US 9561439

Here is a concise summary of US patent 9561439:

US Patent Number: 9561439
Title: Game control method, game control device, and recording medium
Assignee: GREE Holdings Inc.
Inventor: Kazuki Oono
Filing Date: June 10, 2015
Issue Date: February 7, 2017

Abstract:
The patent describes a game control method implemented by a game control device connected to communication terminals used by multiple players. The device stores group information for player groups and game piece information for collectible game pieces that form a single item. The method involves giving a game piece to a user based on their terminal operation, storing information about the given game piece, determining if all necessary game pieces for an item have been collected by a specific player group, and then awarding a reward to that group if all pieces are collected.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1 (Game Control Method): This claim describes a method for controlling a game that encourages cooperation among multiple users within a group (guild). The game control device gives out individual game pieces to players as they play. It then tracks which pieces each player receives. If all the necessary game pieces to complete a virtual item are collected by players belonging to the same group, that entire group receives a reward. This system aims to foster cooperative play.
• Claim 9 (Game Control Device): This claim describes a physical game control device (server) that implements the cooperative game method. The device includes a storage unit to hold information about player groups and the collectible game pieces. It also has a processor configured to perform the actions outlined in Claim 1: giving game pieces, storing information about obtained pieces, checking if a group has collected all pieces for an item, and then issuing a reward to the cooperative group.
• Claim 16 (Non-Transitory Computer-Readable Recording Medium): This claim covers a computer program stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium (like a hard drive or solid-state drive). This program, when executed by a computer (game control device), causes the computer to perform the same cooperative game control steps described in Claim 1: distributing game pieces, managing collected pieces, determining if a group has completed an item, and providing a reward to the group.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
As of April 26, 2026, a review of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) scheduled cases for May 2026 does not show any direct litigation involving patent number US9561439B2. It is important to note that this search only covers the May 2026 scheduled cases and not the entirety of CAFC's 2026 docket or other potential litigation venues.