Patents by Inventor Tim LeTourneau

Tim LeTourneau 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: 11406900
    Abstract: A system, a machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method are described herein for a System Tuner for defining an in-game event requiting accumulation of a pre-defined set of virtual objects in a virtual game (or online game) prior to termination of the in-game event. The System Tuner determines a head-start subset from the pre-defined set of virtual objects for a target player account based on a difference between a reference player skill level for the virtual game and a player skill level of the target player account. The System Tuner determines, based on the player skill level of the target player account and a pre-defined duration of the in-game event, a drop rate for virtual objects remaining in the pre-defined set of virtual objects. The System Tuner sends the head-start subset and the drop rate to a client device associated with the target player account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Stan Patton, Jean Luo, Jack Lim, Tim LeTourneau, Alexi Chialtas, Joseph Traverso, Hao Chen
  • Publication number: 20200001184
    Abstract: A system, a machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method are described herein for a System Tuner for defining an in-game event requiting accumulation of a pre-defined set of virtual objects in a virtual game (or online game) prior to termination of the in-game event. The System Tuner determines a head-start subset from the pre-defined set of virtual objects for a target player account based on a difference between a reference player skill level for the virtual game and a player skill level of the target player account. The System Tuner determines, based on the player skill level of the target player account and a pre-defined duration of the in-game event, a drop rate for virtual objects remaining in the pre-defined set of virtual objects. The System Tuner sends the head-start subset and the drop rate to a client device associated with the target player account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Stan Patton, Jean Luo, Jack Lim, Tim LeTourneau, Alexi Chialtas, Joseph Traverso, Hao Chen
  • Patent number: 10456686
    Abstract: A system, a machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method are described herein for a System Tuner for defining an in-game event requiring accumulation of a pre-defined set of virtual objects in a virtual game (or online game) prior to termination of the in-game event. The System Tuner determines a head-start subset from the pre-defined set of virtual objects for a target player account based on a difference between a reference player skill level for the virtual game and a player skill level of the target player account. The System Tuner determines, based on the player skill level of the target player account and a pre-defined duration of the in-game event, a drop rate for virtual objects remaining in the pre-defined set of virtual objects. The System Tuner sends the head-start subset and the drop rate to a client device associated with the target player account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Stan Patton, Jean Luo, Jack Lim, Tim LeTourneau, Alexi Chialtas, Joseph Traverso, Hao Chen
  • Patent number: 9272208
    Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for generating tailored game challenges are presented. To begin, a method may first identify a first game object and a second game object operable within a game challenge. The method may calculate, based on game profile data associated with a player, a first selection factor associated with the first game object and a second selection factor associated with the second game object. A game object from the first game object and the second game object is then selected. The selection is based on the first selection factor and the second selection factor. The game challenge is then generated, wherein the game challenge with the selected game object for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Tim LeTourneau, Alexi Chialtas, Joe Traverso, Hao Chen
  • Publication number: 20150375120
    Abstract: A system, a machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method are described herein for a System Tuner for defining an in-game event requiring accumulation of a pre-defined set of virtual objects in a virtual game (or online game) prior to termination of the in-game event. The System Tuner determines a head-start subset from the pre-defined set of virtual objects for a target player account based on a difference between a reference player skill level for the virtual game and a player skill level of the target player account. The System Tuner determines, based on the player skill level of the target player account and a pre-defined duration of the in-game event, a drop rate for virtual objects remaining in the pre-defined set of virtual objects. The System Tuner sends the head-start subset and the drop rate to a client device associated with the target player account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Jack Lim, Jean Lou, Stan Patton, Tim LeTourneau, Alexi Chialtas, Joseph Traverso, Hao Chen
  • Patent number: 9101834
    Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for generating game features are presented. For example, a first user may be segmented to a user segment based on a property of a game profile of the first user. The property of the game profile may match a threshold of the user segment. The user segment may then be assigned a difficulty level. The difficulty level may be usable to set a configuration value for the feature of the game. The feature of the game is then surfaced to the first user and the configuration value for the feature of the game may be updated with the difficulty level assigned to the user segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Tim LeTourneau, Alexi Chialtas, Joseph Traverso, Hao Chen, Naoise O'Loughlin Irwin, Sean Baity
  • Publication number: 20140066176
    Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for generating game features are presented. For example, a first user may be segmented to a user segment based on a property of a game profile of the first user. The property of the game profile may match a threshold of the user segment. The user segment may then be assigned a difficulty level. The difficulty level may be usable to set a configuration value for the feature of the game. The feature of the game is then surfaced to the first user and the configuration value for the feature of the game may be updated with the difficulty level assigned to the user segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Tim LeTourneau, Alexi Chialtas, Joseph Traverso, Hao Chen, Naoise O'Loughlin Irwin, Sean Baity