# US 8,771,079 B1 · Method and system to match users of a social gaming platform

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- Number: US 8,771,079 B1
- Document ID: US8771079B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 13/077,690
- Filed: 2011-03-31
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2011-03-31
- Assignees: Zynga Inc.
- Applicants: Sudhanshu Pintu Sethi; Matthew Adam Ocko
- Inventors: Sudhanshu Pintu Sethi; Matthew Adam Ocko
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771079B1

## CPC

- A63F 13/795: for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
- A63F 13/798: for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame
- A63F 13/847: Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
- G06Q 10/00: Administration; Management
- G06Q 30/02: Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
- A63F 13/216: using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
- A63F 13/35: Details of game servers
- A63F 13/533: for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
- A63F 13/822: Strategy games; Role-playing games (A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence)
- A63F 13/87: Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
- A63F 2300/556: Player lists, e.g. online players, buddy list, black list
- A63F 2300/5566: by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
- A63F 2300/575: for trading virtual items
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- 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

## Abstract

An introduction mechanic of a computer-implemented online game introduces a user of the online game to other players of the online game that are experiencing a common game objective. The introduction mechanic may determine another player to introduce to the user based on the other player not being directly associated, as reflected within relationship data, with the user. Also, if the user and the other player are opted into the introduction mechanic, the introduction mechanic may associate the user and the other player with the common game objective of the computer-implemented game, thereby allowing the user and the other player to interact to achieve the common game objective.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method to introduce a first user of a computer-implemented game to other users, the method comprising:
ranking a plurality of users based on a suitability for interacting on achieving a common game objective with the first user;
determining a second user of the ranked plurality of users to introduce to the first user based on the second user not being directly associated, as reflected within relationship data, with the first user; and
using at least one processor, based on the first and second users being opted into an introduction mechanic of the computer-implemented game, associating the first user and the second user with the common game objective of the computer-implemented game in response to the first player encountering the common game objective after a start of game play, thereby allowing the first user and the second user to interact to achieve the common game objective.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the second user to introduce to the first user involves:
ranking a plurality of users of the computer-implemented game according to degree of separation, as reflected within the relationship data, from the first user; and
determining the second user based on the ranking of the plurality of users.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the ranking involves:
ranking a plurality of users of the computer-implemented game according to game level proximity to the first user.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the second user is at most three game levels apart from the first user.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising sending an opt-in request to the first user, wherein the opt-in request includes at least an option for the first user to opt-in to the introduction mechanic;
receiving an opt-in indication from the first user of a computer-implemented game, wherein the opt-in indication indicates that the first user is opting-in to the introduction mechanic of the computer-implemented game; and
recording the first user as opted into the introduction mechanism based on the opt-in indication.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the opt-in request further includes an option for the first user to opt-in to geographic-proximity introductions by the introduction mechanic.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the opt-in indication further indicates that the first user is opting-in to geographic-proximity introductions; and
wherein the determining of the second user to introduce to the first user involves identifying a set of users associated with a first geographic location that is within a determinable distance from a second geographic location associated with the first user.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the opt-in request is sent to the first user in response to determining that the first user has not achieved the game objective.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the opt-in request is sent to the first user in response to detecting a decrease in game interactions from the first user.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the opt-in request is sent to the first user in response to the determining of the second user, and determining that the first user is not opted into the introduction mechanic.

### Claim 11 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving a referral message from a third user associated with the first user, wherein the referral message indicates that the third user is referring the first user to opt-in to the introduction mechanic, and wherein the opt-in request is sent to the first user in response to receiving the referral message.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the opt-in request includes an incentive for the first user; and
wherein the method further comprises awarding the incentive to the first user and the third user in response to receiving the opt-in indication indicating at least that the first user is opting-in to the introduction mechanic.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
based on the determining of the second user, sending an introduction request to the first user, wherein the introduction request identifies the second user; and
associating the first user and the second user in the relationship data based on receiving a first introduction confirmation from the first user and a second confirmation introduction from the second user.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the introduction request identifies the common game objective.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the introduction request includes an incentive for the first user; and
wherein the method further comprises awarding the incentive to the first user in response to receiving the first and second introduction confirmations.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the common game objective includes at least one of:
a new game challenge which the first user has not initiated;
a current game challenge which the first user has not completed;
a game level which the first user has not reached; and
a virtual good which the first user has not obtained.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the common game objective includes a competitive challenge of the computer-implemented game; and
wherein interactions between the first user and the second user include the first user and the second user competing to achieve the common game objective.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein a losing participant in the competitive challenge receives a diminished reward relative to a reward awarded to a winning participant in the competitive challenge.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the common game objective includes a cooperative challenge of the computer-implemented game; and
wherein interactions between the first user and the second user include the first user and the second user cooperating to achieve the common game objective.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the cooperating involves the first user and the second user participating in a synchronous interaction.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the cooperative challenge is a timed challenge.

### Claim 22 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the common game objective includes a flash sale transaction;
wherein the flash sale transaction is complete when a determinable minimum number of users purchase an item prior to an expiration deadline of the flash sale transaction; and
wherein the opt-in indication identifying the first user further indicates that the first user desires to meet other users of the computer-implemented game to complete the flash sale transaction.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, further comprising presenting the flash sale transaction to the first user in response to determining that the first user has encountered an obstacle of the computer-implemented game.

### Claim 24 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising:
generating usage analytics based on opt-in indications received from a set of users of the computer-implemented game;
wherein sending the opt-in request to the first user involves determining a set of opt-in options to include in the opt-in request based on the usage analytics.

### Claim 25

An apparatus comprising:
a ranking module for ranking a plurality of users based on a suitability for interacting on achieving a common game objective with the first user;
an introduction module to introduce a first user of the computer-implemented game to other users, wherein the introduction module determines a second user of the ranked plurality of users to introduce to the first user based on the second user not being directly associated, as reflected within relationship data, with the first user; and
an association module to associate the first user and the second user with the common game objective of the computer-implemented game in response to the first player encountering the common game objective after a start of game play, based on the first and second users being opted into the introduction module, thereby allowing the first user and the second user to interact to achieve the common game objective.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the determining of the second user to introduce to the first user involves:
ranking a plurality of users of the computer-implemented game according to degree of separation, as reflected within the relationship data, from the first user; and
determining the second user based on the ranking of the plurality of users.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the ranking involves:
ranking a plurality of users of the computer-implemented game according to game level proximity to the first user.

### Claim 28 (depends on 25)

The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising an opt-in module to:
send an opt-in request to the first user, wherein the opt-in request includes at least an option for the first user to opt-in to the introduction module;
receive an opt-in indication from the first user of the computer-implemented game, wherein the opt-in indication indicates that the first user is opting-in to the introduction module; and
record the first user as opted into the introduction module based on the opt-in indication.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the opt-in module sends the opt-in request to the first user in response to determining that the first user has not achieved the common game objective.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the opt-in module sends the opt-in request to the first user in response to detecting a decrease in game interactions from the first user.

### Claim 31 (depends on 28)

The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the opt-in module sends the opt-in request to the first user in response to the determining of the second user, and determining that the first user is not opted into the introduction module.

### Claim 32 (depends on 28)

The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a referral module to receive a referral message from a third user associated with the first user, wherein the referral message indicates that the third user is referring the first user to opt-in to the introduction module, and wherein the opt-in module sends the opt-in request to the first user in response to the referral module receiving the referral message.

### Claim 33 (depends on 28)

The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the opt-in request includes an incentive for the first user; a
wherein the apparatus further comprises an incentive-awarding module to award the incentive to the first user and the third user in response to determining that the opt-in module received the opt-in indication indicating at least that the first user is opting-in to the introduction module.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the introduction module sends an introduction request to the first user based on the determining of the second user, wherein the introduction request identifies the second user; and
wherein the association-module associates the first user and the second user in the relationship data based on determining that the introduction module received a first introduction confirmation from the first user and a second introduction confirmation from the second user.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the introduction request includes an incentive for the first user; and
wherein the incentive-awarding module awards the incentive to the first user in response to determining that the introduction module received the first and second introduction confirmations.

### Claim 36 (depends on 33)

The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the common game objective includes a competitive challenge of the computer-implemented game;
wherein interactions between the first user and the second user include the first user and the second user competing to achieve the common game objective; and
wherein the incentive-awarding module awards, to a losing participant in the competitive challenge, a diminished reward relative to a reward awarded to a winning participant in the competitive challenge.

### Claim 37 (depends on 25)

The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the common game objective includes a cooperative challenge of the computer-implemented game;
wherein interactions between the first user and the second user include the first user and the second user cooperating to achieve the common game objective; and
wherein the cooperating involves the first user and the second user participating in a synchronous interaction.

### Claim 38 (depends on 28)

The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the common game objective includes a flash sale transaction;
wherein the system further comprises a flash-sale module to present the flash sale transaction to the first user in response to determining that the first user has encountered an obstacle of the computer-implemented game;
wherein the flash sale transaction is complete when a determinable minimum number of users purchase an item prior to an expiration deadline of the flash sale transaction; and
wherein the opt-in indication identifying the first user further indicates that the first user desires to meet other users of the computer-implemented game to complete the flash sale transaction.

### Claim 39 (depends on 28)

The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising an analytics module to generate usage analytics based on opt-in indications received from a set of users of the computer-implemented game;
wherein prior to the opt-in module sending the opt-in request to the first user, the opt-in module determines a set of opt-in options to include in the opt-in request based on the usage analytics.