Gaming Social Network Matchmaking System for Player Engagement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network-connected games fail to establish and maintain robust social connections among users, leading to reduced gameplay engagement and enjoyment, as they lack efficient platforms for connecting players across different social networks.

Innovation Solution

A gaming social network system that automatically associates players with potential in-game neighbors from multiple out-of-game social networks, using dynamic matchmaking techniques to recommend connections based on gaming engagement, experience, and compatibility, and provides user interface enhancements to encourage connection adoption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automatic matchmaking techniques are implemented to connect players across social networks, then player engagement and enjoyment are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplayer engagementVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the matchmaking process into distinct modules: profile data collection from multiple social networks, compatibility scoring algorithms, connection recommendation generation, and user interface presentation. This modular segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary matchmaking system that bridges multiple out-of-game social networks and the in-game environment. This intermediary layer processes data from various sources, applies compatibility algorithms, and presents simplified connection recommendations to players, thereby managing complexity internally while delivering improved engagement externally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If dynamic matchmaking algorithms are used to recommend connections based on gaming engagement and compatibility, then connection quality is improved, but computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection qualityVSAvoidcomputational resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements partial matching by focusing on key compatibility factors rather than analyzing all possible player attributes. The matchmaking algorithm selectively processes relevant profile data elements such as gaming preferences, activity levels, and social connections, applying computational resources only to the most significant matching criteria to achieve quality connections with optimized resource usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts matching parameters and weighting factors based on player behavior patterns and engagement metrics. By changing the importance weights of different profile attributes according to observed player preferences and game context, the system maintains high connection quality while adapting computational requirements to actual matching needs rather than processing all parameters uniformly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system integrates data from multiple out-of-game social networks, then the breadth of potential connections is improved, but data processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection breadthVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal data integration framework that handles multiple social network platforms through a common interface and standardized data processing pipeline. This multi-functional approach allows the system to ingest, normalize, and process profile data from various out-of-game social networks using the same core algorithms and data structures, thereby expanding connection breadth without proportionally increasing processing complexity for each additional network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11123643B2Method and system for matchmaking connections within a gaming social network
Publication Date: 2021.09.21 ZYNGA INC
  • US11123643B2 patent drawing
  • US11123643B2 patent drawing
  • US11123643B2 patent drawing

AI summary

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 determine an appropriate set of connections for a selected user; and presenting graphical user interface content and configurations to enable the suggestion, review, and accepting of recommended connections in the gaming social network.