Patents by Inventor Kellen Christopher Smalley

Kellen Christopher Smalley 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: 10387176
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating a user to initiate and accept an assistance request through a chat session is disclosed. Controls may be provided in a graphical chat interface to enable the user to specify inputs to request assistance from other users participating in the chat session. An assistance request may be generated and communicated to those users through the chat session. Graphical representation for the assistance request and controls that facilitate the users to accept the assistance request may be provided in the graphical chat interface. Upon an acceptance to the assistance request by a responding user through the graphical chat interface, an assistance command may be generated and executed in the virtual space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Curtis, James Koh, Kellen Christopher Smalley, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Patent number: 10386988
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating user progression in a virtual space based user purchases of virtual currency are disclosed. The facilitated user progression may include user progression a virtual space ability or abilities based on purchases of the virtual currency with real world money. Such user progression in those abilities may be distinct and separate from user progressions in other virtual space abilities based on gameplays by the users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.
    Inventors: James Koh, Kellen Christopher Smalley, Matthew Curtis
  • Publication number: 20190227977
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating segmented notifications relating to a virtual space are disclosed. Such notifications may be segmented for different user segments within the virtual space. In some examples, the segmentation of the notification may be at least in part with respect to contents included in notification for different user segments. The content segmentation may be with respect to a communication style, pattern, format, a language expressed in, one or more culture references used and/or any other aspects related to contents that may be included in notifications for the different user segments. In some examples, the notifications may include incentive offers and may be segmented with respect to parameters of the incentive offers for presentation to the different user segments. In some implementations, transmission frequencies for transmitting notifications to the different user segments may be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Michael C. DELAET, Robert OSHIMA, Kellen Christopher SMALLEY
  • Patent number: 10357720
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing an in-game offer to one or more players of an online game. The offer is provided to players that have newly joined the game and/or to players that have not yet made a purchase. In some implementations, the offer may be meant to incentivize purchase upon entry into the game. The in-game offer may comprise an offer to one or more items and a bonus comprising one or more bonus items provided to the player responsive to the offered items being purchased. The in-game offer may only be made available to a qualifying player for a certain amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Curtis, Kellen Christopher Smalley, Christopher Pitz, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Patent number: 10343068
    Abstract: A system and method for dynamically determining parameters of crafting activities for individual users in a virtual space are disclosed. The crafting activity parameters may be determined based on rate of usage of the virtual space by the users. In some examples, a user usage rate of the virtual space may be determined to measure an amount of time a user spend in the virtual space during a period of real-world time. Based on the determined user usage rate of the virtual space, crafting activity parameters may be determined, for example, to balance differences in time spent in the virtual space by the users. In some implementations, for such determinations of the crafting activity parameters, one or more user normalization standards may be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Curtis, James Koh, Kellen Christopher Smalley, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Publication number: 20190205909
    Abstract: An online gaming system for valuing new virtual items introduced into an online game. The system may comprise one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules. The system may include a virtual shop module configured to present offers to sell instances of probability item bundles including a first offer to sell instances of a first probability item bundle that includes a first primary item and a first set of secondary items for a price, and a second offer to sell instances of a second probability item bundle that includes a second primary item and a second set of secondary items for the same price. The system may include a price determination module configured to determine a value for the second primary virtual item based on comparative sales of the first probability item bundle and the second probability item bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Stephanie Schultz, Kellen Christopher Smalley, Michael C. Caldarone
  • 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: 10290030
    Abstract: A virtual space is provided to users via client computing devices where the user cost associated with purchasable virtual items may be adjusted. A game shop interface may be presented to users, comprising offers to purchase sets of one or more virtual items to the user. The associated user cost for the one or more sets of virtual items may be adjusted based upon a determination that the rate of purchase of and/or the revenue generated from the virtual items is more than a specified threshold from the average rate of purchase and/or average revenue generation rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Curtis, Kellen Christopher Smalley, Christopher Pitz, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Patent number: 10286298
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to presenting offers for in-game virtual rewards to users. In implementations, revenue information may be determined that represents revenue to be remitted to a virtual space provider based on acceptance of the offers by the users, a revenue goal may be determined, and rewards of virtual currency associated with presented offers may be determined, such that a first reward of virtual currency is adjusted based on a comparison of the revenue information with the revenue goal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.
    Inventors: James Koh, Kellen Christopher Smalley
  • Patent number: 10282739
    Abstract: An online gaming system for valuing new virtual items introduced into an online game. The system may comprise one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules. The system may include a virtual shop module configured to present offers to sell instances of probability item bundles including a first offer to sell instances of a first probability item bundle that includes a first primary item and a first set of secondary items for a price, and a second offer to sell instances of a second probability item bundle that includes a second primary item and a second set of secondary items for the same price. The system may include a price determination module configured to determine a value for the second primary virtual item based on comparative sales of the first probability item bundle and the second probability item bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephanie Schultz, Kellen Christopher Smalley, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Patent number: 10252169
    Abstract: An approach to facilitate providing leaderboards based upon in-game events within a game space. The leaderboards based on user progress to achieving one or more administrator defined objectives within the game space, where each objective requires the completion of one or more activities. An objective metric for the first user, indicating the first user's progress toward achieving the objective may be determined, based upon one or more activity metric values for the first user. The activity metric values providing an indication of the first user's progress toward completing activities required to be completed to achieve the objective, as defined by an administrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Curtis, James Koh, Kellen Christopher Smalley, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Patent number: 10248614
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating segmented notifications relating to a virtual space are disclosed. Such notifications may be segmented for different user segments within the virtual space. In some examples, the segmentation of the notification may be at least in part with respect to contents included in notification for different user segments. The content segmentation may be with respect to a communication style, pattern, format, a language expressed in, one or more culture references used and/or any other aspects related to contents that may be included in notifications for the different user segments. In some examples, the notifications may include incentive offers and may be segmented with respect to parameters of the incentive offers for presentation to the different user segments. In some implementations, transmission frequencies for transmitting notifications to the different user segments may be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Delaet, Robert Oshima, Kellen Christopher Smalley
  • Patent number: 10245513
    Abstract: An approach to facilitating interface-based game-space contest generation is provided. A user interface may be provided to an administrator. The user interface may be configured to receive user inputs from the administrator that include one or more performance criteria to be associated with a contest to be provided in a game space, one or more awards to be distributed in association with the contest, and one or more qualifications to participate in the contest. A notification that relates to the contest may be provided, based on the user inputs, in the game space. Performance scores of users that participated in the contest may be determined based on the performance criteria and activities that are performed in the game space by the participating users. Automated distribution of the awards to individual ones of the participating users may be facilitated in accordance with the performance scores of the individual participating users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuexin Chu, Alex Genco, Jason Lee, Clive Henrick, Matthew Curtis, Kellen Christopher Smalley, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Publication number: 20190046882
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure relates to altering a probability of fulfilling a game objective in a game space. The game objective may be associated with a set of potential reward items, the set of potential reward items including a first item. Probabilities of the first item from the set of potential reward items being provided to individual users as a reward for completing the game objective may be determined based on the rates of usage of the game space by the user. The probability of the first user being provided with the first item as a reward for completing the game objective may be determined based on the rate of usage of the game space by the first user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew Curtis, James Koh, Kellen Christopher Smalley, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Patent number: 10203846
    Abstract: A system and method for non-deterministically providing denominated virtual currency in a virtual space are disclosed. The units of virtual currencies may be classified by different denominations and levels. Non-purchasing utilities may be obtained for the denomination and level of the virtual currencies and provided to users in the virtual space. In one example, the denomination and level of the virtual currencies may be used as socketing elements to provide boosts to base attributes to virtual items. In some implementations, an amount of boost provided by a denomination and level of virtual currency when socketed to a virtual item may be determined based on numerical relationships among the denomination and level of the virtual currencies. The denomination and level of virtual currencies may be harvested non-deterministically by users based on probabilities determined for the users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.
    Inventors: Weiwei Geng, Matthew Curtis, Michael C. Caldarone, Stephanie K. Schultz, Kellen Christopher Smalley, Xuezheng Liu
  • Patent number: 10176672
    Abstract: A system and method for providing rewards in a game space based on errors disrupting user interactions with the game space is disclosed. For providing such rewards, error information indicating the errors may be obtained and the errors may be extracted from the obtained error information. In some examples, levels of disruption caused by the errors may be determined. In some examples, support resources for addressing the errors may be determined. Rewards may be determined to be awarded to the users based on the determined levels of disruption and/or the determined support resources. In some examples, the determined rewards may be distributed to the users responsive to the users performing one or more actions addressing the errors on the client computing platforms associated with the users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Electronic Arts Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Curtis, James Koh, Kellen Christopher Smalley, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Patent number: 10166479
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing stochastic, tiered awards in an online game based on a user's real-time completion of a task in the online game, where a time clock for the task begins running (in real-time) at the completion of a user's immediately previous task. The game may include a plurality of tasks, where a second task may be made performable in response to a user completing a first task. An award may be distributed to a user based on an amount of real world time taken by the user to complete the second task. A plurality of awards may be available for provision to a user. The plurality of potential awards may include various levels of potential awards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS ARTS INC.
    Inventors: James Koh, Kellen Christopher Smalley
  • Publication number: 20180361257
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure relates to a system configured to provide a virtual space, in accordance with one or more implementations. Users of virtual spaces may encounter barriers in a game. During these barriers, users may receive and/or provide assistance to other affiliation members. One aspect of the disclosure relates to allowing affiliations or other groups to utilize in-game items to assist other players in game progress in an online game. This may incent positive player actions towards affiliation members, may enhance engagement between affiliation members, may provide an incentive for users to join an affiliation, and/or have other results. These results may ultimately contribute to enhanced retention, enhanced monetization, enhanced user satisfaction, and/or other enhancements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Curtis, James Koh, Kellen Christopher Smalley, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Publication number: 20180361256
    Abstract: An approach to facilitating interface-based game-space contest generation is provided. A user interface may be provided to an administrator. The user interface may be configured to receive user inputs from the administrator that include one or more performance criteria to be associated with a contest to be provided in a game space, one or more awards to be distributed in association with the contest, and one or more qualifications to participate in the contest. A notification that relates to the contest may be provided, based on the user inputs, in the game space. Performance scores of users that participated in the contest may be determined based on the performance criteria and activities that are performed in the game space by the participating users. Automated distribution of the awards to individual ones of the participating users may be facilitated in accordance with the performance scores of the individual participating users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Yuexin CHU, Alex GENCO, Jason LEE, Clive HENRICK, Matthew CURTIS, Kellen Christopher SMALLEY, Michael C. CALDARONE
  • Patent number: 10124259
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure relates to altering a probability of fulfilling a game objective in a game space. The game objective may be associated with a set of potential reward items, the set of potential reward items including a first item. Probabilities of the first item from the set of potential reward items being provided to individual users as a reward for completing the game objective may be determined based on the rates of usage of the game space by the user. The probability of the first user being provided with the first item as a reward for completing the game objective may be determined based on the rate of usage of the game space by the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Curtis, James Koh, Kellen Christopher Smalley, Michael C. Caldarone