location outside the predetermined proximity is identified with a general reward icon; display the avatar position and reward location data on the map at the user device; receive from the user device a first user input comprising a movement of a user to a first real-world user location such that a first virtual reward location is within the predetermined proximity of a first avatar position at a virtual location corresponding to the first real-world user location; in response to receiving the first user input, transform a first general reward icon of the first virtual reward location into a first specific reward icon; receive from the user device a second user input comprising a selection of the first specific reward icon, wherein the second user input is associated with collecting a virtual reward at the first virtual reward location; in response to receiving the second user input, determine whether the user has satisfied criteria for collecting the virtual reward while within a predetermined proximity of the first real-world user location, wherein determining whether the user has satisfied criteria for collecting the virtual reward is based on data received by the user device in response to the user device scanning an optical code or an RFID tag; in response to determining that the user has satisfied criteria for collecting the virtual reward while within the predetermined proximity of the first real-world user location, transmit notification data to the user device, the notification data indicating that the user has collected the virtual reward at the first virtual reward location; in response to determining that the user has satisfied criteria for collecting the virtual reward while within the predetermined proximity of the first real-world user location, transmit reward data to the user device, the reward data corresponding to the virtual reward for the first virtual reward location, wherein an indication of the notification data and an indication of the reward data are displayed on a screen of the user device; determine a total number of virtual rewards collected at the first virtual reward location; if the total number of virtual rewards collected at the first virtual reward location exceeds a predetermined number: transmit a command to the user device, the command comprising instructions to remove the first virtual reward location from the map; and updating, by the user device, the display of the map to remove the first virtual reward location.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/311,753, filed Feb. 18, 2022, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to a system and methods for distributing rewards in a virtual reality system, and more particularly, to a system and methods for distributing rewards based on user behavior in an interactive virtual reality system. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE With the rise of digital shopping, traditional brick-and-mortar businesses struggle to generate foot traffic and sales. Many businesses and vendors thus turn to advertisement campaigns. However, current advertisement campaigns can result in a large portion of the advertisement dollars of a given campaign spent reaching “non-target” customers, evidenced by only a small percentage of total sales being attributable to one or more advertisement campaigns. Additionally, in current advertisement campaigns, it is difficult to correlate a given sale with a given advertisement, which makes accurately calculating the return on investment of an advertisement campaign difficult. Current methods to correlate sales with advertisements rely on determining a directional correlation between a “dark” market's sales, without advertisements, and another market's sales with varying levels and combinations of advertisements. However, such correlation methods incorporate variables and thus lack accuracy. Gamification is a method to motivate or engage users by introducing game mechanics such as goal setting, feedback, and external rewards, to non-game environments. Gamification presents a viable means to encourage certain desired behavior in a multitude of environments. Recently, augmented reality gaming platforms have proven to be effective drivers of foot traffic to a given area. For example, Pokémon Go™ which is an augmented reality gaming application where players travel within an augmented reality version of the real world to collect virtual monsters via a user interface on a mobile device, has driven a large number of players to visit geolocations where the game indicates virtual monsters are located. Similarly, gamification has proven to be an effective tool to engage students in learning environments. For example, awarding badges or stickers to students can increase student motivation to participate. However, gaming applications can suffer with user retention based on a short attention span of users. To combat this issue, certain gaming applications incorporate time-limiting elements such as a waiting period in order to incentivize gamers to return to the application repeatedly. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE As stated above, traditional advertisement campaigns lack the ability for a merchant to discern clear return on investment and can result in large portions of advertisement dollars being spent on non-target customers. Additionally, merchants struggle with drawing customers to brick-and-mortar business locations and encouraging customers to make purchases at those locations. Thus, there is a need for an improved advertising platform that effectively draws customers to a desired location and encourages customers to spend upon visiting that location. As explained above, augmented reality systems demonstrate a viable platform to draw people to certain areas, and gamification can be applied to encourage people to perform desired behaviors. Thus, a gamified augmented reality platform can also be useful to encourage desired user behavior. For example, an advertising platform that incorporates a gamified augmented reality system may enable merchants to draw customers to desired locations. Accordingly, disclosed herein are systems and methods that may address some of the above-identified needs. Disclosed herein are systems and methods for implementing an interactive virtual reality system with location-based rewards. An administrator server can receive advertisement information from a plurality of merchants relating to advertisement campaigns with location based rewards. The location based rewards can be collected by a plurality of users on a user device, such as a mobile phone. Upon collecting a given reward, the user can be encouraged to spend the reward at the given location by offering a variable reward worth 100% if redeemed at a merchant corresponding to the location of the location based reward or some lesser percentage if redeemed to the user's wallet. The administrator server can be configured to store reward data for each user participating in the interactive virtual reality system and to manage the redemption process of rewards. Some rewards can correspond to real-world currency that is subject to a vesting schedule before the user can spend or transfer the currency. Some rewards can correspond to a digital coupon for a participating merchant within the system. The administrator server can also be configured to manage