Patents by Inventor Daniel McCaffrey

Daniel McCaffrey has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8984064
    Abstract: A communication analysis system for an online game is described. A communication history among players of the online game is retrieved. Communication tracking metrics are generated based on the communication history of the players of the online game. A retention analysis is performed with the communication tracking metrics to determine retention of players of the online game. A retention recommendation is generated based on the retention analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Girish Keswani, Jim Baer, Kenneth Rudin, Daniel McCaffrey
  • Patent number: 8943133
    Abstract: Social network information of a player of a computer-implemented game is accessed to analyze a social interaction of the player with other players from the social network information to recommend other players of the social network of the player to further communicate with. A recommendation of other players is generated to the player based on a frequency of the social interaction. A selection of players from the recommendation is received from the player. A communication message is generated to the selected players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel McCaffrey, Kevin A. Lee, Kenneth Rudin, Yan Zhang, Ananda Ghosh
  • Patent number: 8938499
    Abstract: Social network information of a player of a computer-implemented game is accessed to identify active players from the social network information. The active players each have a minimum number of reciprocated communications with the player within a time range. A recommendation of players is generated to the player based on the identified active players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel McCaffrey, Kevin A. Lee, Kenneth Rudin, Yan Zhang, Ananda Ghosh
  • Patent number: 8898252
    Abstract: Social network information of a player of a computer-implemented game is accessed to identify non-active players from the social network information. The non-active players each have a minimum number of unreciprocated communications with the player within a time duration. A recommendation of the recommended players is generated to the player based on the non-active players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel McCaffrey, Kevin A. Lee, Kenneth Rudin, Yan Zhang, Ananda Ghosh
  • Publication number: 20140342837
    Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for cross-promoting electronic games is provided. First and second electronic game databases are configured to store first and second game user attributes relating to first and second electronic game, respectively. An aggregator database is coupled to the first and second electronic game databases and is configured to store a first game user attribute, associated with the user and relating to a first electronic game, and user data of a user of the first electronic game. A processor is coupled to the aggregator database and configured to automatically associate a second game user attribute to the user according to a predetermined rule based on at least one of the first game user attribute stored in the aggregator database and the user data. The second game user attribute associated to the user by the processor is stored in the aggregator database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel McCaffrey, Yan Zhang, Cadir Lee
  • Publication number: 20140344071
    Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for promoting an electronic game of electronic games is provided. A user interface module is configured to receive an input from a user relating to playing a first and second electronic game. A processor-implemented association engine, operatively coupled to the user interface, is configured to associate user attributes of the first and second electronic games to the user based on the input. An application programming interface (API) is configured to associate a user attribute of a third electronic game different from the first and second electronic games, the API configured to associate based, at least in part, on rule engine implemented by the API and at least one of the user attributes of the first and second electronic games and game data of the third electronic game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel McCaffrey, Yan Zhang, Cadir Lee
  • Publication number: 20140342838
    Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for promoting an electronic game of a plurality of electronic games is provided. A storage module may store a user attribute relating to a first electronic game. An aggregator module is configured to aggregate a user attribute from each of a plurality of electronic games including the first electronic game. A transmitter module may transmit the user attribute relating to the first electronic game to the aggregator module upon the user attribute being stored in the storage module. An association module may associate, using an application programming interface, a user attribute of a second electronic game of the plurality of electronic games different from the first electronic game, the association module associating based on a rule engine implemented by the API and at least one of the user attribute of the first electronic game and game data of the second electronic game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel McCaffrey, Yan Zhang, Cadir Lee
  • Patent number: 8834276
    Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for cross-promoting electronic games is provided. First and second electronic game databases are configured to store first and second game user attributes relating to first and second electronic game, respectively. An aggregator database is coupled to the first and second electronic game databases and is configured to store a first game user attribute, associated with the user and relating to a first electronic game, and user data of a user of the first electronic game. A processor is coupled to the aggregator database and configured to automatically associate a second game user attribute to the user according to a predetermined rule based on at least one of the first game user attribute stored in the aggregator database and the user data. The second game user attribute associated to the user by the processor is stored in the aggregator database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel McCaffrey, Yan Zhang, Cadir Lee
  • Patent number: 8821294
    Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for promoting an electronic game of a plurality of electronic games is provided. A storage module may store a user attribute relating to a first electronic game. An aggregator module is configured to aggregate a user attribute from each of a plurality of electronic games including the first electronic game. A transmitter module may transmit the user attribute relating to the first electronic game to the aggregator module upon the user attribute being stored in the storage module. An association module may associate, using an application programming interface, a user attribute of a second electronic game of the plurality of electronic games different from the first electronic game, the association module associating based on a rule engine implemented by the API and at least one of the user attribute of the first electronic game and game data of the second electronic game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel McCaffrey, Yan Zhang, Cadir Lee
  • Patent number: 8814703
    Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for promoting an electronic game of electronic games is provided. A user interface module is configured to receive an input from a user relating to playing a first and second electronic game. A processor-implemented association engine, operatively coupled to the user interface, is configured to associate user attributes of the first and second electronic games to the user based on the input. An application programming interface (API) is configured to associate a user attribute of a third electronic game different from the first and second electronic games, the API configured to associate based, at least in part, on rule engine implemented by the API and at least one of the user attributes of the first and second electronic games and game data of the third electronic game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel McCaffrey, Yan Zhang, Cadir Lee
  • Publication number: 20140004960
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for player match-making in a gaming system are described. A search request comprising one or more attributes of one or more players of the online social game may be received. One or more attributes of one or more players of an online social game may be determined. One or more players of the online social game with attributes corresponding to the search request may be identified and a recommendation for at least one matching player may be generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Dheeraj Soti, Daniel McCaffrey, Rushan Chen, Vishal R. Kapoor
  • Publication number: 20130339473
    Abstract: Real time analytics via stream processing is described. A stream reader receives a stream of messages and batches the messages in a message queue. A stream writer accesses the messages from the message queue, aggregates the messages from a time window based on a hierarchy of an attribute to generate a set of event data for the time window, stores the set of event data in a memory cache cluster, and stores a key corresponding to the set of event data in a key buffer queue. A stream aggregator accesses the key from the key buffer queue, retrieves the set of data in the time window corresponding to the key from the memory cache cluster, and performs a process on the retrieved set of data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel McCaffrey, Michael Fan, Rushan Chen
  • Publication number: 20130324261
    Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for promoting an electronic game of a plurality of electronic games is provided. A storage module may store a user attribute relating to a first electronic game. An aggregator module is configured to aggregate a user attribute from each of a plurality of electronic games including the first electronic game. A transmitter module may transmit the user attribute relating to the first electronic game to the aggregator module upon the user attribute being stored in the storage module. An association module may associate, using an application programming interface, a user attribute of a second electronic game of the plurality of electronic games different from the first electronic game, the association module associating based on a rule engine implemented by the API and at least one of the user attribute of the first electronic game and game data of the second electronic game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel McCaffrey, Yan Zhang, Cadir Lee
  • Publication number: 20130324259
    Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for cross-promoting electronic games is provided. First and second electronic game databases are configured to store first and second game user attributes relating to first and second electronic game, respectively. An aggregator database is coupled to the first and second electronic game databases and is configured to store a first game user attribute, associated with the user and relating to a first electronic game, and user data of a user of the first electronic game. A processor is coupled to the aggregator database and configured to automatically associate a second game user attribute to the user according to a predetermined rule based on at least one of the first game user attribute stored in the aggregator database and the user data. The second game user attribute associated to the user by the processor is stored in the aggregator database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel McCaffrey, Yan Zhang, Cadir Lee
  • Publication number: 20130324260
    Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for promoting an electronic game of electronic games is provided. A user interface module is configured to receive an input from a user relating to playing a first and second electronic game. A processor-implemented association engine, operatively coupled to the user interface, is configured to associate user attributes of the first and second electronic games to the user based on the input. An application programming interface (API) is configured to associate a user attribute of a third electronic game different from the first and second electronic games, the API configured to associate based, at least in part, on rule engine implemented by the API and at least one of the user attributes of the first and second electronic games and game data of the third electronic game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel McCaffrey, Yan Zhang, Cadir Lee
  • Publication number: 20130165234
    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: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Shane Hall, Daniel McCaffrey, Dylan Sproule, Ben Hall, Timothy J.O. Catlin, Jason Allen, Clayton Stark
  • Publication number: 20130005476
    Abstract: A communication analysis system for an online game is described. A communication history among players of the online game is retrieved. Communication tracking metrics are generated based on the communication history of the players of the online game. A retention analysis is performed with the communication tracking metrics to determine retention of players of the online game. A retention recommendation is generated based on the retention analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Girish Keswani, Jim Baer, Kenneth Rudin, Daniel McCaffrey