Patents Assigned to Zynga Inc.
  • Patent number: 11148057
    Abstract: A system, a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method to modify a game based on playing style is provided. Player-specific playing style information that indicates one or more attributes of a playing style of a player is accessed. The playing style information is based on gameplay behavior of the player. Game parameters that defines at least some aspects of a game level forming part of the game is accessed. In an automated operation one or more of the game parameters are modified, thereby a difficulty of the game level for the player based on the one or more playing style attributes is modified. The modified game parameters are caused to be presented on a client device associated with the player of the game level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandros Ntoulas, Jeffrey Zakrzewski, Oliver Attila Tabay, Yuko Yamazaki, Paul Yih Yarng Chong
  • Patent number: 11123643
    Abstract: Techniques for recommending and establishing connections between users within a gaming social network, designed for connecting users having common gaming interests or characteristics. Embodiments include methods for recommending connections from members of an out-of-game social network, the gaming social network, and gaming activity participants; evaluating user profile information and user characteristics in a gaming social network and gaming activity in a game networking system to determine an appropriate set of connections for a selected user; and presenting graphical user interface content and configurations to enable the suggestion, review, and accepting of recommended connections in the gaming social network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Shane Hall, Daniel McCaffrey, Dylan Sproule, Ben Hall, Timothy J. O. Catlin, Jason Paul Allen, Clayton Rhodes Stark
  • Patent number: 11097190
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventor: Andres Cantor
  • Patent number: 11083969
    Abstract: A system, a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method to adjust twitch response and collision determination to a player's skill level is provided. Gameplay information of a computer-implemented game is accessed. The gameplay information including input information indicating one or more attributes of gameplay input provided by the player. A gameplay skill level of the player of the player is estimated based on the one or more gameplay input attributes. Based on the estimated gameplay skill level of the player, respective values of one or more gameplay parameters that determine on-screen behavior of virtual in-game objects are modified, thereby a gameplay difficulty level is modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: John Carlton Ware, Christopher Vance Haire, John vanSuchtelen, Michael Waite, Alexandros Ntoulas, Jeffrey Zakrzewski, Oliver Attila Tabay, Yuko Yamazaki, Paul Yih Yarng Chong, Sudhish Iyer, Xuyang (Amy) Tan, Ameya Vilankar, Gaurav Narang
  • Patent number: 11083958
    Abstract: A online gaming system provides for presentation on a user device of actionable game-related push notifications. The push notification is presented outside of a game interface and includes both contextual information about a particular game event and one or more action elements. Responsive to selection of a particular action element, a corresponding game-related action is performed with launching or switching to a game application for the game on the user device. Thus, the push notification mechanism provides for performance of a game-related action without receiving user input via a game-specific user interface provided by a corresponding game application executed by the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Bucher, Troy Steinbauer
  • Patent number: 11071906
    Abstract: A swipe input mechanism for a computer-implemented game presented on a touchscreen allows for user-selection of different menu options by swipe gestures in different directions via a swipe menu dedicated to receiving such swipe input. In a third person shooter game or a first-person shooter game user-selection of different character abilities are enabled via the swipe menu. The swipe menu is a floating user interface element that auto-adjusts its on-screen position to register with the position of user touch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Hemby, Kevin Michael Adsett, Jameson Francis Thatcher
  • Patent number: 10987589
    Abstract: A system, a machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method are described herein for a System Tuner for customizing a player's experience. The System Tuner calculates a player skill level for a player. The System Tuner modifies at least one attribute of a second game level based on the player skill level prior to game play of the player in the second game level. The System Tuner detects game play of the player in the second game level. The System Tuner identifies a difference between a current rate of progression of the player and a reference rate of progression. The System Tuner triggers the modified attribute of the second game according to an extent of the difference between the current rate of progression and the reference rate of progression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Pao Lai, Sora Bai, David Baack, Katherine Lee
  • Patent number: 10940392
    Abstract: A system, a machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method are described herein for a System Tuner for customizing a player's experience. The System Tuner creates an optimal game model based on game-related data of a plurality of players. The optimal game model corresponds to a player segment in the plurality of players. The System Tuner generates one or more rules for building a game variant based on the optimal game model. The System Tuner detects a first player accessing the game. The System Tuner determines a particular player segment to which the player belongs. The System Tuner generates a game variant based on an optimal game model for the particular player segment and sends the game variant to a client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Anshul Dhawan, Michael Gauthier, Oliver Attila Tabay, Jeffrey Zakrzewski
  • Patent number: 10937277
    Abstract: A system and method provide automated guild-dependent variation of in-game capabilities available to player in an computer-implemented game. An in-game capability is made available to the player in inter-guild competitive gameplay, for example comprising an object-specific ability associated with the game object, such as a collectible card. A value for a variable attribute of the in-game capability is dynamically adjusted based at least in part on one or more guild metrics for an associated guild of which the player is a member. The one or more guild metrics may include guild size and activity levels of guild members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Reid Tinsman, Michael J. Engle
  • Patent number: 10926182
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing recommendations of online games to friends of social network are described. A method for processing recommendations includes identifying a gaming session of a user on an online game provider network, accessing a use profile of the user for the online games of the online game provider network, and accessing a social graph of the user to identify friends of the user and respective friend profiles from the social network. The method further includes producing a recommendation of an online game. The recommendation includes an identification of a target friend of the user and is being provided by examination of the use profile of the user and friend profiles in the social graph. The method includes providing the recommendation to the user. The recommendation also includes an offer incentive to the user to share the recommendation with the target friend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Sudhir Kumar Rama Rao, Ara Nicholas Yessayan, Jr., Paul David Bettner, David Bettner, Paolo Malabuyo, Benjamin F. Gregorski, Michael Chow, Yie Lyn Choo
  • Patent number: 10918952
    Abstract: A system, a machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method are described herein for a System Tuner for customizing a player's experience. A System Tuner selects a hardness quotient, based on a player skill level, from a hardness quotient range, the player skill level for a player is calculated by a client computing device based at least on a plurality of game moves in a first game level completed by the player. The System Tuner provides the hardness quotient to a level definition file for a second game level. The level definition file modifies at least one feature of the second game level according to the hardness quotient. The System Tuner modifies the hardness quotient range based at least on a performance of the plurality of player's in the second game level and the respective hardness quotients assigned to each of those players for their game play in the second game level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: John Carlton Ware, Christopher Vance Haire, William R. Watters, John vanSuchtelen, Michael Waite
  • Patent number: 10918954
    Abstract: A gameplay notification system receives gameplay indications and notification configuration information from a gameplay system. The gameplay indications and configuration information are stored in a platform queue corresponding to a client device platform type. Further configuration information may be received from various gameplay devices of a user. The notification configuration information is analyzed by the gameplay notification system to schedule transmission of gameplay notifications to various client device platform types. The notifications are sent to the corresponding client devices according to frequency, day of the week, and notification states, among other configuration settings, that pertain to a user and the user's corresponding client devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn Lohstroh, Geoff Dagley, Justin Rouse
  • Patent number: 10912999
    Abstract: A system, machine-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for providing reciprocation of game asset gifts from a player is provided. A notification of a game asset of a first player that is available to a plurality of players is sent from a game server to the plurality of players. The notification is sent through a web feed in a game user interface of each player of the plurality of players. A first response requesting the game asset of the first player is received from a second web feed in a second game user interface of a second player in response to the notification. The game asset is provided to a second account of the second player in response to the first response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Shane Hall, Dylan Sproule, Ben Hall, Timothy J.O. Catlin, Jason Paul Allen, Clayton Rhodes Stark
  • Patent number: 10888790
    Abstract: A method for performing a social project in a video game is provided. A session of the video game for a primary user is initiated, and a social project is initiated within the session of the video game. One or more secondary users are determined from a social graph of the primary user. A message requesting help to complete the social project is sent to the one or more secondary users, the message including a low-friction response mechanism. Upon activation of the low-friction response mechanism of the request, a response is received indicating an intent to help complete the social project from a responsive secondary user. Upon receiving the response, automated animation of an avatar of the responsive secondary user is triggered within the primary user's session of the video game so as to collaborate on the social project.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: John Osvald, Michael Waite, Kyle Saugier, Lauren Duncan, Erik Nilsson
  • Patent number: 10881960
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for online game cooperation. One method includes an operation for receiving a first request from a first user to place a game asset in a first game board of the first user. The game asset is associated with a task to be performed in the game. Further, the method includes an operation for receiving a second request from a second user to place the game asset in a second game board of the second user. The first user and the second user make progress by interacting with the game asset in their respective game boards. When the first user or the second user receives a transactional reward for interacting with the game asset, the transactional reward is also given to the other user. A final reward is given to the first user and to the second user upon completion of the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Kathryn Bambino, Tiago de Jesus, Kevin Wienecke, Achint Goel, Zhifei Song, Niko Vuori, Matthew Salazar
  • Patent number: 10881954
    Abstract: A method of providing virtual items based on location-based action is disclosed. An indication is received of a performance of a location-based action by a player of a computer-implemented game. A virtual item is provided based on the receiving of the indication of the performance of the location-based action by the player of the computer-implemented game. The virtual item may be usable within the computer-implemented game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Kathleen Auterio, Deniz Ersever, Nathan Arthur Etter, Hardik Kheskani, Serena Lam, Amitt Mahajan, Christopher Joseph Makarsky, Jay Monahan, Donald C. Mosites, Benjamin Mullin, Matthew Adam Ocko, Brian Reynolds, Shantanu Talapatra, Justin Waldron, Ian Wang, Jackson Wang
  • Patent number: 10881961
    Abstract: A method of encouraging actions by users with respect to a game networking system is disclosed. An indication of a presence of a user of a game networking system at a physical location is received. An opportunity for the user to perform an action within a game associated with the game networking system to obtain an achievement pertaining to the game is identified. The availability of the opportunity is triggered based on the presence of the user at the physical location. A notification to the user of information pertaining to the opportunity is communicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventor: Nishchaie Khanna
  • Patent number: 10878661
    Abstract: A system and method for managing a computer-implemented online game provides dynamically variable rewards to incentivize player interaction with sponsored content presented within the game. The particular reward offered to incentivize player interaction with particular sponsored content (e.g., a particular advertisement) can be dynamically variable based on the attributes of the player, thus providing user-specific custom rewards for interaction with sponsored content. Properties of incentive rewards that may be dynamically variable can include a custom type of in-game asset or resource, and/or a custom amount of a particular in-game asset or resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Marc Burgin, Diwakar Gupta, Simon Asselin
  • Patent number: 10874944
    Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for generating game configurations are presented. For example, a system may receive a game configuration request message from a client device being operated by a player playing a virtual game. The game configuration request message may be sent, for example, in response to the player initiating a new game of the virtual game. The system may then select a game configuration based at least in part on historical performance data associated with the selected game configuration. The historical performance data may accumulate performance data from a group of players that previously played the virtual game using the selected game configuration. The system then communicates the selected game configuration to the client device. The player may play the virtual game using the selected game configuration as the initial game configuration for the virtual game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: M. Ian Graham, Ya-Bing Chu
  • Patent number: D910066
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Hill, Sang Han