Patents by Inventor Timothy Wickland

Timothy Wickland 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: 9965921
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for providing play areas to communities of players in an online game. One method includes an operation for identifying attributes of players in the online game. A characteristic that is common to a subset of players is determined in the online game, where the characteristic is based on the attributes of players in the online game. The method further includes an operation for creating a playing area in the online game, such that the subset of players are allowed to play in the playing area, but other players in the online game, that are outside the subset of players, are disallowed from playing in the playing area. The subset of players is then enabled to play in the playing area with other players from the subset of players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Wickett, Timothy Wickland, Shawn Carnes
  • Publication number: 20160019752
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for providing play areas to communities of players in an online game. One method includes an operation for identifying attributes of players in the online game. A characteristic that is common to a subset of players is determined in the online game, where the characteristic is based on the attributes of players in the online game. The method further includes an operation for creating a playing area in the online game, such that the subset of players are allowed to play in the playing area, but other players in the online game, that are outside the subset of players, are disallowed from playing in the playing area. The subset of players is then enabled to play in the playing area with other players from the subset of players.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Justin Wickett, Timothy Wickland, Shawn Carnes
  • Patent number: 9155965
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for providing play areas to communities of players in an online game. One method includes an operation for identifying attributes of players in the online game. A characteristic that is common to a subset of players is determined in the online game, where the characteristic is based on the attributes of players in the online game. The method further includes an operation for creating a playing area in the online game, such that the subset of players are allowed to play in the playing area, but other players in the online game, that are outside the subset of players, are disallowed from playing in the playing area. The subset of players is then enabled to play in the playing area with other players from the subset of players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Wickett, Timothy Wickland, Shawn Carnes
  • Publication number: 20140128138
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for providing play areas to communities of players in an online game. One method includes an operation for identifying attributes of players in the online game. A characteristic that is common to a subset of players is determined in the online game, where the characteristic is based on the attributes of players in the online game. The method further includes an operation for creating a playing area in the online game, such that the subset of players are allowed to play in the playing area, but other players in the online game, that are outside the subset of players, are disallowed from playing in the playing area. The subset of players is then enabled to play in the playing area with other players from the subset of players.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventors: Justin Wickett, Timothy Wickland, Shawn Carnes
  • Patent number: D536106
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Mikron Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Wickland