Integrating client devices into a game networking system

• US 8,858,338 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2011
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Bethke, Erik Paul, Koenigsberg, Scott, Mahajan, Amitt, Ocko, Matthew Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Deodhar, Omkar
• Assistant Examiner(s): RENWICK, REGINALD A
• Application Number:
  US13/244,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20130005474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5378 for displaying an additional top view, e.g. radar screens or maps using two or more virtual cameras concurrently A63F13/5252
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• 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 2300/556 Player lists, e.g. online players, buddy list, black list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 : constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 : Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information

Abstract

A method of integrating client devices into a game networking system is disclosed. A location of a client device of a user of a group of users is enabled to be detected by a game networking system. A notification is received from the game networking system of an incentive reward to be provided to the user based on the group of users performing a set of tasks at the location within a time period. The notification is displayed in a user interface of the client device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

enabling a location of a client device of a user of a group of users to be detected by a game networking system, the group of users being friends with respect to a social networking system, the social networking system providing at least one social networking service unrelated to the game networking system;

receiving a notification at the client device of a detection of a presence at the location of an additional client device of an additional user of the group of users from the game networking system; and

displaying the notification in a user interface of the client device, the notification notifying the user of the group of users of an option to request assistance from the additional user of the group of users in completing a location-based action at the location, the displaying of the notification based on the enabling of the location of the client device of the user of the group of users to be detected by the game networking system and the receiving of the notification from the game networking system of the detecting of the presence of the location of the additional client device of the additional user of the group of users.

2. The method of claim 1, detecting a performing of a task of a set of tasks by the user of the group of users.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the detecting of the performing of the task includes detecting a communication between the client device and a system external to the game networking system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the system external to the game networking system is a client device of the additional user of the group of users.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising communicating the detecting of the performing of the task to the game networking system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the enabling of the location of the client device of the user to be detected by the game networking system includes enabling a communication between the client device and a network associated with the location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the user of the group of users is to receive an incentive reward for the completing of the location-based action at the location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the social networking system is operated by a party that is separate from an additional party that operates the game networking system.

9. A system comprising a processor-implemented client executing on a client device, the processor-implemented client configured to:

enable a location of a client device of a user of a group of users to be detected by a game networking system, the group of users being friends with respect to a social networking system, the social networking system providing at least one social networking service unrelated to the game networking system;

receive a notification at the client device of a detection of a presence at the location of an additional client device of an additional user of the group of users from the game networking system; and

display the notification in a user interface of the client device, the notification notifying the user of the group of users of an option to request assistance from the additional user of the group of users in completing a location-based action at the location, the displaying of the notification based on the enabling of the location of the client device of the user of the group of users to be detected by the game networking system and the receiving of the notification from the game networking system of the detecting of the presence of the location of the additional client device of the additional user of the group of users.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor-implemented client is further configured to detect a performing of a task of a set of tasks by the user of the group of users.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the detecting of the performing of the task includes detecting a communication between the client device and a system external to the game networking system.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the system external to the game networking system is a client device of the additional user of the group of users.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor-implemented client is further configured to communicate the detecting of the performing of the task to the game networking system.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the enabling of the location of the client device of the user to be detected by the game networking system includes enabling a communication between the client device and a network associated with the location.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computer system, cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:

enabling a location of a client device of a user of a group of users to be detected by a game networking system, the group of users being friends with respect to a social networking system, the social networking system providing at least one social networking service unrelated to the game networking system;

receiving a notification at the client device of a detection of a presence at the location of an additional client device of an additional user of the group of users from the game networking system; and

displaying the notification in a user interface of the client device, the notification notifying the user of the group of users of an option to request assistance from the additional user of the group of users in completing a location-based action at the location, the displaying of the notification based on the enabling of the location of the client device of the user of the group of users to be detected by the game networking system and the receiving of the notification from the game networking system of the detecting of the presence of the location of the additional client device of the additional user of the group of users.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the operations further comprising detecting a performing of a task of a set of tasks by the user of the group of users.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the detecting of the performing of the task includes detecting a communication between the client device and a system external to the game networking system.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the system external to the game networking system is a client device of an additional user of the group of users.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the operations further comprising communicating the detecting of the performing of the task to the game networking system.