IP Library Granted Patent US 10,532,285
Granted Patent B2
US 10,532,285 · App. 16/376,287 · Granted Jan 14, 2020

Communication system, method for controlling communication system, and program

Inventor: Takayuki Sano (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: GREE, INC.
A63F13/5375A63F13/12A63F13/2145A63F13/25A63F13/35A63F13/537A63F13/822A63F2300/305A63F2300/6054A63F2300/61A63F2300/807
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,532,285
App. No.
16/376,287
Granted
Jan 14, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a communication system including a server and a plurality of communication terminals capable of communication with the server, based on a variety of parameters indicating the status of a space formed within a game playable by the user of each communication terminal over the communication system, the server transmits advisory information, which suggests the next action for the space, to the communication terminal. The communication terminal displays a screen including the received advisory information.

Claims (75)

1. A server comprising:

a communication unit configured to communicate with a plurality of communication terminals for a plurality of users;

a memory configured to store plural parameters related to a status of a virtual space in a game for each user; and

a controller configured to

make a determination of a facility which has not been arranged in a first virtual space of a first user during the game, the determination being made prior to selection of the facility by the first user and made based on at least two of the plural parameters related to the status of the first virtual space of the first user, wherein the plural parameters include a parameter related to a development of the first virtual space and a number of facilities already arranged in the first virtual space,

generate information related to the facility, the information identifying the facility as required in order to raise the parameter related to the development of the first virtual space,

transmit the generated information related to the facility to a first communication terminal of the first user for display of the information, and

cause a first screen including the generated information to be displayed on the first communication terminal.

2. The server according to claim 1 , wherein

the information related to the facility is advisory information encouraging the first user to arrange the facility as a next action in order to contribute to the development of the first virtual space.

3. The server according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller is further configured to

generate ranking information ranking the plurality of users according to a numerical value indicating a status of each user,

transmit the generated ranking information to the first communication terminal of the first user, and

cause a ranking screen including the generated ranking information to be displayed on the first communication terminal, wherein

the ranking screen is one of

a second screen displaying a ranking of top scoring users among the plurality of users, and

a third screen displaying a ranking of the first user among friend users that are friends of the first user among the plurality of users or a ranking of a plurality of groups each including a subset of the plurality of users, and

the ranking screen includes a first input interface by which the first user switches between the second and third screens.

4. The server according to claim 3 , wherein

the ranking screen includes a second input interface corresponding to a second virtual space of a second user, and

operation of the second input interface by the first user causes display on the first communication terminal to switch from the ranking screen to a corresponding user screen displaying the second virtual space of the second user.

5. A communication terminal comprising:

a communication unit configured to communicate with a server that communicates with a plurality of communication terminals for a plurality of users;

a controller configured to receive, via the communication unit, information related to a facility which has not been arranged in a first virtual space of a first user during a game, the information being generated by the server based on a determination of the facility, wherein

the determination is made prior to selection of the facility by the first user and made based on at least two of plural parameters related to a status of the first virtual space of the first user, the plural parameters including a parameter related to a development of the first virtual space and a number of facilities already arranged in the first virtual space, and

the information identifies the facility as required in order to raise the parameter related to the development of the first virtual space; and

a display configured to display a first screen including the generated information.

6. The communication terminal according to claim 5 , wherein

the information related to the facility is advisory information encouraging the first user to arrange the facility as a next action in order to contribute to the development of the first virtual space.

7. The communication terminal according to claim 5 , wherein

the controller is further configured to receive, via the communication unit, ranking information ranking the plurality of users according to a numerical value indicating a status of each user, and

the display is further configured to display a ranking screen including the ranking information, wherein

the ranking screen is one of

a second screen displaying a ranking of top scoring users among the plurality of users, and

a third screen displaying a ranking of the first user among friend users that are friends of the first user among the plurality of users or a ranking of a plurality of groups each including a subset of the plurality of users, and

the ranking screen includes a first input interface by which the first user switches between the second and third screens.

8. The communication terminal according to claim 7 , wherein

the ranking screen includes a second input interface corresponding to a second virtual space of a second user, and

operation of the second input interface by the first user causes the display to switch from the ranking screen to a corresponding user screen displaying the second virtual space of the second user.

9. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium having stored thereon instructions to be executed on a computer of a first communication terminal of a first user, the instructions causing the computer to perform the steps of:

communicating with a server that communicates with a plurality of communication terminals for a plurality of users including the first communication terminal of the first user;

receiving information related to a facility which has not been arranged in a first virtual space of the first user during a game, the information being generated by the server based on a determination of the facility, wherein

the determination is made prior to selection of the facility by the first user and made based on at least two of plural parameters related to a status of the first virtual space of the first user, the plural parameters including a parameter related to a development of the first virtual space and a number of facilities already arranged in the first virtual space, and

the information identifies the facility as required in order to raise the parameter related to the development of the first virtual space; and

displaying a first screen including the generated information.

10. The non-transitory computer readable recording medium according to claim 9 , wherein

the information related to the facility is advisory information encouraging the first user to arrange the facility as a next action in order to contribute to the development of the first virtual space.

11. The non-transitory computer readable recording medium according to claim 9 , wherein the instructions cause the computer to further perform the steps of:

receiving ranking information ranking the plurality of users according to a numerical value indicating a status of each user; and

displaying a ranking screen including the ranking information, wherein

the ranking screen is one of

a second screen displaying a ranking of top scoring users among the plurality of users, and

a third screen displaying a ranking of the first user among friend users that are friends of the first user among the plurality of users or a ranking of a plurality of groups each including a subset of the plurality of users, and

the ranking screen includes a first input interface by which the first user switches between the second and third screens.

12. The non-transitory computer readable recording medium according to claim 11 , wherein

the ranking screen includes a second input interface corresponding to a second virtual space of a second user, and

operation of the second input interface by the first user causes display to switch from the ranking screen to a corresponding user screen displaying the second virtual space of the second user.

13. A method comprising:

storing plural parameters related to a status of a virtual space in a game for each of a plurality of users;

making a determination of a facility which has not been arranged in a first virtual space of a first user during the game, the determination being made prior to selection of the facility by the first user and made based on at least two of the plural parameters related to the status of the first virtual space of the first user, wherein the plural parameters include a parameter related to a development of the first virtual space and a number of facilities already arranged in the first virtual space;

generating information related to the facility, the information identifying the facility as required in order to raise the parameter related to the development of the first virtual space; and

causing a first screen including the generated information to be displayed.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein

the information related to the facility is advisory information encouraging the first user to arrange the facility as a next action in order to contribute to the development of the first virtual space.

15. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising

generating ranking information ranking the plurality of users according to a numerical value indicating a status of each user; and

causing a ranking screen including the generated ranking information to be displayed, wherein

the ranking screen is one of

a second screen displaying a ranking of top scoring users among the plurality of users, and

a third screen displaying a ranking of the first user among friend users that are friends of the first user among the plurality of users or a ranking of a plurality of groups each including a subset of the plurality of users, and

the ranking screen includes a first input interface by which the first user switches between the second and third screens.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein

the ranking screen includes a second input interface corresponding to a second virtual space of a second user, and

operation of the second input interface by the first user causes display to switch from the ranking screen to a corresponding user screen displaying the second virtual space of the second user.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY DATA AND ATTORNEY DOCKET NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 71296 FRAME: 482. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 10, 2025
From: GREE, INC.
To: GREE HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 071611/0140 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 16, 2025
From: GREE, INC.
To: GREE HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 071296/0482 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2013-017917 · Jan 31, 2013 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15585856 · May 3, 2017
Continuation 14163414 · Jan 24, 2014
Related Publication 20190232170A1 · Aug 1, 2019