System for user interaction around a common computer game objective

• US 9,457,278 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2011
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Sethi, Sudhanshu Pintu, Ocko, Matthew Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): RENWICK, REGINALD A
• Application Number:
  US13/244,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20120252579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,835 Days
• Field of Search: 463/35, 463/39, 463/42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• 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 13/847 Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/556 Player lists, e.g. online players, buddy list, black list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5566 by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A computer-implemented method comprises identifying a user of a computer-implemented game to interact with a further user in pursuit of a common game objective. The identifying is performed based at least partially on the user not being directly related, as reflected within relationship data, with the further user. Interactions, within the computer implemented-game, between the further user and the user in the pursuit of the common game objective of the computer-implemented game are enabled responsive to the identifying of the user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

ranking a plurality of users based on a suitability for interacting on achieving a common game objective of a computer-implemented game with a further user;

in an automated operation performed using one or more computer processor devices configured therefor, identifying a user of the ranked plurality of users of the computer-implemented game to interact with the further user in pursuit of the common game objective in response to the further user encountering the common game objective after a start of game play, the identifying being based on the user not being directly related, as reflected within relationship data, with the further user; and

using at least one processor, establishing a first network-based connection, within the computer implemented-game, for performing network-based interactions between the further user and the identified user in the pursuit of the common game objective of the computer-implemented game, the establishing comprising

causing display in a graphical user interface of the computer-implemented game on a user device associated with the further user of a graphical user interface element for accepting an interaction request, the interaction request identifying the identified user,

receiving a first interaction confirmation from the user device associated with the further user, the first interaction confirmation generated in response to an interaction of the further user with the graphical user interface element for accepting the interaction request,

modifying the relationship data to establish an association between the further user and the identified user in the relationship data based on the first interaction confirmation, and

establishing a plurality of network-based connections for enabling a plurality of players, including the identified user and the further user, to pursue the common game objective.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the user to interact with the further user involves:

ranking a plurality of users of the computer-implemented game according to degree of separation, as reflected within the relationship data, from the further user; and

the identifying being based on the ranking of the plurality of users.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the user to interact with the further user involves:

ranking a plurality of users of the computer-implemented game according to game level proximity to the further user; and

identifying the user based on the ranking of the plurality users.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the identified user is at most three game levels of the computer-implemented game apart from the further user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending an opt-in request to the identified user, wherein the opt-in request includes at least an option for the identified user to opt-in to an interaction mechanic;

receiving an opt-in indication from the identified user of the computer-implemented game, wherein the opt-in indication indicates that the identified user is opting-in to the interaction mechanic of the computer-implemented game; and

recording the identified user as opted into the interaction mechanism based on the opt-in indication.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the interaction request further includes an option for the further user to opt-in to interactions with geographically-proximate users.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein an interaction indication further indicates that the further user is opting-in to interactions with geographically-proximate users;

and

wherein the identifying of the user to interact with the further user involves identifying a set of users associated with a first geographic location that is within a predetermined distance from a second geographic location associated with the further user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the opt in interaction request is sent to the further user in response to determining that the further user has not achieved the game objective.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the interaction request is sent to the further user in response to detecting a decrease in game interactions by the further user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the interaction request is sent to the further user in response to the identifying of the identified user.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a second interaction confirmation from a user device associated with the identified user, establishing of the plurality of network-based connections being performed based at least in part on receipt of the second interaction.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the interaction request identifies the common game objective.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the common game objective includes at least one of:

a new game challenge which the further user has not initiated;

a current game challenge which the further user has not completed;

a game level which the further user has not reached; and

a virtual good which the further user has not obtained.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the common game objective includes a competitive challenge of the computer-implemented game;

and

wherein interactions between the further user and the identified user include the further user and the identified user competing to achieve the common game objective.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the common game objective includes a cooperative challenge of the computer-implemented game;

and

wherein interactions between the further user and the identified user include the further user and the identified user cooperating to achieve the common game objective.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the cooperating involves the further user and the identified user participating in a synchronous interaction.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the cooperative challenge is a timed challenge.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selection of the user to interact with the further user involves:

ranking a plurality of users of the computer-implemented game according to degree of separation, as reflected within the relationship data, from the further user; and

identifying the selected user based on the ranking of the plurality of users.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the user to introduce to the further user involves:

ranking a plurality of users of the computer-implemented game according to game level proximity to the further user; and

identifying the user based on the ranking of the plurality of users.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a ranking module comprising one or more computer processors configured for ranking a plurality of users based on a suitability for interacting on achieving a common game objective of a computer-implemented game with a further user;

an introduction module comprising at least one computer processor configured to establish a first network-based connection for performing network-based interactions between a user and the further user of the computer-implemented game in response to the further user encountering the common game objective after a start of game play, wherein the introduction module is configured to select the user of the ranked plurality of users to interact with the further user based on the selected user not being directly associated, as reflected within relationship data, with the further user;

an association module comprising one or more computer processor devices configured to associate the further user and the selected user with the common game objective of the computer-implemented game, based on the selection of the selected user by the introduction module, thereby allowing the further user and the selected user to interact to achieve the common game objective; and

a facilitation module configured to;

cause display in a graphical user interface of the computer-implemented game on

a user device associated with the further user of a graphical user interface element for accepting an interaction request, the interaction request identifying the selected user, receive a first interaction confirmation from the user device associated with the further user, the first interaction confirmation generated in response to an interaction of the further user with the graphical user interface element for accepting the interaction request, modify the relationship data to establish an association between the further user and the selected user in the relationship data based on the first interaction confirmation, and establishing a plurality of network-based connections for enabling a plurality of players, including the selected user and the further user, to pursue the common game objective.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising an opt-in module to:

send an opt-in request to the selected user, wherein the opt-in request includes at least an option for the selected user to opt-in to interactions with other users of the computer-implemented game;

receive an opt-in indication from the selected user of the computer-implemented game, wherein the opt-in indication indicates that the selected user is opting-in to the interactions with other users of the computer-implemented game; and

record the selected user as opted in based on the opt-in indication.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the opt-in module sends the interaction request to the further user in response to identifying that the further user has not achieved the common game objective.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the opt-in module sends the interaction request to the further user in response to detecting a decrease in game interactions from the further user.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the opt-in module sends the interaction request to the further user in response to the identifying of the selected user, and identifying that the further user is not opted into the interaction module.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the common game objective includes a cooperative challenge of the computer-implemented game;

wherein interactions between the further user and the selected user include the further user and the selected user cooperating to achieve the common game objective; and

wherein the cooperating involves the fun user and the selected user participating in a synchronous interaction.