Social information game system

• US 8,727,885 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Berger, Jonathan, Helmer, Edmund Wright, Munie, Michael, Rao, Shailendra Ramineni, Shoham, Yoav, Vu, Thuc D.
• Primary Examiner(s): TORIMIRO, ADETOKUNBO OLUSEGUN
• Application Number:
  US12/974,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20120122588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 463/27, 463/40, 463/41, 463/42, 434/118, 273/292, 273/243, 709/203, 709204-207, 709/212, 709/216, 705/14.16, 705/16
• 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 computer-implemented method to provide game challenges among users within a social game system, the method comprising:

receiving interaction data, the interaction data reflecting one or more interactions between a first user and a second user within the social game system;

generating relationship data based on the interaction data, the relationship data including

     1) a type of relationship between the first user and the second user,

     2) a strength of the a relationship between the first user and the second user, and

     3) knowledge of the second user with respect to the first user, the knowledge based on determining an accuracy of responses by the second user to a plurality of questions by the first user;

generating a particular game challenge for the second user based on the relationship data generated, the particular game challenge including a different plurality of questions about the first user for response by the second user;

providing the particular game challenge about the first user to the second user;

determining a cumulative knowledge value for the second user based on the accuracy of the responses by the second user to the different plurality of questions about the first user, the cumulative knowledge value indicative of assessed knowledge of the second user with respect to the first user; and

generating a ranking score for the second user based on the cumulative knowledge value of the second user.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein generating the particular game challenge further comprises:

selecting a particular game challenge template, from a plurality of game challenge templates, based on at least one of the relationship data and the interaction data; and

populating the game challenge template with the relationship data.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining at least one attribute of the plurality of game challenge templates; and

determining at least one attribute of the relationship data, wherein

selecting the particular game challenge template is based on a comparison of the at least one attribute of the plurality of game challenge templates and the at least one attribute of the relationship data.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the at least one attribute of the relationship data is the type of the relationship between the first user and the second user, and wherein selecting the particular game challenge template is based on the type of the relationship between the first user and the second user.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising assessing the type of the relationship based on information communicated between the first user and the second user.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the at least one attribute of the relationship data is the strength of the relationship between the first user and the second user, and wherein selecting the particular game challenge template is based on the strength of the relationship between the first user and the second user.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:

assessing the strength of the relationship between the first user and the second user 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 determined from the relationship data.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the strength of the relationship is based on proximity of the first user to the second user.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the at least one attribute of the relationship data is at least one of a binary value relationship attribute and a range value relationship attribute.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

generating respective attribute values for a plurality of attributes of the plurality of game challenge templates,

wherein selecting the particular game challenge template is based on at least one of the plurality of attributes of the plurality of game challenge templates.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of attributes include an entertainment attribute indicative of a historical entertainment measure pertaining to the plurality of game challenge templates.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of attributes include a monetization attribute indicative of a historical monetization measure pertaining to the plurality of game challenge templates.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of attributes include an information attribute indicative of a historical information contribution attributable to the plurality of game challenge templates.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the historical information contribution comprises at least one of a historical profile information contribution and a historical relationship information contribution.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving the relationship data from a third party social networking platform.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the relationship data defines explicit relationship data about at least one of the first user or the second user.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the relationship data defines implicit relationship data about at least one of the first user or the second user.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein generating of the particular game challenge is performed using challenge processing algorithms, the challenge processing algorithms including at least one of machine learning algorithms and non-machine learning algorithms.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein generating the relationship data further comprises maintaining a plurality of relationship attributes pertaining to relationships between the first user and the second user.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the knowledge a knowledge depth of the second user with respect to the first user, the knowledge depth being assessed based on a determined assessment of the knowledge of the second user about the first user on a specific topic.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the knowledge a knowledge breadth of the second user with respect to the first user, the knowledge breadth being assessed based on a determined assessment of the knowledge of the second user about the first user across a plurality of topics.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a response to the particular game challenge about the first user from the second user;

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

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, further comprising:

determining that the profile of the first user does not include an attribute value corresponding to the response received to the particular game 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 the update, providing an indication to the second user regarding the accuracy of the response.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a first response to the particular game 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 particular game challenge.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, further comprising selectively presenting the first response to the first user based on the second user providing the first response to the particular game challenge.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing profile data in a profile database, the profile data pertaining to the first user and the second user, wherein the second user is associated with a social graph of the first user of the social game system; and

selecting a particular game challenge template, from a plurality of game challenge templates, based on the profile data from the profile database.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 26, further comprising populating the particular game challenge template using the profile data from the profile database, the profile data pertaining to the first user and the second user.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 26, further comprising:

determining at least one attribute of the plurality of game challenge templates;

determining at least one attribute of the profile data pertaining to the first user and the second user; and

generating the particular game challenge based on a comparison of the at least one attribute of the plurality of game challenge templates and the at least one attribute of the profile data.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 26, wherein accessing the profile data further comprises receiving the profile data from a third party social networking platform.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 29, wherein accessing the profile data further comprises receiving explicit profile data associated with the first user and the second user.

31. The computer-implemented method of claim 29, wherein accessing the profile data further comprises receiving implicit profile data associated with the first user and the second user.

32. The computer-implemented method of claim 29, wherein accessing 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.

33. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the interaction data includes historical communications data identifying historical communications between the first user and the second user, and wherein generating the particular game challenge is based on the historical communications data.

34. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the social game system facilitates access to a plurality of challenge games, the method further comprising:

accessing a sequence of the plurality of challenge games;

generating a user interface depicting the sequence of the plurality of challenge games; and

providing a visual indication of progress of a user through the sequence of the plurality of challenge games.

35. A system comprising:

one or more computers; and

one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon, the instruction being operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising;

receiving interaction data, the interaction data reflecting one or more interactions between a first user and a second user within the social game system;

generating relationship data based on the interaction data, the relationship data indicative of

     1) a type of relationship between the first user and the second user,

     2) a strength of the relationship between the first user and the second user, and

     3) knowledge of the second user with respect to the first user, the knowledge based on determining an accuracy of responses by the second user to a plurality of questions by the first user;

generating a particular game challenge for the second user based on the relationship data generated, the particular game challenge including a different plurality of questions about the first user for response by the second user;

providing the particular game challenge about the first user to the second user;

determining a cumulative knowledge value for the second user based on an accuracy of the responses by the second user to the different plurality of questions about the first user, the cumulative knowledge value indicative of assessed knowledge of the second user with respect to the first user; and

generating a ranking score for the second user based on the cumulative knowledge value of the second user.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein generating the particular game challenge further comprises:

selecting a particular game challenge template, from a plurality of game challenge templates, based on at least one of the relationship data and the interaction data; and

populating the game challenge template with the relationship data.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the operations further comprise:

generating respective attribute values for a plurality of attributes of the plurality of game challenge templates, and

wherein selecting the particular game challenge template is based on at least one of the plurality of attributes of the plurality of game challenge templates.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining at least one attribute of the plurality of game challenge templates; and

determining at least one attribute of the relationship data, wherein

selecting the particular game challenge template is based on a comparison of the at least one attribute of the plurality of game challenge templates and the at least one attribute of the relationship data.

39. The system of claim 35, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving the relationship data from a third party social networking platform.

40. The system of claim 35, wherein the operations further comprise:

accessing profile data in a profile database, the profile data pertaining to the first user and the second user, wherein the second user is associated with a social graph of the first user of the social game system; and

selecting a particular game challenge template, from a plurality of game challenge templates, based on the profile data from the profile database.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining at least one attribute of the plurality of game challenge templates;

determining at least one attribute of the profile data pertaining to the first user and the second user; and

generating the particular game challenge based on a comparison of the at least one attribute of the plurality of game challenge templates and the at least one attribute of the profile data.

42. The system of claim 35, wherein the social game system facilitates access to a plurality of challenge games, the operations further comprising:

accessing a sequence of the plurality of challenge games;

generating a user interface depicting the sequence of the plurality of challenge games; and

providing a visual indication of progress of a user through the sequence of the plurality of challenge games.

44. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein generating the particular game challenge further comprises:

selecting a particular game challenge template, from a plurality of game challenge templates, based on at least one of the relationship data and the interaction data; and

populating the game challenge template with the relationship data.

45. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 44, wherein the operations further comprise:

generating respective attribute values for a plurality of attributes of the plurality of game challenge templates, and

wherein selecting the particular game challenge template is based on at least one of the plurality of attributes of the plurality of game challenge templates.

46. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining at least one attribute of the plurality of game challenge templates data;

determining at least one attribute of the relationship data, wherein

selecting the particular game challenge template based on a comparison of the at least one attribute of the plurality of game challenge templates and the at least one attribute of the relationship data.

43. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with a computer program, the computer program comprising instructions that when executed by one or more computers cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

receiving interaction data, the interaction data reflecting one or more interactions between a first user and a second user within the social game system;

generating relationship data based on the interaction data, the relationship data indicative of

     1) a type of relationship between the first user and the second user,

     2) a strength of the relationship between the first user and the second user, and

     3) knowledge of the second user with respect to the first user, the knowledge based on determining an accuracy of responses by the second user to a plurality of questions by the first user;

generating a particular game challenge for the second user based on the relationship data generated, the particular game challenge including a different plurality of questions about the first user for response by the second user;

providing the particular game challenge about the first user to the second user;

determining a cumulative knowledge value for the second user based on an accuracy of the responses by the second user to the different plurality of questions about the first user, the cumulative knowledge value indicative of assessed knowledge of the second user with respect to the first user; and

generating a ranking score for the second user based on the cumulative knowledge value of the second user.

47. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving the relationship data from a third party social networking platform.

48. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the operations further comprise:

accessing profile data in a profile database, the profile data pertaining to the first user and the second user, wherein the second user is associated with a social graph of the first user of the social game system; and

selecting a particular game challenge template, from a plurality of game challenge templates, based on the profile data from the profile database.

49. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 48, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining at least one attribute of the plurality of game challenge templates;

determining at least one attribute of the profile data pertaining to the first user and the second user; and

generating the particular game challenge based on a comparison of the at least one attribute of the plurality of game challenge templates and the at least one attribute of the profile data.

50. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the social game computer storage medium facilitates access to a plurality of challenge games, the operations further comprising:

accessing a sequence of the plurality of challenge games;

generating a user interface depicting the sequence of the plurality of challenge games; and

providing a visual indication of progress of a user through the sequence of the plurality of challenge games.