Methods and apparatus for managing network linked gambling video games
Granted: April 12, 2016
Patent Number:
9311778
Methods and apparatus for playing video games in a network environment are provided. One method includes receiving a request to initiate a game for a player of a first network connected device and enabling a second player from a second networked connected device to play the game. The method also enables transfer of currency between the first and second players using the network for playing the game. The method debits an account of a player that transferred the currency and credits an…
Method and apparatus for the secure storage of audio signals
Granted: April 5, 2016
Patent Number:
9307091
In one embodiment, a method, system and apparatus for recording audio is provided so that the recording can be authenticated. The system may be implemented as a central server that is accessed via one or more lines for audio communication, or as a stand-alone unit. The system operates by encrypting communicated data (e.g., audio signals), storing the encrypted information, and providing at least one user with a key that can be used to decrypt the stored information.
Integration of multiple games
Granted: April 5, 2016
Patent Number:
9305425
Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for providing online games that are non-monolithic programs. One method includes an operation for providing access to a plurality of online games and to a wrapper game. Each of the online games and the wrapper game is directly accessible to be loaded utilizing a corresponding internet address, which is different for each online game. The wrapper game includes options to load any of the plurality of online games. In addition, the…
Methods and apparatus for a distributed object renderer
Granted: April 5, 2016
Patent Number:
9305328
A method performed by software generates a render request record for a render request submitted by a user of an app and stores the render request record in a queue database. The render request includes a visualization to be rendered. The software selects the render request record from the queue database. Selection of the render request record is determined at least in part by a priority value that depends on an amount of time the user has spent using the app. The software generates a…
Gaming platform utilizing a fraud detection platform
Granted: April 5, 2016
Patent Number:
9305028
A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for detecting fraud in a social gaming environment is disclosed herein. For example, game events generated responsive to a player playing a game executing on a client device are received. The game events may then be used to build a player profile for the player. The player profile may characterize the game actions performed by the player. The player profile is then compared with a…
Slots-fueled adventure
Granted: April 5, 2016
Patent Number:
9302177
Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for executing an adventure game. One method includes operations for sending an interface for a betting game, and for starting an online game that is displayed simultaneously with the interface for the betting game. The method further includes operations for detecting a bet placed in the betting game, and for determining an outcome of the bet in the betting game. An avatar is advanced along a path of the online game, where the amount…
Smart ping system
Granted: March 29, 2016
Patent Number:
9295919
A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for providing a smart ping mechanism are presented. For example, an example embodiment may generate a game board on a first client device and a second client device. Then, the embodiment may detect, from the first client device, user activation of a smart ping mechanic. Responsive to detecting the user activation, the embodiment may generate, on the first client device, one or more…
Method and system for matchmaking connections within a gaming social network
Granted: March 22, 2016
Patent Number:
9289686
Techniques for recommending and establishing connections between users within a gaming social network, designed for connecting users having common gaming interests or characteristics. Embodiments include methods for recommending connections from members of an out-of-game social network, the gaming social network, and gaming activity participants; evaluating user profile information and user characteristics in a gaming social network and gaming activity in a game networking system to…
Apparatuses, methods and systems for application programming interface call abstraction
Granted: March 15, 2016
Patent Number:
9286058
The apparatuses, methods and systems for API call abstraction includes obtaining programming code for an application. The obtained programming code is parsed to identify various instructions contained therein. An application programming interface (API) call is identified in the programming code, based on the parsing. The API call includes an input string. It is then determined whether the API call requires a pre-registered bundle to replace the input string. A database is queried for the…
Challenging players in online game to compete in modular game
Granted: March 15, 2016
Patent Number:
9286767
Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for allowing players to challenge other players in an online game to compete by playing a modular game within the online game. One method includes an operation for providing an interface to a first player for challenging a second player to compete in the modular game after detecting completion of the modular game by the first player. The modular game is played within an online game. Further, the method includes operations for sending…
Game rhythm
Granted: March 15, 2016
Patent Number:
9283484
Game rhythm in an electronic game can be synchronized, allowing a desired emotional state to be achieved. Specifically, a desired emotional state of a user playing an electronic game is identified. Then a beats-per-minute (bpm) level corresponding to the desired emotional state is selected. Game music may then be played at the selected bpm level, while animation for one or more game objects within the electronic game is synchronized with the selected bpm level. In some example…
Virtual playing chips in a multiuser online game network
Granted: March 8, 2016
Patent Number:
9280875
In various embodiments, virtual currency is used within a multiplayer online game in a restricted manner.
Three dimensional operations in an isometric projection
Granted: March 1, 2016
Patent Number:
9272219
A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for providing three-dimensional operations in an isometric projection are presented. A graphical user interface may be presented to a user that presents an isometric projection of a virtual environment. A placement event corresponding to a user initiating a placement of a game object within the virtual environment may then be detected. The game object may be modeled with a…
System and method for providing notifications to players of games
Granted: March 1, 2016
Patent Number:
9272217
A system, computer-readable storage medium sorting at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for providing notifications to players of games are described. An identifier for a player of a first game is received. Notifications for at least one other game are obtained using the identifier for the player. The notifications for the at least one other game are transmitted to a device of the player, where the notifications for the at least one other game are to be displayed in a…
Consolidating businesses in a gamespace for an online game
Granted: March 1, 2016
Patent Number:
9272214
Software receives a command from a player selecting one or more businesses from a game menu in an online game that is a builder-type game. The software then receives a command from the player identifying an empty location in a game space for the game. The software causes the one or more businesses to be displayed in the game space at the location and receives a command from the player selecting a plurality of displayed businesses. The software then receives a command from the player to…
Automated apparent responses
Granted: March 1, 2016
Patent Number:
9272212
Software at a massively multiplayer online (MMO) game website receives a request for assistance with a game task from a first player of a MMO game. The software transmits the request to a second player of the MMO game who is associated with the first player through a relationship recognized by the MMO game. The software determines whether the second player responds to the request within a time period. The time period depends on one or more factors related to game mechanics and to user…
Methods and systems for generating tailored game challenges
Granted: March 1, 2016
Patent Number:
9272208
A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for generating tailored game challenges are presented. To begin, a method may first identify a first game object and a second game object operable within a game challenge. The method may calculate, based on game profile data associated with a player, a first selection factor associated with the first game object and a second selection factor associated with the second game object. A…
Regular visitor to friend board in viral game
Granted: February 9, 2016
Patent Number:
9254436
Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for presenting Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) in an online game. In one method, a player becomes a “regular” visitor of a friend when the player visits the friend a predetermined amount of times within a certain period (e.g., three times within the last seven days). When a player becomes a regular visitor, the player may obtain items (e.g., pepper) that are not obtainable in any other way. As long as a player is a regular…
Providing offers for sales of combinations of virtual items at discounted prices
Granted: February 9, 2016
Patent Number:
9256887
A method of providing offers for sales of combinations of virtual items at discounted prices is disclosed. An offer is generated for a sale of a combination of virtual items at a discounted price. The offer for the sale of the combination of virtual items at the discounted price is presented to a user. The presenting suggests to the user that the combination of virtual items is randomly selected from a set of virtual items and the discounted price is randomly selected from a set of…
Custom game boards
Granted: February 9, 2016
Patent Number:
9254443
A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for providing custom features in a game is provided. A themed game board associated with a first set of rules of a computer-implemented game is generated. The first set of rules relates to a theme of the themed game board and is different than a second set of rules associated with a game board without a theme. Game board display data is provided to a first client device of a first…
