IP Library Granted Patent US 11,691,078
Granted Patent B2
US 11,691,078 · App. 17/350,688 · Granted Jul 4, 2023

Program, method, and system of transmitting or receiving message

Inventor: Yusaku Kamekawa (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Gree, Inc.
A63F13/50A63F13/795A63F13/87A63F13/88H04L51/046A63F2300/572
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,691,078
App. No.
17/350,688
Granted
Jul 4, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A controller receives a message from a first user terminal of user terminals belonging to a chat group. In a case where the type of the message is of a normal message, the controller transmits the message to each of the user terminals. In a case where the type of the message is selection of the game icon, the controller generates a game message according to logic corresponding to the game icon and transmits the game message to each of the user terminals.

Claims (48)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, with circuitry, selection of an icon for grouping by a first user of a plurality of users in a chat group, the icon being displayed in association with a chat screen on a device of the first user;

receiving, with the circuitry, entry of additional users of the plurality of users into the grouping; and

upon fulfillment of a predetermined condition, grouping, with the circuitry, the first user and the additional users into one of at least two chat groups,

wherein the first user and the additional users chat via a corresponding one of the at least two chat groups, and

the chat screen on the device of the first user displays information related to a game and a game result of a game played by at least one of the first user and the additional users in the corresponding one of the at least two chat groups.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising causing display of a result of the grouping on the chat screen on the device of the first user and on chat screens of devices of the additional users.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first user and the additional users are randomly grouped into the one of the at least two chat groups.

4. The method according claim 1 , further comprising:

causing display of a standby message on devices of the additional users, the standby message including a button to indicate entry into the grouping and a button to indicate non-participation in the grouping.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the predetermined condition is a passing of a predetermined time period and the standby message further includes display of a time remaining in the predetermined time period.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition is a predetermined number of users required to perform the grouping, and the method further includes:

determining whether a number of users, including the first user and the additional users, is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of users; and

causing display of an indication of the at least two chat groups on the device of the first user and devices of the additional users when the number of users is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of users.

7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising, when the number of users is less than the predetermined number of users, causing display of an error message on the device of the first uses and the devices of the additional users indicating that the at least two chat groups cannot be formed.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising causing display of a message, on the chat screen of the device of the first user, indicating that entry of the additional users is awaited.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving selection of a game icon from one user of the plurality of users;

displaying an entry waiting screen on a device of the one user, the entry waiting screen indicating that entry of at least one other user of the plurality of users is awaited;

receiving entry of the at least one other user; and

if at least one entry is received within a predetermined time limit, displaying a result of a game corresponding to the game icon.

10. A server, comprising:

circuitry configured to:

receive selection of an icon for grouping by a first user of a plurality of users in a chat group, the icon being displayed in association with a chat screen on a device of the first user;

receive entry of additional users of the plurality of users into the grouping; and

upon fulfillment of a predetermined condition, group the first user and the additional users into one of at least two chat groups,

wherein the first user and the additional users chat via a corresponding one of the at least two chat groups, and

the chat screen on the device of the first user displays information related to a game and a game result of a game played by at least one of the first user and the additional users in the corresponding one of the at least two chat groups.

11. The server according to claim 10 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to cause display of a result of the grouping on the chat screen on the device of the first user and on chat screens of devices of the additional users.

12. The server according to claim 10 , wherein the first user and the additional users are randomly grouped into the one of the at least two chat groups.

13. The server according claim 10 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to cause display of a standby message on devices of the additional users, the standby message including a button to indicate entry into the grouping and a button to indicate non-participation in the grouping.

14. The server according to claim 13 , wherein the predetermined condition is a passing of a predetermined time period and the standby message further includes display of a time remaining in the predetermined time period.

15. The server according to claim 10 , wherein the predetermined condition is a predetermined number of users required to perfoiin the grouping, and the circuitry is further configured to:

determine whether a number of users, including the first user and the additional users, is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of users; and

cause display of an indication of the at least two chat groups on the device of the first user and devices of the additional users when the number of users is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of users.

16. The server according to claim 15 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to, when the number of users is less than the predetermined number of users, cause display of an error message on the device of the first user and the devices of the additional users indicating that the at least two chat groups cannot be formed.

17. The server according to claim 10 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to cause display of a message, on the chat screen of the device of the first user, indicating that entry of the additional users is awaited.

18. The server according to claim 10 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

receive selection of a game icon from one user of the plurality of users;

display an entry waiting screen on a device of the one user, the entry waiting screen indicating that entry of at least one other user of the plurality of users is awaited;

receive entry of the at least one other user; and

if at least one entry is received within a predetermined time limit, display a result of a game corresponding to the game icon.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with computer-readable instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform a method, comprising:

receiving selection of an icon for grouping by a first user of a plurality of users in a chat group, the icon being displayed in association with a chat screen on a device of the first user;

receiving entry of additional users of the plurality of users into the grouping; and

upon fulfillment of a predetermined condition, grouping the first user and the additional users into one of at least two chat groups,

wherein the first user and the additional users chat via a corresponding one of the at least two chat groups, and

the chat screen on the device of the first user displays information related to a game and a game result of a game played by at least one of the first user and the additional users in the corresponding one of the at least two chat groups.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY STREET ADDRESS AND ATTORNEY DOCKET NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 71308 FRAME: 765. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Jun 10, 2025
From: GREE, INC.
To: GREE HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 071611/0252 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 16, 2025
From: GREE, INC.
To: GREE HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 071308/0765 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2013-157971 · Jul 30, 2013 · national
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17104882 · Nov 25, 2020
Continuation 16803297 · Feb 27, 2020
Continuation 16507856 · Jul 10, 2019
Continuation 14446002 · Jul 29, 2014
Related Publication 20210308572A1 · Oct 7, 2021