IP Library Granted Patent US 8,287,343
Granted Patent B2
US 8,287,343 · App. 13/244,807 · Granted Oct 16, 2012

Asynchronous interactive game play

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,287,343
App. No.
13/244,807
Granted
Oct 16, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

This disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for executing asynchronous game play by a plurality of players in one or more game instances.

Claims (50)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

enabling a first user to perform one or more first online actions in an online gaming account comprising a discrete game play area specific to a second user at a first time without applying the one or more first online actions to the online gaming account while the second user is absent from the online gaming account at the first time;

generating to the second user a request to accept help from the first user;

dismissing the one or more first online actions in response to receiving from the second user a dismissal to accept help from the first user; and

determining, using at least one processor of a machine, one or more second online actions to be applied in the online gaming account of the second user based on the one or more first online actions by the first user at the first time and a state of the online gaming account of the second user at a second time succeeding the first time in response to receiving from the second user a confirmation to accept help from the first user, the one or more second online actions being consistent with the state of the online gaming account of the second user at the second time.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first user is present in the account of the second user at the first time, and wherein the second user is present in the account of the second user at the second time.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining changes in an asset of the account of the second player between the first time and the second time.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising:

filtering out one or more of the first online actions by the first user by determining whether the one or more first online actions can be applied to the asset of the account of the second user at the second time according to an account logic.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising:

verifying that the one or more second online actions can be applied to the asset of the account of the second user at the second time according to the account logic.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining an asset state of the asset of the account of the second user at the second time; and

determining the one or more online actions based on the asset state of the asset of the account of the second user at the second time.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

responsive to an online action by the second user, applying one or more second online actions to the asset of the account of the second user at the second time.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

recording the one or more first online actions by the first user on the account at the first time.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising:

responsive to an online action by the second user, displaying the recorded one or more first online actions by the first user on the asset of the account of the second user at the first time.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first user and the second user are first-degree friends in a social network.

11. A system comprising:

at least one processor of a machine; and

an account system configured to:

enable a first user to perform one or more first online actions in an online gaming account comprising a discrete game play area specific to a second user at a first time without applying the one or more first online actions to the online gaming account while the second user is absent from the online gaming account at the first time;

generate to the second user a request to accept help from the first user;

dismiss the one or more first online actions in response to receiving from the second user a dismissal to accept help from the first user; and

determine one or more second online actions to be applied in the online gaming account of the second user based on the one or more first online actions by the first user at the first time and a state of the online gaming account of the second user at a second time succeeding the first time in response to receiving from the second user a confirmation to accept help from the first user, the one or more second online actions being consistent with the state of the online gaming account of the second user at the second time.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first user is present in the account of the second user at the first time, and wherein the second user is present in the account of the second user at the second time.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the account system is further configured to:

determine changes in an asset of the account of the second player between the first time and the second time.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the account system is further configured to:

filter out one or more of the first online actions by the first user by determining whether the one or more first online actions can be applied to the asset of the account of the second user at the second time according to an account logic

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the account system is further configured to:

verify that the one or more second online actions can be applied to the asset of the account of the second user at the second time according to the account logic.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the account system is further configured to:

determine an asset state of the asset of the account of the second user at the second time; and

determine the one or more online actions based on the asset state of the asset of the account of the second user at the second time.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the account system is further configured to:

responsive to an online action by the second user, apply one or more second online actions to the asset of the account of the second user at the second time.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the account system is further configured to:

record the one or more first online actions by the first user on the account at the first time.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the account system is further configured to:

responsive to an online action by the second user, display the recorded one or more first online actions by the first user on the asset of the account of the second user at the first time.

20. A non-transitory machine readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a machine, causes the machine to perform operations comprising:

enabling a first user to perform one or more first online actions in an online gaming account comprising a discrete game play area specific to a second user at a first time without applying the one or more first online actions to the online gaming account while the second user is absent from the online gaming account at the first time;

generating to the second user a request to accept help from the first user;

dismissing the one or more first online actions in response to receiving from the second user a dismissal to accept help from the first user; and

determining one or more second online actions to be applied in the online gaming account of the second user based on the one or more first online actions by the first user at the first time and a state of the online gaming account of the second user at a second time succeeding the first time in response to receiving from the second user a confirmation to accept help from the first user, the one or more second online actions being consistent with the state of the online gaming account of the second user at the second time.

Assignments (6)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 9, 2019
From: REYNOLDS, ROBERT BRIAN; FOSTER, AARON PAUL; HALKA, DANIEL EDWARD; KAUFMAN, DOUGLAS FRANCIS; STEPHANOUK, PAUL EUGENE
To: ZYNGA GAME NETWORK, INC.
Reel/Frame 047944/0754 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 9, 2019
From: ZYNGA GAME NETWORK INC.
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 048041/0480 →
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 →