Multi-level cache with synch
Granted: April 15, 2014
Patent Number:
8700735
Disclosed in some examples is a method of caching by storing data in a first cache specific to a first geographic area and accessible only by a first application in the first geographic area; storing data in a second cache specific to a second geographic area and accessible by a plurality of applications in the second geographic area including the first application and a second application, the second geographic area being larger than and encompassing at least part of the first…
Player recruitment for online game rewards
Granted: April 8, 2014
Patent Number:
8690684
Example systems and methods related to player recruitment for acquiring rewards in an online game network is presented. In an example, an online game for a plurality of players is hosted. A player of the game is provided an asset based satisfaction of an acquisition requirement that includes a social requirement satisfied by a new association of a predetermined number of people with the online game.
Social requirement for online game asset acquisition
Granted: April 8, 2014
Patent Number:
8690683
Example systems and methods related to a social requirement for acquiring an asset, such as a reward, in an online game are presented herein. In one example, an online game for a plurality of players is hosted. Information describing a social network of friends of a player of the game is accessed. An asset is provided to the player based satisfaction of an acquisition requirement to acquire the asset. The acquisition requirement includes a social requirement that is satisfied by a new…
Method and apparatus for the secure storage of audio signals
Granted: March 18, 2014
Patent Number:
8675837
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.
Target map area of an online social game
Granted: March 11, 2014
Patent Number:
8668588
A target map area system for an online game is described. A player selects a target map area of an online neighbor of an online social game. Reward information from the target map area resulting from a successful attack from the player in the target map area of the online neighbor is generated to the player prior to the attack. A result of the attack in the target map area of the online neighbor based on a profile of the player and a profile of the online neighbor is determined. An…
Asynchronous interactive game play
Granted: March 11, 2014
Patent Number:
8668563
Systems and methods of asynchronous interactive game play are described. In some embodiments, a method permits a first player to access a first game instance of a multiplayer online game and access a second game instance of the multiplayer online game. The second game instance is accessed at a first time. The first game instance is associated with the first player and the second game instance is associated with a second player. The method receives an identification of an in-game action…
Apparatus and method with physical location check-in that triggers a status change in a virtual game
Granted: March 4, 2014
Patent Number:
8663014
A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to receive a check-in indication from a physical location with a corresponding virtual location in a virtual game. An attribute in the virtual game is altered based upon the check-in indication. The attribute may be earned points for a user, a virtual object earned by a user or an enhanced popularity measure for the virtual location.
Apparatuses, methods and systems for a trackable virtual currencies platform
Granted: February 25, 2014
Patent Number:
8660946
Method for detecting fraud includes receiving a fraud alert. The fraud alert is investigated by analyzing social graph information and other available information of one or more users associated with the fraud alert to determine likelihood of the users being involved in fraud. When it is determined that a fraud was committed based on the analysis, chain of fraudulent transactions related to the fraud are reversed and fraud events data related to the fraud are updated into a fraud event…
Image compression with alpha channel data
Granted: February 18, 2014
Patent Number:
8655086
Techniques for a compressed image with alpha channel data are described. Encoded alpha channel data from a compressed image representation may be extracted. A common type pixel run characteristic may be determined for at least one common type pixel run represented in the encoded alpha channel data. A common alpha channel value is applied, based on the common type pixel run characteristic, to pixels in a decompressed image representation correlated to the at least one common type pixel…
Apparatuses, methods and systems for an a API call abstractor
Granted: February 4, 2014
Patent Number:
8645936
An API call abstraction processor-implemented method is disclosed. It includes obtaining programming code for an application and parsing the obtained programming code to identify instructions in the programming code. The SNAM identifies an application programming interface call in the programming code based on parsing the obtained programming code and the application programming interface call including an input string. The SNAM determines if the identified application programming…
Systems and methods for rendering three-dimensional objects
Granted: January 14, 2014
Patent Number:
8629871
In one embodiment, a three-dimensional object is rendered on a two-dimensional display screen by associating a three-dimensional mesh with an image of the object, generating a vector-based texture map that defines a surface area of the object, and rendering the vector-based texture map on the display screen.
Automated apparent responses in massively multiplayer online games
Granted: January 7, 2014
Patent Number:
8622841
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…
Enabling game features based on location-based actions
Granted: December 17, 2013
Patent Number:
8608570
A method of enabling game features based on location-based actions is disclosed. An indication is received of a performance of a location-based action by a player of a computer-implemented game. A feature of the computer-implemented game is enabled based on the receiving of the indication of the performance of the location-based action by the player of the computer-implemented game.
Selecting and displaying branded virtual objects in a virtual environment
Granted: November 26, 2013
Patent Number:
8591304
A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for providing branded virtual objects in a virtual environment are presented. A game instance of a computer-implemented multiplayer online game is generated, where the game instance is associated with a virtual environment of a player. A graphical user interface to the player is provided, where the graphical user interface displays at least one branded virtual object for selection…
Network application security utilizing network-provided identities
Granted: November 19, 2013
Patent Number:
8590014
A network security system that correlates security-related events to individual users, as identified by a user identifier and an identity provider. The user identifier may be associated in one or more implicit or explicit social networks.
Integration of multiple games
Granted: November 19, 2013
Patent Number:
8585506
Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for providing online games. One method includes operations for providing access to a plurality of online games and to a wrapper game, where each of the online games, as well as the wrapper game, are directly accessible utilizing a corresponding internet address which is different for each online game. A virtual currency is shared by the plurality of online games. Additionally, a shared navigation bar is provided, and each of the…
Updating virtual worlds based on interactions between real-world items
Granted: November 5, 2013
Patent Number:
8574076
A method of updating virtual worlds based on interactions between real-world items is disclosed. An interaction between a first real-world item and a second real-world item is detected. The first real-world item is a real-world item that is associated with a first player of a computer-implemented game and the second real-world item is a real-world item that is associated with a second player of the computer-implemented game. A virtual world of the computer-implemented game is updated…
System and method for connecting gaming devices to a network for remote play
Granted: October 29, 2013
Patent Number:
8571991
A system and method for connecting remote player devices to regulated host gaming devices in a network to provide remote game play. A host gaming device is configured to provide game information to a plurality of remote player devices to allow remote play of the host game device. Whether each remote player device is permitted to receive gaming data is based upon, at least in part, the geographic location of the remote player device.
Semi-synchronous multi-participant application updates
Granted: October 22, 2013
Patent Number:
8562443
Individual participants in a multi-participant collaborative computing application may be sent intermittent updates of actions taken by other participants. These updates need not be sent to a participant's device until the participant has interacted with a specified object in the application. The participant's device may then be sent an update including object interactions of the other participants occurring since the participant's previous object interaction. The update may be used to…
Secure, parallel, and independent script execution
Granted: October 22, 2013
Patent Number:
8562441
A game server and a client device may perform parallel execution of scripts for a computer-implemented virtual game. When the client device determines that a user of the computer-implemented game has performed an in-game action, the client device may send an update notification to the game server that indicates the in-game action and client-side game state information. Then, the client device may determine an event script to execute based on the user's in-game action, and may execute the…
