Mobile device interface for online games

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9731198-B2
Application number	US-201113244857-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2011
Priority date	Jun 24, 2010
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to games and applications in general, and in particular to computer-implemented online games playable on mobile device. The computer-implemented online game may be played via a mobile user interface or via a browser. The mobile user interface may allow access to a first set of in-game actions related to a game event, and the browser may allow access to a second set of in-game actions related to the game event, where the first set of in-game actions related to the game event is smaller in number than the second set of in-game actions related to the game event.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a data store of game state information corresponding to one or more instances of a computer-implemented game;
a mobile server comprising one or more hardware processors that are in communication with the data store and that are configured to implement a mobile user interface on a mobile client device and to provide player access via the mobile client device to a plurality of mobile in-game actions that includes a first set of in-game actions related to a game event, the first set of in-game actions cumulatively performable responsive to a common player command and cumulatively resulting in occurrence of the game event when the first set of in-game actions are performed in a particular instance of the computer-implemented game via the mobile client device, each in-game action comprising a player-controlled action performed within a game after a start of gameplay by a corresponding player, each mobile in-game action being represented by display of one or more display elements via a graphical user interface on the mobile client device; and
an Internet server comprising at least one hardware processor device that is in communication with the data store and that is configured to implement a browser on a client system and to provide access via the client system to a plurality of browser in-game actions that includes a second set of in-game actions related to the game event, wherein the first set of in-game actions related to the game event is smaller in number than the second set of in-game actions related to the game event, the second set of in-game actions separately performable responsive to a respective player command and cumulatively resulting in the game event when the second set of in-game actions are performed in the particular instance of the computer-implemented game on the browser, wherein the mobile server is configured such that at least a portion of the second set of in-game actions is unavailable to the player for separate performance via the mobile client device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile user interface is accessible by the mobile client device, alternative to the browser.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the game event is an outcome of one of an engagement, a provision of access, rights or benefits associated with the user, or an obtaining of an asset.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the asset is any one or a combination of health, money, strength, inventory, and land.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the game event is determined by any one or a combination of game rules, player character in-game actions, player character state, game state, and interaction of other players.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of in-game actions is a subset of the second set of in-game actions.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of actions includes at least one in-game action that is not included in the second set of in-game actions.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one in-game action includes one or more convenience in-game actions, each convenience in-game action allowing single-action performance of a corresponding action in the first set of in-game actions with respect to a plurality of in-game objects.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second set of in-game actions includes at least one in-game action that is not included in the first set of in-game actions.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of in-game actions comprises a single collective action performed on a plurality of different objects, the single collective action only achievable via the browser by separate performance of a corresponding in-game action on respective game objects.

11. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
storing game state information corresponding to one or more instances of a computer-implemented game;
implementing, using a mobile server in communication with the data store, a mobile user interface on a mobile client device, the mobile server implemented using at least one of one or more hardware processors and configured to provide player access via the mobile client device to a plurality of mobile in-game actions that includes a first set of in-game actions related to a game event, the first set of in-game actions cumulatively performable responsive to a common player command and cumulatively resulting in occurrence of the game event when the first set of in-game actions are performed in a particular instance of the computer-implemented game via the mobile client device, each in-game action comprising a player-controlled action performed within a game after a start of gameplay by a corresponding player, each mobile in-game action being represented by display of one or more display elements via a graphical user interface on the mobile client device; and
implementing, using an Internet server in communication with the data store, a browser on a client system, the client system implemented using at least one of the one or more hardware processors and configured to provide access via the client system to a plurality of browser in-game actions that includes a second set of in-game actions related to the game event, wherein the first set of in-game actions related to the game event is smaller in number than the second set of in-game actions related to the game event, the second set of in-game actions separately performable responsive to a respective player command and cumulatively resulting in the game event when the second set of in-game actions are performed in the particular instance of the computer-implemented game on the browser, wherein the mobile server is configured such that at least a portion of the second set of in-game actions is unavailable to the player for separate performance via the mobile client device.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the first set of in-game actions is a subset of the second set of in-game actions.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the first set of actions includes at least one in-game action that is not included in the second set of in-game actions.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one in-game action includes one or more convenience in-game actions, each convenience in-game action allowing single-action performance of a corresponding action in the first set of in-game actions with respect to a plurality of in-game objects.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the second set of in-game actions includes at least one in-game action that is not included in the first set of in-game actions.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the first set of in-game actions comprises a single collective action performed on a plurality of different objects, the single collective action only achievable via the browser by separate performance of a corresponding in-game action on respective game objects.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations, comprising:
storing game state information corresponding to one or more instances of a computer-implemented game;
implementing, using a mobile server in communication with the data store, a mobile user interface on a mobile client device, the mobile server configured to provide player access via the mobile client device to a plurality of mobile in-game actions that includes a first set of in-game actions related to a game event, the first set of in-gam

Assignees

• Lam Serena
• Auterio Kathleen
• Ersever Deniz
• Wang Jackson
• Mullin Benjamin
• Kheskani Hardik
• Zynga Inc

Inventors

• Lam Serena
• Auterio Kathleen
• Ersever Deniz
• Wang Jackson
• Mullin Benjamin
• Kheskani Hardik

Classifications

• A63F13/335

  using Internet · CPC title

• A63F2300/407

  Data transfer via internet · CPC title

• A63F2300/204

  the platform being a handheld device · CPC title

• A63F13/792 Primary

  for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions · CPC title

• A63F13/55 Primary

  Controlling game characters or game objects based on the game progress · CPC title