IP Library Granted Patent US 10,143,926
Granted Patent B2
US 10,143,926 · App. 15/454,349 · Granted Dec 4, 2018

Changing a virtual world based on real-world locations of players

Inventors: Nathan Arthur Etter (San Jose, CA); Jay Monahan (Los Gatos, CA); Matthew Adam Ocko (Palo Alto, CA); Brian Reynolds (Lutherville, MD)
Assignee: Zynga Inc.
A63F13/65A63F13/12A63F13/216A63F13/79A63F13/795A63F13/822A63F13/85H04L67/38A63F2300/556A63F2300/5573A63F2300/609
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,143,926
App. No.
15/454,349
Granted
Dec 4, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of changing a virtual world of a computer-implemented game based on real-world locations of players of the computer-implemented game is disclosed. A presence of a player of the computer-implemented game is detected at a physical location. A presence of an additional player of the computer-implemented game is detected at the physical location based on a communication received from the player of the computer-implemented game. An aspect of the virtual world of the computer-implemented game is changed based on the detecting of the presence of the player at the physical location and the detecting of the presence of the additional player of the computer-implemented game at the physical location.

Claims (33)

1. A system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer memories;

one or more modules incorporated into the one or more computer memories, the one or more modules configuring the one or more computer processors to perform operations to limit illegal trading of real-world items linked to a computer-implemented game, the method comprising:

linking the real-world items to the computer-implemented game, the linking including associating a using of the real-world item with a change to a game state of the computer-implemented game;

providing a user of the computer-implemented game with an ability to unlock the using of the item to perform the using of the real-world item to make the change to the game state of the computer-implemented game;

performing a verification process to confirm a transfer of the real-world item to an additional user, wherein the performing of the verification process includes receiving a communication from a device embedded in the real-world item, the communication including a specification of a location of the real-world item; and

based on a completion of the verification process, providing the additional user of the computer-implemented game with the ability to perform the using of the real-world item to make the change to the game state of the computer-implemented game.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the change to the game state includes transferring one or more virtual items from the user to the additional user.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transferring is temporary.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the performing of the verification process includes determining that the user and the additional user are within a same physical location, the determining based on communications received from one or more devices of the user and one or more devices of the additional user.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the providing of the user of the computer-implemented game with the ability to unlock the using of the real-world item to make the change to the game state of the computer-implemented game includes binding the real-world item to a device of the user.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the verification process includes a determination that the additional user of the computer-implemented game has bound the real-world item to a device of the additional user.

7. A method comprising:

limiting illegal trading of real-world items linked to a computer-implemented game, the limiting comprising:

linking the real-world items to the computer-implemented game, the linking including associating a using of the real-world item with a change to a game state of the computer-implemented game;

providing a user of the computer-implemented game with an ability to unlock the using of the item to perform the using of the real-world item to make the change to the game state of the computer-implemented game;

performing a verification process to confirm a transfer of the real-world item to an additional user, wherein the performing of the verification process includes receiving a communication from a device embedded in the real-world item, the communication including a specification of a location of the real-world item; and

based on a completion of the verification process, providing the additional user of the computer-implemented game with the ability to perform the using of the real-world item to make the change to the game state of the computer-implemented game.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the change to the game state includes transferring one or more virtual items from the user to the additional user.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the transferring is temporary.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the performing of the verification process includes determining that the user and the additional user are within a same physical location, the determining based on communications received from one or more devices of the user and one or more devices of the additional user.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the providing of the user of the computer-implemented game with the ability to unlock the using of the real-world item to make the change to the game state of the computer-implemented game includes binding the real-world item to a device of the user.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the verification process includes a determination that the additional user of the computer-implemented game has bound the real-world item to a device of the additional user.

13. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations for limiting illegal trading of real-world items linked to a computer-implemented game, the operations comprising:

linking the real-world items to the computer-implemented game, the linking including associating a using of the real-world item with a change to a game state of the computer-implemented game;

providing a user of the computer-implemented game with an ability to unlock the using of the item to perform the using of the real-world item to make the change to the game state of the computer-implemented game;

performing a verification process to confirm a transfer of the real-world item to an additional user, wherein the performing of the verification process includes receiving a communication from a device embedded in the real-world item, the communication including a specification of a location of the real-world item; and

based on a completion of the verification process, providing the additional user of the computer-implemented game with the ability to perform the using of the real-world item to make the change to the game state of the computer-implemented game.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the change to the game state includes transferring one or more virtual items from the user to the additional user.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the transferring is temporary.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the performing of the verification process includes determining that the user and the additional user are within a same physical location, the determining based on communications received from one or more devices of the user and one or more devices of the additional user.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the providing of the user of the computer-implemented game with the ability to unlock the using of the real-world item to make the change to the game state of the computer-implemented game includes binding the real-world item to a device of the user.

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 Mar 9, 2017
From: ETTER, NATHAN ARTHUR; MONAHAN, JAY; OCKO, MATTHEW ADAM; REYNOLDS, BRIAN
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 041529/0402 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 14714403 · May 18, 2015
Continuation 13651929 · Oct 15, 2012
Continuation 13244801 · Sep 26, 2011
Continuation 13174724 · Jun 30, 2011
Related Publication 20170182422A1 · Jun 29, 2017