Social Network Data Analysis to Generate Suggestion Metrics for Online Gaming

• US 20140004953A1
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Rama Rao, Sudhir Kumar, Yessayan, Ara Nicholas Jr., Bettner, Paul David, Bettner, David, Malabuyo, Paolo, Gregorski, Benjamin F., Chow, Michael, Choo, Yie Lyn
• Application Number:
  US13/537,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20140004953A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods for cross suggesting games are described. One of the methods includes obtaining group data associated with a first web account group. The group data is associated with a first game and a first user group playing the first game. The method further includes identifying the first game to suggest to a second user based on the group data. The group data includes data regarding use of the first game by the first user group. The first user group includes network friends of the first user. The method also includes sending data identifying of the first game to a client device that is operated to access a second web account of the second user.

Claims

1. A method for cross suggesting games, the method comprising:

obtaining group data associated with a first web account group, the group data associated with a first game and a first user group playing the first game;

identifying the first game to suggest to a second user based on the group data, wherein the group data includes data regarding use of the first game by the first user group, the first user group including network friends of the first user; and

sending data identifying of the first game to a client device that is operated to access a second web account of the second user,

wherein the method is executed by one or more processors.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the group data comprises obtaining data regarding the network friends, data regarding the second user, data regarding use of the first game by the second user, data regarding use of games other than the first game by the network friends, or a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the data regarding the network friends comprises genders of the network friends, ages of the network friends, likes of the network friends, dislikes of the network friends, interests of the network friends, hobbies of the network friends, or a combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the data regarding the second user comprises an age of the second user, a gender of the second user, likes of the second user, dislikes of the second user, interests of the second user, hobbies of the second user, or a combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the data regarding the use of the first game by the second user includes a number of times the first game is played by the second user during a time period, an amount of time the first game is played by the second user during the time period, a number of downloads of the first game by the second user during the time period, a number of times preview of the first game is viewed by the second user during the time period, a number of times the first game is indicated as being liked by the second user during the time period, a number of times a mention of the first game is posted within the second web account of the second user, or a combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the data regarding use of the first game by the network friends includes a number of times the first game is played by each of the network friends during a time period, an amount of time the first game is played by each of the network friends during the time period, a number of downloads of the first game by each of the network friends during the time period, a number of times preview of the first game is viewed by each of the network friends during the time period, a number of times the first game is indicated as being liked by each of the network friends during that time period, a number of times a mention of the first game is posted within web accounts of each of the network friends, whether each of the network friends paid for the first game, or a combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the data regarding use of the other games by the network friends includes a number of times the other games are played by each of the network friends during a time period, an amount of time the other games are played by each of the network friends during the time period, a number of downloads of the other games by each of the network friends during the time period, a number of times previews of the other games are viewed by each of the network friends during the time period, a number of times the other games are indicated as being liked by each of the network friends during that time period, a number of times a mention of the other games are posted within web accounts of each of the network friends, whether each of the network friends paid for the other games, or a combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first web account group and the second web account are maintained within a social network, wherein each of the first web account group and the second web account is maintained on the World Wide Web.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first web account group is maintained within a first social network and the second web account is maintained within a second social network, wherein the first social network is controlled by a first entity, wherein the second social network is controlled by a second entity.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein this first web account group is maintained within a social network and the second web account is maintained within a gaming network, wherein each of the first web account group and the second web account is maintained on the World Wide Web.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the first game to suggest to the second user comprises determining data associated with a name of the first game or data associated with a symbol of the first game.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the first game to suggest to the second user based on the group data comprises identifying the first game based on data regarding the network friends, data regarding the second user, data regarding use of the first game by the second user, the data regarding use of the first game by the first user group, data regarding use of games other than the first game by the network friends, or a combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the first game to suggest to the second user based on the group data comprises identifying the first game to suggest to the second user based on a comparison of data regarding the network friends with data regarding the second user, a comparison of the data regarding use of the first game by the first user group with use of the first game by the second user and with use of other games by the network friends, or a combination thereof.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first game is suggested within the second web account by storing the identification of the first game within the second web account.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the client device includes a mobile device, the mobile device including a tablet or cell phone.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the data identifying the first game comprises sending a name of the first game or a symbol of the first game, wherein sending the data identifying the first game comprises sending the data identifying the first game to the client device, the client device operates to play a second game, the second game different than the first game.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the group data includes whether the network friends paid to play the first game, wherein identifying the first game comprises identifying the first game based on a determination that the network friends paid to play the first game.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving one or more social contexts of the network friends.

19. A method for cross suggesting games, the method comprising:

obtaining group data associated with a first web account group, the group data associated with a first game and a first user group playing the first game, the first game played using the first web account group;

generating rank data to rank the first game within a set of games based on the group data;

associating the rank data with a second web account of a second user, the first user group including network friends of the second user; and

sending the rank data to a client device that is operated to access the second web account,

wherein the method is executed by one or more processors.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein sending the rank data to the client device is performed to facilitate a display of the rank of the first game before any game is played by the second user.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein generating the rank data comprises generating data that represents an order of display of the first game within the set of games.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein generating the rank data comprises generating alphanumeric data that indicates the rank of the first game within the set of games.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein associating the rank data with the second web account comprises associating the rank data to display the rank data with a display the second web account.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein sending the rank data comprises sending the rank data via a network to the client device.

25. A server system for cross suggesting games, the server system comprising:

a processor configured to identify a first game that is used by a first user group based on group data, the group data associated with a first web account group of the first user group, the group data includes data regarding use of the first game by the first user group, the first game identified to suggest to a second user, the first user group including network friends of the first user;

a network interface controller configured to send data identifying the first game to a client device, the client device that is operated to access a second web account of the second user; and

a memory device configured to store the identification of the first game.