Collaborative electronic game play employing player classification and aggregation

• US 9,227,140 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2013
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solocron Entertainment, LLC (Solocron Group, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Solocron Entertainment, LLC (Solocron Group, LLC)
• Inventors: Muller, Marcus S.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US14/020,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20140011595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 463 42- 44
• 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 13/358 Adapting the game course according to the network or server load, e.g. for reducing latency due to different connection speeds between clients
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• 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 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• 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 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/513 server hierarchy, e.g. local, regional, national or dedicated for different tasks, e.g. authenticating, billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/534 for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
• 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 2300/5566 by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/558 by assessing the players' skills or ranking
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5593 involving scheduling aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 : Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 : for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels

Abstract

A method and system tracks, analyzes or sorts behaviors of user or players across a network to draw correlations from, or characterizations of, those user or players and identifies similarly characterized or mutually complementary user or players. For example, the method automatically obtains player data regarding interactions by each of multiple players with a multiplayer electronic game via each player'"'"'s corresponding data processing device connected via the network. The method can then sort, classify or suggest additional activities, games, groups, or other different activities or actions for the players.

Claims

1. A method for characterizing users of networked computer games, the method comprising:

identifying one or more characteristics of a first user of a first networked computer game;

automatically identifying, with computer hardware comprising one or more processors, one or more actions performed by the first user, wherein the first user employs a data processing device in communication with the networked computer game via a public computer network;

determining at least a first criterion based at least in part on the one or more characteristics of the first user and the one or more actions performed by the first user;

associating the first criterion with the first user;

identifying one or more characteristics of one or more second users of the first networked computer game;

automatically identifying, with computer hardware comprising one or more processors, one or more actions performed by the one or more second users, wherein the one or more second users employ one or more data processing devices in communication with the first networked computer game via the public computer network;

determining one or more second criterion based at least in part on the one or more characteristics of the one or more second users and the one or more actions performed by the one or more second users;

associating the one or more second criterion with the one or more second users;

analyzing the first criterion and the one or more second criterion to determine one or more relationships between the first criterion and the one or more second criterion; and

providing, based at least in part on the one or more relationships between the first criterion and the one or more second criterion, the first user with an option related to the first networked computer game that comprises providing the first user with an option to transform an item associated with an avatar of the first user in the first networked computer game into a different item.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more actions performed by the first user comprise movement of a first user avatar in the first networked computer game.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining one or more locations of the first user avatar, wherein the one or more locations comprise locations in the first networked computer game;

identifying one or more characteristics of the first user avatar; and

wherein determining the first criterion is based at least in part on the one or more locations of the first user avatar and the one or more characteristics of the first user avatar.

4. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

determining one or more locations of the first user avatar, wherein the one or more locations comprise locations in the first networked computer game;

identifying one or more actions performed by the first user avatar at the one or more locations; and

wherein determining the first criterion is based at least in part on the one or more locations of the first user avatar and the one or more actions performed by the first user avatar.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more actions performed by the first user comprise one or more combat actions performed by a first user avatar in the first networked computer game.

6. The method of claim 5, the method further comprising:

determining a metric associated with the one or more combat actions performed by the first user avatar at least in part by comparing the one or more combat actions performed by the first user avatar to one or more combat actions performed by one or more other user avatars in the first networked computer game; and

wherein determining the first criterion is based at least in part on the metric associated with the one or more combat actions performed by the first user avatar.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more actions performed by the first user comprise one or more communications by the first user to one or more other users of the first networked computer game.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a metric associated with one or more communications by the first user at least in part by comparing the one or more communications by the first user to one or more communications by one or more other users in the first networked computer game comprises comparing a frequency of communications by the first user to a frequency of communications by the one or more other users.

9. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

identifying a frequency of communications by the first user to one or more recipients that exceeds a threshold related to the first networked computer game; and

associating the first user with the one or more recipients.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first criterion comprises a power-related criterion.

11. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

creating an association between the first user and the one or more second users based at least in part on the one or more relationships between the first criterion and the one or more second criterion; and

wherein providing, based at least in part on the one or more relationships between the first criterion and the one or more second criterion, the first user with an option related to a networked computer game comprises providing, based in part on the association between the first user and the one or more second users, the first user with an option related to a networked computer game.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the first criterion and the one or more second criterion to determine one or more relationships between the first criterion and the one or more second criterion comprises determining one or more relationships between the first criterion and the one or more second criterion to a threshold related to the first networked computer game.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first criterion comprises a type of user.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the different item comprises an item in a second networked computer game.

15. A method for characterizing users of networked computer games, the method comprising:

identifying one or more characteristics of a first user of a first networked computer game;

automatically identifying, with computer hardware comprising one or more processors, one or more actions performed by the first user, wherein the first user employs a data processing device in communication with the networked computer game via a public computer network;

determining at least a first criterion based at least in part on the one or more characteristics of the first user and the one or more actions performed by the first user;

associating the first criterion with the first user;

identifying one or more characteristics of one or more second users of the first networked computer game;

automatically identifying, with computer hardware comprising one or more processors, one or more actions performed by the one or more second users, wherein the one or more second users employ one or more data processing devices in communication with the first networked computer game via the public computer network;

determining one or more second criterion based at least in part on the one or more characteristics of the one or more second users and the one or more actions performed by the one or more second users;

associating the one or more second criterion with the one or more second users;

analyzing the first criterion and the one or more second criterion to determine one or more relationships between the first criterion and the one or more second criterion; and

providing, based at least in part on the one or more relationships between the first criterion and the one or more second criterion, the first user with an option related to the first networked computer game to transform a first avatar of the first user in the first networked computer game into a second avatar.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the second avatar comprises a second avatar in a second networked computer game.

17. A method for characterizing users of networked computer games, the method comprising:

identifying one or more characteristics of a first user of a first networked computer game;

automatically identifying, with computer hardware comprising one or more processors, one or more actions performed by the first user, wherein the first user employs a data processing device in communication with the networked computer game via a public computer network;

determining at least a first criterion based at least in part on the one or more characteristics of the first user and the one or more actions performed by the first user;

associating the first criterion with the first user;

identifying one or more characteristics of one or more second users of the first networked computer game;

automatically identifying, with computer hardware comprising one or more processors, one or more actions performed by the one or more second users, wherein the one or more second users employ one or more data processing devices in communication with the networked computer game via the public computer network;

determining one or more second criterion based at least in part on the one or more characteristics of the one or more second users and the one or more actions performed by the one or more second users;

associating the one or more second criterion with the one or more second users;

analyzing the first criterion and the one or more second criterion to determine one or more relationships between the first criterion and the one or more second criterion; and

providing, based at least in part on the one or more relationships between the first criterion and the one or more second criterion, the first user with an option related to the first networked computer game to transfer a first avatar of the first user in the first networked computer game from a first a virtual world in the first networked computer game to one or more second virtual worlds in the first networked computer game.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein providing, based at least in part on the one or more relationships between the first criterion and the one or more second criterion, the first user with an option related to a networked computer game further comprises providing the first user with an option to interact with the second user in the first networked computer game.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein providing, based at least in part on the one or more relationships between the first criterion and the one or more second criterion, the first user with an option related to a networked computer game further comprises providing the first user with an option to exclude interacting with the one or more second users in the first networked computer game.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein identifying one or more characteristics of a first user of a first networked computer game further comprises:

identifying one or more items associated with a first avatar of the first user in the first networked computer game; and

determining a metric associated with the one or more items; and

wherein determining the first criterion is based at least in part on the metric associated with the one or more items.

21. A method for characterizing users of networked computer games, the method comprising:

identifying one or more characteristics of a first user of a first networked computer game;

automatically identifying, with computer hardware comprising one or more processors, one or more actions performed by the first user, wherein the first user employs a data processing device in communication with the networked computer game via a public computer network;

determining at least first criterion based at least in part on the one or more characteristics of the first user and the one or more actions performed by the first user;

associating the first criterion with the first user;

identifying one or more characteristics of one or more second users of the first networked computer game;

automatically identifying, with computer hardware comprising one or more processors, one or more actions performed by the one or more second users, wherein the one or more second users employ one or more data processing devices in communication with the networked computer game via the public computer network;

determining one or more second criterion based at least in part on the one or more characteristics of the one or more second users and the one or more actions performed by the one or more second users;

associating the one or more second criterion with the one or more second users;

analyzing the first criterion and the one or more second criterion to determine one or more relationships between the first criterion and the one or more second criterion;

providing, based at least in part on the one or more relationships between the first criterion and the one or more second criterion, the first user with an option related to a networked computer game;

identifying a first data structure associated with the first user, wherein the first data structure associates a first set of users with one or more identifiers, and wherein at least one of the one or more second users is a member of the first set of users; and

wherein the one or more relationships between the first criterion and the one or more second criterion is determined at least in part by the membership of the at least one of the one or more second users in the first set of users and the one or more identifiers associated with the at least one of the one or more second users in the first set of users.

22. A method for characterizing users of networked computer games, the method comprising:

identifying one or more characteristics of a first user of a first networked computer game;

automatically identifying, with computer hardware comprising one or more processors, one or more actions performed by the first user, wherein the first user employs a data processing device in communication with the networked computer game via a public computer network;

determining at least a first criterion based at least in part on the one or more characteristics of the first user and the one or more actions performed by the first user;

associating the first criterion with the first user;

identifying one or more characteristics of one or more second users of the first networked computer game;

automatically identifying, with computer hardware comprising one or more processors, one or more actions performed by the one or more second users, wherein the one or more second users employ one or more data processing devices in communication with the networked computer game via the public computer network;

determining one or more second criterion based at least in part on the one or more characteristics of the one or more second users and the one or more actions performed by the one or more second users;

associating the one or more second criterion with the one or more second users;

analyzing the first criterion and the one or more second criterion to determine one or more relationships between the first criterion and the one or more second criterion;

providing, based at least in part on the one or more relationships between the first criterion and the one or more second criterion, the first user with an option related to a networked computer game;

identifying a first data structure associated with the first user, wherein the first data structure associates a first set of users with one or more identifiers, and wherein a third user is a member of the first set of users;

identifying a second data structure associated with the third user, wherein the second data structure associates a second set of users with one or more identifiers, and wherein at least one of the one or more second users is a member of the second set of users; and

wherein the one or more relationships between the first criterion and the one or more second criterion is determined at least in part by the membership of the at least one of the one or more second users in the second set of users and the one or more

identifiers associated with the at least one of the one or more second users in the second set of users.

23. A method for characterizing users of networked computer games, the method comprising:

identifying one or more characteristics of a first user of a first networked computer game;

automatically identifying, with computer hardware comprising one or more processors, one or more actions performed by the first user, wherein the first user employs a data processing device in communication with the networked computer game via a public computer network;

determining at least a first criterion based at least in part on the one or more characteristics of the first user and the one or more actions performed by the first user;

associating the first criterion with the first user;

identifying one or more characteristics of one or more second users of the first networked computer game;

automatically identifying, with computer hardware comprising one or more processors, one or more actions performed by the one or more second users, wherein the one or more second users employ one or more data processing devices in communication with the networked computer game via the public computer network;

determining one or more second criterion based at least in part on the one or more characteristics of the one or more second users and the one or more actions performed by the one or more second users;

associating the one or more second criterion with the one or more second users;

analyzing the first criterion and the one or more second criterion to determine one or more relationships between the first criterion and the one or more second criterion;

providing, based at least in part on the one or more relationships between the first criterion and the one or more second criterion, the first user with an option related to a networked computer game; and

wherein determining the first criterion comprises automatically transforming, with computer hardware comprising one or more processors, the one or more characteristics of the first user and the one or more actions performed by the first user into the first criterion, and wherein determining the one or more second criterion comprises automatically transforming, with computer hardware comprising one or more processors, the one or more characteristics of the one or more second users and the one or more actions performed by the one or more second users into the one or more second criterion.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein identifying the one or more characteristics of the first user and identifying the one of more characteristics the one or more second users comprises automatically identifying, with computer hardware comprising one or more processors, the one or more characteristics of the first user and the one or more characteristics of the one or more second users.