Method and apparatus for conducting or facilitating a promotion

Abstract

A method and apparatus for conducting a promotion and for distributing promotions to potential users provide a merchant or promotion organizer flexibility in the way they conduct the promotion as well as an ability to change one or more aspects of the promotion during the operation of the promotion. One or more outcomes are generated by a controller and provided to a user. In addition, one or more codes which allow the outcomes to be revealed or unlocked are generated by the controller and provided to an intermediary. In exchange for completing or satisfying a qualifying action or criteria, the user may receive a code from the intermediary. The user can then unlock an outcome to reveal a prize, benefit, symbol, value, etc., associated with the unlocked outcome. The user may provide a redemption request to either the controller or the intermediary based on the unlocked outcome to receive a benefit or prize associated with the unlocked outcome.

1 - 162 . (canceled) 
     
     
         163 . A system for facilitating play of a game at a mobile device, the system comprising:
 a processor;   a memory storing a program for controlling the processor, the processor being operable with the program to:
 facilitate play of a game, the game being accessible and playable by a user on the mobile device, by recognizing inputs provided by the user via an input mechanism of the mobile device, at least one of the inputs causing progress in the game; 
 receive over an electronic network a locked outcome comprising an aspect of a promotion, the locked outcome being unavailable to the user until an unlock code is provided, wherein the locked outcome is generated by a computing device distinct from the mobile device and corresponds to at least one benefit that may be applied within the game once the locked outcome is made available by use of the unlock code and as part of the promotion; 
 store, in the memory, the locked outcome; 
 receive, at the mobile device and from the user, the unlock code; 
 provide access to the locked outcome in response to receipt of the unlock code; and 
 provide, in response to an outcome redemption request, the at least one benefit associated with the locked outcome, wherein the benefit, once applied to the game, has an effect on play of the game by the user. 
   
     
     
         164 . The system of  claim 163 , wherein the outcome of the game is stored in the memory prior to the code being received and wherein the processor is further operable with the program to retrieve the outcome from the memory. 
     
     
         165 . The system of  claim 163 , wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:
 store the outcome prior to recognizing the code; and   access the previously stored outcome.   
     
     
         166 . The system of  claim 163 , wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:
 receive an input from the user via the input mechanism, the input comprising the code.   
     
     
         167 . The system of  claim 163 , wherein the processor being operable with the program to receive the code comprises the processor being operable with the program to receive a signal from an intermediary via a network via which the mobile device is operable to communicate with the intermediary. 
     
     
         168 . The system of  claim 163 , wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:
 receive a request to use a previously stored code to access the outcome.   
     
     
         169 . The system of  claim 163 , wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:
 download the outcome over the internet prior to receiving the code.   
     
     
         170 . The system of  claim 163 , wherein the outcome comprises an outcome stored in an encrypted form such that the benefit associated with the outcome is not obtainable by the user without an acceptable code being used to access the outcome and thereby allow an enjoyment of the benefit. 
     
     
         171 . The system of  claim 163 , wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:
 facilitate payment by the user, the payment being for the code.   
     
     
         172 . The system of  claim 171 , wherein the payment is processed by an intermediary. 
     
     
         173 . The system of  claim 163 , wherein the effect on play of the game comprises at least one of an enhancement of the game, a modification of the game, a conclusion of the game, an increase in the user's chances of winning the game, an increase in the user's chances of successfully completing the game, continued access to the game or a game piece usable in the game. 
     
     
         174 . The system of  claim 163 , wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:
 verify that the user has completed a qualifying activity that is a prerequisite to accessing the outcome and only allowing access to the outcome if it is verified that the user has completed the qualifying activity.   
     
     
         175 . The system of  claim 174 , wherein the qualifying activity is watching an advertisement. 
     
     
         176 . The system of  claim 163 , wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:
 utilize a GPS detector of the mobile device to detect a location of at least one of the user and the mobile device.   
     
     
         177 . The system of  claim 176 , wherein the processor being operable with the program to determine the benefit associated with the outcome comprises the processor being operable with the program to determine the benefit based on the location of the mobile device. 
     
     
         178 . The system of  claim 163 , wherein the at least one benefit is revealed to be a first benefit if the unlock code is associated with a first source and the at least one benefit is revealed to be a second, different, benefit if the unlock code is associated with a second source. 
     
     
         179 . The system of  claim 163 , wherein the at least one benefit is not made known to the user, and is modifiable by a merchant affiliated with the promotion, until the redemption request is received.