US RE49,617 E1
Game server, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, game control method, and game system
Shinji Mizuno, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to GREE, INC., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by GREE, INC., Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Apr. 4, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/375,536.
Application 15/277,729 is a continuation of application No. 14/254,557, filed on Apr. 16, 2014, granted, now 9,480,926, issued on Nov. 1, 2016.
Application 16/375,536 is a reissue of application No. 15/277,729, filed on Sep. 27, 2016, granted, now 9,694,287, issued on Jul. 4, 2017.
Claims priority of application No. 2013-088499 (JP), filed on Apr. 19, 2013; and application No. 2013-259518 (JP), filed on Dec. 16, 2013.
Int. Cl. A63F 13/79 (2014.01); A63F 13/20 (2014.01); A63F 13/335 (2014.01); A63F 13/35 (2014.01); A63F 13/61 (2014.01); A63F 13/795 (2014.01); A63F 13/87 (2014.01)
CPC A63F 13/79 (2014.09) [A63F 13/20 (2014.09); A63F 13/335 (2014.09); A63F 13/35 (2014.09); A63F 13/61 (2014.09); A63F 13/795 (2014.09); A63F 13/87 (2014.09); A63F 2300/575 (2013.01); A63F 2300/609 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
[ 25. A game server transmitting a plurality of items usable in a game to a plurality of communication terminals connected to the game server over a network in order to implement an affiliate system in the game, the game server comprising:
a network interface configured to communicate with the plurality of communication terminals over the network;
a memory storing user identification (ID) information corresponding to the plurality of communication terminals, and notification information including predetermined notification destinations and a notification destination history of each of the plurality of communication terminals; and
a processor operatively coupled to the memory and the network interface, the processor being programmed to:
receive a first request from a first communication terminal of the plurality of communication terminals to provide a first item usable in the game to the first communication terminal, the first communication terminal corresponding to first user ID information, the first user ID information identifying a first user;
generate a graphical user interface including a selection panel configured to allow selection of a destination of each one of a first notification and a second notification among a plurality of different user ID information linked to the first user ID information and second user ID information;
transmit instructions to at least one of the first communication terminal and a second communication terminal to display the generated graphical user interface including the selection panel;
receive the selection of the destination of the first notification;
in response to receiving the first request and the selection of the destination of the first notification from the first communication terminal, determine the second user ID information as the destination of the first notification, which is linked to the first user ID information in the stored user ID information based on the stored notification information, the second user ID information identifying a second user;
transmit the first item to the first communication terminal;
in response to transmitting the first item to the first communication terminal, transmit the first notification to the second communication terminal of the plurality of communication terminals corresponding to the determined second user ID information, the first notification indicating that the first item is provided to the first communication terminal;
receive a second request from the second communication terminal to provide the first item to the second communication terminal, the second request from the second communication terminal having been sent in response to the second communication terminal receiving the first notification;
receive the selection of the destination of the second notification from the second communication terminal;
in response to receiving the second request and the selection of the destination of the second notification from the second communication terminal, determine third user ID information as the destination of the second notification, which is linked to the second user ID information in the stored user ID information based on the stored notification information, the third user ID information identifying a third user;
transmit the second notification to a third communication terminal of the plurality of communication terminals corresponding to the determined third user ID information, the second notification indicating that the first item is provided to the second communication terminal; and
transmit a second item usable in the game, in addition to the first item, to both the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal, such that the first and second communication terminals are automatically rewarded with the second item based on the second notification to the third communication terminal.]