# US 10,771,546 B2 · Managing groups of users in an application client

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- Number: US 10,771,546 B2
- Document ID: US10771546B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/597,616
- Filed: 2019-10-09
- Published: 2020-04-23
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-10-18
- Assignees: MZ IP Holdings, LLC
- Applicants: MZ IP Holdings, LLC
- Inventors: Jai Kim; Garth Gillespie; Ryan Jacobson; Ajk Palikuqi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10771546B2

## CPC

- G06Q 10/40: Business processes related to social networking or social networking services
- A63F 13/31: Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
- A63F 13/35: Details of game servers
- A63F 13/77: involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
- A63F 13/795: for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
- H04L 43/0876: Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
- H04L 67/1044: {Group management mechanisms (management of multicast group membership H04L12/185; reconfiguring of node membership in a computing system to eliminate errors G06F11/1425)}
- H04L 67/306: User profiles
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

Logically separating users into isolation groups is described. An example computer-implemented method can include identifying a first group of users of an online system that allows users to interact with one another on the online system. The method may also include grouping the first group of users into a first isolation group. The method may also include identifying a second group of users of the online system separate from the first group of users within the online system. The method may also include grouping the second group of users into a second isolation group. The first isolation group and the second isolation group may include logical boundaries that restrict interaction within the online system between users in the first isolation group and users in the second isolation group. Additionally, the first isolation group and the second isolation group may be hosted on the same server.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method, comprising:
identifying a first group of users of an online system, wherein the online system allows users to interact with one another;
grouping the first group of users into a first isolation group;
identifying a second group of users of the online system, wherein the second group of users is separate from the first group of users; and
by a computer processing device, grouping the second group of users into a second isolation group, wherein:
the first isolation group and the second isolation group comprise logical boundaries that restrict interaction within the online system between users in the first isolation group and users in the second isolation group; and
the first isolation group and the second isolation group are hosted on the same server.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
introducing an application feature to the users in the first isolation group;
tracking one or more performance metrics associated with the application feature;
determining, in view of the one or more performance metrics, that the application feature is successful; and
introducing the application feature to the users in the second isolation group.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising grouping one or more additional groups of users into one or more respective isolation groups, wherein:
each isolation group comprises logical boundaries that restrict interaction between users in separate isolation groups; and
all of the isolation groups are hosted on the same server.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising merging the second isolation group with another isolation group to create a third isolation group, wherein:
the merging is accomplished via a logical removal of the logical boundaries; and
all of the isolation groups are hosted on the same server.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
removing the logical boundaries between the first isolation group and the second isolation group for a predetermined period of time, wherein during the predetermined period of time, the users in the first isolation group are permitted to interact with users in the second isolation group; and
after the predetermined period of time has ended, restoring the logical boundaries between the first isolation group and the second isolation group such that interaction between users in different isolation groups is restricted.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the logical boundaries with respect to a first user in the first isolation group, wherein when the logical boundaries are removed, the first user may interact with users in the first isolation group and with users in the second isolation group.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
each user in the first isolation group installed a mobile application associated with the online system on a respective client device during a first time window; and
each user in the second isolation group installed the mobile application on a respective client device during a second time window.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein each user is grouped into a respective isolation group in view of a spending profile of the user.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the online system is an online gaming system.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving, during a first window of time, a first plurality of indications that each user in the first group of users installed an application from the online system on a respective mobile device; and
receiving, during a second window of time, a second plurality of indications that each user in the second group of users installed the application from the online system on a respective mobile device, wherein:
the first group of users is grouped into the first isolation group as a result of the first plurality of indications being received during the first time window, and
the second group of users is grouped into the second isolation group as a result of the second plurality of indications being received during the second time window.

### Claim 11

A system, comprising:
a computer processing device programmed to:
identify a first group of users of an online system, wherein the online system allows users to interact with one another;
group the first group of users into a first isolation group;
identify a second group of users of the online system, wherein the second group of users is separate from the first group of users; and
group the second group of users into a second isolation group, wherein:
the first isolation group and the second isolation group comprise logical boundaries that restrict interaction within the online system between users in the first isolation group and users in the second isolation group; and
the first isolation group and the second isolation group are hosted on the same server.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the computer processing device is further programmed to group one or more additional groups of users into one or more respective isolation groups, wherein:
each isolation group comprises logical boundaries that restrict interaction between users in separate isolation groups; and
all of the isolation groups are hosted on the same server.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the computer processing device is further programmed to merge the second isolation group with another isolation group to create a third isolation group, wherein:
the merging is accomplished via a logical removal of the logical boundaries; and
all of the isolation groups are hosted on the same server.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the computer processing device is further programmed to:
remove the logical boundaries between the first isolation group and the second isolation group for a predetermined period of time, wherein during the predetermined period of time, the users in the first isolation group are permitted to interact with users in the second isolation group; and
at the end of the predetermined period of time, restore the logical boundaries between the first isolation group and the second isolation group such that interaction between users in different isolation groups is restricted.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the computer processing device is further programmed to remove the logical boundaries with respect to a first user in the first isolation group, wherein when the logical boundaries are removed, the first user may interact with users in the first isolation group and with users in the second isolation group.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the computer processing device is further programmed to:
introduce an application feature to the users in the first isolation group;
track one or more performance metrics associated with the application feature;
determine, in view of the one or more performance metrics, that the application feature is successful; and
introduce the application feature to the users in the second isolation group.

### Claim 17

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computer processing device, cause computer processing device to:
identify a first group of users of an online system, wherein the online system allows users to interact with one another;
group the first group of users into a first isolation group;
identify a second group of users of the online system, wherein the second group of users is separate from the first group of users; and
by the computer processing device, group the second group of users into a second isolation group, wherein:
the first isolation group and the second isolation group comprise logical boundaries that restrict interaction within the online system between users in the first isolation group and users in the second isolation group; and
the first isolation group and the second isolation group are hosted on the same server.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more computer processing devices to:
introduce an application feature to the users in the first isolation group;
track one or more performance metrics associated with the application feature;
determine, in view of the one or more performance metrics, that the application feature is successful; and
introduce the application feature to the users in the second isolation group.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory computer: readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more computer processing devices to group one or more additional groups of users into one or more respective isolation groups, wherein:
each isolation group comprises logical boundaries that restrict interaction between users in separate isolation groups; and
all of the isolation groups are hosted on the same server.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more computer processing devices to merge the second isolation group with another isolation group to create a third isolation group, wherein:
the merging is accomplished via a logical removal of the logical boundaries; and
all of the isolation groups are hosted on the same server.