JP2009508573A - System and method for improving player experience in wireless games - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention monitors (705) one or more predetermined resource parameters associated with the wireless communication device, and based on the predetermined resource parameters, one or more alternatives at one or more predetermined locations within the game. Executing the scenario (710) and dynamically executing the alternative scenario dynamically interacts with the wireless communication device and one of the wireless game server and one or more other wireless communication devices. Disclosed is a method and system for managing game interactivity in one or more wireless communication devices by changing (715).

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless game in a wireless communication device. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and system for improving a player's gaming experience by managing interactivity between a wireless gaming device and a wireless gaming server, other wireless gaming devices, or both.

  In wireless communication devices, game applications are becoming increasingly common. Because users of wireless communication devices often play games with other users in the communication network, the level of interactivity between the wireless game devices in the communication network and the level of interactivity between the wireless game device and the wireless game server Vary to various levels. A user who plays a game in a wireless communication device is generally called a player in the game.

  Furthermore, when the game is a multiplayer game, other players may be affected by the conditions of one player (for example, RF conditions). In general, the system capacity and the battery life of the wireless communication device are reduced due to the use of a highly interactive game scenario by the player and poor RF conditions.

  A game typically includes a variety of scenarios that make the game more interactive, interesting to the player, and fun. For example, some games may have several levels or stages, and when the player completes those levels or stages, the player is provided with a different experience for each level. In some scenarios, even higher interactivity is obtained through the wireless link of the wireless communication device, but the wireless link may have different resource costs depending on the current resource parameters associated with the device.

  Accordingly, there is a need to optimize the interactivity and game experience provided to players based on various parameters that affect the game.

  Most wireless communication devices support multiplayer games that allow players to play against other players in the wireless communication network. Games such as car racing games, boxing games, role playing games, shooting games, arcade games, etc. are some of the games that are commonly installed on a wireless communication device to provide entertainment to users of the wireless communication device. Different games have different levels of interactivity between the wireless communication device and the game hosting server, or between multiple game players, based on different parameters depending on the resource. For example, radio frequency (RF) conditions may affect the gaming experience in a multiplayer game where the player generally interacts with other players in the communication network. Some such resource-related parameters disclosed in more detail below affect the interactivity of the wireless communication device.

  The present invention provides a method and system for managing interactivity in one or more wireless communication devices. The method includes monitoring a set of predetermined resource parameters at the wireless communication device and executing an alternative scenario at the wireless communication device based on the predetermined resource parameters. Several alternative scenarios can be performed at various locations in the game until a given resource parameter reaches the required value, and then the game can be returned to a natural state. .

  FIG. 1 is an embodiment of a wireless communication system 100 according to the present invention. The wireless communication system 100 includes a server 105, a wireless communication device 110, and another wireless communication device 115. In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of wireless communication devices exist in the wireless communication system 100. Server 105 generally belongs to a service provider that certifies wireless service to wireless communication device 110 and wireless communication device 115. This service may include games played within a wireless communication system, voice calls and data calls between various wireless communication devices. In one embodiment of the present invention, the server 105 can monitor one or more predetermined resource parameters associated with the wireless communication device 110 and the wireless communication device 115. Examples of resource-related parameters include RF conditions in communication networks, RF congestion conditions, network load in communication networks, battery life of wireless communication devices, network signal coverage experienced by wireless communication devices, and RF condition variability. . Those skilled in the art will recognize that several other parameters associated with the wireless communication device are also known and that all such parameters can be monitored and are all within the scope of the present invention.

  The server 105 can notify the wireless communication device 110 and the wireless communication device 115 to execute an alternative scenario based on the monitoring of various parameters. The service provider that owns the server 105 may have an associated knob for controlling the interactivity of the wireless communication device 110 and the wireless communication device 115. If this knob is set to be more adaptable for calls that require less resources in a heavily loaded sector, the player's interactivity with the server 105 or between each wireless communication device is: Further decrease.

  Reference is now made to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a game played in the wireless communication apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. A number of games are installed on the wireless communication device 205, for example, a mobile phone, in order to provide entertainment to the user. As an example, FIG. 2 shows a car racing game 210 displaying a car approaching the transition point 215. The flowchart further shows two resource parameters being monitored, such as RF condition 220 and battery life 225. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other parameters not shown are also monitored and are within the scope of the present invention. A transition point in a game may generally be defined as meaning a predetermined place in the game where an alternative scenario can be executed. As the number of transition points in the game increases, the number of places where alternative scenarios can be executed increases, and the interactivity of the player in the communication network is improved. In one embodiment, the alternative scenario can only be executed at a given location, so the player needs to reach a transition point in order to execute the alternative scenario, despite unfavorable resource conditions such as poor RF conditions. There is a case. In another embodiment, an alternative scenario may be executed immediately upon poor resource conditions. By executing an alternative scenario, the interactivity between the wireless communication device and the server or the interactivity between multiple wireless communication devices in the communication network is changed.

  Several examples of alternative scenarios are disclosed. Those skilled in the art will recognize that these examples are not exhaustive and are only intended to represent several approaches to how the game can be changed when executing alternative scenarios. For example, in a car racing game, by creating a bulkhead, two players can go down separate tunnels or roads so that they are invisible to each other to reduce their interactivity. Can be induced. At the transition point 215 shown in FIG. 2, an alternative scenario for providing a partition can be performed. Generally, more resources are used to transmit data from a wireless communication device, so a player with insufficient resources, such as battery life, may not send game-related data to other players in the communication network. .

  As another example, in a fighting game, instead of fighting other players in the game, a computer-generated entity is created for the players to fight. In a spacecraft game, the captain of the player's ship is informed by the ship's network station that the ship's communication link is likely to be broken, possibly due to enemy weapons, and interaction with other spacecraft needs to be reduced. This also reduces the amount of data exchanged between the wireless communication devices. For example, wireless communication devices with similar predetermined resource parameters, such as poor RF conditions, may be guided to the same alternative scenario. One skilled in the art will recognize that there may be more than two players involved in an ongoing game, or that a player may play in a single mode, for example, a player playing against a computer generated player. Is recognized.

  In another embodiment of the invention, the player may decide to leave the game in progress. In one embodiment, the decision to leave the game may be determined by the player when a resource parameter failure occurs, such as an RF condition failure when entering a building. However, in alternative embodiments, if the player needs to leave the game due to persistent resource conditions such as battery life, the game may provide a message to the user and the alternative scenario is executed. May be. In this case, an appropriate message is transmitted to other wireless communication devices involved in the game in progress, indicating that the game scenario has changed and that a player with this game has left. In a multiplayer game in which a plurality of wireless communication devices play a game, two or more players having similar RF conditions can execute a common alternative scenario and play with each other. This scenario of the game can be played until the RF condition is improved and the wireless communication device can rejoin the other players of the game.

  In another embodiment, an alternative scenario for the game may be executed in response to input received from one or more players of the game based on one or more predetermined resource parameters. For example, if the RF condition of a certain player's wireless communication device is bad, other players in the communication network also playing the game receive an input of the bad RF condition from the wireless communication device. With this input, alternative scenarios can be executed in other players' wireless communication devices so that interactivity remains consistent. Game features can also be provided to players with poor RF conditions based on predetermined resource parameters. This game feature may be, for example, an additional armor in a fighting game or a faster car in a racing game and has additional health in a role-playing game, i.e. the player has greater durability than other players. It may be. Various game features are possible that enhance the player experience based on parameters associated with the wireless communication device, and all such game features are within the scope of the present invention.

  Reference is now made to FIG. FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a game played in the wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention. In step 305, two or more wireless communication devices play a game against each other, i.e., a player associated with the first wireless communication device and a second player associated with the second wireless communication device. Suppose you decide to play. The first wireless communication device can send an indication at step 310 to notify the second wireless communication device or the server computer belonging to the service provider of the resource parameter failure involved in this game. is there. For example, the radio frequency (RF) condition in the first radio communication device is defective. Upon receiving this message, in step 315, the interactivity of the first wireless communication device is reduced during the improvement of the RF conditions of the first wireless communication device. During this period, in one embodiment, in step 320, an alternative scenario can be executed at the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device to suit the game conditions. In step 325, the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device may continue playing the game without frequently directly interfacing with each other.

  The first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device may be further converted into different scenarios. In another example, the second wireless communication device may execute a scenario indicating a game delay, and may pause the game for a certain period. In order to reduce the game speed of the second wireless communication device, in another embodiment, a delay may be introduced into the scenario. The second wireless communication device continues playing the game according to the alternative scenario until good RF conditions are restored at the first wireless communication device. When the first wireless communication device notifies the server of the recovery of RF conditions, or when the server understands the recovery of the player's RF conditions, the game returns to its standard mode. The player associated with the first wireless communication device can rejoin the player associated with the second wireless communication device in the original scenario of the game.

  In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first wireless communication device sends a message indicating a low battery to a second wireless communication device or server hosting the game in the communication network. When this message is received, the game conditions for the first wireless communication device may change. The light and sound intensity used by the first wireless communication device is reduced, as shown to low battery condition players. The first wireless communication device is also given the option of pausing the ongoing game to replenish low battery power until the wireless communication device battery is charged. When the game is paused by the first wireless communication device that has received a low battery indication, alternative scenarios such as rain, bad weather, fog, and natural disaster delays can be executed on other wireless communication devices It is.

  Reference is now made to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a game played in a wireless communication system according to another embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment of the present invention, player mobility is considered. If one or more of the player's predetermined parameters have changed variously over a short time interval, then at step 405, no alternative scenario is executed at the transition point. For example, if the RF conditions have changed over a short period of time, the players will adapt their game scenario based on the instantaneous RF conditions because those RF conditions will not persist throughout the next game scenario. It is not necessary. In such a case, the wireless communication device determines at step 410 whether the RF condition was particularly good or bad through an assumed time interval / normal recent time interval, and at step 415 The scenario is changed based on the judgment result. This time interval may be a time during which the predetermined resource parameter remains unchanged in the wireless communication device. Other methods of predicting RF conditions over the next interval may include bandwidth information such as traffic prediction. The player who is most likely to remain in good RF condition receives the most interactive scenario. For example, these players have consistently been observed to be in very good RF conditions, usually over a long period of time.

  FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a wireless communication apparatus 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Wireless communication device 500 includes one or more of a mobile phone, a portable information terminal, a computer device, and a wireless game device. The wireless communication device 500 includes a processing device 505 and a memory 510 connected to the processing device. The processing device 505 and the memory 510 are adapted for monitoring one or more predetermined resource parameters associated with the wireless communication device 500. The wireless communication device 500 can execute one or more alternative scenarios at one or more predetermined locations within the game based on the monitored predetermined resource parameters. By executing the alternative scenario, the interactivity between the wireless communication device 500 and another wireless communication device in the service provider's server and game dynamically changes. Dynamic changes are changes that occur periodically based on changing factors (eg, RF conditions). Typically, resource parameters trigger a scenario change in the game. Changes in the environment or changes in the wireless communication device in which the game is being played can change the manner in which the game is played for that player or other players in the game. The processing device 505 processes the alternative scenario in the wireless communication device 500. The memory 510 can store recent known predetermined resource parameters. The processing device 505 and the memory 510 may be operated together to monitor one or more predetermined resource parameters associated with the wireless communication device 500. The processing device 505 and the memory 510 can dynamically change the game scenario based on one or more monitored resource parameters.

  FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a game according to an embodiment of the present invention. The game 600 includes a monitoring module 605, an alternative scenario providing module 610, and an execution module 615. The monitoring module 605 monitors one or more predetermined resource parameters associated with the wireless communication device. Each wireless communication device includes a monitoring module and can monitor predetermined resource parameters associated with the wireless communication device. However, it is possible for the service provider to monitor such conditions for each wireless communication device associated with the service provider.

  Interactivity with other wireless communication devices or servers hosting games may vary based on predetermined resource parameters. For example, if the RF condition is worse than a certain threshold, or if the remaining battery power is below a certain threshold, the gaming experience provided to the player without understanding the changes in the game An alternative scenario that is retained is executed. The alternative scenario providing unit 610 may be a database that provides an alternative scenario at a predetermined place in the game based on a predetermined condition related to the wireless communication device. This alternative scenario may include multiple scenarios. This alternative scenario may further include changing graphics in the game when there is relatively little battery power in the wireless device.

  An alternative scenario may include guiding one or more players along a scenario in which the display brightness of the wireless communication device is reduced when the battery power of the wireless communication device is low. In a game involving a creative character or a superhero character, an alternative scenario may provide the player with an indication that the energy of the character in the game is low. For example, when there is RF congestion in the communication network, the player can be directed to a location where the player can replenish low energy. Limited pausing or slowing down the game when the player is replenishing low energy provides room for a communications network to handle other calls or games. An alternative scenario may also include increasing the backlight brightness of the wireless communication device when normal conditions are restored, such as a player charging the wireless communication device battery during a game.

  Alternative scenarios may further include providing options to one or more players. This option may allow the player to pause the game and continue after a predetermined interval. This option may be provided if the RF conditions of the player's wireless communication device are poor. During the downtime, normal conditions can be restored. A pre-loaded scenario can be executed that reduces interactivity between a player that is pausing the game and multiple players of the game in the communication network. When normal conditions are restored, the pre-read scenario can be terminated.

  The execution module 615 executes the alternative scenario in the wireless communication device in response to receiving input from the alternative scenario providing module 610. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first wireless communication device can generate one or more alternative scenarios in the second wireless communication device based on one or more predetermined resource parameters associated with the first wireless communication device. Is adapted to perform. The execution module 615 is configured to execute one alternative scenario after a predetermined time interval. This predetermined time interval is a time interval during which the performance of the game remains unchanged. This alternative scenario is executed at one or more predetermined locations based on one or more predetermined resource parameters associated with the wireless communication device in the game.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method for managing game interactivity in one or more wireless communication devices according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless communication device can monitor one or more predetermined resource parameters associated with the wireless communication device at step 705. External devices such as server computers can also be configured to monitor resource parameters. In step 710, the wireless communication device can execute an alternative scenario at a predetermined location in the game based on a predetermined resource parameter. In one embodiment of the present invention, when a predetermined resource parameter is monitored at any point other than a transition point, the wireless communication device executes an alternative scenario only at the next predetermined location. For example, a wireless communication device monitors network signals received by the wireless communication device. When the wireless communication device experiences a bad network signal, the alternative scenario can be executed only at the next predetermined location so as not to affect the game experience of the game player.

  In another embodiment, an interaction between a player with good network signal coverage and a player with poor network signal coverage when the player is playing a game with another player with poor network signal coverage in the communication network. A scenario can be executed that reduces. In this alternative scenario, the player's experience can be altered by having a player with poor network signal coverage battle against a computer-generated entity rather than another player. Thus, the experiences of both players can be maintained in relation to the resource parameters of those players and are dragged by players with poor network signal coverage, affecting the gaming experience of other players. There is nothing. Alternatively, if the battery conditions are weak, the player can minimize battery conditions by experiencing in-game alternative scenarios where the graphics brightness is not very high, such as running through a dark tunnel in the case of a racing game. You can only use it. In yet another embodiment, the backlight of the wireless communication device may also be reduced to allow the player to experience twilight in the tunnel. In one embodiment, the alternative scenario is executed without notifying the player, so the player considers the scenario to be a natural part of the game.

  By executing the alternative scenario at the predetermined location, at step 715, the interactivity between the wireless communication device and one of the wireless game server and one or more wireless communication devices may change dynamically. Changing the game scenario generally increases or decreases the interactivity between the game players and increases or decreases the interactivity between the game players and the server that provides the game. Can be included. The game scenario changes based on one or more predetermined parameters and in response to input received from the wireless communication device for the game. Based on the one or more predetermined parameters, one or more game features are provided to the game player. Based on one or more predetermined parameters associated with the first wireless communication device, a game scenario can be changed in another wireless communication device.

  In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, some of the alternative scenarios are generally disclosed below. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that some of the examples relating to the disclosed embodiments are addressed above. Some possible alternative scenarios include changing in-game graphics. In another embodiment of the present invention, a bulkhead is created between two or more players in a game by guiding two or more players along different scenarios, or a computer generated entity It is possible to create a partition between two or more players in a game by guiding two or more players along one or more scenarios where one and more players interact . In yet another embodiment, alternative scenarios include directing the one or more players along a scenario where one or more players cannot see some of the remaining players, or in a communication network This includes notifying one or more players of a connection failure with one or more remaining players due to poor communication. Another alternative scenario is to provide one or more players with an option that allows the one or more players to pause the game and continue after a predetermined interval, or display brightness of the wireless communication device Guiding one or more players along in-game scenarios that can be reduced. One or more players are provided with a low power display that allows the one or more players to replenish low power, or provided with one or more delays in the game. This delay includes one or more of rain, bad weather, fog and natural disasters using one or more pre-loaded scenarios. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, it is possible to work with two or more players having substantially similar radio frequency conditions.

  Similarly, when normal conditions are restored, the game can be restored to natural game conditions. To recover the condition, reduce the backlight brightness of one or more wireless communication devices, reduce or increase the amount of data exchanged between multiple wireless communication devices, continue the game Removing options from one or more players, removing one or more delays, and discontinuing use of one or more pre-loaded scenarios. Removing two or more players in the game by guiding two or more players along different scenarios, two or more players interacting with a computer-generated entity The barriers between them, allowing them to play against each other, and having good connections with other game players It includes notifying the one or more players that. By monitoring the parameters and changing the game scenario based on predetermined resource parameters, the player's gaming experience is significantly improved. Once the predetermined resource parameters are restored, other alternative scenarios can be executed to restore the player's natural gaming experience.

  The present invention uses a high-performance selection mechanism that affects the central part of the game's wireless message transmission. In one embodiment, the player is given the ability to select a game aspect that does not read a link to the game. Also provided is an admission control block that blocks the player at the start of a new scenario if the weak link is due to excessive system load.

1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a wireless communication system. The figure of the game played in the radio | wireless communication apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart of the game played in the radio | wireless communications system by one Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart of the game played in the radio | wireless communications system by another embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram of the game by one Embodiment of this invention. 2 is a flowchart of a method for managing game interactivity in one or more wireless communication devices according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (10)

A method for managing game interactivity in one or more wireless communication devices, comprising:
A resource parameter monitoring step for monitoring one or more predetermined resource parameters associated with the one or more wireless communication devices;
An alternative scenario execution step of executing one or more alternative scenarios at one or more predetermined locations in the game based on the predetermined resource parameters;
An interactivity change step that dynamically changes interactivity with the wireless communication device and one of the wireless game server and one or more other wireless communication devices by executing the alternative scenario. Method. The one or more predetermined resource parameters are one or more of the following:
Radio frequency (RF) conditions in the communication network;
RF congestion conditions,
Network load in the communication network,
A battery life of the one or more wireless communication devices;
Network signal coverage experienced by the one or more wireless communication devices;
Including one or more of RF condition variation conditions,
The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more wireless communication devices are part of a communication network. The interactivity change process can be one or more of the following:
Changing the in-game graphics,
Creating a partition between the two or more players in the game by guiding two or more players along different scenarios;
Create a partition between two or more players in a game by guiding the two or more players along one or more scenarios where two or more players interact with a computer-generated entity And a process of
Directing the one or more players along a scenario in which one or more players cannot see the one or more remaining players;
Notifying one or more players of a connection failure with one or more remaining players due to poor communication in the communication network;
Providing the one or more players with an option that allows the one or more players to pause the game and continue after a predetermined interval;
Guiding one or more players along one or more scenarios with reduced display brightness of the wireless communication device;
Providing the one or more players with a low power display that allows one or more players to replenish the low power;
Providing one or more delays in the game including one or more of rain, bad weather, fog and natural disasters;
Using one or more pre-loaded scenarios;
Engaging two or more players with similar radio frequency conditions;
Reducing the brightness of the backlight of one or more wireless communication devices;
Reducing the amount of data exchanged between a plurality of wireless communication devices;
Removing an option from the one or more players that allows the one or more players to continue the game;
Removing one or more delays;
Aborting the use of one or more pre-loaded scenarios;
Removing the bulkhead between the two or more players in the game by guiding two or more players along different scenarios;
Eliminate the bulkhead between the two or more players in the game by guiding the two or more players along one or more scenarios where the two or more players interact with the computer-generated entity And a process of
Notifying one or more players of a good connection with another gamer player due to a poor communication link;
Increasing the brightness of the backlight of one or more wireless communication devices;
The method of claim 1, comprising increasing one or more of the amount of data exchanged between a plurality of wireless communication devices.   The interactivity of the game changes in the second wireless communication device based on one or more predetermined resource parameters associated with the first wireless communication device, and the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication The method of claim 1, comprising: forming a part of a communication network.   The interactivity change step includes assigning one or more game features to one or more players of the game based on the predetermined resource parameter, wherein the game features are compared with one or more remaining players of the game. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more players are advantageous or disadvantageous. A game executed on one or more wireless communication devices,
An alternative scenario provider for providing one or more alternative scenarios at one or more predetermined locations in the game;
An execution module for executing the one or more alternative scenarios at the one or more predetermined locations based on one or more predetermined resource parameters associated with the one or more wireless communication devices;
A game where the interactivity of the game changes based on the execution of the alternative scenario.   The execution module on the first wireless communication device is configured to send the second wireless communication device to the execution module on the second wireless communication device based on one or more predetermined resource parameters associated with the first wireless communication device. 7. The game of claim 6, wherein the game is adapted to notify one or more alternative scenarios to be executed in the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device form part of a communication network. .   The execution module is adapted to change the interactivity of the game in response to monitoring the one or more predetermined resource parameters over a predetermined time interval where the game scenario remains unchanged. The game according to claim 6. A wireless communication device for hosting games,
Processing device, and
A memory operatively connected to the processor,
Monitoring one or more predetermined resource parameters associated with one or more wireless communication devices;
Executing one or more alternative scenarios at one or more predetermined locations in the game based on the predetermined resource parameters;
Adapted to dynamically change interactivity between the wireless communication device and one of the wireless game server and one or more other wireless communication devices by executing the alternative scenario. A wireless communication device comprising a memory. The one or more predetermined resource parameters are one or more of the following:
Radio frequency (RF) conditions in the communication network;
RF congestion conditions,
Network load in the communication network,
A battery life of the one or more wireless communication devices;
Network signal coverage experienced by the one or more wireless communication devices;
The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 9, comprising one or more of RF condition variation conditions.

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