Zynga Inc.

Miguel Sanchez

Jason Samuel McGuirk

Kyle Sauger

Kyle Saugier

Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for expanding gaming social networks with players having no existing social relationships with other players. One method includes an operation for identifying first filters selected by a first user, the first filters identifying a first criteria for desired new friends. Another operation identifies second filters selected by a plurality of users in the network, where the second filters are entered by each user to identify second criteria for being added as a friend in the network. A plurality of candidates to be added as friends for the first user are determined, where each candidate conforms to the first criteria and where the first user conforms to the second criteria set by each candidate. Additionally, friendship requests are sent to one or more of the candidates or candidates are added as friends when the candidates have chosen automatic addition of friends.

Expanding the gaming social network with unrelated players

Methods, systems, and computer programs for expanding gaming social networks with unrelated players are presented. For the player of an online game, one or more selection rules are determined defining a criterion for selecting users. The determined selection rules are applied resulting in a set of candidate game friends, where at least one of the candidate game friends does not have a social link with the player. Additionally, the method includes an operation for presenting the plurality of candidate game friends. An operation to link, in the online game, the player with at least one of the plurality of candidate game friends is then initiated in response to an input from the player. The operation to link may send a request to befriend the candidate, or to link the candidate without the need for permission when an automatic acceptance is in place.

Growing community of inventors

New York, NY, United States of America

Miguel Sanchez