IP Library Granted Patent US 9,636,584
Granted Patent B2
US 9,636,584 · App. 12/823,021 · Granted May 2, 2017

Mobile device interface for online games

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,636,584
App. No.
12/823,021
Granted
May 2, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates games and applications in general and in particular to computer-implemented online games playable on mobile devices.

Claims (40)

1. A system, comprising:

a data store of game state information corresponding to one or more instances of a computer-implemented game, wherein the computer-implemented game comprises a plurality of user-initiated in-game harvest mechanic actions; and

one or more servers comprising one or more computer processor devices configured to implement a first user interface and a second user interface for the computer-implemented game on client devices associated with respective players over a computer network, the first user interface executed on respective client devices of a device type that provides a first hardware platform, and the second user interface executed on respective client devices that are of a different device type and that provide a second hardware platform;

wherein the one or more servers are configured such that the first user interface provides access to a set of in-game harvest mechanic actions comprising a plurality of actions automatically performable, as a set, responsive to a single player command issued by interaction with a first user interface element forming part of the first user interface, in-game performance of the set of in-game harvest mechanic actions cumulatively resulting in a first game event occurring in the computer-implemented game; and

wherein the one or more servers are configured such that the second user interface provides access to only a first portion of the set of in-game harvest mechanic actions via respective user interface elements forming part of the second user interface, the second user interface being configured to provide no access to a second portion of the set of in-game harvest mechanic actions, performance of the first portion of the set of in-game harvest mechanic actions responsive to respective player commands via the second user interface cumulatively resulting in a second game event occurring in the computer-implemented game, the resulting first game event being equivalent to the resulting second game event, the second game event being presented as one or more display elements via a graphical user interface on a respective client device associated with the second hardware platform.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein each second user interface is accessible by a client system that is a mobile device.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first or second user interfaces allow access to one or more in-game harvest mechanic actions in connection with a debit charge to a user account of a user.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the debit charge is a debiting of a first amount of virtual currency from a game account of the user.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the debit charge is a debiting of a second amount of legal currency from a financial account of the user.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the set of in-game harvest mechanic actions comprises one or more initiating actions and one or more collecting actions.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first portion of the set of in-game actions excludes one or more initiating actions.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein each second user interface allows access to one or more excluded initiating actions in connection with a debit charge to a user account of a user.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein each second user interface allows access to a single-action collecting action comprising a plurality of collecting actions.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein each second user interface allows access to a single-action collecting action in connection with a debit charge to a user account of a user.

11. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

storing game state information corresponding to one or more instances of a computer-implemented game, wherein the computer-implemented game comprises a plurality of user-initiated in-game harvest mechanic actions; and

implementing, using one or more servers, a first user interface and a second user interface for the computer-implemented game on client devices associated with respective players over a computer network, the first user interface executed on respective client devices of a device type that provides a first hardware platform, and the second user interface executed on respective client devices that are of a different device type and that provide a second hardware platform;

wherein the one or more servers are configured such that the first user interface provides access to a set of in-game harvest mechanic actions comprising a plurality of actions automatically performable, as a set, responsive to a single player command issued by interaction with a first user interface element forming part of the first user interface, in-game performance of the set of in-game harvest mechanic actions cumulatively resulting in a first game event occurring in the computer-implemented game; and

wherein the one or more servers are configured such that the second user interface provides access to only a first portion of the set of in-game harvest mechanic actions via respective user interface elements forming part of the second user interface, the second user interface being configured to provide no access to a second portion of the set of in-game harvest mechanic actions, performance of the first portion of the set of in-game harvest mechanic actions responsive to respective player commands via the second user interface cumulatively resulting in a second game event occurring in the computer-implemented game, the resulting first game event being equivalent to the resulting second game event, the second game event being presented as one or more display elements via a graphical user interface on a respective client device associated with the second hardware platform.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein each second user interface is accessible by a client system that is a mobile device.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the first or second user interfaces allow access to one or more in-game harvest mechanic actions in connection with a debit charge to a user account of a user.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the debit charge is a debiting of one of a first amount of virtual currency from a game account of the user and a second amount of legal currency from a financial account of the user.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the set of in-game harvest mechanic actions comprises one or more initiating actions and one or more collecting actions.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein the first portion of the set of in-game actions excludes one or more initiating actions.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 , wherein each second user interface allows access to one or more excluded initiating actions in connection with a debit charge to a user account of a user.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein each second user interface allows access to a single-action collecting action comprising a plurality of collecting actions.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18 , wherein each second user interface allows access to a single-action collecting action in connection with a debit charge to a user account of a user.

20. 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, wherein the computer-implemented game comprises a plurality of user-initiated in-game harvest mechanic actions; and

implementing, using one or more servers, a first user interface and a second user interface for the computer-implemented game on client devices associated with respective players over a computer network, the first user interface executed on respective client devices of a device type that provides a first hardware platform, and the second user interface executed on respective client devices that are of a different device type and that provide a second hardware platform;

wherein the one or more servers are configured such that the first user interface provides access to a set of in-game harvest mechanic actions comprising a plurality of actions automatically performable, as a set, responsive to a single player command issued by interaction with a first user interface element forming part of the first user interface, in-game performance of the set of in-game harvest mechanic actions cumulatively resulting in a first game event occurring in the computer-implemented game; and

wherein the one or more servers are configured such that the second user interface provides access to only a first portion of the set of in-game harvest mechanic actions via respective user interface elements forming part of the second user interface, the second user interface being configured to provide no access to a second portion of the set of in-game harvest mechanic actions, performance of the first portion of the set of in-game harvest mechanic actions responsive to respective player commands via the second user interface cumulatively resulting in a second game event occurring in the computer-implemented game, the resulting first game event being equivalent to the resulting second game event, the second game event being presented as one or more display elements via a graphical user interface on a respective client device associated with the second hardware platform.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20 , wherein each second user interface is accessible by a client system that is a mobile device.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21 , wherein the first or second user interfaces allow access to one or more in-game harvest mechanic actions in connection with a debit charge to a user account of a user.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein the debit charge is a debiting of one of a first amount of virtual currency from a game account of the user and a second amount of legal currency from a financial account of the user.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21 , wherein the set of in-game harvest mechanic actions comprises one or more initiating actions and one or more collecting actions.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 24 , wherein the first portion of the set of in-game actions excludes one or more initiating actions.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25 , wherein each second user interface allows access to one or more excluded initiating actions in connection with a debit charge to a user account of a user.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim wherein each second user interface allows access to a single-action collecting action comprising a plurality of collecting actions.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 27 , wherein each second user interface allows access to a single-action collecting action in connection with a debit charge to a user account of a user.

Assignments (4)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded May 23, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 060163/0437 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 14, 2020
From: ZYNGA INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 054719/0490 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 11, 2020
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS LENDER
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 054701/0393 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 21, 2018
From: ZYNGA INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS LENDER
Reel/Frame 049147/0546 →