IP Library Granted Patent US 9,387,403
Granted Patent B2
US 9,387,403 · App. 14/282,423 · Granted Jul 12, 2016

Asset transfers between interactive social games

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,387,403
App. No.
14/282,423
Granted
Jul 12, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and system to transfer assets between interactive social games is described. In some embodiments, the method generates a visual expression of a transfer mechanism in a first computer-implemented game. The method further generates the visual expression of the transfer mechanism in a second computer-implemented game. The transfer mechanism is capable of transferring an in-game asset from the first computer-implemented game to the second computer-implemented game. The method transfers the in-game asset from the first computer-implemented game to the second computer-implemented game using the transfer mechanism.

Claims (43)

1. A method, comprising:

sending to a first user of a first game and a second game an invitation to earn at least one in-game asset for the first game based on the first user satisfying at least one requirement in the second game currently played by a second user, the second user having a pre-defined degree of social network connection with the first user;

based on receiving an acceptance of the invitation from the first user, in an automated operation using one or more processors, analyzing activity of the first user in the second game;

providing, from a second game asset inventory of the second user, the at least one in-game asset to the first user in the first game based on determining analyzed activity of the first user in the second game satisfies the at least one requirement, wherein the first game comprises a plurality of first game features requiring use of the at least one in-game asset and the second game comprises a plurality of second game features requiring use of the at least one in-game asset;

determining, for the at least one in-game asset, a first game value higher than a second game value due to the plurality of first game features comprising more game features than the plurality of second game features; and

generating visual expression data, using at least one processor, comprising graphics data representative of a transfer mechanism transferring the at least one in-game asset between a displayed instance of the second game played by the second user to a displayed instance of the first game played by the first user, the visual expression data further comprising a visual indicator of the at least one in-game asset to be presented by the transfer mechanism as the transfer mechanism leaves the displayed instance of the second game played by the second user and arrives in the displayed instance of the first game played by the first user.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sending a reminder to the first user to continue playing the second game based on determining the analyzed activity fails to satisfy the at least one requirement.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transfer mechanism in the first game comprises a first type of transfer mechanism and the transfer mechanism comprises a second type of transfer mechanism, wherein the first type of transfer mechanism differs from the second type of transfer mechanism.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first transfer mechanism is a same transfer mechanism as the second transfer mechanism.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining analyzed activity of the first user in the second game satisfies the at least one requirement comprises at least one of:

determining the first user has reached a level in the second game required to earn the at least one in-game asset; and

determining the first user has completed at least one specified activity in the second game required to earn the at least one in-game asset.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the at least one in-game asset comprises:

adding the at least one in-game asset to a first game asset inventory of the first user in the first game.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing executable instructions thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including:

sending to a first user of a first game and a second game an invitation to earn at least one in-game asset for the first game based on the first user satisfying at least one requirement in the second game currently played by a second user, the second user having a pre-defined degree of social network connection with the first user;

based on receiving an acceptance of the invitation from the first user analyzing activity of the first user in the second game;

providing, from a second game asset inventory of the second user, the at least one in-game asset to the first user in the first game based on determining analyzed activity of the first user in the second game satisfies the at least one requirement, wherein the first game comprises a plurality of first game features requiring use of the at least one in-game asset and the second game comprises a plurality of second game features requiring use of the at least one in-game asset;

determining, for the at least one in-game asset, a first game value higher than a second game value due to the plurality of first game features comprising more game features than the plurality of second game features; and

generating visual expression data comprising graphics data representative of a transfer mechanism transferring the at least one in-game asset between a displayed instance of the second game played by the second user to a displayed an instance of the first game played by the first user, the visual expression data further comprising a visual indicator of the at least one in-game asset to be presented by the transfer mechanism as the transfer mechanism leaves the displayed instance of the second game played by the second user and arrives in the displayed instance of the first game played by the first user.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , further comprising:

sending a reminder to the first user to continue playing the second game based on determining the analyzed activity fails to satisfy the at least one requirement.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the transfer mechanism in the first game comprises a first type of transfer mechanism and the transfer mechanism comprises a second type of transfer mechanism, wherein the first type of transfer mechanism differs from the second type of transfer mechanism.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the first transfer mechanism is a same transfer mechanism as the second transfer mechanism.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein determining analyzed activity of the first user in the second game satisfies the at least one requirement comprises at least one of:

determining the first user has reached a level in the second game required to earn the at least one in-game asset; and

determining the first user has completed at least one specified activity in the second game required to earn the at least one in-game asset.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein providing the at least one in-game asset comprises:

adding the at least one in-game asset to a first game asset inventory of the first user in the first game.

13. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a memory device holding an instruction set executable on the processor to cause the

computer system to perform operations comprising:

sending to a first user of a first game and a second game an invitation to earn at least one in-game asset for the first game based on the first user satisfying at least one requirement in the second game currently played by a second user, the second user having a pre-defined degree of social network connection with the first user;

based on receiving an acceptance of the invitation from the first user, analyzing activity of the first user in the second game;

providing, from a second game asset inventory of the second user, the at least one in-game asset to the first user in the first game based on determining analyzed activity of the first user in the second game satisfies the at least one requirement, wherein the first game comprises a plurality of first game features requiring use of the at least one in-game asset and the second game comprises a plurality of second game features requiring use of the at least one in-game asset;

determining, for the at least one in-game asset, a first game value higher than a second game value due to the plurality of first game features comprising more game features than the plurality of second game features; and

generating visual expression data comprising graphics data representative of a transfer mechanism transferring the at least one in-game asset between a displayed instance of the second game played by the second user to a displayed an instance of the first game played by the first user, the visual expression data further comprising a visual indicator of the at least one in-game asset to be presented by the transfer mechanism as the transfer mechanism leaves the displayed instance of the second game played by the second user and arrives in the displayed instance of the first game played by the first user.

14. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the transfer mechanism in the first game comprises a first type of transfer mechanism and the transfer mechanism comprises a second type of transfer mechanism, wherein the first type of transfer mechanism differs from the second type of transfer mechanism.

15. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein determining analyzed activity of the first user in the second game satisfies the at least one requirement comprises at least one of:

determining the first user has reached a level in the second game required to earn the at least one in-game asset; and

determining the first user has completed at least one specified activity in the second game required to earn the at least one in-game asset.

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 20, 2014
From: BRONSTEIN BENDAYAN, MANUEL URIS
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 032932/0367 →