IP Library Granted Patent US 8,241,116
Granted Patent B2
US 8,241,116 · App. 13/244,688 · Granted Aug 14, 2012

Apparatuses, methods and systems for a live online game tester including choosing additional subjects from co-users if needed

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,241,116
App. No.
13/244,688
Granted
Aug 14, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for testing a new feature of an online gaming application is provided. According to the method, a gaming application request is received from a user, and it is determined whether to add the user to a live test for a new game feature. If the user is added to the live test, then the user is assigned to a test group or a control group. If the user is assigned to the test group, then a gaming application is provided including the new game feature enabled. If the user is assigned to the control group, then the gaming application is provided without the new game feature enabled. User social graph data identifying co-users of the user is obtained, and gaming activity and social network activity of the user is evaluated.

Claims (80)

1. A processor-implemented method for testing a new feature of an online gaming application, comprising:

receiving a gaming application request from a user;

determining whether to add the user to a live test for a new game feature;

if the user is added to the live test, then assigning the user to a test group or a control group;

if the user is assigned to the test group, then,

providing a gaming application including the new game feature enabled,

obtaining user social graph data identifying co-users of the user,

evaluating gaming activity and social network activity of the user,

determining whether additional test group subjects are needed, and if so, then choosing the additional test group subjects from among the co-users of the user;

if the user is assigned to the control group, then,

providing the gaming application without the new game feature enabled,

obtaining user social graph data identifying co-users of the user,

evaluating gaming activity and social network activity of the user,

determining whether additional control group subjects are needed, and if so, then choosing the additional control group subjects from among the co-users of the user.

2. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein determining whether to add the user to the live test for the new game feature is based on one or more of geo-location of the user, IP address of the user, or a user profile of the user.

3. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein determining whether to add the user to the live test for the new game feature is based on a reputation analysis of the user, the reputation analysis of the user based on gaming interactions and social network interactions between the user and the co-users of the user.

4. The method of claim 3 ,

wherein the reputation analysis of the user includes parsing social network activity of the co-users to find messages pertaining to the user.

5. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein choosing the additional test group subjects from among the co-users of the user includes selecting from among the co-users of the user who have been invited by the user or who viewed comments of the user on a social networking service; and

wherein choosing the additional control group subjects from among the co-users of the user includes selecting from among the co-users of the user who have been invited by the user or who viewed comments of the user on a social networking service.

6. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein choosing the additional test group subjects from among the co-users of the user includes eliminating co-users of the user who have been invited to or have tried the new game feature; and

wherein choosing the additional control group subjects from among the co-users of the user includes eliminating co-users of the user who have been invited to or have tried the new game feature.

7. A system for testing a new feature of an online gaming application, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor disposed in communication with the memory and configured to issue processing instructions stored in the memory, wherein the processor issues instructions to:

receive a gaming application request from a user;

determine whether to add the user to a live test for a new game feature;

if the user is added to the live test, then assign the user to a test group or a control group;

if the user is assigned to the test group, then,

provide a gaming application including the new game feature enabled,

obtain user social graph data identifying co-users of the user,

evaluate gaming activity and social network activity of the user,

determine whether additional test group subjects are needed, and if so, then choosing the additional test group subjects from among the co-users of the user;

if the user is assigned to the control group, then,

provide the gaming application without the new game feature enabled,

obtain user social graph data identifying co-users of the user,

evaluate gaming activity and social network activity of the user,

determine whether additional control group subjects are needed, and if so, then choosing the additional control group subjects from among the co-users of the user.

8. The system of claim 7 ,

wherein determining whether to add the user to the live test for the new game feature is based on one or more of geo-location of the user, IP address of the user, or a user profile of the user.

9. The system of claim 7 ,

wherein determining whether to add the user to the live test for the new game feature is based on a reputation analysis of the user, the reputation analysis of the user based on gaming interactions and social network interactions between the user and the co-users of the user.

10. The system of claim 9 ,

wherein the reputation analysis of the user includes parsing social network activity of the co-users to find messages pertaining to the user.

11. The system of claim 7 ,

wherein choosing the additional test group subjects from among the co-users of the user includes selecting from among the co-users of the user who have been invited by the user or who viewed comments of the user on a social networking service; and

wherein choosing the additional control group subjects from among the co-users of the user includes selecting from among the co-users of the user who have been invited by the user or who viewed comments of the user on a social networking service.

12. The system of claim 7 ,

wherein choosing the additional test group subjects from among the co-users of the user includes eliminating co-users of the user who have been invited to or have tried the new game feature; and

wherein choosing the additional control group subjects from among the co-users of the user includes eliminating co-users of the user who have been invited to or have tried the new game feature.

13. A processor-readable tangible medium storing processor-issuable online game testing instructions to:

receive a gaming application request from a user;

determine whether to add the user to a live test for a new game feature;

if the user is added to the live test, then assign the user to a test group or a control group;

if the user is assigned to the test group, then,

provide a gaming application including the new game feature enabled,

obtain user social graph data identifying co-users of the user,

evaluate gaming activity and social network activity of the user,

determine whether additional test group subjects are needed, and if so, then choosing the additional test group subjects from among the co-users of the user;

if the user is assigned to the control group, then,

provide the gaming application without the new game feature enabled,

obtain user social graph data identifying co-users of the user,

evaluate gaming activity and social network activity of the user,

determine whether additional control group subjects are needed, and if so, then choosing the additional control group subjects from among the co-users of the user.

14. The medium of claim 13 ,

wherein determining whether to add the user to the live test for the new game feature is based on one or more of geo-location of the user, IP address of the user, or a user profile of the user.

15. The medium of claim 13 ,

wherein determining whether to add the user to the live test for the new game feature is based on a reputation analysis of the user, the reputation analysis of the user based on gaming interactions and social network interactions between the user and the co-users of the user.

16. The medium of claim 15 ,

wherein the reputation analysis of the user includes parsing social network activity of the co-users to find messages pertaining to the user.

17. The medium of claim 13 ,

wherein choosing the additional test group subjects from among the co-users of the user includes selecting from among the co-users of the user who have been invited by the user or who viewed comments of the user on a social networking service; and

wherein choosing the additional control group subjects from among the co-users of the user includes selecting from among the co-users of the user who have been invited by the user or who viewed comments of the user on a social networking service.

18. The medium of claim 13 ,

wherein choosing the additional test group subjects from among the co-users of the user includes eliminating co-users of the user who have been invited to or have tried the new game feature; and

wherein choosing the additional control group subjects from among the co-users of the user includes eliminating co-users of the user who have been invited to or have tried the new game feature.

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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 9, 2021
From: OCKO, MATTHEW; DRIEMEYER, JUSTIN
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 058066/0077 →
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 →