JP2012005588A - Server device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a load of a game server and traffic handled by a communication line by reducing a frequency of feedback while performing the feedback of a changing game environment to a player.SOLUTION: The server device is connected to a terminal device, which includes a communication unit and is capable of executing a game, through a network. The server device includes: a storage unit storing a database containing information to execute the game on the terminal device; and a data processing unit receiving data related to the game from the terminal device, updating the database based on the data, and transmitting at least a part of the updated database to the terminal device. The data processing unit, after the transmission, once terminates a communication session with the terminal device through the network, and maintains the termination state of the communication session until a request for connection is given from the terminal device.

Description

  The present disclosure relates to a server device and a program that execute a game in which a player participates via a network.

  A network game in which a large number of players can enjoy the game via the network has become widespread. In a network game, each player's action affects the virtual environment (game environment) of the network game. The player determines the next action by knowing this game environment that changes depending on time. Such a network game system according to the prior art is described in Patent Document 1, for example.

JP 2009-66055 A

  In the case of a conventional network game, the game server receives data representing the action of the player in real time. The game server reflects the received data in the game environment and sends it to the player in real time. As a result, the player can immediately reflect his / her action in the game environment and decide the next action. On the other hand, however, continuing to send the game environment that changes from moment to moment to the player in real time has a drawback that the load on the game server is heavy and a line that can handle a large amount of communication is required.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a server device capable of reducing the load on the game server and reducing the amount of communication handled by the communication line by reducing the frequency while feeding back the changing game environment to the player. To provide a program.

  In one embodiment, the server device includes a communication unit and is configured to be connected to a terminal device capable of executing a game via a network, and includes information for executing the game on the terminal device. Storage means for storing a database, data for receiving data related to the game from the terminal device, updating the database based on the data, and transmitting at least a part of the updated database to the terminal device Processing means, and after the transmission, the data processing means once terminates the communication session with the terminal device via the network, and the communication session is terminated until there is a connection request from the terminal device. To maintain.

  In one embodiment, the data processing means updates the database based on data received from the terminal device in the immediately preceding period, and retains the updated database in the current period, so that the same content is obtained. The at least part of the database is transmitted to the terminal device.

  In one embodiment, the length of the immediately preceding period is substantially equal to the length of the current period.

  In one embodiment, a database including information for executing the game on the terminal device is provided in a server device that includes communication means and is configured to be connected to a terminal device capable of executing the game via a network. A storage function for storing data and a data processing function for receiving data related to the game from the terminal device, updating the database based on the data, and transmitting at least a part of the updated database to the terminal device The data processing function temporarily terminates a communication session with the terminal device via the network after the transmission, and until the connection request is received from the terminal device. The end state of is maintained.

  In one embodiment, the data processing function updates the database based on data received from the terminal device in the immediately preceding period, and retains the updated database in the current period, so that the same content is obtained. The at least part of the database is transmitted to the terminal device.

  In one embodiment, the length of the immediately preceding period is substantially equal to the length of the current period.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a server device and a program capable of reducing the burden on the game server and reducing the communication amount handled by the communication line by reducing the frequency while feeding back the changing game environment to the player. Can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the game system using the server apparatus by one embodiment of this invention. It is a timing chart which shows exchange of data with a server apparatus and a terminal device. It is a figure which shows the flow of the process which a server apparatus performs. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a server apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a terminal device.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of a server device and a program according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar components are represented by the same reference numerals.

(Outline of the game system)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a game system 100 using a server device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The game system 100 allows players (also called users, users, etc.) to play network games. A network game is a game in which a plurality of players can share the same game environment by connecting to a dedicated game server via a computer network. Typically, a player enjoys a game by moving a character in a virtual world that is a game environment. Examples of such characters include chips in a roulette game and cards in a card game.

  The game system 100 includes a server device 110 and terminal devices 150 and 160. The server device 110 provides an interactive network game to the player by communicating with the terminal devices 150 and 160. The player participates in the network game by operating the terminal devices 150 and 160.

  Terminal equipment 150 and 160 are coupled to the Internet 190 via base stations 152 and 162, respectively. Typically, terminal devices 150 and 160 are wirelessly coupled to base stations 152 and 162, respectively. The terminal devices 150 and 160 are typically mobile phones, but are not limited thereto, and may be portable information terminals or personal computers having a wireless communication function. The terminal devices 150 and 160 may be coupled to the Internet 190 without going through the base stations 152 and 162. In this case, the terminal devices 150 and 160 are home-use game machines or personal computers having a communication function such as a modem. Any wired communication device or wireless communication device may be interposed between the terminal devices 150 and 160 and the Internet 190. Examples of such communication devices include wired LAN devices and wireless LAN devices.

  The terminal devices 150 and 160 are typically operated by another player located at a remote location. The number of terminal devices 150 and 160 is not limited to two as shown in FIG. 1, and may be any number of one or more.

  The server device 110 and the terminal devices 150 and 160 can use communication using a socket, for example. A socket is a network address that combines an IP address corresponding to an address in a network of a computer that communicates with TCP / IP and a port number that is a sub (auxiliary) address of the IP address. Servers and terminal devices can communicate using this socket. The communication means is not limited to this, and any appropriate communication means can be used.

(Player data)
The player operates the terminal devices 150 and 160 to reflect the player's intention in the game environment of the network game. Specifically, the player operates input devices of the terminal devices 150 and 160. Examples of input devices include buttons and touch panels. At least a part of the data input by the input device is uploaded to the server apparatus 110. Data uploaded to the server device 110 that reflects the player's intention in this way is referred to as player data. As the game progresses, the player uploads player data related to characters, maps, items, etc. to the server. By uploading the player data, the player can have some influence on the game environment.

  The player data may be described in 1-bit units, and may be several bytes or more. Player data is exchanged in any suitable format. For example, in the case of a roulette game, examples of player data include data indicating the type and number of chips placed by the player, the place where the chips are placed, and the like. In the case of a card game, examples of player data include data indicating the type of card that the player discards. However, the player data is not limited to these, and may be any appropriate data indicating a game environment that can be changed by the player.

  The server device 110 has a storage device 112 therein. Typically, the storage device 112 stores software necessary for realizing a network game on a terminal device, and data related to such software. Server device 110 is typically coupled to the Internet 190 in a wired manner. The server device 110 exchanges data with the terminal devices 150 and 160. The terminal devices 150 and 160 also have a storage device therein. The storage devices provided in the terminal devices 150 and 160 store software that executes network games and data related to such software.

  Typically, the server device 110 receives the player data from the terminal devices 150 and 160 and reflects it in the game data. In other words, the player uploads player data to the server device 110 using the terminal devices 150 and 160.

(Game data)
Conversely, the player can reproduce and recognize the game environment on his / her terminal device by downloading a part of data describing the game environment of the network game from the server to the terminal device. The storage device 112 stores various data describing the game environment of the network game. Such data is called game data. Typically, game data is data describing the status of each player in a network game. The game data is stored in the storage device 112 in the form of a database, for example. Game data may be exchanged and stored in any suitable format.

  For example, in the case of a roulette game, the game data includes data indicating the number of the pocket where the ball has dropped when the wheel stops, the type and number of chips placed by each player, the location where the chips are placed, and the like. In the case of a card game, the game data includes data indicating the type of card possessed by each player, the type of card in the stack of cards, and the like. However, the game data is not limited to the above example, and may include any data necessary for executing the game.

(Operation of server device)
FIG. 2 is a timing chart 200 showing data exchange between the server apparatus 110 and the terminal devices 150 and 160. In FIG. 2, a straight line PyA (player A) in the vertical direction corresponds to the terminal device 150 in FIG. In FIG. 2, a straight line PyB (player B) in the vertical direction corresponds to the terminal device 160 in FIG. In FIG. 2, a straight line Sv (server) in the vertical direction corresponds to the server device 110 in FIG. The vertical axis in FIG. 2 represents time, and as the vertical axis goes down, it represents a later time on the time axis. In FIG. 2, the horizontal direction indicates system components.

  In FIG. 2, periods P01, P12, and P23 indicate periods of time t0 to t1, t1 to t2, and t2 to t3, respectively. The upload database ULDB is a general term for the databases DB1 to DB6. The download database DLDB is a general term for the databases DBt0 to DBt2. Typically, the databases DB1 to DB6 are different versions of game data that are physically stored in the same storage device 112, and reflect the player data received from each player.

  Typically, the databases DBt0 to DBt2 are different versions of game data stored in the physically same storage device 112. Databases DBt0, t1, and t2 reflect game data at times t0, t1, and t2, respectively. At least some of the databases DBt0, DBt1, and DBt2 are sent to players who have accessed during the periods P01, P12, and P23, respectively.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a process flow 300 performed by the server apparatus 110. The operation of the server device will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  In 302, the server device 110 initializes a database for games stored in the storage device 112. Typically, the game database includes an upload database ULDB and a download database DLDB. In 304, the server apparatus 110 determines whether there is an access from either of the players A and B. If no, the process returns to 304. If YES, the process proceeds to 306.

  2, the terminal device 150 of the player A accesses the server device 110. Then, the server apparatus 110 establishes a communication session with the terminal device 150 of the player A at 306, and receives player data from the terminal device 150 at 308 (202).

  In 310, the server apparatus 110 updates the upload database ULDB with the received player data (204). As a result of the update, the upload database ULDB becomes DB1.

  In 312, the server device 110 extracts at least a part of the game data from the download database DLDB (206) and downloads it to the terminal device 150 (208). The contents of the download database DLDB at this time are the database DBt0 updated in the immediately preceding period. The database DBt0 is, for example, the contents of the download database DLDB at time t0. Alternatively, if the database is initialized at time t0, the database DBt0 is the contents of the download database DLDB initialized in 302.

  When the download is completed, in 314, the server apparatus 110 ends the communication session at time A2.

  The server apparatus 110 determines in 316 whether the current period (here, period P01) has ended. If NO, the process returns to 304. If YES, the process proceeds to 318. Here, since it is assumed that the period P01 has not ended yet, the processing returns to 304. It is assumed that the terminal device 160 of the player B also accesses the server device 110 by the end of the period P01.

  In 304, the server apparatus 110 determines whether there is an access from either of the players A and B. At time B <b> 1 in FIG. 2, the terminal device 160 of the player B accesses the server device 110. Accordingly, the determination at 304 is YES, and the process proceeds to 306. The server apparatus 110 establishes a communication session with the terminal device 160 of the player B at 306, and receives player data from the terminal device 160 at 308 (210).

  In 310, the server apparatus 110 updates the upload database ULDB with the received player data (212). As a result of the update, the upload database ULDB becomes DB2.

  In 312, the server apparatus 110 extracts at least a part of the game data from the download database DLDB (214) and downloads it to the terminal device 160 (216). The contents of the download database DLDB at this time are the database DBt0 updated in the immediately preceding period.

  When the download is completed, in 314, the server apparatus 110 ends the communication session at time B2.

  When the time elapses and time t1 is reached, the determination at 316 is YES and the process proceeds to 318. The server apparatus 110 updates the download database DLDB so that it has the same content as the upload database ULDB at time t1. Thereafter, the process returns to 304.

  The server apparatus 110 and the terminal devices 150 and 160 operate in the period P12 similarly to the period P01.

  The server apparatus 110 has established a communication session with the terminal device 150 of the player A between times A3 and A4. In this communication session, the terminal device 150 uploads the player data to the server device 110. The upload database ULDB is updated to the DB 3 by the uploaded player data. The server device 110 extracts at least a part of the game data from the download database DLDB and downloads it to the terminal device 150. The contents of the download database DLDB at this time are the database DBt1 updated at time t1.

  Server device 110 establishes a communication session with terminal device 160 of player B between times B3 and B4. In this communication session, the terminal device 160 uploads player data to the server device 110. The upload database ULDB is updated to the DB 4 by the uploaded player data. The server device 110 extracts at least a part of the game data from the download database DLDB and downloads it to the terminal device 160. The contents of the download database DLDB at this time are the database DBt1 updated at time t1.

  The server apparatus 110 and the terminal devices 150 and 160 operate in the period P23 in the same manner as in the period P01. The server apparatus 110 establishes a communication session with the terminal device 160 of the player B between times B5 and B6, and establishes a communication session with the terminal device 150 of the player A between times A5 and A6. The server device 110 updates the upload database ULDB to DB5 and DB6, respectively, with the player data uploaded from the terminal devices 160 and 150 in these communication sessions. On the other hand, the game data downloaded to the terminal devices 150 and 160 in the two communication sessions is the same. That is, the game data to be downloaded is the database DBt2 updated at time t2.

  The lengths of the periods P01, P12, P23 are preferably substantially equal. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a variable length. Typically, the lengths of the periods P01, P12, and P23 can be changed depending on the type of network game. For example, in the case of roulette, a time suitable for the time from when the dealer rotates the wheel until the rotation of the roulette stops is used. In this case, the lengths of the periods P01, P12, and P23 may be on the order of several minutes, for example, but are not limited to this, and may be any length.

  As another example, in the case of an auction, a time suitable for the time from the start of the auction to the end thereof is used. In this case, the lengths of the periods P01, P12, and P23 can be, for example, on the order of several hours to several days, but are not limited to this, and can be any length.

  Typically, in each of the periods P01, P12, and P23, the terminal devices 150 and 160 establish one communication session, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of communication sessions may be established. When the terminal devices 150 and 160 establish a plurality of communication sessions during the same period, the upload database ULDB is updated with the uploaded player data each time. On the other hand, even if a plurality of communication sessions are established, the downloaded game data is the same. The duration of each communication session is very short compared to periods P01, P12, and P23.

(effect)
In summary, the server device 110 updates the upload database ULDB in real time with the uploaded player data. For example, the upload database ULDB is updated to the databases DB1 to DB6 every time the player accesses. For example, when the player A uploads player data within the period P01 (202, 204), the upload database ULDB is updated to the database DB1 from the previous state. When another player B uploads player data within the same period P01 (210, 212), the upload database ULDB is updated from the database DB1 to the database DB2.

  On the other hand, the server device 110 transfers at least a part of the game data (download database DLDB) updated at the end of the immediately preceding period (for example, time t0) over the current period (for example, period P01). It is continuously sent to the player without being updated at every access. For example, at least a part of the same database DBt0 is sent to both players A and B within the same period P01 (208, 216). Such an operation of the server apparatus 110 is similarly repeated for the other periods P12 and P23 thereafter.

  According to various embodiments of the present invention, the data downloaded from the download database DLDB to the terminal devices 150, 160 of the respective players is the same during the same period. As a result, the server device 110 is required to have a smaller amount of data processing per unit time, so that the cost of the server device 110 can be reduced.

  In addition, the server device 110 receives (uploads) player data from the terminal devices 150 and 160 while the terminal devices 150 and 160 are connected to the server device 110 (that is, during the communication session described above), and game data. At least a part of the data is sent to the terminal devices 150 and 160 (download). In other words, the server device 110 once ends the communication session after the game data is downloaded, and maintains the communication session end state until a connection request is received from the terminal devices 150 and 160.

  This upload and download can be performed during a relatively short communication session. Therefore, the player need not always connect the terminal devices 150 and 160 to the Internet 190. In other words, it is possible to continue participating in the game as long as it is connected for a short time at the convenience of the player. With such a participation mode, the player can continue the network game even in an environment in which the player cannot always connect to the Internet.

  The server device 110 may send at least a part of the game data to the terminal devices 150 and 160, and does not need to send all of the game data. Thereby, the amount of data downloaded from the server apparatus 110 can be reduced.

(Configuration of server device)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the server device 110. The server device 110 generally includes data processing means 400 and a storage device 112. The data processing means 400 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 402, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 404, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 406, a communication unit 410, and a bus 412 that couples them. The CPU 402 executes the network game according to the data or program stored in the ROM 404 and the data or program stored in the RAM 406. The storage device 112 stores various versions of the above-described upload database ULDB and download database DLDB. The storage device 112 may sequentially erase old versions of the database, or may hold them for a certain period of time. The communication unit 410 couples the server device 110 and the Internet 190 and enables data exchange between them.

  The CPU 402 may be a general-purpose CPU or a dedicated IC (integrated circuit). The storage device 112 is typically a hard disk drive, but is not limited to this and may be any suitable storage device.

  The data processing means 400 receives data related to the game from the terminal devices 150 and 160, updates the database based on the data, and transmits at least a part of the updated database to the terminal devices 150 and 160. The storage device 112 stores a database including information for executing the network game on the terminal devices 150 and 160.

(Configuration of terminal equipment)
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the terminal devices 150 and 160. The terminal devices 150 and 160 include a CPU 502, ROM 504, RAM 506, storage device 512, A / D (analog / digital), D / A (digital / analog) converter 514, speaker 516, microphone 518, communication unit 520, respectively. And a bus 522 connecting them. The CPU 502 executes the network game on the terminal device according to the data or program stored in the ROM 504 and the data or program stored in the RAM 506. The storage device 512 stores data uploaded to the server device 110 and data downloaded from the server device 110. The A / D, D / A converter 514 converts the audio data from the bus 522 into an audio signal and outputs the audio signal to the speaker 516. Conversely, the audio signal from the microphone 518 is converted and output to the bus 522 as audio data. To do. The communication unit 520 wirelessly couples the terminal devices 150 and 160 and the Internet 190, and enables data exchange between them. Communication unit 520 outputs a high-frequency signal representing data to antenna 524. The base stations 152 and 162 receive radio waves radiated by the antenna 524 and exchange data between the terminal devices 150 and 160 and the Internet 190.

  As described above, the server device 110 and the terminal devices 150 and 160 are connected via a network to execute a network game. Specifically, on the terminal devices 150 and 160, a program that realizes a display function that allows the player to recognize the game environment is executed. On server device 110, a function of receiving player data from terminal devices 150 and 160, a function of updating received player data by reflecting the received player data in game data, and at least part of the updated game data is stored in terminal devices 150 and 160. Executes a program that realizes the sending function.

  As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, some of the various elements described above (hardware elements, software steps, etc.) may be omitted. Conversely, additional elements may be used.

  According to the present invention, it is useful in that it is possible to reduce the load on the game server and reduce the amount of communication handled by the communication line by reducing the frequency while feeding back the changing game environment to the player. .

200 Timing chart P01, P12, P23 Period t0 to t3, A1 to A6, B1 to B6 Time DB1 to DB6 Upload database ULDB
DBt0, DBt1, DBt2 Download database DLDB
PyA Player A
PyB Player B
SV server 202, 204, 210, 212 Uploaded data flow 206, 208, 214, 216 Downloaded data flow

Claims (6)

A server device comprising a communication means and configured to be connected via a network to a terminal device capable of executing a game,
Storage means for storing a database including information for executing the game on the terminal device;
Data processing means for receiving data related to the game from the terminal device, updating the database based on the data, and transmitting at least a part of the updated database to the terminal device;
The data processing means temporarily terminates a communication session with the terminal device via the network after the transmission, and maintains a termination state of the communication session until a connection request is received from the terminal device. . The data processing means includes
The database is updated based on data received from the terminal device in the immediately preceding period, and the updated database is retained in the current period, whereby the at least part of the database having the same contents is stored in the database. The server device according to claim 1, which is transmitted to a terminal device. The server apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a length of the immediately preceding period is substantially equal to a length of the current period. A server device comprising a communication means and configured to be connected to a terminal device capable of executing a game via a network,
A storage function for storing a database including information for executing the game on the terminal device;
Receiving data related to the game from the terminal device, updating the database based on the data, and realizing a data processing function for transmitting at least a part of the updated database to the terminal device;
The data processing function terminates the communication session with the terminal device via the network after the transmission and maintains the communication session termination state until a connection request is received from the terminal device. The data processing function is
The database is updated based on data received from the terminal device in the immediately preceding period, and the updated database is retained in the current period, whereby the at least part of the database having the same contents is stored in the database. The program according to claim 4, which is transmitted to a terminal device. The program according to claim 5, wherein a length of the immediately preceding period is substantially equal to a length of the current period.

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