Mobile device interface for online games

• US 9,731,198 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2011
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Lam, Serena, Auterio, Kathleen, Ersever, Deniz, Wang, Jackson, Mullin, Benjamin, Kheskani, Hardik
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Milap
• Assistant Examiner(s): PINHEIRO, JASON PAUL
• Application Number:
  US13/244,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20120015743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,150 Days
• Field of Search: 705 35, 463 42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/55 Controlling game characters or game objects based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/209 characterized by low level software layer, relating to hardware management, e.g. Operating System, Application Programming Interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5513 involving billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to games and applications in general, and in particular to computer-implemented online games playable on mobile device. The computer-implemented online game may be played via a mobile user interface or via a browser. The mobile user interface may allow access to a first set of in-game actions related to a game event, and the browser may allow access to a second set of in-game actions related to the game event, where the first set of in-game actions related to the game event is smaller in number than the second set of in-game actions related to the game event.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a data store of game state information corresponding to one or more instances of a computer-implemented game;

a mobile server comprising one or more hardware processors that are in communication with the data store and that are configured to implement a mobile user interface on a mobile client device and to provide player access via the mobile client device to a plurality of mobile in-game actions that includes a first set of in-game actions related to a game event, the first set of in-game actions cumulatively performable responsive to a common player command and cumulatively resulting in occurrence of the game event when the first set of in-game actions are performed in a particular instance of the computer-implemented game via the mobile client device, each in-game action comprising a player-controlled action performed within a game after a start of gameplay by a corresponding player, each mobile in-game action being represented by display of one or more display elements via a graphical user interface on the mobile client device; and

an Internet server comprising at least one hardware processor device that is in communication with the data store and that is configured to implement a browser on a client system and to provide access via the client system to a plurality of browser in-game actions that includes a second set of in-game actions related to the game event, wherein the first set of in-game actions related to the game event is smaller in number than the second set of in-game actions related to the game event, the second set of in-game actions separately performable responsive to a respective player command and cumulatively resulting in the game event when the second set of in-game actions are performed in the particular instance of the computer-implemented game on the browser, wherein the mobile server is configured such that at least a portion of the second set of in-game actions is unavailable to the player for separate performance via the mobile client device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile user interface is accessible by the mobile client device, alternative to the browser.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the game event is an outcome of one of an engagement, a provision of access, rights or benefits associated with the user, or an obtaining of an asset.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the asset is any one or a combination of health, money, strength, inventory, and land.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the game event is determined by any one or a combination of game rules, player character in-game actions, player character state, game state, and interaction of other players.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first set of in-game actions is a subset of the second set of in-game actions.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first set of actions includes at least one in-game action that is not included in the second set of in-game actions.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one in-game action includes one or more convenience in-game actions, each convenience in-game action allowing single-action performance of a corresponding action in the first set of in-game actions with respect to a plurality of in-game objects.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the second set of in-game actions includes at least one in-game action that is not included in the first set of in-game actions.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first set of in-game actions comprises a single collective action performed on a plurality of different objects, the single collective action only achievable via the browser by separate performance of a corresponding in-game action on respective game objects.

11. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

storing game state information corresponding to one or more instances of a computer-implemented game;

implementing, using a mobile server in communication with the data store, a mobile user interface on a mobile client device, the mobile server implemented using at least one of one or more hardware processors and configured to provide player access via the mobile client device to a plurality of mobile in-game actions that includes a first set of in-game actions related to a game event, the first set of in-game actions cumulatively performable responsive to a common player command and cumulatively resulting in occurrence of the game event when the first set of in-game actions are performed in a particular instance of the computer-implemented game via the mobile client device, each in-game action comprising a player-controlled action performed within a game after a start of gameplay by a corresponding player, each mobile in-game action being represented by display of one or more display elements via a graphical user interface on the mobile client device; and

implementing, using an Internet server in communication with the data store, a browser on a client system, the client system implemented using at least one of the one or more hardware processors and configured to provide access via the client system to a plurality of browser in-game actions that includes a second set of in-game actions related to the game event, wherein the first set of in-game actions related to the game event is smaller in number than the second set of in-game actions related to the game event, the second set of in-game actions separately performable responsive to a respective player command and cumulatively resulting in the game event when the second set of in-game actions are performed in the particular instance of the computer-implemented game on the browser, wherein the mobile server is configured such that at least a portion of the second set of in-game actions is unavailable to the player for separate performance via the mobile client device.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the first set of in-game actions is a subset of the second set of in-game actions.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the first set of actions includes at least one in-game action that is not included in the second set of in-game actions.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the at least one in-game action includes one or more convenience in-game actions, each convenience in-game action allowing single-action performance of a corresponding action in the first set of in-game actions with respect to a plurality of in-game objects.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the second set of in-game actions includes at least one in-game action that is not included in the first set of in-game actions.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the first set of in-game actions comprises a single collective action performed on a plurality of different objects, the single collective action only achievable via the browser by separate performance of a corresponding in-game action on respective game objects.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations, comprising:

storing game state information corresponding to one or more instances of a computer-implemented game;

implementing, using a mobile server in communication with the data store, a mobile user interface on a mobile client device, the mobile server configured to provide player access via the mobile client device to a plurality of mobile in-game actions that includes a first set of in-game actions related to a game event, the first set of in-game actions cumulatively performable responsive to a common player command and cumulatively resulting in occurrence of the game event when the first set of in-game actions are performed in a particular instance of the computer-implemented game via the mobile client device, each in-game action comprising a player-controlled action performed within a game after a start of gameplay by a corresponding player, each mobile in-game action being represented by display of one or more display elements via a graphical user interface on the mobile client device, and

implementing, using an Internet server in communication with the data store, a browser on a client system, the client system configured to provide access via the client system to a plurality of browser in-game actions that includes a second set of in-game actions related to the game event, wherein the first set of in-game actions related to the game event is smaller in number than the second set of in-game actions related to the game event, the second set of in-game actions separately performable responsive to a respective player command and cumulatively resulting in the game event when the second set of in-game actions are performed in the particular instance of the computer-implemented game on the browser, wherein the mobile server is configured such that at least a portion of the second set of in-game actions is unavailable to the player for separate performance via the mobile client device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the first set of in-game actions is a subset of the second set of in-game actions.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the first set of actions includes at least one in-game action that is not included in the second set of in-game actions.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the at least one in-game action includes one or more convenience in-game actions, each convenience in-game action allowing single-action performance of a corresponding action in the first set of in-game actions with respect to a plurality of in-game objects.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the second set of in-game actions includes at least one in-game action that is not included in the first set of in-game actions.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the game event is an outcome of one of an engagement, a provision of access, rights or benefits associated with the user, or an obtaining of an asset.