IP Library Granted Patent US 11,097,190
Granted Patent B2
US 11,097,190 · App. 16/540,045 · Granted Aug 24, 2021

Methods and systems for assembly of crews for facilitating execution of social game activity

Inventor: Andres Cantor (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Zynga Inc.
A63F13/69A63F13/795A63F13/87A63F2300/556A63F2300/575A63F2300/609
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,097,190
App. No.
16/540,045
Granted
Aug 24, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for enabling a user of an online game to assemble a crew of additional crew members for accessing a content item after completing a goal with the crew. One example method includes sending, from the one or more servers to a client of a user, data for displaying a crew assembly dialog that includes a graphical user interface (GUI). The crew assembly dialog allowing the user to select crew members for assembling the crew for the online game. Sending, from the one or more servers in response to a selection made at the GUI, a help request directed to the at least one crew member for response from the at least one crew member. The method further includes assembling the crew based on the selection of the user for the at least one crew member and response of the at least one crew member to the help request. The assembling of the crew enables the user to make progress in the online game.

Claims (29)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

sending, from the one or more servers to a client of a user, data for displaying a crew assembly dialog that includes a graphical user interface (GUI), the crew assembly dialog allowing the user to select crew members for assembling the crew for the online game;

sending, from the one or more servers in response to a selection made at the GUI, a help request directed to the at least one crew member for response from the at least one crew member;

assembling the crew based on the selection of the user for the at least one crew member and response of the at least one crew member to the help request, said assembling of the crew enables the user to make progress in the online game.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said progress in the online game enables access to a content item for use by the user in the online game.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that the crew is insufficient based on the response to the help request and based on gating rules for the crew; and

providing a notification to the user of said determination that the crew is insufficient.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the crew assembly dialog further includes an indication of a progress associated with assembling a crew that is sufficient to make said progress in the online game.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the crew assembly dialog includes an interface for allowing the user to pay for accessing a content item without making said progress in the online game.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the help request is associated with a goal in the online game to be accomplished by completing a collaborative task within the online game.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the help request includes a message indicating that the at least one crew member will be rewarded in response to completing the goal with the user.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the at least one crew member is rewarded after said detecting completion of the goal by the crew.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said sending the help request message is accomplished at least partially through a social network accessed via an application programming interface (API).

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the online game is a multiplayer game in a distributed game architecture.

11. Computer program instructions for executing a method associated with an online game, the computer program instructions being non-transitory, comprising:

program instructions for sending, from the one or more servers to a client of a user, data for displaying a crew assembly dialog that includes a graphical user interface (GUI), the crew assembly dialog allowing the user to select crew members for assembling the crew for the online game;

program instructions for sending, from the one or more servers in response to a selection made at the GUI, a help request directed to the at least one crew member for response from the at least one crew member;

program instructions for assembling the crew based on the selection of the user for the at least one crew member and response of the at least one crew member to the help request, said assembling of the crew enables the user to make progress in the online game.

12. The computer readable media of claim 11 , wherein said progress in the online game enables access to a content item for use by the user in the online game.

13. The computer readable media of claim 11 , further comprising:

program instructions for determining that the crew is insufficient based on the response to the help request and based on gating rules for the crew; and

program instructions for providing a notification to the user of said determination that the crew is insufficient.

14. The computer readable media of claim 11 , wherein the crew assembly dialog further includes an indication of a progress associated with assembling a crew that is sufficient to make said progress in the online game.

15. The computer readable media of claim 11 , wherein the crew assembly dialog includes an interface for allowing the user to pay for accessing a content item without making said progress in the online game.

16. The computer readable media of claim 11 , wherein the help request is associated with a goal in the online game to be accomplished by completing a collaborative task within the online game.

17. The computer readable media of claim 16 , wherein the help request includes a message indicating that the at least one crew member will be rewarded in response to completing the goal with the user.

18. The computer readable media of claim 17 , wherein the at least one crew member is rewarded after said detecting completion of the goal by the crew.

19. The computer readable media of claim 11 , wherein said sending the help request message is accomplished at least partially through a social network accessed via an application programming interface (API).

Assignments (3)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2019
From: CANTOR, ANDRES
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 050083/0418 →