System and method for rewarding application actions

Abstract

A system and method for tracking performance of an action in an application is disclosed in which a link to perform the application action is transmitted to a client device. In response to receiving an indication of the selection of the link, the performance of the action in the application by the client device is detected. Based on the detected performance of the application action, reward data is associated with a user of the client device.

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 transmitting, to a client device, a link to perform an action in an application;   responsive to receiving an indication of a selection of the link, detecting, by at least one processor, the performance of the action in the application by the client device; and   associating reward data with a user of the client device in response to the detecting of the performance of the action by the client device.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the link is associated with a referral offer to perform the action in the application, and further comprising storing access by the client device to the referral offer. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a credit from an advertiser, the credit being deposited in an advertiser account, wherein a portion of the credit is to be paid for every performance of the action;   storing financial transaction data corresponding to the associated reward data;   adjusting a value in the advertiser account to account for the performance of the action; and   adjusting a value in a publisher account to account for the performance of the action.   
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting of the performance of the action comprises at least one of:
 receiving a first indication from the application executing on the client device, the first indication corresponding to an initiation of the performance of the action; and   receiving a second indication from the application executing on the client device, the second indication corresponding to a completion of the performance of the action.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4 , further comprising determining an amount of time elapsed between the receiving of the first indication and the receiving of the second indication, wherein based on the amount of time elapsed exceeding a predetermined amount of time, notifying the client device of an expiration of an offer to perform the action. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing the detection of the performance of the action, the storing of the detection including storing a unique device identifier (Udid) of the client device and an application action identifier (action ID) corresponding to the action being performed. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the reward data is one of a virtual currency amount and a virtual good. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a registration of the action in the application to be performed; and   generating an application action identifier (action ID) and action code, the action ID corresponding to the action, and the action code causing the client device to transmit at least one of a first indication and a second indication when the action is respectively initiated and completed.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 mapping the action ID to the action;   storing the action ID and action code with the registration of the action;   inserting the action code in the application using a registered protocol handler; and   re-directing the user operating the client device to the application.   
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor;   a referral module, implemented by the at least one processor, configured to generate a link to perform an action in an application;   an application usage module, implemented by the at least one processor, configured to detect a performance of the action in the application by a client device;   a communication module, implemented by the at least one processor, configured to:
 transmit the link to the client device; 
 receive an indication of the performance of the application action from the client device; and 
 transmit reward data associated with a user of the client device in response to the detected performance of the action in the application by the client device. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the link is associated with a referral offer to perform the action in the application, and further comprising a database interface module configured to store access by the client device to the referral offer. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the application usage module is configured to detect the performance of the action by at least one of:
 receiving a first indication from the application executing on the client device, the first indication corresponding to an initiation of the performance of the action in the application; and   receiving a second indication from the application executing on the client device, the second indication corresponding to a completion of the performance of the action in the application.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the application usage module is further configured to determine an amount of time elapsed between the receiving of the first indication and the receiving of the second indication, wherein based on the amount of time elapsed exceeding a predetermined amount of time, the communication module is further configured to notify the client device of an expiration of an offer to perform the action. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a database interface module configured to store the detection of the performance of the action, the storing of the detection including storing a unique device identifier (Udid) of the client device and an application action identifier (action ID) corresponding to the action being performed. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the reward data is one of a virtual currency amount and a virtual good. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the referral module is further configured to:
 receive a registration of the action to be performed; and   generate an application action identifier (action ID) and action code, the action ID corresponding to the action, and the action code causing the client device to transmit at least one of a first indication and a second indication when the action is respectively initiated and completed.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the referral module is further configured to map the action ID to the application action, and further comprising:
 a database interface module configured to store the action ID and action code with the registration of the action;   
       a deep linking module configured to:
 insert the action code in the application using a registered protocol handler, the action code re-directing the user operating the client device to the application. 
 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium storing a set of instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
 transmitting, to a client device, a link to perform an action in an application;   responsive to receiving an indication of a selection of the link, detecting, by at least one processor, the performance of the action in the application by the client device; and   associating reward data with a user of the client device in response to the detected performance of the action by the client device.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the link is associated with a referral offer to perform the action in the application, and further comprising storing access by the client device to the referral offer. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the detecting of the performance of the action in the application comprises at least one of:
 receiving a first indication from the application executing on the client device, the first indication corresponding to an initiation of the performance of the action; and   receiving a second indication from the application executing on the client device, the second indication corresponding to a completion of the performance of the action.   
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein the operations further comprise determining an amount of time elapsed between the receiving of the first indication and the receiving of the second indication, wherein based on the amount of time elapsed exceeding a predetermined amount of time, notifying the client device of an expiration of an offer to perform the action. 
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise storing the detection of the performance of the action, the storing of the detection including storing a unique device identifier (Udid) of the client device and an application action identifier (action ID) corresponding to the action being performed. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the reward data is one of a virtual currency amount and a virtual good. 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving a registration of the action in the application to be performed; and   generating an application action identifier (action ID) and action code, the action ID corresponding to the application action, and the action code causing the client device to transmit at least one of a first indication and a second indication when the action is initiated and completed.   
     
     
         25 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 mapping the action ID to the action;   storing the action ID and action code with the registration of the action;   inserting the action code in the application using a registered protocol handler; and   re-directing the user operating the client device to the application.