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).

  • Publication number: 20170330416
    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: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Clifford J. HARRINGTON, Kent Wakeford
  • Patent number: 9808708
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to adjusting virtual item bundles made available to users of on 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. Responsive to the determined user type of a user, customizations of item bundles in the online game made available to individual users for purchase within the online game may be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington, Matthew Curtis, James Koh, Kellen Christopher Smalley, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Patent number: 9764227
    Abstract: An online gaming system for providing online game content to users based presentation control device. The system may comprise one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules including: a game module configured to execute an instance of an online game and to implement the instance of the online game to facilitate participation of users in the online game via presentation control devices; a user module configured to manage content sets corresponding to the individual users; a presentation control device module configured to manage game content sets corresponding to presentation control devices; a detection module configured to detect users physically present at the presentation control devices; and a content module configure to: determine appropriate content sets which are to be made available for participation by the users, and effectuate presentation of the game content to facilitate participation of the users in the determined appropriate game content sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Aftershock Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford J. Harrington, Kent Wakeford
  • Patent number: 9767803
    Abstract: A system and method for dynamically selecting speech recognition functionality on a client device for recognizing user speech inputs are disclosed. Such selection may be made based on speech recognition functionalities actually available on the client devices. The speech functionalities that may be dynamically selected may include, without limitation, speech recognition software and/or services, speech libraries, kernel drivers, speech recognition hardware, audio hardware, and/or any other speech functionality available on a client device. User speech inputs may be processed via the selected speech functionality for generating control commands in a virtual space. In some implementations, remote speech recognition support may be evoked when a client device does not have any speech recognition functionality on the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Aftershock Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington
  • Patent number: 9757653
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system and methodology for dynamically adjusting the difficulty of a game based on upon the specific hardware configuration and/or network connectivity capabilities available to specific users in connection with the interaction of those users with the game. In exemplary implementations, dynamically adjusting the difficulty of playing a game based on hardware and network connectivity capabilities may be performed by processors executing computer program modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington
  • Patent number: 9744467
    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: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Aftershock Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington
  • Patent number: 9721431
    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: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford J. Harrington, Kent Wakeford
  • Patent number: 9721284
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to systems and methods for communicating a primary display comprising information that facilitates visual presentation of a view of a game space to a primary client device and facilitating purchases of content for use in the game through a secondary client device such as a user's smartphone. The system may include a game device that allows a user to play a video game or otherwise interact with a virtual environment using the primary client device and purchase content for use in the video game using a secondary client device while playing the video game using the primary client device. The purchased content may be integrated into the game space such that purchased content is available for use while the user is playing the video game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Aftershock Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington
  • Patent number: 9669295
    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: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford J. Harrington, Kent Wakeford
  • Patent number: 9623322
    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. Customized in-game capabilities available for the user may be determined based on the device information, which may include a description of or otherwise identify the client computing platform. The device information may include or otherwise by used to obtain device capabilities such as hardware, software, network, and/or other specifications. 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: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington
  • Patent number: 9623338
    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 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington
  • Patent number: 9608890
    Abstract: Notifications of events that take place within a virtual space and/or information related the notifications may be transmitted from a server which hosts an instance of the virtual space to the user device via which users may interact with the virtual space. Based on the received notifications and/or the information related to those notifications, the user device may transmit external notifications to one or more presentation control devices that are within the vicinity of the user device. Determining a particular presentation control device to which the user device should transmit the event notification may depend on whether the presentation control device is located within the vicinity of the user device, a predefined association between a user and the presentation control device, and/or whether the user is present at the presentation control device. The presentation control device may concurrently display notifications that belong to different users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington
  • Publication number: 20170043262
    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: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington
  • Patent number: 9555324
    Abstract: An online gaming system allowing for adjustment of the effectiveness of virtual items. The system may comprise one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules. The system may include a game module configured to execute an instance of an online game and to implement the instance of the online game to facilitate participation of users in the online game. The system may include a user module configured to manage user information associated with the users in the online game. The system may include a shop module configured to present virtual items to the users in a virtual shop. The system may include a spend history module configured to obtain user spend information that characterizes past spending by the users on virtual items. The system may include an item effectiveness module configured to determine an effectiveness level of virtual items available in the online game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford J. Harrington, Kent Wakeford
  • Patent number: 9555327
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to systems and methods for communicating a primary display comprising information that facilitates visual presentation of a view of a game space to a primary client device and facilitating communication of alliance information among members of an alliance through a secondary client device such as a user's smartphone. The system may include a game device that allows a user to play a video game or otherwise interact with a virtual environment, and send or receive alliance information using the primary client device and send or receive alliance information using a secondary client device while playing the video game using the primary client device. The primary client device or the secondary client device may also be used to control actions taken by the alliance. Thus, alliance control may be facilitated using either or both of the primary client device and the secondary client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington
  • Patent number: 9539497
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to systems and methods for communicating a primary display comprising information that facilitates visual presentation of a view of a game space and general audio to a primary client device and facilitating communication of individualized audio through a secondary client device such as a user's smartphone. The system may include a computing device that allows a user to play a video game through a primary client device, and send or receive individualized audio through a secondary client device while playing the video game. The system may include a set top box or other media device configured to provide general audio to a display device and individualized audio through a user's secondary client device. The individualized audio may include audio tracks, voice communications (e.g., verbal utterances from a user to another user), and/or other sounds intended for a particular user and/or group of users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington
  • Patent number: 9533226
    Abstract: A system and methodology for dynamically adjusting the difficulty of a game based on upon the specific hardware configuration and/or network connectivity capabilities available to specific users in connection with the interaction of those users with the game. In exemplary implementations, dynamically adjusting the difficulty of playing a game based on hardware and network connectivity capabilities may be performed by processors executing computer program modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington
  • Patent number: 9533215
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system and methodology for dynamically adjusting a game based on predictions made during game account creation in accordance with one or more implementations. The system may be configured to receive user information included in platform level accounts which were previously created by users on an online platform and assign one or more user types to the user based on that user information. The system may be configured such that game adjustments associated with one or more user types for future play by users associated with that user type may be modified over time based on historical and ongoing game activities undertaken by users associated with one or more user types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington
  • Publication number: 20160346688
    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. Customized in-game capabilities available for the user may be determined based on the device information, which may include a description of or otherwise identify the client computing platform. The device information may include or otherwise by used to obtain device capabilities such as hardware, software, network, and/or other specifications. 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 interact with the virtual space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Kent Wakeford, Clifford J. Harrington
  • Publication number: 20160335847
    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: August 1, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Clifford J. Harrington, Kent Wakeford