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: 8506409
    Abstract: A method of implementing clan wars is disclosed. An incentive reward is generated that is to be provided to at least one member of a group of users of a game networking system based on the group exercising a level of influence over a location during a time period that is greater than a level of influence of an additional group of users over the location during the time period. It is determined that the group exercised the level of influence over the location during the time period. The incentive reward is provided to the at least one member of the group based on the determining that the level of influence exercised by the group is greater than the level of influence of the additional group over the location during the time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Paul Bethke, Michael Broom, Robert Aaron Jones, Scott Koenigsberg, Amitt Mahajan, William Henry Kelly Mooney, Matthew Adam Ocko, Ian Wang
  • Patent number: 8496532
    Abstract: A method of implementing clan wars is disclosed. A first group of a plurality of players of a computer-implemented game is notified that each member of the first group is to receive an incentive reward based on a level of influence of the first group over a location being greater than a level of influence of a second group of the plurality of players over the location. The level of influence of the first group over the location is determined to be greater than the level of influence of the second group over the location. The incentive reward is provided to the first group based on the determined level of influence of the first group over the location being greater than the level of influence of the second group over the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Paul Bethke, Michael Broom, Robert Aaron Jones, Scott Koenigsberg, Amitt Mahajan, William Henry Kelly Mooney, Matthew Adam Ocko, Ian Wang
  • Patent number: 8485897
    Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for providing branded virtual objects in a virtual environment are presented. A graphical user interface is provided to a requestor device. A request is received from the requestor device to present a branded virtual object to a player of a multiplayer online game. During rendering of the online game, a request is received from the player to locate a virtual object in a virtual environment of the player in the online game, the player is presented with an option to select the branded virtual object for placement in the virtual environment, the branded virtual object is inserted in the virtual environment at a placement position in the virtual environment selected by the player responsive to the player selecting the branded virtual object, and a selection count associated with the branded virtual object is updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: John Marsland, Revant Kapoor, Emily Anadu, Matt Levine, Edmund Leo, Matthew Adam Ocko
  • Patent number: 8449396
    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: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Darren Ryan Craine, Justin Potter Driemeyer, Kevin Thomas Hagan, Jason Samuel McGuirk, Matthew Adam Ocko, Shane Ishmaei Sareli, Nicholas John Tornow
  • Patent number: 8444491
    Abstract: A method of implementing clan wars is disclosed. An incentive reward is generated that is to be provided to at least one member of a group of users of a game networking system based on the group exercising a level of influence over a location during a time period that is greater than a level of influence of an additional group of users over the location during the time period. It is determined that the group exercised the level of influence over the location during the time period. The incentive reward is provided to the at least one member of the group based on the determining that the level of influence exercised by the group is greater than the level of influence of the additional group over the location during the time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Paul Bethke, Michael Broom, Aaron Jones, Scott Koenigsberg, Amitt Mahajan, William Henry Kelly Mooney, Matthew Adam Ocko, Ian Wang
  • Patent number: 8439747
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for executing game transactions in an online game to acquire virtual currency. One method includes an operation for detecting a request from a player to purchase virtual currency for use in the online game. Cash or credit is received, in an online transaction, to make the purchase of the virtual currency. The virtual currency of the online game is not redeemable for cash or credit so the virtual currency cannot be considered gambling proceeds. The method further includes an operation for crediting the player with an amount of virtual currency based on the amount of the received cash or credit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Jonathan Pincus, Michael Arieh Luxton, Matthew Adam Ocko, Carl Eric Schiermeyer, Stephen Henry Schoettler
  • Patent number: 8423892
    Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for monitoring player interactions with branded virtual objects in a virtual environment are presented. A game instance of a computer-implemented multiplayer online game is generated, where the game instance is associated with a virtual environment of a first player. A graphical user interface is provided to a second player, where the graphical user interface displays at least one branded virtual object, and where the branded virtual object corresponding to a real-world brand. Player engagement data is generated based on the second player's interaction with the branded virtual object in the virtual environment of the first player. The player engagement data of the second player is stored in a database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: John Marsland, Revant Kapoor, Emily Anadu, Matt Levine, Edmund Leo, Matthew Adam Ocko
  • Patent number: 8388446
    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: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    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: 8353760
    Abstract: Systems and methods for embedding and tracking revenue from fully operational games into third party websites are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Adam Ocko, Mark Jonathan Pincus, Harsimran Singh, Tim Terence Trampedach
  • Publication number: 20130005480
    Abstract: A method of implementing clan wars is disclosed. An incentive reward is generated that is to be provided to at least one member of a group of users of a game networking system based on the group exercising a level of influence over a location during a time period that is greater than a level of influence of an additional group of users over the location during the time period. It is determined that the group exercised the level of influence over the location during the time period. The incentive reward is provided to the at least one member of the group based on the determining that the level of influence exercised by the group is greater than the level of influence of the additional group over the location during the time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Erik Paul Bethke, Michael Broom, Aaron Jones, Scott Koenigsberg, Amitt Mahajan, William Henry Kelly Mooney, Matthew Adam Ocko, Ian Wang
  • Publication number: 20130005438
    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: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: ZYNGA INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Adam Ocko, Sudhanshu Pintu Sethi
  • Publication number: 20130006734
    Abstract: An automated bidding system accepts offers for an advertising opportunity within a computer-implemented game. The advertising opportunity may indicate an opportunity to place a branded virtual object in a virtual environment of the computer-implemented game. This bidding system may receive advertising offers for the advertising opportunity from multiple entities, where an advertising offer may include offer attributes that indicate at least a virtual object for the advertising opportunity. The bidding system may also determine opportunity constraints of the advertising opportunity, which are used to select an advertising offer that is appropriate for the advertising opportunity. The bidding system may then selectively accept an advertising offer from an advertising entity based on the offer attributes and the opportunity constraints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Matthew Adam Ocko, John Marsland
  • Publication number: 20130005474
    Abstract: A method of integrating client devices into a game networking system is disclosed. A location of a client device of a user of a group of users is enabled to be detected by a game networking system. A notification is received from the game networking system of an incentive reward to be provided to the user based on the group of users performing a set of tasks at the location within a time period. The notification is displayed in a user interface of the client device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Erik Paul Bethke, Scott Koenigsberg, Amitt Mahajan, Matthew Adam Ocko
  • Publication number: 20130006736
    Abstract: A method of providing rewards to users based on their levels of influence over other users is disclosed. A level of influence of a user of a system over other users of the system is determined. An incentive reward that is to be provided to the user based on a success of the user at influencing the other users to perform a location-based action within a time period is determined. The determining of the incentive reward is based on the level of influence of the user. A success of the user at influencing the other users to perform the location-based action is determined. A reward is provided to the user based on the determining of the success of the user at influencing the other users to perform the location-based action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Erik Paul Bethke, Scott Koenigsberg, Amitt Mahajan, Matthew Adam Ocko
  • Publication number: 20130005437
    Abstract: A method of dynamically sizing incentive rewards for location-based actions by groups is disclosed. A first incentive reward that is to be provided based on a first number of times members of a group of users complete a location-based action is determined. A second incentive reward that is to be provided based on a second number of times members of the group of users complete the location-based action is determined. A magnitude of the second incentive reward is greater than a magnitude of the first incentive reward based on the second number of times being greater than the first number of times. The group of users is notified of the incentive reward and the additional incentive reward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Erik Paul Bethke, Scott Koenigsberg, Amitt Mahajam, Matthew Adam Ocko
  • Publication number: 20130005475
    Abstract: A method of enabling users to transfer virtual items based on their locations is disclosed. A presence of a player of a computer-implemented game at a location is detected. A presence of an additional player of the computer-implemented game at the location is detected. The player is enabled to transfer a virtual item to the additional player based on the detection of the presence of the player at the location and the detection of the presence of the additional player at the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Amitt Mahajan, Matthew Adam Ocko, Brian Revnolds
  • Publication number: 20130004932
    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: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Amitt Mahajan, Matthew Adam Ocko, Brian Reynolds
  • Publication number: 20130005473
    Abstract: A method of implementing clan wars is disclosed. An incentive reward is generated that is to be provided to at least one member of a group of users of a game networking system based on the group exercising a level of influence over a location during a time period that is greater than a level of influence of an additional group of users over the location during the time period. It is determined that the group exercised the level of influence over the location during the time period. The incentive reward is provided to the at least one member of the group based on the determining that the level of influence exercised by the group is greater than the level of influence of the additional group over the location during the time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Paul Bethke, Michael Broom, Aaron Jones, Scott Koenigsberg, Amitt Mahajan, William Henry Kelly Mooney, Matthew Adam Ocko, Ian Wang
  • Publication number: 20130005466
    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: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Amitt Mahajan, Matthew Adam Ocko
  • Publication number: 20130006735
    Abstract: A method of incentivizing flash sales is disclosed. It is detected that a group of users are within a proximity to a location. The group of users is notified of an incentive reward to be provided based on a number of users from the group performing a location-based action at the location within a time period transgressing a threshold value. It is detected that the number of users from the group that have performed the location-based action at the location within the time period has transgressed the threshold value. The incentive reward is provided based on the detecting that the number of users from the group that have performed the location-based action at the location within the time period has transgressed the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Scott Koenigsberg, Amitt Mahajan, Matthew Adam Ocko