LEE SCOTT CRAWFORD
Pilots at Newcastle Dr, Los Altos, CA

8108515, Jan 31, 2012

Sep 19, 2008

12/234532

Lee Crawford - Los Altos CA, US
Clay Ver Valen - Sunnyvale CA, US

Yahoo! Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

G06F 15/173, A63F 9/24

709224, 705 52, 463 42

A system and method are directed towards enabling a user to access a client service such as a client game program that interacts with an online service such as a multiplayer game. A client probe detects execution of the client service on a first client device, and sends an instant message with address information to a second client device. A messaging service on the second client device, displays a presence of the first client and provides a selectable button to initiate the client service. If not already installed, the messaging service requests the client service from a remote online service such as a portal that may be independent from the online game service. The remote online service may provide options to freely try, rent, or buy the client service. The second client device downloads the client service and uses the address to connect to the same online multiplayer game.

2006025, Nov 16, 2006

May 12, 2006

11/383184

Denis Bekman - Sunnyvale CA, US
Lee Crawford - Los Altos CA, US
Jesse Macnish - San Jose CA, US

Yahoo! Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

A63F 9/24

463042000

A system and method are directed towards detecting that a client is participating in an online service such as an online multiplayer game. A client probe module monitors an operating system process list to detect an executable file name, indicating that a client program is executing. The client probe evaluates client program communication to determine whether the communication is consistently directed to the same online service and meets a predefined communication rate threshold. The executable file name and communication rate threshold are provided before the client probe begins monitoring the process list. Meeting the threshold may cause the client program to instruct a client messaging module to send a message to contacts associated with the client through an independent portal service. The contacts may not be registered members of the online service, but the message may include information that enables the contacts to communicate with the same online service.

2006025, Nov 16, 2006

May 12, 2006

11/383178

Lee Crawford - Los Altos CA, US
John Cahill - Spring Lake Heights NJ, US

Yahoo! Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

G06F 15/173

709226000

A system and method are directed towards managing communication with an online service on behalf of a device that may have intermittent communication. A proxy server provides a reliable communication session with the online service, such as a game service, and relays information between the online service and an intermittent communication device, such as a mobile terminal. The proxy server stores messages and/or other information from the online service while the intermittent communication device is not communicating with the proxy server. The proxy server may manage the communication upon request from the intermittent communication device, the online service, or from another source such as a portal with which the intermittent communication device communicates. The proxy server uses a table of unique identifiers to map messages between multiple intermittent communication devices and one or more online services. Proxy communication may terminate after a command or an elapsed time of interrupted communication.

2006025, Nov 16, 2006

May 12, 2006

11/383179

Lee Crawford - Los Altos CA, US
Albert So - San Jose CA, US

Yahoo! Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

G06F 15/16

709229000

A system and method are directed towards enabling a user to access an online service such as an online multiplayer game. The online service notifies a message service, such as a portal service, that a first client is interacting with the online service. The message may include a network address to which the first client is connected, or the network address may be obtained separately. The message may also identify a second client, which the first client wishes to invite to participate in the online service. The second client can also be identified by the message service with a contact list. The message service may determine a current presence of the second client to determine a device and format currently being used by the second client. The message service provides the second client with a link to the network address and/or a redirection link to the online service.

7587502, Sep 8, 2009

May 12, 2006

11/383180

Lee Crawford - Los Altos CA, US
Clay Ver Valen - Sunnyvale CA, US

Yahoo! Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

G06F 15/16, A63F 9/24

709229, 709203, 709204, 709205, 709219, 709226, 709227, 709228, 463 42, 705 59, 705 26

A system and method are directed towards enabling a user to access a client service such as a client game program that interacts with an online service such as a multiplayer game. A client probe detects execution of the client service on a first client device, and sends an instant message with address information to a second client device. A messaging service on the second client device, displays a presence of the first client and provides a selectable button to initiate the client service. If not already installed, the messaging service requests the client service from a remote online service such as a portal that may be independent from the online game service. The remote online service may provide options to freely try, rent, or buy the client service. The second client device downloads the client service and uses the address to connect to the same online multiplayer game.

2006025, Nov 16, 2006

May 12, 2006

11/383176

Lee Crawford - Los Altos CA, US

Yahoo! Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

A63F 13/00

463001000

A data warehouse is employed for collecting, multidimensionally analyzing, and publishing statistics and other information relating to a plurality of independent networked games and participants in such games. Data to be added to the data warehouse may be obtained periodically by way of a games monitor. Analyzed data may be used in generating profiles of users and groups of users. Information on game users and groups of users may be employed to provide intelligent matchmaking based on user ability measurements.

7685241, Mar 23, 2010

May 12, 2006

11/383177

Lee Crawford - Los Altos CA, US
John Cahill - Spring Lake Heights NJ, US

Yahoo! Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

G06F 15/16

709206, 709228

A system and method are directed towards mapping a first user ID, such as an alias game ID, which may be used by multiple users, to a second user ID, such as a portal messenger ID. A user registers with an intermediary service, such as a game data aggregation service, and provides both the first user ID and the second user ID. The aggregation service detects when the first user ID is being used by one or more users in a first service, such as an online game service. The aggregation service also detects when a client probe reports to a second service, such as a portal messenger service, that the second user ID is participating in the same service. The aggregation service determines whether one instance of the first user ID from the first service corresponds to the second user ID from the second service.