# US 10,373,432 B2 · Information processing device, method of game processing, and game processing system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,373,432 B2 - Document ID: US10373432B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/625,188 - Filed: 2017-06-16 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-16 - Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Games - Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SEGA Games - Inventors: Manato Ito - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10373432B2 ## CPC - G07F 17/3255: {Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements} - A63F 13/30: Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers - A63F 13/35: Details of game servers - A63F 13/69: by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions - A63F 13/79: involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories - A63F 13/795: for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list - A63F 13/847: Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal - G07F 17/3269: {Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine} - G07F 17/3272: {Games involving multiple players} - G07F 17/329: {Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards} - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An information processing device includes a controller that generates a list that includes a plurality of players while a game is underway, a receiver that receives a request from an external device to acquire an intangible item to be executed in the game based on input from one of the players, and a transmitter that transmits a signal to the external device. The controller counts a number of predetermined players who have input the request within a first time period among the plurality of players. The controller outputs, to the transmitter, an instruction to award the intangible item to the predetermined players when the number is less than a predetermined value. The controller outputs, to the transmitter, an instruction to award the intangible item and an additional intangible item to the predetermined players when the number is greater than or equal to the predetermined value. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An information processing device, comprising: a controller that generates a first list that includes a plurality of players while a game is underway; a memory that stores the first list; a receiver that receives a request from an external device to acquire an intangible item to be executed in the game based on input from one of the players; and a transmitter that transmits a signal to the external device, wherein the controller counts a number of predetermined players who have input the request within a first time period among the plurality of players, the controller outputs, to the transmitter, an instruction to award the intangible item to the predetermined players when the number is less than a predetermined value, and the controller outputs, to the transmitter, an instruction to award the intangible item and an additional intangible item to the predetermined players when the number is greater than or equal to the predetermined value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the controller generates a second list that includes the predetermined players, and the controller that causes the second list to be displayed on a play screen of the game. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The information processing device according to claim 2, wherein the controller generates the first list based on location information that indicates locations related to players or a friend list that includes players registered as friends. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The information processing device according to claim 2, wherein the controller generates the first list for each of the plurality of players, when the receiver receives the request based on input from a first player, the controller counts a number of first predetermined players who have input the request within either the first time period or a second time period, the first predetermined players are included in the first list corresponding to the first player, the first time period is anytime after the first player makes the request, and the second time period is anytime before the first player makes the request. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The information processing device according to claim 2, wherein the controller generates a third list that includes third predetermined players who have input the request within the first time period, the third predetermined players are different from the plurality of players in the first list, and the controller causes recommendation information that recommends including the third predetermined players into the first list to be displayed on a play screen of the game. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the controller generates the first list based on location information that indicates locations related to players or a friend list that includes players registered as friends. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The information processing device according to claim 6, wherein the controller generates the first list for each of the plurality of players, when the receiver receives the request based on input from a first player, the controller counts a number of first predetermined players who have input the request within either the first time period or a second time period, the first predetermined players are included in the first list corresponding to the first player, the first time period is anytime after the first player makes the request, and the second time period is anytime before the first player makes the request. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The information processing device according to claim 6, wherein the controller generates a third list that includes third predetermined players who have input the request within the first time period, the third predetermined players are different from the plurality of players in the first list, and the controller causes recommendation information that recommends including the third predetermined players into the first list to be displayed on a play screen of the game. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the controller generates the first list for each of the plurality of players, when the receiver receives the request based on input from a first player, the controller counts a number of first predetermined players who have input the request within either the first time period or a second time period, the first predetermined players are included in the first list corresponding to the first player, the first time period is from when the first player makes the request to a predetermined ending point, and the second time period is from a predetermined starting point before the first player makes the request. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The information processing device according to claim 9, wherein when the receiver receives the request based on input from a second player, the controller causes information that indicates the received request and how much time remains in the first time period to be displayed on a play screen of the game for a second predetermined player, and the second predetermined player has a first list that includes the second player. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The information processing device according to claim 10, wherein the controller generates a third list that includes third predetermined players who have input the request within the first time period, the third predetermined players are different from the plurality of players in the first list, and the controller causes recommendation information that recommends including the third predetermined players into the first list to be displayed on a play screen of the game. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The information processing device according to claim 9, wherein the controller generates a third list that includes third predetermined players who have input the request within the first time period, the third predetermined players are different from the plurality of players in the first list, and the controller causes recommendation information that recommends including the third predetermined players into the first list to be displayed on a play screen of the game. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the controller generates a third list that includes third predetermined players who have input the request within the first time period, the third predetermined players are different from the plurality of players in the first list, and the controller causes recommendation information that recommends including the third predetermined players into the first list to be displayed on a play screen of the game. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The information processing device according to claim 13, wherein the controller sorts the third predetermined players based on request time when the third predetermined players input the request. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein a receiver that receives information of a clock time designated by a player, wherein the controller determines a start time of the first time period based on the received information of the clock time. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein after the controller has determined to award the intangible item to the predetermined players, the controller counts a number of players who have input the request among the plurality of players, when the number is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, the controller determines to award the additional intangible item to the players. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the receiver receives the request based on billing instruction from the player. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the request is information that indicates request of drawing of the intangible item or request of purchase of the intangible item. ### Claim 19 A method that causes a computer to execute a game program, the method comprising: generating, with a controller of the computer, a first list that includes a plurality of players while a game is underway; storing, with a memory of the controller, the first list; receiving, with a receiver of the computer, a request from an external device to acquire an intangible item to be executed in the game based on input from one of the players; counting, with the controller, a number of predetermined players who have input the request within a predetermined time period among the plurality of players; outputting, from the controller to a transmitter of the computer, an instruction to award the intangible item to the predetermined players when the number is less than a predetermined value, and an instruction to award the intangible item and an additional intangible item to the predetermined players when the number is greater than or equal to the predetermined value; and transmitting, from the transmitter to the external device, the instruction. ### Claim 20 A game processing system comprising: a game device that comprises: a first transmitter that transmits, to an information processing device, request information that indicates a request to acquire an intangible item to be executed in the game based on input from a player; and a first receiver that receives a result of the request, and an information processing device that comprises: a controller that generates a first list including a plurality of players while a game is underway; a memory that stores the first list; a second receiver that receives, from the first transmitter, the request information; and a second transmitter that transmits a signal to the game device, wherein the controller counts, based on the request information, a number of predetermined players who have input the requests within a predetermined time period among the plurality of players, the controller outputs, to the second transmitter, an instruction to award the intangible item to the predetermined players when the number is less than a predetermined value, and the controller outputs, to the second transmitter, an instruction to award the intangible item and an additional intangible item to the predetermined players when the number is greater than or equal to the predetermined value.