Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
  • A63F13/30—Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
  • A63F13/35—Details of game servers
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
  • A63F13/70—Game security or game management aspects
  • A63F13/79—Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q50/00—Systems or methods specially adapted for specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
  • G06Q50/10—Services
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
  • A63F13/30—Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
  • A63F13/34—Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers using peer-to-peer connections
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
  • A63F13/45—Controlling the progress of the video game
  • A63F13/48—Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
  • A63F13/45—Controlling the progress of the video game
  • A63F13/49—Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
  • A63F13/50—Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
  • A63F13/52—Controlling the output signals based on the game progress involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
  • A63F13/50—Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
  • A63F13/53—Controlling the output signals based on the game progress involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game
  • A63F13/537—Controlling the output signals based on the game progress involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
  • A63F13/5372—Controlling the output signals based on the game progress involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen for tagging characters, objects or locations in the game scene, e.g. displaying a circle under the character controlled by the player
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
  • A63F13/70—Game security or game management aspects
  • A63F13/73—Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
  • A63F13/20—Input arrangements for video game devices
  • A63F13/21—Input arrangements for video game devices characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
  • A63F13/215—Input arrangements for video game devices characterised by their sensors, purposes or types comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
  • A63F13/20—Input arrangements for video game devices
  • A63F13/23—Input arrangements for video game devices for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
  • A63F13/70—Game security or game management aspects
  • A63F13/79—Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
  • A63F13/795—Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
  • A63F2300/10—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals
  • A63F2300/1025—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
  • A63F2300/10—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals
  • A63F2300/1081—Input via voice recognition
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
  • A63F2300/20—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterised by details of the game platform
  • A63F2300/201—Playing authorisation given at platform level
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
  • A63F2300/20—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterised by details of the game platform
  • A63F2300/206—Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
  • A63F2300/208—Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards for storing personal settings or data of the player
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
  • A63F2300/30—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by output arrangements for receiving control signals generated by the game device
  • A63F2300/303—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by output arrangements for receiving control signals generated by the game device for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
  • A63F2300/306—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by output arrangements for receiving control signals generated by the game device for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display for displaying a marker associated to an object or location in the game field
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
  • A63F2300/40—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterised by details of platform network
  • A63F2300/408—Peer to peer connection
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
  • A63F2300/50—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by details of game servers
  • A63F2300/55—Details of game data or player data management
  • A63F2300/5526—Game data structure
  • A63F2300/5533—Game data structure using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
  • A63F2300/50—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by details of game servers
  • A63F2300/55—Details of game data or player data management
  • A63F2300/5526—Game data structure
  • A63F2300/554—Game data structure by saving game or status data
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
  • A63F2300/50—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by details of game servers
  • A63F2300/55—Details of game data or player data management
  • A63F2300/5546—Details of game data or player data management using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
  • A63F2300/5553—Details of game data or player data management using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
  • A63F2300/50—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by details of game servers
  • A63F2300/55—Details of game data or player data management
  • A63F2300/5546—Details of game data or player data management using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
  • A63F2300/556—Player lists, e.g. online players, buddy list, black list
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
  • A63F2300/50—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by details of game servers
  • A63F2300/55—Details of game data or player data management
  • A63F2300/5546—Details of game data or player data management using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
  • A63F2300/5566—Details of game data or player data management using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
  • A63F2300/60—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program
  • A63F2300/63—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program for controlling the execution of the game in time
  • A63F2300/636—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program for controlling the execution of the game in time involving process of starting or resuming a game
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
  • A63F2300/60—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program
  • A63F2300/66—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program for rendering three dimensional images

Definitions

• Many available video games provide two formats of game play: solo game play, and multi-player game play.
• solo game play a single player plays within a single instance of a game world on a single gaming machine such as a gaming console or a personal computer.
• multi-player gaming the gaming machine is networked with other gaming machines to allow multiple players to play within the same instance of the gaming world so that each of the players can interact with the same objects in the gaming world and so that the gaming world appears the same to each player.
• the server In massive open online play, players log into a server in the same manner as they would in a massive multi- player online game. However, instead of placing all players in the same instance of the game, the server creates multiple parallel instances of the game. For each instance, the server automatically identifies a small group of players that are to be assigned to that instance. For example, the server may identify eight players that are playing within a single instance. In most cases, the groups are formed based on the position of the players' avatars in the game world. An avatar is the representation of the player in the game and can take the form of a character or an object, such as a car. If an avatar moves too far away from the other avatars in the game world, the server will transfer the avatar to another group, and thus to another instance of the game. This transfer happens automatically without any input from the players .
• a player acts as a host and sends invitations to other players to join in an instance of the game.
• the player typically interrupts a game they are currently playing to access a list of friends or available players and to initiate a command that sends the invitation to each of the players .
• a three-dimensional rendering of a game space for a first instance of a game is displayed.
• the first instance of the game requests position information of avatars in game spaces of other instances of the game.
• Position information and a player identification for an avatar in another instance of the game is received.
• a position object is generated based on the position information and player identification, the position object being unable to interact with other objects in the first instance of the game.
• a graphical representation of the position object is displayed in the three-dimensional rendering of the game space of the first instance of the game, the graphical representation of the position object being positioned in the three-dimensional rendering of the game space based on the received position information .
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming console.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram of components of a gaming console .
• FIG. 3 is a block diagram of network connections between servers and gaming machines.
• FIG. 4 is a flow diagram for providing positional objects in separate instances of games.
• FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method of initiating a multi-player game.
• FIG. 6 is a screen shot showing a displayed positional object.
• FIG. 7 is a screen shot showing a highlighted positional object.
• FIG. 8 is a screen shot showing an invite menu.
• FIG. 9 is a screen shot showing an avatar brought into an instance of a game.
• FIG. 10 is a screen shot of an avatar displayed within a displayed structure of an instance of a game.
• FIG. 11 is a screen shot of the positional object of FIG. 10 highlighted.
• FIG. 12 is a screen shot of an invitation.
• FIG. 13 is a screen shot after a player has been moved to another instance of a game.
• FIG. 14 is a block diagram of network connections during a multi-player game.
• FIGURE 1 shows an exemplary gaming and media system 100.
• the following discussion of this Figure is intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitable environment in which certain methods may be implemented.
• gaming and media system 100 includes a game and media console (hereinafter "console") 102.
• Console 102 is configured to accommodate one or more wireless controllers, as represented by controllers 104(1) and 104(2) .
• a command button 135 on console 102 is used create a new wireless connection between on of the controllers and the console 102.
• Console 102 is equipped with an internal hard disk drive (not shown) and a media drive 106 that supports various forms of portable storage media, as represented by optical storage disc 108. Examples of suitable portable storage media include DVD, CD-ROM, game discs, and so forth.
• Console 102 also includes two memory unit card receptacles 125(1) and 125(2), for receiving removable flash-type memory units 140.
• Console 102 also includes an optical port 130 for communicating wirelessly with one or more devices and two USB
• a power button 112 and an eject button 114 are also positioned on the front face of game console 102. Power button 112 is selected to apply power to the game console, and can also provide access to other features and controls, and eject button 114 alternately opens and closes the tray of a portable media drive 106 to enable insertion and extraction of a storage disc 108.
• Console 102 connects to a television or other display (not shown) via A/V interfacing cables 120.
• console 102 is equipped with a dedicated A/V port (not shown) configured for content-secured digital communication using A/V cables 120 (e.g., A/V cables suitable for coupling to a High Definition Multimedia Interface "HDMI" port on a high definition monitor 150 or other display device) .
• a power cable 122 provides power to the game console.
• Console 102 may be further configured with broadband capabilities, as represented by a cable or modem connector 124 to facilitate access to a network, such as the Internet .
• Each controller 104 is coupled to console 102 via a wired or wireless interface.
• the controllers are USB-compatible and are coupled to console 102 via a wireless or USB port 110.
• Console 102 may be equipped with any of a wide variety of user interaction mechanisms.
• each controller 104 is equipped with two thumbsticks 132(1) and 132(2), a D-pad 134, buttons 136, User Guide button 137 and two triggers 138.
• By pressing and holding User Guide button 137 a user is able to power-up or power-down console 102.
• By pressing and releasing User Guide button 137 a user is able to cause a User Guide Heads Up Display (HUD) user interface to appear over the current graphics displayed on monitor 150.
• HUD User Guide Heads Up Display
• Controllers 104 each provide a socket for a plug of a headset 160. Audio data is sent through the controller to a speaker 162 in headset 160 to allow sound to be played for a specific player wearing headset 160. Headset 162 also includes a microphone 164 that detects speech from the player and conveys an electrical signal to the controller representative of the speech. Controller 104 then transmits a digital signal representative of the speech to console 102. Audio signals may also be provided to a speaker in monitor 150 or to separate speakers connected to console 102.
• a memory unit (MU) 140 may also be inserted into one of controllers 104(1) and 104(2) to provide additional and portable storage. Portable MUs enable users to store game parameters and entire games for use when playing on other consoles. In this implementation, each console is configured to accommodate two MUs 140, although more or less than two MUs may also be employed.
• Gaming and media system 100 is generally configured for playing games stored on a memory medium, as well as for downloading and playing games, and reproducing pre-recorded music and videos, from both electronic and hard media sources. With the different storage offerings, titles can be played from the hard disk drive, from optical disk media (e.g., 108), from an online source, from a peripheral storage device connected to USB connections 110 or from MU 140.
• FIGURE 2 is a functional block diagram of gaming and media system 100 and shows functional components of gaming and media system 100 in more detail.
• Console 102 has a central processing unit (CPU) 200, and a memory controller 202 that facilitates processor access to various types of memory, including a flash Read Only Memory (ROM) 204, a Random Access Memory (RAM) 206, a hard disk drive 208, and media drive 106.
• CPU 200 includes a level 1 cache 210, and a level 2 cache 212 to temporarily store data and hence reduce the number of memory access cycles made to the hard drive, thereby improving processing speed and throughput .
• CPU 200, memory controller 202, and various memory devices are interconnected via one or more buses (not shown) . The details of the bus that is used in this implementation are not particularly relevant to understanding the subject matter of interest being discussed herein.
• such a bus might include one or more of serial and parallel buses, a memory bus, a peripheral bus, and a processor or local bus, using any of a variety of bus architectures.
• bus architectures can include an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, a Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, an Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, a Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and a Peripheral Component Interconnects (PCI) bus also known as a Mezzanine bus.
• ISA Industry Standard Architecture
• MCA Micro Channel Architecture
• EISA Enhanced ISA
• VESA Video Electronics Standards Association
• PCI Peripheral Component Interconnects
• CPU 200, memory controller 202, ROM 204, and RAM 206 are integrated onto a common module 214.
• ROM 204 is configured as a flash ROM that is connected to memory controller 202 via a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus and a ROM bus (neither of which are shown) .
• RAM 206 is configured as multiple Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM (DDR SDRAM) modules that are independently controlled by memory controller 202 via separate buses (not shown) .
• Hard disk drive 208 and media drive 106 are shown connected to the memory controller via the PCI bus and an AT Attachment (ATA) bus 216.
• ATA AT Attachment
• dedicated data bus structures of different types can also be applied in the alternative .
• ROM 204 contains an operating system kernel that controls the basic operations of the console and that exposes a collection of Application Programming Interfaces that can be called by games and other applications to perform certain functions and to obtain certain data.
• a three-dimensional graphics processing unit 220 and a video encoder 222 form a video processing pipeline for high speed and high resolution (e.g., High Definition) graphics processing. Data are carried from graphics processing unit 220 to video encoder 222 via a digital video bus (not shown) .
• An audio processing unit 224 and an audio codec (coder/decoder) 226 form a corresponding audio processing pipeline for multi-channel audio processing of various digital audio formats.
• Audio data are carried between audio processing unit 224 and audio codec 226 via a communication link (not shown) .
• the video and audio processing pipelines output data to an A/V (audio/video) port 228 for transmission to a television or other display containing one or more speakers.
• Some audio data formed by audio processing unit 224 and audio codec 226 is also directed to one or more headsets through controllers 104.
• video and audio processing components 220-228 are mounted on module 214.
• FIGURE 2 shows module 214 including a USB host controller 230 and a network interface 232.
• USB host controller 230 is shown in communication with CPU 200 and memory controller 202 via a bus (e.g., PCI bus) and serves as host for peripheral controllers 104 (1) -104 (4) .
• Network interface 232 provides access to a network (e.g., Internet, home network, etc.) and may be any of a wide variety of various wire or wireless interface components including an Ethernet card, a modem, a Bluetooth module, a cable modem, and the like.
• console 102 includes a controller support subassembly 240, for supporting up to four controllers 104 (1) -104 (4) .
• the controller support subassembly 240 includes any hardware and software components needed to support wired and wireless operation with an external control device, such as for example, a media and game controller.
• a front panel I/O subassembly 242 supports the multiple functionalities of power button 112, the eject button 114, as well as any LEDs (light emitting diodes) or other indicators exposed on the outer surface of console 102.
• Subassemblies 240 and 242 are in communication with module 214 via one or more cable assemblies 244.
• console 102 can include additional controller subassemblies.
• the illustrated implementation also shows an optical I/O interface 235 that is configured to send and receive signals that can be communicated to module 214.
• MUs 140(1) and 140(2) are illustrated as being connectable to MU ports "A" 130(1) and “B" 130(2) respectively.
• Additional MUs e.g., MUs 140 (3) -140 (4)
• controller 104(1) i.e., two MUs for each controller.
• Each MU 140 offers additional storage on which games, game parameters, and other data may be stored.
• the other data can include any of a digital game component, an executable gaming application, an instruction set for expanding a gaming application, and a media file.
• MU 140 can be accessed by memory controller 202.
• Headset 160 is shown connected to controller 104 (3) .
• controller 104 may be connected to a separate headset 160.
• a system power supply module 250 provides power to the components of gaming system 100.
• a fan 252 cools the circuitry within console 102.
• an application 260 comprising machine instructions is stored on hard disk drive 208.
• Application 260 provides a collection of user interfaces that are associated with console 102 instead of with an individual game. The user interfaces allow the user to select system settings for console 102, access media attached to console 102, view information about games, and utilize services provided by a server that is connected to console 102 through a network connection.
• console 102 is powered on, various portions of application 260 are loaded into RAM 206, and/or caches 210 and 212, for execution on CPU 200.
• application 260 is shown as being stored on hard disk drive 208, in alternative embodiments, application 260 is stored in ROM 204 with the operating system kernel.
• Gaming system 100 may be operated as a standalone system by simply connecting the system to monitor, a television 150 (FIGURE 1), a video projector, or other display device. In this standalone mode, gaming system 100 enables one or more players to play games, or enjoy digital media, e.g., by watching movies, or listening to music. However, with the integration of broadband connectivity made available through network interface 232, gaming system 100 may further be operated as a participant in a larger network gaming community allowing, among other things, multi-player gaming.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 are just one example of gaming machines that can be used with various embodiments described herein. Other gaming machines such as personal computers may be used instead of the gaming console of FIGS. 1 and 2.
• FIG. 3 provides a block diagram of multiple gaming machines 300, 302 and 304 connected through a network 306 to an inter-player communication server 308 and a game-specific avatar-tracking server 310.
• Player A 312 is playing game instance A 314 on gaming machine A 300.
• Game instance A 314 includes a game state A 316 that describes the position and status of every object and avatar in a three-dimensional gaming environment of game instance A 314.
• Players can include human players such as player A 312 and artificial intelligence robots (AI bots) that control the movement of their avatar.
• Player B 318 and player C 320 are playing respective separate game instances 322 and 324 on respective gaming machines 302 and 304.
• Game instance B 322 has game state B 326 and game instance C 324 has game state C 328.
• Game state A 316, game state B 326, and game state C 328 are all different since game instance A 314, game instance B 322, and game instance C 324 are separate instances of the game.
• game instance A 314, game instance B 322, and game instance C 324 are all for the same game but are different instances of that same game.
• the separate instances may contain similar objects and environments but the status of at least one object or avatar will be different in any two of the game instances.
• the avatar for each player in a particular instance cannot affect objects in other game instances.
• the avatar for player A in game instance A 314 cannot affect objects in game instance B 322 or objects in game instance C 324.
• players A, B and C are said to be remote from each other because they are using separate gaming machines. Those skilled in the art will recognize that although the players are said to be remote from each other, they may be located in the same building or room as long as they are using a separate gaming machine.
• Inter-player communication server 308 provides a set of communication services 340 that allow players to communicate with each other through gaming machines 300, 302 and 304.
• inter- player communication server 308 includes user login services 342 that require the players to log into inter-player communication server 308.
• login services 342 obtain a gamer tag (a unique identifier associated with the user) and a password from the user, as well as a console ID that uniquely identifies the gaming machine that the user is using and a network path to the gaming machine.
• the gamer tag and password are authenticated by comparing them to information stored in user records 344, which may be located on the same server as user login services 312 or may be distributed on a different server or a collection of different servers.
• user login services 342 stores the console ID and the network path in user records 344 so that messages and downloadable content may be sent to the gaming machines.
• Game instance A 314, game instance B 322, and game instance C 324 also login to game-specific avatar-tracking server 310 using login services 350. Typically, these login services do not require a password, but simply require the gamer tag.
• each game instance sends the current position of the avatar for the player in the three- dimensional gaming world of the game instance to avatar- tracking server 310.
• each game instance may also send attributes of the player's avatar including level, region, indoors, outdoors, health, weapons, and awards.
• the player, avatar position, and attributes are stored in a player and avatar position database 352 on avatar-tracking server 310.
• avatar update 354 updates player and avatar position database 352 to reflect the new position and attributes of the avatar.
• the network structure of FIG. 3 is used to distribute information about the position of avatars so that an instance of a game knows the location of avatars in other instances of the game.
• the game instance uses this position information to create a position object that can be rendered in the three- dimensional graphical environment of the gaming instance.
• player A is able to see a graphical representation of the position of player B' s avatar in a position corresponding to the position of player B' s avatar in game instance B 322.
• the position objects shown in a game instance are not able to interact with other objects in the game instance. Instead, each position object is a "ghost" object.
• a player's avatar may be represented by a position object in another game instance, the player does not see the objects in that other game instance. Instead, the player only sees the objects in their own game instance. For example, if player B's avatar is represented by a position object in game instance A 314, player B would only see objects in game instance B 322 and would not see the objects or game world of game instance A 314.
• FIG. 4 provides a flow diagram of a method for generating graphical representations of position objects under one embodiment.
• player A 312 and player B 318 login to inter-player communication server 308 using user login services 342.
• player A 312 begins solo play of game instance A 314 on gaming machine A 300.
• solo play takes place in a three-dimensional graphical space that is rendered by game instance A 314.
• game instance A 314 logs player A into game-specific avatar-tracking server 310 by providing the gamer tag of player A, the position of player A' s avatar in three-dimensional graphical space, and attributes of player A's avatar at step 404.
• game instance A 314 first checks a player- selected setting to determine if the player wants to log into avatar-tracking server 310.
• the default setting can be that the game instance does not log into the avatar-tracking server or that the game instance always asks the player before attempting to log into the avatar-tracking server.
• the player may use menus in the game instance to change the values of these settings.
• player B begins solo play of game instance B 322 on gaming machine 302.
• Game instance B 322 logs player B 318 into game-specific avatar-tracking service 310 and provides an identifier for player B, the location of player B's avatar in the three-dimensional gaming world of game instance B 322, and attributes of player B's avatar at step 408.
• player and avatar position database 352 includes player identification information for player A 312 and player B 318, the position of the avatars in their respective game instances 314 and 322, and attributes of the avatars.
• game instance A 314 and game instance B 322 each request a respective list of players in respective playgroups for player A 312 and player B 314.
• the lists of players in each respective playgroup represents players that player A and player B may want to join in a multiplayer game.
• playgroup services 356 of game- specific avatar-tracking server 310 determines the playgroups for player A 312 and player B 318.
• a playgroup for a player may be determined from such things as: players who are in a player's friends list; players who are using gaming machines that are in a same geographic location, such as a state or a country; players who are of comparable skill levels; and players who engage in the same types of ingame activities such as fighting or exploring; attributes of the avatars; or some combination of these things.
• Information about a player's friends list, geographic location, and skill level can be obtained from user records 344 on inter-player communication server 308 or under some embodiments from user records 358 on game-specific avatar-tracking server 310. Note that other criteria may be used to define a playgroup for a player.
• playgroup services 356 may keep a list of players that it will not track, if desired, and as such not include certain players in a playgroup even though they meet the other requirements for being part of the playgroup.
• the server sends player identification information and avatar position information for player B to game instance A 314 and sends player identification information and avatar position information for player A 312 to game instance B 322.
• game instance A 314 creates a position object, also referred to as a virtual avatar, for player B' s avatar and game instance B 322 creates a position object, virtual avatar, for player A' s avatar.
• the position objects are unable to interact with other objects in their respective game instances.
• the position object for player B's avatar in game instance A 314 has no affect on other objects in game instance A 314 as defined by game state A 316.
• the creation of a position object in a game instance does not provide access to the game instance for another player.
• the creation of a position object for player B's avatar in game instance A 314 does not provide player B 318 with access to game instance A 314.
• the game instances create graphical representations of the position objects in their respective three-dimensional graphical game world if the position objects are located within the current view of the camera.
• game instance A 314 would create a graphical representation of the position object for player B's avatar.
• the graphical representation is placed in the three- dimensional graphical space at a location specified by the position of the avatar in the respective other game instance.
• the graphical representation of the position object for player B's avatar in game instance A 314 would be at a position that corresponds to the position of player B' s avatar in game instance B 322.
• FIG. 6 provides an example of a screen shot in which a graphical representation 600 of a position object is shown in a three-dimensional graphical environment 602.
• the graphical representation of position object 600 includes a player identifier 604 and an icon 606.
• the graphical representation of the position object takes the form of a two-dimensional icon.
• the graphical representation of the position object can include a 3D mesh that looks like the avatar of the other player, a floating two-dimensional sprite that is a picture of the other player that is different from the avatar of the other player, a symbolic geometric shape with a color or size that represents the other player's in-game prowess, or any other desired graphical representation.
• FIG. 10 provides another example of a graphical representation 1000 of a position object being displayed in a three-dimensional graphical environment 1002.
• the graphical representation 1000 of the position object can appear intersected by stationary objects such as house object 1004 in FIG. 10.
• position object 1000 and house object 1004 at least partially occupy the same space in the three-dimensional graphical environment. This would generally not be possible if position object 1000 were treated like other objects in the game instance.
• embodiments described herein allow a player of a current instance of a game to see where other players are playing in their own instance of the game without those other players affecting the current instance of the game.
• the graphical representation of the position object acts as a notification to the current player that other players within their playgroup are playing another instance of the same game and their avatars are located close to the current player's avatar. As discussed further below, this allows the players to initiate communications with each other to begin a multiplayer game session.
• FIG. 5 provides a flow diagram of a method of using a position object to initiate a multiplayer gaming session.
• reference is made to player A and player B for illustration purposes.
• step 500 of FIG. 5 player A selects a position object for the avatar of player B to activate an invite menu.
• a player selects a position object by moving toward the position object so that the position object becomes highlighted. For instance, in FIG. 7, position object 600 of FIG. 6 has become highlighted and in FIG. 11, position object 1000 of FIG. 10 has become highlighted as indicated by highlighting circles 700 and 1100 respectively.
• the user can press a button on the controller to activate the invite menu, which is displayed on the screen as shown in FIGS. 8 and 12.
• the invite menu includes two selectable commands.
• the first command 800 allows the user to invite the remote player to join the user in their current game.
• Selectable command 802 allows the user to ask the remote player if the user may join the remote player in their remote game. Similar commands 1200 and 1202 are provided in the menu of FIG. 12.
• player A selects the command to invite the player B to join the player A' s game state. In FIG. 8, this would involve selecting command 800 and in FIG. 12, this would involve selecting command 1200.
• the player B accepts the invitation and the acceptance is received by game instance A 314.
• the game state for player B is saved by player B's game instance.
• player A's gaming machine 300 and player B's gaming machine 302 begin peer-to-peer communications. Under one embodiment, this is done using inter-player communication server 308 to obtain the network pathway between gaming machine A 300 and gaming machine B 302. Gaming machine A 300 and gaming machine B 302 then negotiate a communication channel to allow peer-to-peer communications between the two machines.
• game state A is sent to game instance B 322 and at step 512, the properties of player B's avatar in game state B are added to game state A in both game instance A and game instance B.
• the properties of player B's avatar include the position of the avatar, the appearance of the avatar and the status of the avatar, which includes information such as the health or condition of the avatar, objects held by the avatar, and the experience level of the avatar in game state B of game instance B.
• the position object for player B's avatar is removed from game instance A so that in essence player B's avatar replaces the position object for player B's avatar.
• game instance A and game instance B have been synchronized to game state A and player B' s avatar has been added to game state A in place of the position object for player B's avatar.
• game instance A removes the position object for player B's avatar from the three-dimensional graphical environment and instead displays player B's avatar.
• FIG. 9 An example of the removal of a position object and the insertion of an avatar in its place is shown in FIG. 9 where position object 600 of FIG. 6 has been removed and avatar 900 has been inserted in its place.
• game instance B displays a graphical representation of the game space defined by game state A.
• player A can see the avatar of player B, and player B can see the game space of player A' s game state.
• player B is able to interact with the objects in player A' s game state.
• player B had its avatar added to player A' s game. Changes made by player B's avatar to objects in player A' s game will now be reflected in game state A.
• game-specific avatar-tracking server 310 After player B's avatar has been added to game state A and game state A has been provided to game instance B, an indication may be sent to game-specific avatar-tracking server 310 that these events have occurred. Under one embodiment, based on these events, game-specific avatar- tracking server 310 discontinues tracking the avatars for game instance A and game instance B to thereby limit the number of players that may be added to game state A. In other embodiments, game-specific avatar-tracking server 310 allows more than two players to play in the same game state and will continue tracking the position of avatars in a game state until a maximum number of avatars in a particular game state is reached. When the maximum number of avatars is reached, the players and their avatars are removed from player and avatar position database 352 and game-specific avatar-tracking server 310.
• FIG. 14 shows an example of the state of the network connections after step 520.
• the connections between game instance 314 and server 310 and game instance 320 and server 310 have been broken and a new connection between game instance 314 and game instance 322 has been created.
• game instance 324 continues to be connected to game-specific avatar-tracking server 310.
• player A may alternatively select the command to request insertion into game state B as shown by step 522. If player B grants this request at step 524, an indication that player B has granted the request is received by game instance 314 and game state A is saved at step 526 by game instance 314. Player A' s gaming machine and player B' s gaming machine then begin peer-to-peer communications at step 528 in the same manner as discussed above for step 508.
• game state B is sent to game instance A and is loaded into game instance A.
• the properties of player A' s avatar are added to game state B in place of the position object for player A's avatar.
• game instance B removes the position object for player A' s avatar from the three-dimensional graphical environment and displays player A' s avatar in its place.
• FIG. 13 provides an example of game instance A displaying a graphical representation based on game state B in step 536.
• the position of player A' s avatar is the same as in FIG. 10 such that street 1006, street 1008 and mailbox 1010 are shown in both views.
• house 1004 has been removed, tree 1300 has been added, position object 1000 has been removed and player B' s avatar 1302 has been added.
• Tree 1300 and player B' s avatar 1302 are part of game state B.
• house 1004 was part of game state A. As such, when game instance A switches to displaying game state B, house 1004 disappears, and tree 1300 and avatar 1302 appear.
• an optional step of sending an indication that player A' s avatar has been added to game state B and that game instance A has been synchronized to game state B may be sent to game-specific avatar-tracking server 310.
• the player that has been added to a game instance may quit the game instance.
• attributes of the player's avatar that have changed such as reaching a new level or reward, can be stored on the players gaming machine.
• the player's avatar can be returned to the game instance they were playing before being added to the other player's game instance.

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• 2007
  • 2007-06-21 US US11/766,466 patent/US20080318687A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2008
  • 2008-06-12 WO PCT/US2008/066652 patent/WO2008157206A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2008-06-12 CN CN200880021170A patent/CN101689279A/zh active Pending
  • 2008-06-12 KR KR1020097026084A patent/KR20100022042A/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2008-06-12 CA CA002687251A patent/CA2687251A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2008-06-12 JP JP2010513339A patent/JP5492076B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2008-06-12 EP EP08780800A patent/EP2158572A4/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2009
  • 2009-10-22 IL IL201707A patent/IL201707A0/en unknown

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