Patents by Inventor Stephanie K. Schultz

Stephanie K. Schultz 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: 11948431
    Abstract: A game provided to users of a game space may include a task to be performed by the users. A plurality of virtual chance items may be composed. Individual ones of the virtual chance items may be configured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtain virtual awards in the game space. The virtual awards may include one or more primary awards and one or more secondary awards. Composing the virtual chance items may include determining probabilities that the individual virtual chance items will provide a primary award and/or a secondary award upon activation. The virtual chance items may be distributed to the users that complete the task responsive to these users completing the task. The virtual awards may be provided to the users in accordance with the probabilities assigned to the virtual chance items in response to the users activating the virtual chance items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Caldarone, Stephanie K. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20240104595
    Abstract: An approach to facilitate providing an event space associated with a primary virtual space is provided. An event space is provided to users of a primary virtual space, wherein the event space comprises one or more event objectives. Users of the primary virtual space having primary user accounts have associated event space accounts indicating event user parameters, event game parameters, and event inventory information for the first user. The user may be provided with event virtual items for purchase wherein the event virtual items are used in the event space during the event period. In response to a determination of the progress of the user associated with one or more event objectives an event award is determined for distribution to the user, wherein the event award may be used within the primary virtual space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Stephanie K. Schultz, Michael C. Caldarone, Ken Go
  • Patent number: 11868921
    Abstract: An approach to facilitate providing an event space associated with a primary virtual space is provided. An event space is provided to users of a primary virtual space, wherein the event space comprises one or more event objectives. Users of the primary virtual space having primary user accounts have associated event space accounts indicating event user parameters, event game parameters, and event inventory information for the first user. The user may be provided with event virtual items for purchase wherein the event virtual items are used in the event space during the event period. In response to a determination of the progress of the user associated with one or more event objectives an event award is determined for distribution to the user, wherein the event award may be used within the primary virtual space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephanie K. Schultz, Michael C. Caldarone, Ken Go
  • Publication number: 20230177572
    Abstract: An approach to facilitating pricing of virtual containers is provided. Item prices associated with obtaining item instances of virtual items in a game space may be determined. Probabilities that container instances of virtual containers will provide individual ones of the item instances of the virtual items upon activation by users in the game space may be determined. Container prices to be associated with obtaining the container instances of the virtual containers may be determined based on the determined item prices and/or the determined probabilities. A store interface may present offers to the users to purchase the container instances of the virtual containers at the determined container prices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Michael C. Caldarone, Stephanie K. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20230169827
    Abstract: A game provided to users of a game space may include a task to be performed by the users. A plurality of virtual chance items may be composed. Individual ones of the virtual chance items may be configured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtain virtual awards in the game space. The virtual awards may include one or more primary awards and one or more secondary awards. Composing the virtual chance items may include determining probabilities that the individual virtual chance items will provide a primary award and/or a secondary award upon activation. The virtual chance items may be distributed to the users that complete the task responsive to these users completing the task. The virtual awards may be provided to the users in accordance with the probabilities assigned to the virtual chance items in response to the users activating the virtual chance items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Michael C. Caldarone, Stephanie K. Schultz
  • Patent number: 11615461
    Abstract: A shop interface is presented to users in conjunction with presentation of views of an online game, wherein the shop interface is configured to facilitate presentations to users of offers to sell virtual items usable within the game in exchange for consideration. In response to detecting that the online game is systematically unavailable to users, an alternative virtual shop interface is presented to users that is accessed over the Internet separately from the online game, and offers to sell the virtual times usable within the game are presented to users in exchange for less consideration than the offers to sell the virtual items through the shop interface presented in conjunction with the online game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephanie K. Schultz, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Patent number: 11594102
    Abstract: A game provided to users of a game space may include a task to be performed by the users. A plurality of virtual chance items may be composed. Individual ones of the virtual chance items may be configured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtain virtual awards in the game space. The virtual awards may include one or more primary awards and one or more secondary awards. Composing the virtual chance items may include determining probabilities that the individual virtual chance items will provide a primary award and/or a secondary award upon activation. The virtual chance items may be distributed to the users that complete the task responsive to these users completing the task. The virtual awards may be provided to the users in accordance with the probabilities assigned to the virtual chance items in response to the users activating the virtual chance items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Caldarone, Stephanie K. Schultz
  • Patent number: 11587132
    Abstract: An approach to facilitating pricing of virtual containers is provided. Item prices associated with obtaining item instances of virtual items in a game space may be determined. Probabilities that container instances of virtual containers will provide individual ones of the item instances of the virtual items upon activation by users in the game space may be determined. Container prices to be associated with obtaining the container instances of the virtual containers may be determined based on the determined item prices and/or the determined probabilities. A store interface may present offers to the users to purchase the container instances of the virtual containers at the determined container prices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Caldarone, Stephanie K. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20230031869
    Abstract: An approach to facilitating event-based currency is provided. A first virtual currency usable by users of a game space to purchase in-space benefits may be managed. An event in the game space that is conducted during an event time period may be managed such that, during the event time period, an event virtual currency may be distributed to one or more of the users as a reward for certain operations and/or achievements performed in the game space during the event time period. Exchanges of in-space benefits associated with the event virtual currency may be effectuated for one or more of the users. In some implementations, the event virtual currency may not available to the users after the event time period, while the first virtual currency may be available to the users during and after the event time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Stephanie K. Schultz, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Patent number: 11556950
    Abstract: An approach to facilitating identity-recognition-based promotions using virtual containers is provided. A first virtual container may be associated with a first virtual item set and identified by a first container identifier. Container instances of the first virtual container that are purchased through a store interface during a first time period may be configured to be activated by users in a game space to obtain item instances of virtual items of the first virtual item set. The first virtual container may be modified to be associated with a second virtual item set and identified by the first container identifier. Container instances of the first virtual container that are purchased during a second time period may be container instances of the modified first virtual container that are configured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtain item instances of virtual items of the second virtual item set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephanie K. Schultz, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Patent number: 11484798
    Abstract: An approach to facilitating event-based currency is provided. A first virtual currency usable by users of a game space to purchase in-space benefits may be managed. An event in the game space that is conducted during an event time period may be managed such that, during the event time period, an event virtual currency may be distributed to one or more of the users as a reward for certain operations and/or achievements performed in the game space during the event time period. Exchanges of in-space benefits associated with the event virtual currency may be effectuated for one or more of the users. In some implementations, the event virtual currency may not available to the users after the event time period, while the first virtual currency may be available to the users during and after the event time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephanie K. Schultz, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Patent number: 11311811
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure relates to determining prices for a protection extension in an online game. The protection extension may be implemented, for example, after a user's beginning protection and/or any other in-game protection period has ceased. The protection extension may be dynamically priced for individual users. The protection extension may be priced, for example, based on the user's power and/or strength in a game, and/or based on other factors. For example, the stronger the user is in the game, the more expensive the extension of protection, and the weaker the user is in the game, the cheaper the extension of protection. This may provide an opportunity for a less experienced player to build up their strength in a game, thus promoting further player engagement. Individualizing the price of protection extensions may provide other enhancements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.
    Inventors: Kellen Christopher Smalley, Stephanie K. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20220012759
    Abstract: An approach to facilitating identity-recognition-based promotions using virtual containers is provided. A first virtual container may be associated with a first virtual item set and identified by a first container identifier. Container instances of the first virtual container that are purchased through a store interface during a first time period may be configured to be activated by users in a game space to obtain item instances of virtual items of the first virtual item set. The first virtual container may be modified to be associated with a second virtual item set and identified by the first container identifier. Container instances of the first virtual container that are purchased during a second time period may be container instances of the modified first virtual container that are configured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtain item instances of virtual items of the second virtual item set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Stephanie K. Schultz, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Patent number: 11164201
    Abstract: An approach to facilitating identity-recognition-based promotions using virtual containers is provided. A first virtual container may be associated with a first virtual item set and identified by a first container identifier. Container instances of the first virtual container that are purchased through a store interface during a first time period may be configured to be activated by users in a game space to obtain item instances of virtual items of the first virtual item set. The first virtual container may be modified to be associated with a second virtual item set and identified by the first container identifier. Container instances of the first virtual container that are purchased during a second time period may be container instances of the modified first virtual container that are configured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtain item instances of virtual items of the second virtual item set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: KABAM, INC.
    Inventors: Stephanie K. Schultz, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Publication number: 20210291055
    Abstract: An approach to facilitating virtual item promotions via time-period-based virtual item benefits is provided. A store interface may present offers to users of a game space to purchase item instances of virtual items associated with in-space benefits. Item instances of a first virtual item may be configured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtain one or more first in-space benefits. A promotion that is conducted for the game space may be managed such that, during a first promotion time period, item instances of the first virtual item purchased through the store interface may be modified instances of the first virtual item. The modified instances may be configured to be activated by the users in the game space during a second promotion time period to obtain one or more second in-space benefits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Michael C. Caldarone, Stephanie K. Schultz
  • Patent number: 11030654
    Abstract: An approach to facilitating virtual item promotions via time-period-based virtual item benefits is provided. A store interface may present offers to users of a game space to purchase item instances of virtual items associated with in-space benefits. Item instances of a first virtual item may be configured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtain one or more first in-space benefits. A promotion that is conducted for the game space may be managed such that, during a first promotion time period, item instances of the first virtual item purchased through the store interface may be modified instances of the first virtual item. The modified instances may be configured to be activated by the users in the game space during a second promotion time period to obtain one or more second in-space benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: KABAM, INC.
    Inventors: Michael C. Caldarone, Stephanie K. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20210166528
    Abstract: A game provided to users of a game space may include a task to be performed by the users. A plurality of virtual chance items may be composed. Individual ones of the virtual chance items may be configured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtain virtual awards in the game space. The virtual awards may include one or more primary awards and one or more secondary awards. Composing the virtual chance items may include determining probabilities that the individual virtual chance items will provide a primary award and/or a secondary award upon activation. The virtual chance items may be distributed to the users that complete the task responsive to these users completing the task. The virtual awards may be provided to the users in accordance with the probabilities assigned to the virtual chance items in response to the users activating the virtual chance items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Michael C. Caldarone, Stephanie K. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20210166256
    Abstract: An approach to facilitate providing an event space associated with a primary virtual space is provided. An event space is provided to users of a primary virtual space, wherein the event space comprises one or more event objectives. Users of the primary virtual space having primary user accounts have associated event space accounts indicating event user parameters, event game parameters, and event inventory information for the first user. The user may be provided with event virtual items for purchase wherein the event virtual items are used in the event space during the event period. In response to a determination of the progress of the user associated with one or more event objectives an event award is determined for distribution to the user, wherein the event award may be used within the primary virtual space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Stephanie K. Schultz, Michael C. Caldarone, Ken Go
  • Publication number: 20210073897
    Abstract: A shop interface is presented to users in conjunction with presentation of views of an online game, wherein the shop interface is configured to facilitate presentations to users of offers to sell virtual items usable within the game in exchange for consideration. In response to detecting that the online game is systematically unavailable to users, an alternative virtual shop interface is presented to users that is accessed over the Internet separately from the online game, and offers to sell the virtual times usable within the game are presented to users in exchange for less consideration than the offers to sell the virtual items through the shop interface presented in conjunction with the online game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Stephanie K. Schultz, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Patent number: 10937273
    Abstract: A game provided to users of a game space may include a task to be performed by the users. A plurality of virtual chance items may be composed. Individual ones of the virtual chance items may be configured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtain virtual awards in the game space. The virtual awards may include one or more primary awards and one or more secondary awards. Composing the virtual chance items may include determining probabilities that the individual virtual chance items will provide a primary award and/or a secondary award upon activation. The virtual chance items may be distributed to the users that complete the task responsive to these users completing the task. The virtual awards may be provided to the users in accordance with the probabilities assigned to the virtual chance items in response to the users activating the virtual chance items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Caldarone, Stephanie K. Schultz