Patents by Inventor Matthew Adam Ocko

Matthew Adam Ocko 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: 9895608
    Abstract: A method of providing virtual items based on location-based actions is disclosed. An indication is received of a performance of a location-based action by a player of a computer-implemented game. A virtual item is added to an inventory of a player character of the player of the computer-implemented game based on the receiving of the indication of the performance of the location-based action by the player of the computer-implemented game. The virtual item is usable within the computer-implemented game by the player character of the player of the computer-implemented game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Kathleen Auterio, Deniz Ersever, Nathan Arthur Etter, Hardik Kheskani, Serena Lam, Amitt Mahajan, Christopher Joseph Makarsky, Jay Monahan, Donald C. Mosites, Benjamin Mullin, Matthew Adam Ocko, Brian Reynolds, Shantanu Talapatra, Justin Waldron, Ian Wang, Jackson Wang
  • Publication number: 20180043253
    Abstract: A method of providing virtual items based on location-based action is disclosed. An indication is received of a performance of a location-based action by a player of a computer-implemented game. A virtual item is provided based on the receiving of the indication of the performance of the location-based action by the player of the computer-implemented game. The virtual item may be usable within the computer-implemented game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Kathleen Auterio, Deniz Ersever, Nathan Arthur Etter, Hardik Kheskani, Serena Lam, Amitt Mahajan, Christopher Joseph Makarsky, Jay Monahan, Donald C. Mosites, Benjamin Mullin, Matthew Adam Ocko, Brian Reynolds, Shantanu Talapatra, Justin Waldron, Ian Wang, Jackson Wang
  • Publication number: 20170319968
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to games and applications in general and in particular to computer-implemented online games, such as online role-playing games, playable by more than one person from more than one location. The game engine can search a player's social network to find friends to play with. These social networks can be constructed implicitly by analyzing a player's game play information and other information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Darren Ryan Craine, Justin Potter Driemeyer, Kevin Thomas Hagan, Jason Samuel McGuirk, Matthew Adam Ocko, Shane Ishmael Sareli, Nicholas John Tornow
  • Publication number: 20170309129
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for limiting transfer of virtual currency in an online game. One method includes an operation for receiving, at a server, a purchase order for virtual currency from a first player. The purchase order is made with legal currency, and the virtual currency is usable within a computer-implemented gambling game. Further, the method includes operations for using a particular type of virtual currency available in an account of the first player to purchase a virtual item and a beneficiary is selected for crediting the virtual item. Account of the first player is adjusted to reflect the purchase of the virtual item and the account of the beneficiary is updated to credit the virtual item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Arieh Luxton, Matthew Adam Ocko, Mark Jonathan Pincus, Carl Eric Schiermeyer, Stephen Henry Schoettler
  • Patent number: 9731203
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to games and applications in general and in particular to computer-implemented online games, such as online role-playing games, playable by more than one person from more than one location. The game engine can search a player's social network to find friends to play with. These social networks can be constructed implicitly by analyzing a player's game play information and other information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Darren Ryan Craine, Justin Potter Driemeyer, Kevin Thomas Hagan, Jason Samuel McGuirk, Matthew Adam Ocko, Shane Ishmael Sareli, Nicholas John Tornow
  • Patent number: 9704344
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for limiting transfer of virtual currency in an online game. One method includes an operation for receiving, at a server, a purchase order for virtual currency from a first player. The purchase order is made with legal currency, and the virtual currency is usable within a computer-implemented gambling game. Further, the method includes operations for crediting an account of the first player with virtual currency, and for enabling the first player to make transfers of the virtual currency to other players. The transfers of virtual currency from the first player to other players are then limited, such as by limiting the amount, the frequency, or the recipients of the transfers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Arieh Luxton, Matthew Adam Ocko, Mark Jonathan Pincus, Carl Eric Schiermeyer, Stephen Henry Schoettler
  • Publication number: 20170182422
    Abstract: A method of changing a virtual world of a computer-implemented game based on real-world locations of players of the computer-implemented game is disclosed. A presence of a player of the computer-implemented game is detected at a physical location. A presence of an additional player of the computer-implemented game is detected at the physical location based on a communication received from the player of the computer-implemented game. An aspect of the virtual world of the computer-implemented game is changed based on the detecting of the presence of the player at the physical location and the detecting of the presence of the additional player of the computer-implemented game at the physical location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Nathan Arthur Etter, Jay Monahan, Matthew Adam Ocko, Brian Reynolds
  • Publication number: 20170178170
    Abstract: A method of incentivizing location-based actions by groups is disclosed. A group of users of a game networking system is notified that an incentive reward is to be provided based on a number of members of the group performing a location-based action transgressing a threshold. The incentive reward is provided based on the number of members of the group performing the location-based action transgressing the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Erik Paul Bethke, Scott Koenigsberg, Amitt Mahajan, Matthew Adam Ocko
  • Patent number: 9669318
    Abstract: A method of changing a virtual world of a computer-implemented game based on real-world locations of players of the computer-implemented game is disclosed. A presence of a player of the computer-implemented game is detected at a physical location. A presence of an additional player of the computer-implemented game is detected at the physical location based on a communication received from the player of the computer-implemented game. An aspect of the virtual world of the computer-implemented game is changed based on the detecting of the presence of the player at the physical location and the detecting of the presence of the additional player of the computer-implemented game at the physical location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Arthur Etter, Jay Monahan, Matthew Adam Ocko, Brian Reynolds
  • Patent number: 9649566
    Abstract: A method of updating virtual worlds based on interactions between real-world items is disclosed. An interaction between a first real-world item and a second real-world item is detected. The first real-world item is a real-world item that is associated with a first player of a computer-implemented game and the second real-world item is a real-world item that is associated with a second player of the computer-implemented game. A virtual world of the computer-implemented game is updated based on the detection of the interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Amitt Mahajan, Matthew Adam Ocko
  • Patent number: 9626689
    Abstract: A method of incentivizing location-based actions by groups is disclosed. A group of users of a game networking system is notified that an incentive reward is to be provided based on a number of members of the group performing a location-based action transgressing a threshold. The incentive reward is provided based on the number of members of the group performing the location-based action transgressing the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Paul Bethke, Scott Koenigsberg, Amitt Mahajan, Matthew Adam Ocko
  • Patent number: 9457278
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprises identifying a user of a computer-implemented game to interact with a further user in pursuit of a common game objective. The identifying is performed based at least partially on the user not being directly related, as reflected within relationship data, with the further user. Interactions, within the computer implemented-game, between the further user and the user in the pursuit of the common game objective of the computer-implemented game are enabled responsive to the identifying of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Sudhanshu Pintu Sethi, Matthew Adam Ocko
  • Patent number: 9355404
    Abstract: A method of voting with your feet is disclosed. A notification regarding a survey question is communicated to a player of a computer implemented game. The notification includes an indication of a particular location-based action that is to be performed by the player to answer the survey question. The answer of the player to the survey question is determined based on detection of performance of the particular location-based action by the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Amitt Mahajan, Matthew Adam Ocko, Brian Reynolds
  • Patent number: 9280875
    Abstract: In various embodiments, virtual currency is used within a multiplayer online game in a restricted manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Jonathan Pincus, Michael Arieh Luxton, Matthew Adam Ocko, Carl Eric Schiermeyer, Stephen Henry Schoettler
  • Patent number: 9220985
    Abstract: A method of providing virtual items based on location-based action is disclosed. An indication is received of a performance of a location-based action by a player of a computer-implemented game. A virtual item is provided based on the receiving of the indication of the performance of the location-based action by the player of the computer-implemented game. The virtual item may be usable within the computer-implemented game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Kathleen Auterio, Deniz Ersever, Nathan Arthur Etter, Hardik Kheskani, Serena Lam, Amitt Mahajan, Christopher Joseph Makarsky, Jay Monahan, Donald C. Mosites, Benjamin Mullin, Matthew Adam Ocko, Brian Reynolds, Shantanu Talapatra, Justin Waldron, Ian Wang, Jackson Wang
  • Publication number: 20150246287
    Abstract: A method of changing a virtual world of a computer-implemented game based on real-world locations of players of the computer-implemented game is disclosed. A presence of a player of the computer-implemented game is detected at a physical location. A presence of an additional player of the computer-implemented game is detected at the physical location based on a communication received from the player of the computer-implemented game. An aspect of the virtual world of the computer-implemented game is changed based on the detecting of the presence of the player at the physical location and the detecting of the presence of the additional player of the computer-implemented game at the physical location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Nathan Arthur Etter, Jay Monahan, Matthew Adam Ocko, Brian Reynolds
  • Patent number: 9033803
    Abstract: A method of changing a virtual world of a computer-implemented game based on real-world locations of players of the computer-implemented game is disclosed. A presence of a player of the computer-implemented game is detected at a physical location. A presence of an additional player of the computer-implemented game is detected at the physical location based on a communication received from the player of the computer-implemented game. An aspect of the virtual world of the computer-implemented game is changed based on the detecting of the presence of the player at the physical location and the detecting of the presence of the additional player of the computer-implemented game at the physical location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Arthur Etter, Jay Monahan, Matthew Adam Ocko, Brian Reynolds
  • Publication number: 20150072780
    Abstract: Systems and methods for embedding and tracking revenue from fully operational games into third party websites are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Matthew Adam Ocko, Mark Jonathan Pincus, Harsimran Singh, Tim Terence Trampedach
  • Publication number: 20150018079
    Abstract: A flash sale mechanic of a virtual game may perform a flash sale transaction based on transaction details for the flash sale transaction. These transaction details may indicate an item for sale, invitation requirements applicable to a player of the virtual game, and transaction requirements applicable to participants of the flash sale transaction. The flash sale mechanic may selectively provide an invitation request to a first player of the virtual game based on the invitation requirements of the flash sale transaction, and may receive acceptance responses from players that choose to participate in the flash sale transaction. The flash sale mechanic may complete the flash sale transaction if it determines that it has received an acceptance response from at least a minimum number of players that are needed to complete the flash sale transaction, and that these players have satisfied the transaction requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Matthew Adam Ocko, Sudhanshu Pintu Sethi
  • Publication number: 20150005070
    Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for entering a viewable location on a gameboard having a virtual media object capable of presenting a media item within a media are presented. A game instance of a computer-implemented game is generated, where the game instance is associated with a game state of a player using a virtual gameboard. A graphical user interface displaying an exterior of one or more virtual buildings associated with the game instance is provided. A request to view an interior of a virtual structure is received via a device of the player. In response to the request, the interior of the virtual structure is displayed, including displaying a virtual media object in the interior of the virtual structure. The virtual media object is associated with a media playable to the player upon request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Jay Monahan, Matthew Adam Ocko