Patents by Inventor Kent Wakeford

Kent Wakeford 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: 10322350
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to adjusting individualized content made available to users of an online game based on user gameplay information. In implementations, information relating to prospective usage of the online game is used to classify users according by user type, and content made available to the users is customized accordingly. Information relating to prospective usage may include predictive information such as demographic and geographic information, as well as game usage information for the users. User types may include resource collection, player versus player, and player versus environment. Customized content may include content made available to the users through the users in-game actions, such as exploring a map, researching a technology or skill, purchasing an in-game item, and completing an in-game achievement, including in-game items, in-game powers, in-game skills, in-game technologies, in-game pets, in-game transportation units, in-game units, and in-game buildings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington, Matthew Curtis, James Koh, Kellen Christopher Smalley, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Patent number: 10300379
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating contextual game notifications and smart action options for one or more online games. Occurrence information regarding occurrences in the virtual space in which an online game takes place may be received. Notifications for presentation on a client computing platform may be generated in response to a determination that a given user is not participating in the online game through any client game application. One or more action options for presentation in association with the notification may be determined. A user may accept one or more action options without launching the client game application. In response to a user accepting the one or more action options, corresponding action requests for executing actions within the virtual space may be received and executed within the virtual space without launching the client game application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, David Hernandez-Cerpa, Tyler Gee
  • Patent number: 10293248
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating a user defined virtual space is disclosed. One or more virtual space locations and/or activities may be correlated with user specified geolocations. In some implementations, the user specified geolocations may be verified against one or more spatial requirements prior to recording the user selected space-geolocation correlations. A user request to initiate an action or activity in the virtual space may be received. Prior to executing the requested action or activity in the virtual space, the user current geolocation may be verified against that specified in a space-geolocation correlation corresponding to a virtual space location or activity indicated in the user request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington
  • Patent number: 10286322
    Abstract: A system and method for determining and executing actions in an online game. An instance of an online game may be executed and participation of the users in the online game may be facilitated through a client game application implemented on the client computing platforms. The gameplay of the users may be monitored in the instance of the online game to determine gameplay information. User accounts comprising user information, which may include gameplay information and/or user presence information, may be managed. Occurrences in the online game may be identified. One or more actions to be executed in the online game may be determined. The actions may be determined based on the gameplay information and/or in response to the occurrences identified. The one or more determined actions may be executed in the online game without launching the client game application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Electronic Arts Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, David Hernandez-Cerpa, Tyler Gee
  • Patent number: 10265628
    Abstract: Affiliated players in an online game often coordinate activity and communication in the online game. Affiliated players may want to coordinate activities and/or communicate with each even when one or more affiliated players may not be logged into the online game. Further, persons of higher status in an affiliation may want to control the extent to which other players in the affiliation are sent messages external to the game. As such, one aspect of the disclosure relates to facilitating communication to a group of related players of an online game outside of communication mediums available via the game, where the ability to communicate and the type of communication may depend upon permissions associated with a player in a group of affiliated players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington
  • Patent number: 10232271
    Abstract: Online games may include game content that may be played cooperatively by groups of users. The game content may include a group roles set for the users in individual groups. Users of an online game may interact with the online game via client computing platforms. The client computing platforms may include virtual reality platforms and non-virtual reality platforms. Access to the game content of the online game may be regulated by determining whether the users are attempting to play a game instance of the online game via the virtual reality platforms or the non-virtual reality platforms. A first set of group roles may be presented to users attempting to play the game instance via the virtual reality platforms. A second set of group roles may be presented to users attempting to play the game instance via the non-virtual reality platforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Tomi Huttula
  • Patent number: 10232269
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to unlocking game content for users of an online game based on amounts of collaborative gameplay. Groups of users interacting with the online game cooperatively are identified and amounts of cooperative gameplay engaged in by the individual groups are quantified. Content in the online game is made available to the groups of users based on the quantified amounts of cooperative gameplay. In implementations, the quantification of the amount of cooperative gameplay engaged in by the groups is made independent from achievement and/or successful accomplishment of any game objective in the online game by the groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford J. Harrington, Kent Wakeford
  • Publication number: 20190051105
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure relates to implementing a system to encourage cross platform operation in an online game. The online game may provide the ability to provide incentives for participating in cross platform game play. The system may monitor the player's performance on a particular console and provide incentives to accomplish tasks through game play on a different platform than the player is currently operating to play the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Clifford J. HARRINGTON, Kent Wakeford
  • Publication number: 20190038974
    Abstract: Recommendations for in-game content are provided to players of an online game. An instance of a virtual space is executed in which an online game is conducted and implemented to facilitate presentation of a view of the virtual space to users through client computing platforms associated with the users. Device specification sets of the client computing devices are determined and recommendations for in-game content are presented to the users based on the obtained device specification sets of the client computing devices associated with the users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Clifford J. Harrington, Kent Wakeford
  • Patent number: 10198901
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating group gameplay in an online game may include executing an game instance of an online game. User selected criteria may define values of one or more parameters associated with the users that may be eligible to receive benefit offers to participate in cooperative gameplay with groups towards common objectives. The benefit offers may include reward enhancements. Synchronous gameplay by the users with the groups towards one or more objectives may be facilitated. Rewards for individual ones of the users may be determined based on one or more of: whether the common objectives are successfully achieved, individual performances of the users, wager information, reward enhancements, and/or other information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Electronic Arts Inc.
    Inventor: Kent Wakeford
  • Patent number: 10183223
    Abstract: Virtual reality content in an online game may be provided by providing access to users attempting to join a game instance via virtual reality platforms and denying access to users attempting to join the game instance via non-virtual reality platforms. Virtual reality content in an online game may be provided by requiring users playing the online game via virtual reality platforms during a time period to achieve a first objective, and requiring users playing the online game via non-reality platforms during the time period to achieve a second objective. The first objective may require interaction with the virtual reality content and the second object may not require interaction with the virtual reality content. Virtual reality content in an online game may be provided by requiring all users to achieve an objective during a time period. The objective may require interaction with the virtual reality content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Electronic Arts Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Tomi Huttula
  • Patent number: 10159903
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure relates to facilitating the development and provision of enhanced video of game playback, including the ability to augment a video of game playback with information relating to the game state of the game. A video may be generated based on game state information associated with one or more selected portions of the game. The video may include visual features that may not have been present in corresponding views that were presented to the user during game play of those one or more portions of the game. The user may augment the video with displayed information based on game logic for the online game. For example, displayed information may include commentary, tips on how the user could have maximized his game play, influential plays from the one or more portions of the game, and/or other information based on the game logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Electronics Arts Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington
  • Patent number: 10134227
    Abstract: A system and method that makes game content from a single online game accessible to users via multiple platforms. The multiple platforms may include virtual reality platforms and non-virtual reality platforms. Amounts of gameplay of the online game by the users via the virtual reality platforms may be monitored. The gameplay of the online game via the virtual reality platforms may be limited. As such, responsive to the amounts of gameplay by the users reaching gameplay thresholds, access to the online game through the first platform is restricted for the users until corresponding requirements are satisfied. The users may be able to play the online game via the non-virtual reality platforms while the gameplay of the online game via the virtual reality platforms is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Tomi Huttula
  • Patent number: 10127769
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure relates to implementing a system to encourage cross platform operation in an online game. The online game may provide the ability to provide incentives for participating in cross platform game play. The system may monitor the player's performance on a particular console and provide incentives to accomplish tasks through game play on a different platform than the player is currently operating to play the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford J. Harrington, Kent Wakeford
  • Publication number: 20180318714
    Abstract: A virtual space is provided to users via client computing devices. Device information related to a client computing platform used by a user to interact with the virtual space may be obtained. Different users using different client computing platforms may be provided with different in-game capabilities such as user roles, content items, levels, and/or other content or actions available for the user in the virtual space based on the client computing platform used by the users to access the virtual space. The device information may be used to facilitate enhanced party formation between users of the virtual space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington
  • Publication number: 20180304152
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to facilitating collaboration between multiple players in an online game to achieve a goal in the game. Achievement of the goal may result in provision of an award related to the goal to one or more of the multiple players and/or to one or more affiliations associated with the multiple player. The goal may comprise a predetermined set of tasks required to be completed by more than one player, or may just comprise a predetermined set of tasks that may be completed by one or more players. Responsive to achieving the goal, the award may be provided to one or more recipients. The recipients may comprise, for example, players that initiated the completion of the goal, one or more players who provided the most input to the goal, one or more affiliations associated with respective one or more players involved in achieving the goal, and/or other entities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington
  • Publication number: 20180304156
    Abstract: Virtual reality content in an online game may be provided by providing access to users attempting to join a game instance via virtual reality platforms and denying access to users attempting to join the game instance via non-virtual reality platforms. Virtual reality content in an online game may be provided by requiring users playing the online game via virtual reality platforms during a time period to achieve a first objective, and requiring users playing the online game via non-reality platforms during the time period to achieve a second objective. The first objective may require interaction with the virtual reality content and the second object may not require interaction with the virtual reality content. Virtual reality content in an online game may be provided by requiring all users to achieve an objective during a time period. The objective may require interaction with the virtual reality content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Tomi Huttula
  • Patent number: 10099128
    Abstract: Recommendations for in-game content are provided to players of an online game. An instance of a virtual space is executed in which an online game is conducted and implemented to facilitate presentation of a view of the virtual space to users through client computing platforms associated with the users. Device specification sets of the client computing devices are determined and recommendations for in-game content are presented to the users based on the obtained device specification sets of the client computing devices associated with the users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford J. Harrington, Kent Wakeford
  • Patent number: 10096204
    Abstract: A system and method for determining and implementing platform specific online game customizations. The multiple platforms may include virtual reality platforms and non-virtual reality platforms. The system may monitor interactions of the users with the online game through the multiple platforms. User profiles including user information related to participating in the online game through the virtual reality platforms and the non-virtual reality platforms may be managed by the system. The system may determine user value metrics for a given user on a virtual reality platform and a non-virtual reality platform. A platform specific online game customization for the online game when played via a virtual reality platform and/or a non-virtual reality platform may be determined based on the user value metrics. The game customization that customizes one or more aspects of the online game for the given user when played via a given platform may be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Tomi Huttula
  • Patent number: 10086263
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to facilitating collaboration between multiple players in an online game to achieve a goal in the game. Achievement of the goal may result in provision of an award related to the goal to one or more of the multiple players and/or to one or more affiliations associated with the multiple player. The goal may comprise a predetermined set of tasks required to be completed by more than one player, or may just comprise a predetermined set of tasks that may be completed by one or more players. Responsive to achieving the goal, the award may be provided to one or more recipients. The recipients may comprise, for example, players that initiated the completion of the goal, one or more players who provided the most input to the goal, one or more affiliations associated with respective one or more players involved in achieving the goal, and/or other entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington