Bringing achievements to an offline world

US9098859B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC · US

Inventors

• Mohammed Moinuddin · Bellevue, US
• Joseph Futty · Sammamish, US
• Matthew G. Dyor · Bellevue, US
• Dan E. Walther · Redmond, US
• Sreenivas Gollapudi · Cupertino, US
• Stelios Paparizos · Mountain View, US
• John C. Shafer · Los Altos, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 27, 2011
• Grant date: Aug 4, 2015
• Expiry date: Jun 8, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q30/02
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An achievement system tracks users' offline activities and awards achievements to users for participation in particular offline activities. The achievements that are awarded for particular activities and/or to particular users may be sponsored by merchants, who may compensate an achievement system provider for the opportunity to sponsor the achievements. To award users achievements, the users' offline activities are tracked. When a user participates in an offline activity for which achievements are available, the user is awarded an achievement. The achievement may be stored in an achievement profile for the user. In some embodiments, achievements earned by users may be converted into other benefits and alternative awards.