Patents by Inventor Stephen A Lang

Stephen A Lang 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: 11213753
    Abstract: The present specification describes systems and methods for efficiently generating scaled down versions of heatmaps that can be presented in real-time to a player. Data representative of events in a video game are recorded at occurring at one or more coordinates within a virtual geographical landscape of the video game. The virtual geographical landscape is divided into subsections to form a secondary map. Performance metrics are generated based on the data and assigned to at least one of the subsections based on the one or more coordinates. The heatmap is formed and displayed by generating a non-alphanumeric visual representation of the performance metrics and overlaying the non-alphanumeric visual representation of the performance metrics on the secondary map. Locations of the non-alphanumeric visual representation of the performance metrics is based on to which subsections the generated performance metrics was assigned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen A. Lang
  • Patent number: 11207596
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a performance heatmap that accounts for barriers, playable areas and non-playable areas are disclosed. The system applies a blur operation to a performance heatmap associated with a game map to generate a blurred heatmap, the heatmap having a plurality of pixels, where at least a portion of the pixels is associated with one or more values corresponding to one or more performance metrics. A mask representative of a top down image of the game map is generated, where the mask defines first areas that are accessible to players and second areas that are not accessible to players. A data structure is defined having n×m elements, wherein each of the n×m elements has a weight associated therewith based on an association of the data structure and mask. The blurring operation is executed on the heatmap using the data structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen A. Lang
  • Patent number: 10987588
    Abstract: The present specification describes an assistive tool that facilitates the design of video games to achieve a true randomized, non-biased and neutral gaming environment that is bounded so that extremes of disincentives and excess incentives are avoided. In one embodiment, the tool allows for simulation of game environment and generates variables that enable reward acquisition by players. In one embodiment, the tool allows the game systems to be defined in such a way that an agent, such as an artificial player implemented by a computer program, can interact with the game environment. In one embodiment, the present tool uses generative models driven by data from previous versions of a game to define the behavior of such agents in simulated games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Parker E. Lowrey, Christian K. Widmer, Brian S. Feldstein, Stephen A. Lang
  • Publication number: 20200360813
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a performance heatmap that accounts for barriers, playable areas and non-playable areas are disclosed. The system applies a blur operation to a performance heatmap associated with a game map to generate a blurred heatmap, the heatmap having a plurality of pixels, where at least a portion of the pixels is associated with one or more values corresponding to one or more performance metrics. A mask representative of a top down image of the game map is generated, where the mask defines first areas that are accessible to players and second areas that are not accessible to players. A data structure is defined having n×m elements, wherein each of the n×m elements has a weight associated therewith based on an association of the data structure and mask. The blurring operation is executed on the heatmap using the data structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventor: Stephen A. Lang
  • Publication number: 20200360812
    Abstract: The present specification describes systems and methods for efficiently generating scaled down versions of heatmaps that can be presented in real-time to a player. Data representative of events in a video game are recorded at occurring at one or more coordinates within a virtual geographical landscape of the video game. The virtual geographical landscape is divided into subsections to form a secondary map. Performance metrics are generated based on the data and assigned to at least one of the subsections based on the one or more coordinates. The heatmap is formed and displayed by generating a non-alphanumeric visual representation of the performance metrics and overlaying the non-alphanumeric visual representation of the performance metrics on the secondary map. Locations of the non-alphanumeric visual representation of the performance metrics is based on to which subsections the generated performance metrics was assigned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventor: Stephen A. Lang
  • Patent number: 10709981
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a performance heatmap that accounts for barriers, playable areas and non-playable areas are disclosed. The system applies a blur operation to a performance heatmap associated with a game map to generate a blurred heatmap, the heatmap having a plurality of pixels, where at least a portion of the pixels is associated with one or more values corresponding to one or more performance metrics. A mask representative of a top down image of the game map is generated, where the mask defines first areas that are accessible to players and second areas that are not accessible to players. A data structure is defined having n×m elements, wherein each of the n×m elements has a weight associated therewith based on an association of the data structure and mask. The blurring operation is executed on the heatmap using the data structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen A Lang
  • Patent number: 10702779
    Abstract: The present specification describes systems and methods for efficiently generating scaled down versions of heatmaps that can be presented in real-time to a player. Data representative of events in a video game are recorded at occurring at one or more coordinates within a virtual geographical landscape of the video game. The virtual geographical landscape is divided into subsections to form a secondary map. Performance metrics are generated based on the data and assigned to at least one of the subsections based on the one or more coordinates. The heatmap is formed and displayed by generating a non-alphanumeric visual representation of the performance metrics and overlaying the non-alphanumeric visual representation of the performance metrics on the secondary map. Locations of the non-alphanumeric visual representation of the performance metrics is based on to which subsections the generated performance metrics was assigned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen A Lang
  • Publication number: 20200171388
    Abstract: The present specification describes an assistive tool that facilitates the design of video games to achieve a true randomized, non-biased and neutral gaming environment that is bounded so that extremes of disincentives and excess incentives are avoided. In one embodiment, the tool allows for simulation of game environment and generates variables that enable reward acquisition by players. In one embodiment, the tool allows the game systems to be defined in such a way that an agent, such as an artificial player implemented by a computer program, can interact with the game environment. In one embodiment, the present tool uses generative models driven by data from previous versions of a game to define the behavior of such agents in simulated games.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Parker E. Lowery, Christian K. Widmer, Brian S. Feldstein, Stephen A. Lang
  • Publication number: 20200122036
    Abstract: The present specification describes systems and methods for efficiently generating scaled down versions of heatmaps that can be presented in real-time to a player. Data representative of events in a video game are recorded at occurring at one or more coordinates within a virtual geographical landscape of the video game. The virtual geographical landscape is divided into subsections to form a secondary map. Performance metrics are generated based on the data and assigned to at least one of the subsections based on the one or more coordinates. The heatmap is formed and displayed by generating a non-alphanumeric visual representation of the performance metrics and overlaying the non-alphanumeric visual representation of the performance metrics on the secondary map. Locations of the non-alphanumeric visual representation of the performance metrics is based on to which subsections the generated performance metrics was assigned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventor: Stephen A. Lang
  • Patent number: 10500498
    Abstract: The present specification describes an assistive tool that facilitates the design of video games to achieve a true randomized, non-biased and neutral gaming environment that is bounded so that extremes of disincentives and excess incentives are avoided. In one embodiment, the tool allows for simulation of game environment and generates variables that enable reward acquisition by players. In one embodiment, the tool allows the game systems to be defined in such a way that an agent, such as an artificial player implemented by a computer program, can interact with the game environment. In one embodiment, the present tool uses generative models driven by data from previous versions of a game to define the behavior of such agents in simulated games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Parker E. Lowery, Christian K. Widmer, Brian S. Feldstein, Stephen A. Lang
  • Patent number: 10463964
    Abstract: The present specification describes systems and methods for efficiently generating scaled down versions of heatmaps that can be presented in real-time to a player. Data representative of events in a video game are recorded at occurring at one or more coordinates within a virtual geographical landscape of the video game. The virtual geographical landscape is divided into subsections to form a secondary map. Performance metrics are generated based on the data and assigned to at least one of the subsections based on the one or more coordinates. The heatmap is formed and displayed by generating a non-alphanumeric visual representation of the performance metrics and overlaying the non-alphanumeric visual representation of the performance metrics on the secondary map. Locations of the non-alphanumeric visual representation of the performance metrics is based on to which subsections the generated performance metrics was assigned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen A Lang
  • Publication number: 20190105567
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a performance heatmap that accounts for barriers, playable areas and non-playable areas are disclosed. The system applies a blur operation to a performance heatmap associated with a game map to generate a blurred heatmap, the heatmap having a plurality of pixels, where at least a portion of the pixels is associated with one or more values corresponding to one or more performance metrics. A mask representative of a top down image of the game map is generated, where the mask defines first areas that are accessible to players and second areas that are not accessible to players. A data structure is defined having n×m elements, wherein each of the n×m elements has a weight associated therewith based on an association of the data structure and mask. The blurring operation is executed on the heatmap using the data structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventor: Stephen A. Lang
  • Publication number: 20180147491
    Abstract: The present specification describes an assistive tool that facilitates the design of video games to achieve a true randomized, non-biased and neutral gaming environment that is bounded so that extremes of disincentives and excess incentives are avoided. In one embodiment, the tool allows for simulation of game environment and generates variables that enable reward acquisition by players. In one embodiment, the tool allows the game systems to be defined in such a way that an agent, such as an artificial player implemented by a computer program, can interact with the game environment. In one embodiment, the present tool uses generative models driven by data from previous versions of a game to define the behavior of such agents in simulated games.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Parker E. Lowery, Christian K. Widmer, Brian S. Feldstein, Stephen A. Lang
  • Publication number: 20180133599
    Abstract: The present specification describes systems and methods for efficiently generating scaled down versions of heatmaps that can be presented in real-time to a player. Data representative of events in a video game are recorded at occurring at one or more coordinates within a virtual geographical landscape of the video game. The virtual geographical landscape is divided into subsections to form a secondary map. Performance metrics are generated based on the data and assigned to at least one of the subsections based on the one or more coordinates. The heatmap is formed and displayed by generating a non-alphanumeric visual representation of the performance metrics and overlaying the non-alphanumeric visual representation of the performance metrics on the secondary map. Locations of the non-alphanumeric visual representation of the performance metrics is based on to which subsections the generated performance metrics was assigned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventor: Stephen A Lang