IP Library Granted Patent US 8,272,956
Granted Patent B2
US 8,272,956 · App. 12/947,356 · Granted Sep 25, 2012

Social supply harvest mechanic for interactive social games

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,272,956
App. No.
12/947,356
Granted
Sep 25, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A supply harvest mechanic with a social fulfillment component for online social games.

Claims (38)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, a supply order from a first player of a computer-implemented game, wherein the supply order identifies a requested in-game asset, an expiration time and a social fulfillment component, and wherein the in-game asset is a supply asset used to initiate a harvest mechanic cycle in the computer-implemented game;

responsive to receiving the supply order from the first player, dispatching, by the computing device, one or more supply fulfillment invitations to one or more second players based on the social fulfillment component of the supply order; and

after the expiration time, allowing, by the computing device, the first player to access the requested in-game asset without regard to receiving responses to the one or more supply fulfillment invitations from the one or more second players.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving acceptance of the one or more supply fulfillment invitations from at least one of the one or more second players prior to the expiration time; and

responsive to the acceptance, providing, by the computing device, an in-game benefit to the at least one of the one or more second players.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more second players are selected by the first player.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the one or more second players are limited to in-game contacts of the first player.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more second players are randomly selected by game logic of the computing device.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising

providing an incentive to the first player to initiate the supply order with the social fulfillment component.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising

providing an incentive to the one or more second players to accept at least one of the one or more supply fulfillment invitations.

8. A non-transitory, computer readable medium comprising instructions operative, when executed, to cause one or more processors to:

receive a supply order from a first player of a computer-implemented game, wherein the supply order identifies a requested in-game asset, an expiration time and a social fulfillment component, and wherein the in-game asset is a supply asset used to initiate a harvest mechanic cycle in the computer-implemented game;

responsive to receiving the supply order from the first player, dispatch one or more supply fulfillment invitations to one or more second players based on the social fulfillment component of the supply order; and

after the expiration time, allow the first player to access the requested in-game asset without regard to receiving responses to the one or more supply fulfillment invitations from the one or more second players.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8 further comprising instructions operative to cause the one or more processors to:

receive acceptance of the one or more supply fulfillment invitations from at least one of the one or more second players prior to the expiration time; and

responsive to the acceptance, provide an in-game benefit to the at least one of the one or more second players.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 8 wherein the one or more second players are selected by the first player.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10 wherein the one or more second players are limited to in-game contacts of the first player.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 8 wherein the one or more second players are randomly selected by game logic of the instructions executed by the one or more processors.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 8 further comprising instructions operative to cause the one or more processors to:

provide an incentive to the first player to initiate the supply order with the social fulfillment component.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 8 further comprising instructions operative to cause the one or more processors to:

provide an incentive to the one or more second players to accept at least one of the one or more supply fulfillment invitations.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, a supply order from a first player of a computer-implemented game, wherein the supply order identifies a requested amount of in-game virtual goods units, an expiration time and a social fulfillment component, and wherein the in-game virtual goods units are a requirement to initiation of a harvest mechanic implemented within the computer-implemented game;

responsive to receiving the supply order from the first player, dispatching, by the computing device, one or more supply fulfillment invitations to one or more second players based on the social fulfillment component of the supply order; and

after the expiration time, incrementing, by the computing device, a virtual goods unit value of the first player by the requested amount of in-game virtual goods units without regard to receiving responses to the supply fulfillment invitations from the one or more second players.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising

responsive to inputs of the first player, initiating a cycle of the harvest mechanic and decrementing the virtual goods unit value by a determined amount of virtual good units.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising

receiving acceptance of the one or more supply fulfillment invitations from at least one of the one or more second players prior to the expiration time; and

responsive to the acceptance, providing, by the computing device, an in-game benefit to the at least one of the one or more second players.

18. The method of 15 wherein the one or more second players are selected by the first player.

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 →