System and method for targeted recommendations using social gaming networks

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for targeting a recommendation to a first user of an online multi-player gaming environment based on tracked data of a second user with which the first user has a relationship on the online multi-player gaming environment. In addition to the general system, methods and computer readable medium for such recommendations, the recommendations can be further refined by incorporating information about the first user, including how the user accesses the online multi-player gaming environment.

1 . A method for targeting a recommendation to a first user of an online multi-player gaming environment, the method comprising:
 tracking activity of the first user in an online multi-player gaming environment, wherein the activity is indicative of a relationship between the first user and a second user;   receiving first data indicative of a preference of the second user;   determining a recommendation based on the first data and the activity;   sending the recommendation to the first user.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining a recommendation based on the first data and the activity comprises determining the recommendation as most relevant of a plurality of recommendations. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein tracking the activity comprises storing data about the activity in a database. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising filtering the data about the activity such that the data is indicative of an interaction between the first user and the second user. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first data comprises any of a game that the second user plays, a video that the second user watches, a content that the second user purchases, a service that the second user uses, and a preferred language of the second user. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recommendation comprises a descriptive object selected to be compatible with communications capabilities of an access device to the online multi-player gaming environment of the first user. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the access device comprises any of a gaming console, a cellular telephone, a personal data assistant, a general purpose computer, and a portable digital music player. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein recommendation suggests a course of action for the first user. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recommendation comprises at least any of a friend to add to a friends list, a game to play, a competition in which to engage, a group to which to subscribe, and an opponent to play a game against. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a request for the recommendation. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a second data indicative of a preference of the first user; and
 determining the recommendation based on the second data.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first data comprises any of gaming activities of the second user within the gaming environment, e-commerce activities of the second user within the gaming environment, e-commerce activities of the second user outside of gaming the environment, and social activities of the second user within the environment. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the recommendation comprises determining the recommendation based on any of a characteristic of a social network of the first user, a behavior of a third user connected to the first user via the second user, and a characteristic of the first user's gaming environment. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the recommendation comprises determining the recommendation based on a characteristic of a social network of the second user. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the characteristic of a social network of the second user comprises any of a quantity of friends associated with the second user, feedback from other users about the second user, behavior of friends of the second user, and behavior of friends of the second user's friends. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the recommendation comprises determining the recommendation based on communications capabilities of an access device associated with the first user. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recommendation comprises a link to purchase a product. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a relationship between the first user and the second user comprises asynchronous interaction between the first user and the second user. 
   
   
       19 . A system for targeting a recommendation to a first user of an online multiplayer gaming environment, the system comprising:
 a memory to store first data indicative of an activity of the first user in the online multiplayer gaming environment, wherein the activity is indicative of a relationship between the first user and a second user and second data indicative of a preference of the first user; and   a processor to determine a recommendation based on the first data and the second data and to send the recommendation to the first user, wherein the processor filters the first data such that the first data is indicative of an interaction between the first user and the second user and wherein the recommendation suggests a course of action for the first user.   
   
   
       20 . A computer readable storage medium for targeting a recommendation to a first user of an online multiplayer gaming environment, the computer readable storage medium including computer executable instructions that when executed perform the method comprising:
 establishing a connection with the online multiplayer gaming environment;   tracking activity of the first user in an online multi-player gaming environment, wherein the activity is indicative of a relationship between the first user and a second user;   sending first data indicative of the activity;   receiving a recommendation based on the first data and a preference of the second user; and   presenting the recommendation to the first user.