IP Library Granted Patent US 9,950,252
Granted Patent B2
US 9,950,252 · App. 13/782,471 · Granted Apr 24, 2018

Systems and methods of reciprocation of game asset gifting

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 9,950,252
App. No.
13/782,471
Granted
Apr 24, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system, machine-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for providing reciprocation of game asset gifts from a player is provided. A notification of a game asset of a first player that is available to a plurality of players is sent from a game server to the plurality of players. The notification is sent through a web feed in a game user interface of each player of the plurality of players. A first response requesting the game asset of the first player is received from a second web feed in a second game user interface of a second player in response to the notification. The game asset is provided to a second account of the second player in response to the first response.

Claims (65)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

sending, from a game networking system's game server to a plurality of players, a notification of a game asset of a first player available to the plurality of players,

wherein sending the notification comprises:

sending the notification through a web feed in a game user interface of each player of the plurality of players, the game asset being associated with a computer-implemented game of a plurality of computer-implemented games accessible using the game user interface of each player, the web feed of each player of the plurality of players having a format capable of providing players with content automatically updated by the game server;

receiving, from a second web feed in a second game user interface of a second player, a first response requesting the game asset of the first player in response to the notification;

due to the first response, providing an instance of the game asset to a second account of the second player; and

determining a total number of accounts from the plurality of players that have received respective instances of the game asset from the first player;

accessing, via a social network system interface external to the game networking system's game server, a first social network graph of a first social network account that corresponds with the first player;

accessing, via the social network system interface, a second social network graph of a second social network account that corresponds with a second player from the plurality of players that have received respective instances of the game asset, the first and second social network graphs accessed;

determining an absence, in the first and second social network graphs, of a social network connection between the first and second social network accounts;

determining whether the total number of accounts meets a threshold number of accounts;

determining whether the total number of accounts received the respective instances of the game asset within a predefined threshold time range;

based on determining the threshold number of accounts and the predefined threshold time range have been met, removing the game asset from a first account of the first player; and

triggering a social network connection request between the first and second social network accounts.

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

notifying the second player that the instance of the game asset has been provided to the second account of the second player.

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

receiving, from a first game user interface of the first player, a request to send the game asset to at least one of the plurality of players, wherein sending the notification of the game asset to the plurality of players is performed in response to receiving the request.

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

in response to providing the game asset to the second account, sending, to the second game user interface, a request for a second game asset from the second player.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first response requesting the game asset of the first player includes a message from the second player to the first player.

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

providing, to the second game user interface, summary display data to display a summary of assets received by the second player from one or more players.

7. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations, comprising:

sending, from a game networking system's game server to a plurality of players, a notification of a game asset of a first player available to the plurality of players,

wherein sending the notification comprises:

sending the notification through a web feed in a game user interface of each player of the plurality of players, the game asset being associated with a computer-implemented game of a plurality of computer-implemented games accessible using the game user interface of each player, the web feed of each player of the plurality of players having a format capable of providing players with content automatically updated by the game server;

receiving, from a second web feed in a second game user interface of a second player, a first response requesting the fame asset of the first player in response to the notification;

due to the first response, providing an instance of the game asset to a second account of the second player; and

determining a total number of accounts from the plurality of players that have received respective instances of the game asset from the first player;

accessing, via a social network system interface external to the game networking system's game server, a first social network graph of a first social network account that corresponds with the first player;

accessing, via the social network system interface, a second social network graph of a second social network account that corresponds with a second player from the plurality of players that have received respective instances of the game asset, the first and second social network graphs accessed;

determining an absence, in the first and second social network graphs, of a social network connection between the first and second social network accounts;

determining whether the total number of accounts meets a threshold number of accounts;

determining whether the total number of accounts received the respective instances of the game asset within a predefined threshold time range;

based on determining the threshold number of accounts and the predefined threshold time range have been met, removing the game asset from a first account of the first player; and

triggering a social network connection requests between the first and second social network accounts.

8. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform further operations comprising:

receiving, from a first game user interface of the first player, a request to send the game asset to at least one of the plurality of players, wherein sending the notification of the game asset to the plurality of players is performed in response to receiving the request.

9. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform further operations comprising:

in response to providing the instance of the game asset to the second account, sending, to the second game user interface, a request for a second game asset from the second player.

10. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the first response requesting the game asset of the first player includes a message from the second player to the first player.

11. A game networking system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory device holding an instruction set executable on the processor to cause the computer systems to perform operations comprising:

sending, from a game networking system's game server to a plurality of players, a notification of a game asset of a first player available to the plurality of players,

wherein sending the notification comprises:

sending the notification through a web feed in a game user interface of each player of the plurality of players, the game asset being associated with a computer-implemented game of a plurality of computer-implemented games accessible using the game user interface of each player, the web feed of each player of the plurality of players having a format capable of providing players with content automatically updated by the game server;

receiving, from a second web feed in a second game user interface of a second player, a first response requesting the game asset of the first player in response to the notification;

due to the first response, providing an instance of the game asset to a second account of the second player; and

determining a total number of accounts from the plurality of players that have received respective instances of the game asset from the first player;

accessing, via a social network system interface external to the game networking system's game server, a first social network graph of a first social network account that corresponds with the first player;

accessing, via the social network system interface, a second social network graph of a second social network account that corresponds with a second player from the plurality of players that have received respective instances of the game asset, the first and second social network graphs accessed;

determining an absence, in the first and second social network graphs, of a social network connection between the first and second social network accounts;

determining whether the total number of accounts meets a threshold number of accounts;

determining whether the total number of accounts received the respective instances of the game asset within a predefined threshold time range;

based on determining the threshold number of accounts and the predefined threshold time range have been met, removing the game asset from a first account of the first player; and

triggering a social network connection request between the first and second social network accounts.

12. The game networking system of claim 11 , further comprising:

wherein the hardware-implemented input module is further configured to receive receiving, from a first game user interface of the first player, a request to send the game asset to at least one of the plurality of players, wherein sending the notification of the game asset to the plurality of players is performed in response to receiving the request.

13. The game networking system of claim 11 , further comprising:

sending, to the second game user interface, a request for a second game asset from the second player in response to providing the instance of the game asset to the second account.

14. The game networking system of claim 11 , wherein the first response requesting the game asset of the first player includes a request to add the first player to a social network of the second player.

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

maintaining the game asset in the first account of the first player until the respective instances of the game asset are provided to the predefined threshold number of accounts within the predefined threshold time range.

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 May 27, 2014
From: HALL, SHANE; SPROULE, DYLAN; HALL, BEN; CATLIN, TIMOTHY J.O.; ALLEN, JASON PAUL; STARK, CLAYTON RHODES
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 032968/0074 →