IP Library Granted Patent US 8,608,570
Granted Patent B1
US 8,608,570 · App. 13/174,729 · Granted Dec 17, 2013

Enabling game features based on location-based actions

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,608,570
App. No.
13/174,729
Granted
Dec 17, 2013
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method of enabling game features based on location-based actions is disclosed. An indication is received of a performance of a location-based action by a player of a computer-implemented game. A feature of the computer-implemented game is enabled based on the receiving of the indication of the performance of the location-based action by the player of the computer-implemented game.

Claims (27)

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of a performance of a location-based action by a player of a computer-implemented game, the computer-implemented game being a game played by the player via a client system of the player independently of the location-based action by the player, the location-based action being specified by an operator of a location of the location-based action; and

enabling a feature of the computer-implemented game based on the receiving of the indication of the performance of the location-based action by the player of the computer-implemented game, the feature of the computer-implemented game providing the player an ability to transfer virtual items associated with the computer-implemented game to an additional player, the enabling of the feature of the computer-implemented game based on the receiving of the indication of the performance of the location-based action by the player of the computer-implemented game being performed by a processor.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing the player the ability to transfer virtual items associated with the computer-implemented game to an additional player includes enabling the player to trade a virtual item of the player of the computer-implemented game for a virtual item of the additional player of the computer implemented game.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the enabling of the player to trade the virtual item of the player of the computer-implemented game for the virtual item of the additional player of the computer-implemented game is based on a detecting of a presence of the player of the computer-implemented game at a location of the location-based action and a detecting of a presence of the additional player of the computer-implemented game at the location of the location-based action.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the detecting of the presence of the player of the computer-implemented game and the detecting of the presence of the additional player of the computer-implemented is within a predetermined time period.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing the player the ability to transfer virtual items associated with the computer-implemented game to an additional player includes enabling the player to drop a virtual item with respect to a location of the location-based action, the dropping enabling the additional player of the computer-implemented game to pick up the virtual item with respect to the location of the location-based action.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising receiving an indication of a performance of a location-based action by the additional player of the computer-implemented game and wherein the enabling of the additional player of the computer-implemented game to pick up the virtual item is based on the receiving of the indication of the performance of the location-based action by the additional player of the computer-implemented game.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the enabling of the feature is based on the performance of the location-based action by the player of the computer-implemented game occurring within a specific time frame.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location-based action is one of an aggregation of a plurality of actions, the plurality of actions including at least one of an additional location-based action and an in-game action, and wherein the enabling of the feature is based on a receiving of an indication of a performance of each of the plurality of actions.

9. A system comprising:

a game networking system configured to:

receive an indication of a performance of a location-based action by a player of a computer-implemented game, the computer-implemented game being a game played by the player via a client system of the player independently of the location-based action by the player, the location-based action being specified by an operator of a location of the location-based action; and

enable a feature of the computer-implemented game based on the receiving of the indication of the performance of the location-based action by the player of the computer-implemented game, the feature of the computer-implemented game providing the player ability to transfer virtual items associated with the computer-implemented game to an additional player.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the providing the player the ability to transfer virtual items associated with the computer-implemented game to the additional player includes enabling the player to trade a virtual item of the player of the computer-implemented game for a virtual item of the additional player of the computer implemented game.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the enabling of the player to trade the virtual item of the player of the computer-implemented game for the virtual item of the additional player of the computer-implemented game is based on a detecting of a presence of the player of the computer-implemented game at a location of the location-based action and a detecting of a presence of the additional player of the computer-implemented game at the location of the location-based action.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the detecting of the presence of the player of the computer-implemented game and the detecting of the presence of the additional player of the computer-implemented is within a predetermined time period.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the providing the player the ability to transfer virtual items associated with the computer-implemented game to an additional player includes enabling the player to drop a virtual item with respect to a location of the location-based action, the dropping enabling the additional player of the computer-implemented game to pick up the virtual item with respect to the location of the location-based action.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the game networking system is further to receive an indication of a performance of a location-based action by the additional player of the computer-implemented game and wherein the enabling of the additional player of the computer-implemented game to pick up the virtual item is based on the receiving of the indication of the performance of the location-based action by the additional player of the computer-implemented game.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the enabling of the feature is based on the performance of the location-based action by the player of the computer-implemented game occurring within a specific time frame.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the location-based action is one of an aggregation of a plurality of actions, the plurality of actions including at least one of an additional location-based action and an in-game action, and wherein the enabling of the feature is based on a receiving of an indication of a performance of each of the plurality of actions.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computer system, cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:

receiving an indication of a performance of a location-based action by a player of a computer-implemented game, the computer-implemented game being a game played by the player via a client system of the player independently of the location-based action by the player, the location-based action being specified by an operator of a location of the location-based action; and

enabling a feature of the computer-implemented game based on the receiving of the indication of the performance of the location-based action by the player of the computer-implemented game, the feature of the computer-implemented game providing the player ability to transfer virtual items associated with the computer-implemented game to an additional player.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the providing the player the ability to transfer virtual items associated with the computer-implemented game to the additional player includes enabling the player to trade a virtual item of the player of the computer-implemented game for a virtual item of the additional player of the computer implemented game.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the enabling of the player to trade the virtual item of the player of the computer-implemented game for the virtual item of the additional player of the computer-implemented game is based on a detecting of a presence of the player of the computer-implemented game at a location of the location-based action and a detecting of a presence of the additional player of the computer-implemented game at the location of the location-based action.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the detecting of the presence of the player of the computer-implemented game and the detecting of the presence of the additional player of the computer-implemented is within a predetermined time period.

Assignments (5)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2011
From: MAHAJAN, AMITT; OCKO, MATTHEW ADAM; REYNOLDS, BRIAN
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 027064/0878 →