SOCIAL INFORMATION GAME SYSTEM

• US 20120122588A1
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Katango, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Rao, Shailendra Ramineni, Shoham, Yoav, Vu, Thuc D., Berger, Jonathan, Helmer, Edmund Wright, Munie, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,727,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5533 using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8064 Quiz

Abstract

A method to share challenges between users of a social game system is described. The method may include accessing relationship data reflecting a relationship between a first user and a second user, and accessing challenge data in a challenge database. Based on (1) the challenge data and (2) the relationship between the first user and the second user reflected by the relationship data, the challenge data is selectively communicated as part of a challenge about the first user to the second user, with the challenge forming part of a challenge game.

Claims

1. A method to share game challenges between users of a social game system, the method comprising:

accessing relationship data reflecting relationships between the users of the social game system;

accessing challenge data in a challenge database; and

based on at least one of the challenge data or the relationships between the users reflected by the relationship data, selectively communicating the challenge data as part of a challenge relating to a first user to a second user, the challenge forming part of a challenge game.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the challenge relates a first plurality of users that include first user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the challenge data includes a plurality of challenge templates, and wherein the selective communication of the challenge data comprises selecting a challenge template from the plurality of challenge templates based on relationship between the first user and the second user.

4. The method of claim 1, including determining at least one attribute of the challenge data, determining at least one attribute of the relationship data;

and selectively communicating the challenge data based on a comparison of the at least one attribute of the challenge data and the at least one attribute of the relationship data.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one attribute of the relationship data is a type attribute;

and the selective communication is based on a type of the relationship between the first user and the second user as reflected in the relationship data.

6. The method of claim 4, including assessing the type of the relationship based on information communicated between the first and the second users.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one attribute of the relationship data is a relationship strength attribute;

and the selective communication is based on a strength of the relationship between the first user and the second user as reflected in the relationship data.

8. The method of claim 7, including assessing the strength of the relationship between the first and the second users based on at least one of a threshold level of trust between the first user and the second user determined from the relationship data;

and a threshold degree of influence of the first user on the second user (or vice versa) determined from the relationship data.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the relationship data includes social graph data and the strength of the relationship is based on proximity of the first user to the second user as reflected within the social graph data.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one attribute of the relationship is at least one of a binary value relationship attribute and a range value relationship attribute.

11. The method of claim 1, including retrieving the relationship data from a third party social networking platform.

12. The method of claim 1, including generating the relationship data based on at least one of interactions within the social game system and data received from a third party social networking platform.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the generating of the relationship data includes capturing explicit relationship data regarding at least one of the first user or the second user.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the generating of the relationship data includes generating implicit relationship data regarding at least one of the first user or the second user.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the generating of the relationship data is performed using challenge processing algorithms, the challenge processing algorithms including at least one of machine learning algorithms and non-machine learning algorithms.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the generating of the relationship data includes maintaining a plurality of relationship attributes pertaining to relationships between users of the social game system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of relationship attributes include a knowledge attribute having a knowledge value indicative of an assessed knowledge of the second user with respect to the first user.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the knowledge value attribute includes a knowledge depth value for a knowledge depth attribute indicative of a knowledge depth of the second user with respect to the first user, the knowledge depth value being assessed based on a determined assessment of the knowledge of the second user relating to the first user on a specific topic.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the knowledge value attribute includes a knowledge breadth value for a knowledge breadth attribute indicative of a knowledge breadth of the second user with respect to the first user, the knowledge breadth value being assessed based on a determined assessment of the knowledge of the particular user relating to the first user across a plurality of topics.

20. The method of claim 17, including ranking the users of the social game system according to cumulative knowledge values;

and displaying the ranking of the users.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the ranking of a particular user is determined with respect to a subgroup of users of the social game system.

22. The method of claim 17, including presenting a plurality of challenges to the second user regarding the first user;

and generating the knowledge value being based on an accuracy of responses of the second user to the plurality of challenges regarding the first user.

23. The method of claim 22, including receiving a response to a first challenge of the plurality of challenges from the second user;

and accessing a profile of the first user within a profile database to assess the accuracy of the response.

24. The method of claim 23, including determining that the profile of the first user does not include an attribute value corresponding to the response received to the first challenge from the second user, monitoring the profile of the first user to determine an update to the profile of the first user to include the attribute value corresponding to the response;

and responsive to determining an update, providing an indication to the second user regarding the accuracy of the response.

25. The method of claim 22, including presenting a first challenge of the plurality of challenges to the second user regarding the first user, receiving a first response to the first challenge from the second user, advising the first user that the second user has provided the first response;

and presenting the first user with an option to provide a second response, pertaining to the second user, to the first challenge.

26. The method of claim 25, including selectively presenting the first response to the first user based on the first user providing the second response to the first challenge.

27. The method of claim 1, including accessing profile data in a profile database, the profile data pertaining to the users of the social game system, wherein the challenge data comprises a plurality of challenge templates;

and wherein the selective communication of the challenge data comprises selecting a challenge template from the plurality of challenge templates based on profile data of the second user retrieved from the profile database.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the profile data of the second user includes historical communications data identifying historical communications of challenge data to the second user;

and the selection of the challenge template is performed using the historical communications data.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the selective communication of the challenge data further comprises populating the selected challenge template using profile data from the profile database, the profile data pertaining to the users of the social game system.

30. The method of claim 1, including determining at least one attribute of the challenge data, accessing profile data in a profile database, determining at least one attribute of the profile data of the second user, and selectively communicating the challenge data based on a comparison of the at least one attribute of the challenge data and the at least one attribute of the of the profile data of the second user.

31. The method of claim 30, including generating the profile data based on at least one of interactions within the social game system and data received from a third party social networking platform.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the generating of the profile data includes generating explicit profile data regarding at least one of the first or the second user.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the generating of the profile data includes generating implicit profile data regarding at least one of the first with the second user.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the generating of the profile data is performed using challenge processing algorithms, the challenge processing algorithms including at least one of machine learning algorithms and non-machine learning algorithms.

35. The method of claim 1, including generating respective attribute values for a plurality of attributes of the challenge data;

and selectively communicating the challenge data based on at least one of the plurality of attributes of the challenge data.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the plurality of attributes of the challenge data include an entertainment attribute indicative of a historical entertainment measure pertaining to the challenge data.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the plurality of attributes of the challenge data include a monetization attribute indicative of a historical monetization measure pertaining to the challenge data.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the plurality of attributes of the challenge data include an information attribute indicative of a historical information contribution attributable to the challenge data.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the historical information contribution comprises at least one of a historical profile information contribution and a historical relationship information contribution.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein the social game system facilitates access to a plurality of challenge games, the method further including accessing a sequence of the plurality of games, generating a user interface depicting the sequence of the plurality of games, and providing a visual indication of progress of a user through the sequence of the plurality of games.

41. The method of claim 1, wherein the challenge data is quiz data.

42. A system to share game challenges between users of a social game system, the system comprising:

at least on database storing relationship data relating to relationships between the users of the social game system and challenge data relating to a user challenge presentable within the context of a challenge game; and

a game module, implemented using at least one processor, configured to selectively communicating the challenge data as part of a challenge relating to a first user to a second user,

wherein the challenge forms part of a challenge game and wherein the challenge data is selectively communicated based on at least one of the challenge data or the relationships between the users reflected by the relationship data.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the challenge data includes a plurality of challenge templates, and wherein the game module is configured to select a challenge template from the plurality of challenge templates based on relationship between the first user and the second user.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the at least one database stores at least one attribute of the challenge data and at least one attribute of the relationship data;

and the game module is configured to selectively communicate the challenge data based on a comparison of the at least one attribute of the challenge data and the at least one attribute of the relationship data.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the at least one attribute of the relationship data is a type attribute;

and the game module is configured to selectively communicate the challenge data based on a type of the relationship between the first user and the second user as reflected in the relationship data.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the at least one attribute of the relationship data is a relationship strength attribute;

and the game module is configured to selectively communicate the challenge data based on a strength of the relationship between the first user and the second user as reflected in the relationship data.

47. The system of claim 42, comprising an interface component configured to retrieve the relationship data from a third party social networking platform.

48. The system of claim 42, wherein the game module is configured to generate the relationship data based on at least one of interactions within the social game system and data received from a third party social networking platform.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the game module is configured to generate the relationship data using challenge processing algorithms, the challenge processing algorithms including at least one of machine learning algorithms and non-machine learning algorithms.

50. The system of claim 48, wherein the relationship data includes a plurality of relationship attributes pertaining to relationships between users of the social game system.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the plurality of relationship attributes include a knowledge attribute having a knowledge value indicative of an assessed knowledge of the second user with respect to the first user.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the game module is configured to present a plurality of challenges to the second user regarding the first user;

and to generate the knowledge value being based on an accuracy of responses of the second user to the plurality of challenges regarding the first user.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the game module is configured to receive a response to a first challenge of the plurality of challenges from the second user;

and to access profile of the first user within the at least one database to assess the accuracy of the response.

54. The system of claim 42, wherein the game module is configured to access profile data in the at least one database, wherein the profile data pertaining to the users of the social game system, wherein the challenge data comprises a plurality of challenge templates;

and wherein the game module is configured to select a challenge template from the plurality of challenge templates based on profile data of the second user retrieved from the at least one database.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the profile data of the second user includes historical communications data identifying historical communications of challenge data to the second user;

and the game module is configured to perform the selection of the challenge template using the historical communications data.

56. The system of claim 54, wherein the game module is configured to populate the selected challenge template using the profile data from the at least one database, the profile data pertaining to the users of the social game system.

57. The system of claim 54, wherein the game module is configured to generate the profile data based on at least one of interactions within the social game system and data received from a third party social networking platform.

58. The system of claim 54, wherein the generating of the profile data is performed using challenge processing algorithms, the challenge processing algorithms including at least one of machine learning algorithms and non-machine learning algorithms.

59. The system of claim 42, wherein the game module is configured to generate respective attribute values for a plurality of attributes of the challenge data;

and to selectively communicating the challenge data based on at least one of the plurality of attributes of the challenge data.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the plurality of attributes of the challenge data include an entertainment attribute indicative of a historical entertainment measure pertaining to the challenge data.

61. The system of claim 59, wherein the plurality of attributes of the challenge data include a monetization attribute indicative of a historical monetization measure pertaining to the challenge data.

62. The system of claim 59, wherein the plurality of attributes of the challenge data include an information attribute indicative of a historical information contribution attributable to the challenge data.