(12) United States Patent
`Kim et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 9,079,105 B2
`Jul. 14, 2015
`
`US009079105B2
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING
`TEAM IN ONLINE GAME
`
`(75) Inventors: Jeong Hun Kim, Seoul (KR); Sun Hwa
`Choi, Gyeonggi-do (KR); Jae Hyun
`Choi, Gyeonggi-do (KR); Jong Hee
`Han, Seoul (KR)
`(73) Assignee: INTELLECTUAL DISCOVERY CO.,
`LTD., Seoul (KR)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`13/988,086
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`May 22, 2012
`PCT/KR2O12/OO4O15
`
`(22) PCT Filed:
`(86). PCT No.:
`S371 (c)(1),
`(2), (4) Date: May 17, 2013
`(87) PCT Pub. No.: WO2013/100277
`PCT Pub. Date: Jul. 4, 2013
`
`(65)
`
`(30)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2014/O329594 A1
`Nov. 6, 2014
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Dec. 29, 2011 (KR) ........................ 10-2011-O145977
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`A63F 9/24
`A63F I3/30
`
`(2006.01)
`(2014.01)
`(Continued)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC ................. A63F 13/12 (2013.01); A63F 13/40
`(2014.09); A63F 13/47 (2014.09); A63F 13/50
`(2014.09);
`
`(Continued)
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`CPC. A63F 13/10; A63F 13/12: A63F 2300/5546;
`A63F2300/6018: A63F 2300/8005; A63F
`2300/8052: A63F 13/40; A63F 13/47; A63F
`13/50; A63F 13/52: A63F 13/53; A63F
`13/537; A63F 13/5372; A63F 13/5375;
`A63F 13/828
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
`
`(56)
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6,155,924 A * 12/2000 Nakagawa et al. ............... 463f4
`6,168,519 B1* 1/2001 Nakagawa et al. ............... 463f4
`(Continued)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
`KR
`
`1, 2004
`2004-008578. A
`12/2002
`10-0367572 B1
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Written Opinion and International Search Report issued in Interna
`tional Application No. PCT/KR2012/004015 mailed Nov. 14, 2012,
`6 pages.
`Primary Examiner — Lawrence Galka
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Rothwell, Figg, Ernst &
`Manbeck, P.C.
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A method for managing a team in an online game includes, by
`a team management apparatus, configuring a team manage
`ment screen, displaying the team management screen that
`contains information on at least one preset formation upon
`receiving a signal indicating that the user enters the team
`management screen from the user terminal, setting each
`information on the at least one formation upon receiving
`setting related to details of a selected one formation among
`the at least one formation from the user terminal, judging
`whether the number of currently set formations is less than a
`preset maximum number of formations upon receiving a for
`mation addition request signal from the user terminal, and
`adding the formation if the number of currently set forma
`tions is less than the maximum number of formations, and
`setting a formation change shortcut key.
`16 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
`
`p.a...fl.--zii FAU
`PRELIMINARYix
`/ SF
`4-3-3 ||
`".
`.
`.
`4-3-2-1IFMS SCS
`
`STV ADATABLITY CHARACTER
`
`BASIC - BBT
`TACTIC - CBT
`MANAGEMENTH-MBT
`
`FORMATION SETTING UNIT
`
`SELECTEDTAB
`DISPLAY UNIT
`
`SUBSTITUTE
`CHARACTER
`DISPLAY
`UNIT
`
`SELECTED
`CHARACTER
`DISPLAY UNIT
`
`REPLACEMENT
`CHARACTER
`DISPLAY UNIT
`
`CHARACTERBATCH
`MANAGEMENT UNIT
`
`SCW
`
`SRC Rcy
`
`CBM
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 1
`
`

`

`US 9,079,105 B2
`Page 2
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`A63F 3/40
`A63F 3/50
`
`(2014.01)
`(2014 01)
`
`A63F 3/5372
`(2014.01)
`A63F 3/537
`(2014.01)
`A63F 3/5.375
`(2014.01)
`A63F 3/828
`(2014.01)
`A63F 3/47
`(2014.01)
`A63F 3/53
`(2014.01)
`G07F 17/32
`(2006.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl
`CPC ............... 46.3F 1363 (201409): 46.3F 13637
`(2014.09); A63F I3/5372 (2014.09); A63F
`13/5375 (2014.09); A63F 13/828 (2014.09);
`G07F 17/3274 (2013.01); A63F2300/57
`(2013.01)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6,371,855 B1 * 4/2002 Gavriloff ........................ 463/42
`6,406,372 B1* 6/2002 Turmell et al. .
`... 463,43
`6,530,834 B2 * 3/2003 Kondo .............................. 463f4
`8.484,564 B1* 7/2013 Marti et al. ...
`715,733
`2003/0083128 A1* 5/2003 Mifune et al. .................. 463,31
`2004/0242294 A1* 12/2004 Shiozawa ....
`... 463.9
`2004/0266535 A1* 12, 2004 Reeves ........
`... 463/42
`2006, OO52147 A1* 3, 2006 Matthews ...
`... 463f4
`2008/0287.196 A1* 11/2008 Miki et al. .....
`... 463/42
`2011/O124386 A1* 5, 2011 Kondo et al. ......
`... 463f4
`2011/0294580 A1* 12/2011 Nakamura et al. .............. 463/42
`2011/0300.932 A1* 12/2011 Henderson ...................... 463,30
`20120052943 Al" 3.2012 Tsunashima et al. r 463,31
`
`
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`KR
`KR
`
`2003-0030902 A
`10-0639383 B1
`
`4/2003
`10, 2006
`
`6,280,323 B1* 8/2001 Yamazaki et al. ................ 463/4
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 14, 2015
`
`Sheet 1 of 13
`
`US 9,079,105 B2
`
`Fig.1
`
`START
`
`CONFIGURE TEAM
`MANAGEMENT SCREEN
`
`S1 OO
`
`
`
`NO
`
`
`
`ENTER
`TEAM MANAGEMENT
`SCREENT
`
`S2OO
`
`DISPLAY TEAM
`MANAGFMNET SCRFFN
`
`S3OO
`
`S7OO
`
`SET DETALS OF
`FORMATION
`
`S4OO
`
`ADD FORMATION
`
`S500
`
`YES
`
`S600
`
`
`
`ADD FORMATION?
`
`VC W.
`
`M
`
`CURRENT
`M A CD fly
`lify DNA
`WILL
`Wif
`< MAXIMUM NUMBE
`OF FORMATIO
`
`SET FORMATION CHANGE
`SHORTCUT KEY
`
`PLAY MATCH
`
`S9 OO
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 14, 2015
`
`Sheet 2 of 13
`
`US 9,079,105 B2
`
`
`
`Fig.2
`
`DISPLAY FORMATION ADDITION UNIT
`
`DISPLAY FORMATION SETTING UNIT
`
`DISPLAY REPLACEMENT
`INFORMATION DISPLAY UNIT
`
`DISPLAY SUBSTITUTE
`CHARACTER DISPLAY UNIT
`
`DISPLAY POSITION ADAPTIBILITY
`
`DISPLAY DETALED CHARACTER
`INFORMATION
`
`DISPLAY CHARACTER
`MANAGEMENT MENU
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 14, 2015
`
`Sheet 3 of 13
`
`US 9,079,105 B2
`
`
`
`FMS SCS
`
`SUBSTITUTE
`CHARACTER
`DISPLAY
`UNIT
`
`BASIC
`TACTIC - CBT
`MANAGEMENT - MBT
`
`FORMATION SETTING UNIT
`
`SELECTED
`CHARACTER
`DISPLAY UNIT
`
`REPLACEMENT
`CHARACTER
`DISPLAY UNIT
`
`SELECTED TAB
`DISPLAY UNIT
`
`CHARACTER BATCH
`MANAGEMENT UNIT
`
`CBM
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 14, 2015
`
`Sheet 4 of 13
`
`US 9,079,105 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`YES
`
`
`
`Fig.4
`
`BASC FORMATION?
`
`S410
`
`NO
`
`SELECT SET FORMATION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DISPLAY CHARACTER POSITION
`
`SET CHARACTER POSITION
`
`
`
`
`
`SET TACTIC
`
`NO
`
`
`
`SELECT MANAGEMENT BUTTON?
`
`YES
`
`MANAGE CHARACTER
`
`
`
`SELECT BASIC BUTTON?
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 14, 2015
`
`Sheet 5 of 13
`
`US 9,079,105 B2
`
`
`
`Fig.5
`
`BASIC - BBT (EN
`TACTIC - CBTCHARACTERE) PN
`MANAGEMENTH-ME y
`
`ch
`
`CHARACTERK
`
`CHARACTERD
`A1
`
`CHARACTERE
`
`(D)
`(E)
`
`CHARACTER
`
`CHARACTERA
`
`(J)
`
`CHARACTERH
`
`(K)
`
`CHARACTER
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 14, 2015
`
`Sheet 6 of 13
`
`US 9,079,105 B2
`
`Fig.6
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`REO UEST
`CHARACTER REPLACEMENT2
`
`S441
`
`YES
`
`REPLACE SELECTED CHARACTER
`
`S442
`
`REOUEST POSITION MOVEMENT2
`
`S443
`
`YES
`
`DISPLAY BOUNDARY AREA
`
`S444
`
`MOVE CHARACTER
`
`S445
`
`DISTANCE
`FROM ADJACENT
`CHARACTER > MINIMUM DISTANCE
`BETWEEN NEIGHBORING
`CHARACTERS
`
`
`
`
`
`S446
`
`YES
`
`DISPLAY MOVED POSITION
`
`S447
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 14, 2015
`
`Sheet 7 of 13
`
`US 9,079,105 B2
`
`CN
`
`SUBSTITUTE
`CHARACTER
`INCLUDED
`IN ENTRY
`LIST
`
`SCB
`
`SL
`
`Fig.7
`
`SCS
`
`
`
`PN
`
`POSITO N B
`
`POSITO N B
`
`SUBSTITUTE CHARACTER
`POSITO NA CHARACTERSA
`CHARACTERSB
`CHARACTERSC
`CHARACTERSD.
`...CHARACTER SE
`
`POSITION G
`
`POSITION |
`
`SUBSTITUTE
`CHARACTER
`NOT
`INCLUDED
`IN ENTRY
`LIST
`
`POSITO NA
`
`CHARACTER RA
`
`POSITO NS CHARACTER RE
`
`POSITIO NH CHARACTERRC
`
`POSITIO NU CHARACTER RD
`
`POSITO NZ CHARACTER RE
`
`POSITO NA CHARACTER RF
`
`POSITO NK CHARACTERRG
`
`POSITO N C
`
`CHARACTER RH
`
`POSITION M
`
`CHARACTER R
`
`POSITION L
`
`CHARACTERRU
`
`POSITO
`NE
`
`CHARACTER RK
`
`POSITO
`NX
`
`CHARACTERRL
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 14, 2015
`
`Sheet 8 of 13
`
`US 9,079,105 B2
`
`
`
`Fig.8
`
`BASIC Rex
`TCHARACTERF
`TACTIC -CB
`PN
`- MTA "K-(C6)
`
`M
`
`CHARACTERD
`A1
`CN
`
`ACTERK
`
`(-s(D-)
`
`CHARACTERE
`
`CHARACTER
`
`CTERB
`
`CHARACTERA
`
`CHARACTER
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 10
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 14, 2015
`
`Sheet 9 of 13
`
`US 9,079,105 B2
`
`Fig.9
`
`DISPLAY DISPOSITION OF CHARACTER
`
`S461
`
`SELECT
`OFFENSE DISPOSITION OF
`HARACTER2
`
`ADJUST SELECTED OFFENSE
`DISPOSITION OF CHARACTER
`
`SELECT
`DEFENSE DISPOSITION OF
`CHARACTER7
`
`YES
`
`ADJUST SELECTED DEFENSE
`DISPOSITION OF CHARACTER
`
`S462
`
`S463
`
`S464
`
`S465
`
`SELECT ANOTHER CHARACTER P
`
`S466
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 11
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 14, 2015
`
`Sheet 10 of 13
`
`US 9,079,105 B2
`
`
`
`Fig.10
`
`BASIC - BBT (N
`CST
`
`MANAGEMENTH-ME
`
`(E)
`
`{
`NJ
`
`CHARA CTERR
`
`CHARACTERA
`
`(E)
`
`CHARACTERH
`
`(iv)
`
`CHARACTER
`
`TACTIC - CBTCH ARACTERF y
`(E)
`
`ACTERK
`
`CHARACTERD
`
`(D.
`HA SERE g ( M
`
`CHARACTER
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 12
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 14, 2015
`
`Sheet 11 of 13
`
`US 9,079,105 B2
`
`Fig.11
`
`DISPLAY CHARACTER STATE
`
`S481
`
`SELECT CHARACTER2
`
`S482
`
`YES
`
`DISPLAY RING MENU
`
`S483
`
`sc- S484
`
`YES
`
`DISPLAY SUB-MENU
`
`S485
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`YES
`PERFORMACTION
`CORRESPONDING TO SUB-MENU
`
`S487
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 13
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 14, 2015
`
`Sheet 12 of 13
`
`US 9,079,105 B2
`
`POSITION
`
`Fig.12
`
`STV1
`/
`
`
`
`
`
`%:1 OO
`
`O
`
`2O
`
`40
`
`6O
`
`8O
`
`1 OO
`ADAPTABILITY
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 14, 2015
`
`Sheet 13 of 13
`
`US 9,079,105 B2
`
`1 O1
`
`
`
`GAME
`CLIENT
`PROGRAM
`
`GAME
`CLIENT
`PROGRAM
`
`GAME
`CLIENT
`PROGRAM
`
`Fig.13
`
`INFORMATION
`STORAGE UNIT
`
`INFORMATION
`STORAGE UNIT
`
`CHARACTER
`INFORMATION
`STORAGE UNIT
`
`TEAM
`MANAGEMENT
`SETTING UNIT
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 15
`
`

`

`US 9,079,105 B2
`
`1.
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING
`TEAM IN ONLINE GAME
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY
`
`This patent application is a National Phase application
`under 35 U.S.C. S371 of International Application No. PCT/
`KR2012/004015, filed May 22, 2012, which claims priority
`to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0145977 filed
`Dec. 29, 2011, entire contents of which are incorporated
`herein by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`1. Technical Field
`The present invention relates to technologies with regard to
`an online game having a team management function, in which
`a user may preset a plurality of formations of a plurality of
`characters on a team, and may immediately change the plu
`rality of preset formations during game play.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`In recent years, online games have become of great impor
`tance in online culture owing to advances in network and
`computer technologies. Development of online games
`arouses user demand for various genres of online games, and
`a wide variety of genres of online games are available at
`present.
`Most current online games are character based. A user may
`access a game server using a user terminal, and enjoy an
`online game by selecting and manipulating game characters
`provided in online games. The characters provided in online
`games may be free of charge, or may be purchased in game
`using game points. Assuming that the user possesses a plu
`rality of characters, the user may play a game while changing
`characters between turns. In an exemplary online game hav
`ing a character provision function, the user possesses a team
`consisting of a plurality of characters, and manages the team
`by individually Scouting, employing, or making a contract
`with each of the plurality of characters constituting the team.
`In some team management games, positions of characters
`on a team during a match may be an important factor in play
`of the match. In these team management games, that all of the
`plurality of characters perform the same role is very rare. The
`plural characters may respectively perform a designated role,
`and may have differentabilities from other characters in order
`to perform the corresponding role. However, due to the fact
`that abilities of the plurality of characters are differently set,
`respective positions of the plurality of characters may be a
`decisive factor in the victory or defeat of a team in the team
`management games. That is, a formation, which refers to all
`the respective positions of the plurality of characters, is an
`important factor in Such a team management game.
`A representative example that utilizes such a formation
`may be an online sports game. In an online sports game. Such
`as baseball and Soccer games, a formation that sets respective
`positions of a plurality of characters is very important for
`team management. In particular, in the case of an online
`Soccer game, as in a real world Soccer, a wide variety of
`formations may be employed during a given match. In addi
`tion, a formation may be a decisive factor in the victory or
`defeat of a team evenin games other than online sports games.
`For example, among characters generally adopted in online
`fantasy games, typically, a gladiator is deployed at the front
`line of a team based on a short attack distance and strong
`
`2
`stamina, whereas a magician is deployed at the final line of a
`team based on a long attack distance, weak stamina, low
`agility, etc.
`Accordingly, setting of a formation may affect the victory
`or defeat of a team during game play of an online game.
`However, most conventional online games adopt only a single
`formation that is preset prior to playing a game. However, in
`an online game in which a plurality of formations is available,
`a formation having relative Superiority may be present
`between respective formations. That is, if a team adopts a
`particular formation, the particular formation may have an
`advantageous or adverse effect on game play of an opponent
`team adopting one formation among a plurality of other for
`mations. In this case, conventional online games have no
`function to change between formations during game play,
`which inevitably causes user difficulty in playing a match.
`Moreover, the number of formations settable in a game is
`often very limited, which results in a low degree of user
`freedom.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide
`a method for managing a team in an online game, in which a
`user may set a plurality of formations that represent arrange
`ments of a plurality of characters on a team prior to playing a
`match, and may set a shortcut key for change between the
`plurality of formations, which allows the user to immediately
`and easily change between formations even during gameplay.
`In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the
`above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision
`of a method for managing a team in an online game, the team
`management method including, by a team management appa
`ratus, configuring a team management screen that allows a
`user to set a formation that designates respective positions of
`a plurality of characters included in a team managed by the
`user, displaying the team management screen that contains
`information on at least one preset formation including a basic
`formation on a user terminal upon receiving a signal indicat
`ing that the user enters the team management Screen from the
`user terminal, setting each information on the at least one
`formation upon receiving setting related to details of a
`selected one formation among the at least one formation from
`the user terminal, judging whether or not the number of
`currently set formations is less than a preset maximum num
`ber of formations upon receiving a formation addition request
`signal from the user terminal, and adding the formation if the
`number of currently set formations is less than the maximum
`number of formations, and setting a formation change short
`cut key that generates an instruction to immediately change
`the at least one formation during game play.
`The display of the team management screen may include
`displaying a formation addition unit that displays the at least
`one formation, displaying a formation selection unit that pro
`vides a plurality of preset formations each represented in a
`numerical form, displaying a formation setting unit that dis
`plays positions of a plurality of characters corresponding to
`the selected formation among the at least one formation,
`displaying a replacement information display unit that dis
`plays information on a position of a selected character to be
`replaced and a position of a replacement character among the
`plurality of characters displayed on the formation setting unit,
`displaying a Substitute character display unit that displays at
`least one substitute character that is included in the plurality
`of characters on the team and is not displayed on the forma
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Supercell
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 16
`
`

`

`US 9,079,105 B2
`
`3
`tion setting unit, and displaying position adaptability with
`respect to each of the plurality of characters displayed on the
`formation setting unit.
`The display of the team management screen may include
`displaying detailed information including status points of a
`character selected by the user among the characters displayed
`on the formation setting unit and the at least one Substitute
`character, and displaying a character management menu dis
`play unit that displays an item for batch application to the
`plurality of characters on the team.
`The display of the detailed information may include dis
`playing one of the position adaptability and the detailed infor
`mation, selected by the user, on the management screen.
`The display of the formation addition unit may include
`displaying the preset at least one formation, judging whether
`or not the number of the at least one formation is less than the
`maximum number of formations, and displaying a formation
`addition button to generate a formation addition request if the
`number of the at least one formation is less than the maximum
`number of formations.
`The addition of the formation includes receiving a signal
`for selection of the formation addition button from the user
`terminal, and adding a preliminary formation that is repre
`sented in the same numerical form as that of the basic forma
`tion upon receiving the signal for selection of the formation
`addition button.
`The setting of each information on the at least one forma
`tion may include judging whether or not one formation
`among the plurality formations displayed on the formation
`selection unit is selected, displaying positions of the plurality
`of characters on the formation setting unit corresponding to
`the selected formation among the at least one formation dis
`played on the formation addition unit if the formation is not
`selected, changing positions of the plurality of characters
`displayed on the formation setting unit according to the
`selected formation if one formation among the plurality of
`formations displayed on the formation selection unit is
`selected, judging whether or not a movement signal for one
`character among the plurality of characters displayed on the
`formation setting unit is received from the user terminal,
`judging whether or not a distance between a position to which
`the character is moved upon receiving the movement signal
`and the most adjacent character is greater than a preset mini
`mum distance between neighboring characters, displaying
`the moved character at the moved position if the distance
`between the moved character and the most adjacent character
`is greater than the preset minimum distance between neigh
`boring characters, judging whether or not to replace the
`moved character with the most adjacent character if the dis
`tance between the moved character and the most adjacent
`character is less than the preset minimum distance between
`neighboring characters, and interchanging the position of the
`moved character with a position of the most adjacent charac
`ter if a replacement request signal is received from the user
`terminal.
`The display of the positions of the plurality of characters
`may include displaying character names of the respective
`characters and position names corresponding to character
`display positions at positions corresponding to the formation.
`The setting of each formation on the at least one formation
`may include displaying a boundary area, in which the preset
`position name of the character to be moved may be main
`tained, upon receiving the movement signal, and changing the
`preset position name into a position name corresponding to a
`moved position of the character if the moved position is
`outward of the boundary area.
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`The setting of each information on the at least one forma
`tion may include judging whether or not a tactic button
`included in the formation setting unit is selected, and display
`ing a tactic setting screen to set an offense disposition and a
`defense disposition of each of the plurality of characters on
`the formation setting unit if the tactic button is selected,
`setting the offense disposition and the defense disposition of
`each of the plurality of characters displayed on the tactic
`setting screen, judging whether or not a management button
`included in the formation setting unit is selected, and display
`ing a character management screen that represents the state of
`each of the plurality of characters including physical fitness of
`the character on the formation setting unit if the tactic button
`is selected, and adjusting the State of each of the plurality of
`characters displayed on the character management Screen.
`The display of the tactic setting screen may include dis
`playing positions of the plurality of characters corresponding
`to the selected formation, displaying an offense disposition
`adjustment sign to adjust an offense disposition at one side of
`the respective positions of the plurality of characters, and
`displaying a defense disposition adjustment sign to adjust a
`defense disposition at one side of the respective positions of
`the plurality of characters.
`The setting of the offense disposition and the defense dis
`position of each of the plurality of characters may include
`adjusting the offense disposition according to a drag signal
`with respect to the offense disposition adjustment sign of each
`of the plurality of characters upon receiving the drag signal
`from the user terminal, and adjusting the defense disposition
`according to a drag signal with respect to the defense dispo
`sition adjustment sign of each of the plurality of characters
`upon receiving the drag signal from the user terminal.
`The setting of the offense disposition and the defense dis
`position of each of the plurality of characters may include
`judging whether or not the offense disposition is less than a
`preset maximum offense disposition upon receiving a signal
`for selection of the offense disposition adjustment sign of
`each of the plurality of characters from the user terminal,
`increasing the offense disposition if the offense disposition is
`less than the maximum offense disposition, setting the
`offense disposition to a preset minimum offense disposition if
`the offense disposition exceeds the maximum offense dispo
`sition, judging whether or not the defense disposition is less
`than a preset maximum defense disposition upon receiving a
`signal for selection of the defense disposition adjustment sign
`of each of the plurality of characters from the user terminal,
`increasing the defense disposition if the defense disposition is
`less than the maximum defense disposition, and setting the
`defense disposition to a preset minimum defense disposition
`if the defense disposition exceeds the maximum defense dis
`position.
`The display of the character management Screen may
`include displaying the physical fitness of each of the plurality
`of characters at a position corresponding to the selected for
`mation, and if one of the plurality of characters is penalized
`for a disciplinary infraction in a previously performed game,
`displaying the disciplinary infraction on the corresponding
`character.
`The adjustment of the state of each of the plurality of
`characters may include displaying a ring menu that consists
`of a plurality of menus arranged in a circular form around the
`character selected by the user terminal among the plurality of
`characters, displaying a plurality of Sub-menus correspond
`ing to a selected menu if one menu among the plurality of
`menus of the ring menu is selected, and performing an action
`corresponding to a selected Sub-menu if one Sub-menu
`among the plurality of Sub-menus is selected.
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`The display of the position adaptability may include
`acquiring position adaptability of each of the plurality of
`characters displayed on the formation setting unit corre
`sponding to the selected formation, and displaying the posi
`tion adaptability of each of the plurality of characters on a per
`position basis as a graph.
`In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
`there is provided an apparatus for managing a team in an
`online game, the team management apparatus including a
`team information storage unit that stores information on a
`plurality of teams, at least one formation of each of which is
`preset, a character information storage unit that stores infor
`mation on a plurality of characters included in each of the
`plurality of teams, an item information storage unit that stores
`information on a plurality of items that may be provided in the
`online game, and a team management setting unit that
`acquires information on a team possessed by a user and infor
`mation on a plurality of characters included in the user team
`from the team information storage unit and the character
`information storage unit upon receiving a team management
`screen request signal from a user terminal, that configures a
`team management Screen displaying positions of the plurality
`of characters according to at least one formation included in
`the team information to thereby display the team manage
`ment Screen on the user terminal, and that judges whether or
`not the number of currently set formations is less than a preset
`maximum number of formations upon receiving a formation
`addition request signal from the user terminal, and adds the
`formation if the number of currently set formations is less
`than the maximum number of formations.
`The team management screen may include a formation
`addition unit that displays the at least one formation, a for
`mation selection unit that provides a plurality of preset for
`mations each represented in a numerical form, a formation
`setting unit that displays positions of a plurality of characters
`corresponding to a selected formation among the at least one
`formation, a replacement information display unit that dis
`plays information on a position of a selected character to be
`replaced and a position of a replacement character among the
`plurality of characters displayed on the formation setting unit,
`a Substitute character display unit that displays at least one
`substitute character that is included in the plurality of char
`acters on the team and is not displayed on the formation
`setting unit, and a position adaptability display unit that dis
`plays position adaptability with respect to each of the plural
`ity of characters displayed on the formation setting unit.
`The team management setting unit may store the plurality
`of preset formations each represented in a numerical form,
`and may change positions of the plurality of characters dis
`played on the formation setting unit according to the selected
`formation upon receiving a signal for selection of one forma
`tion among the plurality of formations from the user terminal.
`According to the present invention, in an online game in
`which a user performs a match via team management, the user
`may set a plurality of formations that represent arrangements
`of a plurality of characters on a team prior to playing a match,
`and may freely change between formations using a shortcut
`key during game play. This ensures efficient implementation
`of a match by the user. In addition, the user may arbitrarily
`adjust positions of the plurality of characters with respect to
`each of a plurality of formations from among basic positions
`provided in a game, thereby being capable of setting a for
`mation that is optimal for a user team. Moreover, when
`deploying the respective characters on the team at particular
`positions, information on adaptability at corresponding
`respective positions of the plurality of characters as well as
`information on win rates of given respective formations may
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`be provided to the user, which allows the user to set an
`optimized formation. As a result, it is possible to provide a
`high degree of freedom in user team management and to
`enhance user interest in a game.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method for managing a team in an
`online game according to an embodiment of the present
`invention.
`FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing display of a team manage
`ment screen according to an embodiment of the present
`invention.
`FIG. 3 is a view showing a team management Screen
`according to an embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing setting of formation details
`according to an embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG.5 is a view showing a character position setting screen
`according to an embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing setting of positions of char
`acters according to an embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 7 is a view showing a substitute character display
`screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 8 is a view showing a tactic setting screen according
`to an embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing setting of a tactic according
`to an embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 10 is a view showing a character management Screen
`according to an embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing character management
`according to an embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 12 is a view showing a position adaptability screen
`according to an embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an apparatus for managing a
`team in an online game according to an embodiment of the
`present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`Hereinafter, an apparatus and method for managing a team
`in an online game according to the embodiments of the
`present invention will be described with reference to the
`accompanying drawings.
`Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the following
`embodiments are given to aid in understanding of the present
`invention and there is no intent to limit the technical sprit of
`the present invention. Accordingly, other equivalent inven
`tions that perform the same functions as those of the present
`invention will be within the scope of the present invention.
`With regard to add reference numerals to constituent ele
`ments shown in the respective drawings, it is noted that,
`wherever possible, the same or similar elements are denoted
`by the same reference numerals eventhough they are depicted
`in different drawings. In addition, in the following description
`of the present invention, a detailed description of known
`functions and configurations incorporated herein will be
`omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present
`invention rather unclear.
`Additionally, with regard to describe constituent elements
`of the present invention, the terms first, second, A, B, (a), (b).
`etc. may be used. It will be understood that these terms are
`only used to distinguish the corresponding constituent ele
`ments from the other constituent elements, and essence,
`sequence, or the like of the corresponding constituent ele
`ments should not be limited by these terms. In the case in
`which some constituent elements are described as being
`“connected”, “coupled', or “linked to the other constituent
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`Exhibit 1012
`Page 18
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`US 9,079,105 B2
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`7
`elements, it should be understood that, although the corre
`sponding constituent elements may be directly connected or
`coupled to the other constituent elements, additional constitu
`ent elements may be “connected”, “coupled, or “linked
`between the respective constituent elements.
`In the embodiments of the present invention, the terms
`“communication”, “communication ne