Unified Stock Identifier Migration Engine for Game Variants

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Solution Overview

Problem

Managing fragmented variants of games across different platforms and jurisdictions leads to complex monitoring and tracking issues, as each variant has its own stock identifier, causing fragmentation and making it difficult to migrate users to a unified version.

Innovation Solution

A Migration Engine is introduced that determines the presence of stock identifiers on client devices, transmits them to the game networking system, and instantiates a unified variant of the game application, providing a seamless user experience by incorporating application state data, and uses soft and hard migration gates to incentivize users to upgrade from fragmented to unified variants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple fragmented variants of games are maintained across different platforms and jurisdictions, then each variant can be optimized for specific regional requirements and platform characteristics, but the system becomes fragmented with complex monitoring and tracking issues due to each variant having its own stock identifier

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different platforms and jurisdictionsVSAvoidcomplexity of monitoring and tracking system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple fragmented stock identifiers into a single unified stock identifier that can represent multiple game variants. This is achieved by creating a parent stock identifier that encompasses child identifiers for different platforms and jurisdictions, thereby reducing the number of separate identifiers needed while maintaining the ability to track specific variants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The unified stock identifier serves multiple functions simultaneously: it can represent a parent game franchise and also represent specific child variants across different platforms and jurisdictions. This multi-functional identifier reduces system complexity while maintaining the adaptability needed for different regional and platform requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If a unified variant of the game application is implemented, then monitoring and tracking is simplified with a single stock identifier, but user migration from fragmented variants requires complex migration mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of monitoring and tracking systemVSAvoidease of user migration implementation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting the presence of legacy stock identifiers on user devices before migration is needed. Migration gates are pre-configured to automatically trigger when the unified variant is launched, initiating the migration process before users are fully aware of the transition, thereby simplifying the overall migration implementation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Migration gates serve as intermediary mechanisms that facilitate the transition from fragmented variants to the unified variant. These gates act as mediators by detecting legacy identifiers, retrieving associated user data, and automatically provisioning the unified variant with appropriate settings, thereby reducing the complexity of direct user migration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If soft and hard migration gates are used to incentivize users to upgrade, then user engagement is enhanced through seamless transition, but the system requires complex migration logic and user incentive mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseamlessness of user transitionVSAvoidcomplexity of migration logic system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms through migration gates that monitor user interactions with the unified variant. When users engage with migration prompts or complete migration tasks, the system provides feedback through incentives such as virtual currency or exclusive content, thereby enhancing user engagement while managing the complexity of migration logic through automated reward distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9737794B2Methods and systems for backward compatability using a unified stock keeping identifier

Publication Date: 2017.08.22 ZYNGA INC

AI summary

A system, a machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method are directed to a Migration Engine that provides for installing a unified variant of an application. The Migration Engine determines presence a stock identifier for one of the first variant and the second variant. Upon determining presence of a respective stock identifier, the Migration Engine identifies a player identifier and transmits the respective stock identifier and the player identifier to a game networking system. The Migration Engine receives application state data. The application state data is representative of a current usage by the player of a variant identified by the respective stock identifier. The Migration Engine instantiates an instance of the unified variant to provide functionality of the variant identified by the respective stock identifier, where the instance of the unified variant of the application is initialized with the received application state data.