KR101610065B1 - Method for Detecting Game Play Controlled by Robot Program - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is for detecting game play illegally performed by a robot program in an online game service. To this end, a test signal to be ignored by a normal game client is transmitted to a game client, and then a user action corresponding to the test signal is monitored. Alternatively, a game prohibited after progressing a game with a predetermined game command input prohibited It monitors whether command is input or not. According to the present invention, even if the game manager does not monitor the behavior of each user character in the game, it can efficiently detect the game play by the robot program, secures a clear ground of sanctions against illegal game users, Can be prevented.

Online games, robot programs, illegal, surveillance, detection

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for detecting game play by a robot program,

The present invention relates to a game play detection method using a robot program, and more particularly to a game play detection method and apparatus for efficiently detecting game play illegally performed by a robot program in connection with an online game service provided through a communication network, Ensure that evidence is kept clearly.

Various kinds of online game services are being developed as communication network and computer related technologies are developed.

Most online games are made using a number of game items that enable special functions within the game. Game items are not virtual entities but exist in virtual space, but those that many users want to own or are hard to acquire have high asset value.

As a result, cases of illegal use of games have been shown in order to obtain game items with high asset value.

One of them is to use the robot program (illegal program, also called "BOT") to play the game.

The robot program can be created by modifying / modifying the game client. According to the programmed contents, the robot program masquerades as if it is a user and proceeds to confront the monster himself in the game, thereby acquiring game items or raising the level in the game I play the game abnormally.

Such a robot program interprets the signal received from the game server to the game client and proceeds the game.

When a robot program is used, various problems arise such that a normal game user interrupts a game progress and a complaint occurs.

In order to check whether or not a game is being used by the robot program, a game manager (GM: Game Master) investigates an operation state of a suspected character directly.

However, it is very difficult for a game manager to monitor the behavior of a large number of characters in the game, and it requires a lot of time and money in order to monitor a character controlled by a robot program.

In addition, failure to resolve this situation quickly can cause discomfort for users who use the game normally, which can be a major cause of customer complaints.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a robotic game system capable of efficiently detecting game play illegally performed by a robot program, It has the purpose to make it possible to do.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of detecting game play using a robot program, the method comprising: transmitting a test signal to a game client through a communication network; Storing the log information related to the transmission of the test signal and the corresponding user action information received from the game client in the database; And outputting log information stored in the database by the log information management program and processing the log information so that the game manager can confirm the log information.

The test signal means a signal which is ignored if it is a normal game client.

The test signal may be configured such that a predetermined portion of the valid game signal is incomplete. In this embodiment, the game client is configured to ignore incomplete signals.

In addition, the test signal may be configured to include a special code indicating that the corresponding signal is ignored.

In this embodiment, the game client is configured to ignore the signal including the special code.

The log information management program may be configured to select log information in which a user action that can not occur in response to the test signal is displayed.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of detecting a game game using a robot program, the method comprising: a game server executing a game with a game command input prohibited from the game client; Storing log information related to a game in which the game server has been prohibited from inputting the predetermined game command in a database; And analyzing log information stored in the database by the log information management program to determine whether the prohibited game command is input, thereby selecting the game play by the robot program.

At this time, the game server can advance the game in a form that restricts the in-game functions of the user character.

In this embodiment, the game command for which the input is prohibited may be set as a game command for releasing the in-game function limitation of the user character.

According to the present invention, whether or not a user action that can not occur in a normal game environment is monitored can be detected, and a game play illegally performed by the robot program can be detected.

Since the occurrence of user actions that can not occur in a normal game environment is clearly recorded in the log record, the game manager can easily and efficiently check illegal game play through log recording without monitoring each user's character behavior in the game have.

In addition, it is possible to solve the problem of inaccuracies that may occur when monitoring the game play by the robot program depending on the human experience and viewpoint.

Logging related to abnormal gameplay can be a clear evidence, so it can reduce the complaints or complaints that may arise when the robot program user is sanctioned and prevent unnecessary contention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1, each user uses an online game by driving a game client 12 installed in the user computer 11 and accessing the game server 15 through a communication network 13 such as the Internet.

For example, a massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) type game in which a plurality of users can simultaneously participate can be cited.

The user computer 11 is connected to the game server 15 such as a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone or a personal information terminal (PDA) as well as a personal computer (PC) such as a desktop computer or a notebook computer, And may be any computer device having available capabilities.

The game client 12 may be constituted by a computer program installed in the user computer 11 and is generally downloaded and installed through the communication network 13 and maintained in the latest version.

The game client 12 performs various functions to be performed on the user side such as display of game related announcements, game screen processing, sound effect processing, provision of various user interfaces for the game, Advance the game.

The role sharing between the game client 12 and the game server 15 can be variously configured as needed.

In particular, the game server 15 stores and maintains log information related to game use of each user in the database 16.

The log information to be stored and held in the database 16 may be configured in various ways. For example, it may include general bibliographic information such as login time and logout time of each user, character information used in a game, Game instruction information, command information, movement status information of the user character in the game, and in-game good knowledge information.

The log information is the main data for grasping the game use history of each user and the game manager 18 can inquire the log information stored in the database 16 using the log information management program 17 .

The log information management program 17 allows the game manager 18 to manage the log information stored in the database 16. [ The log information management program 17 can interface with the game manager 18 in various ways, basically allowing each user to view the game usage history.

On the other hand, the user who intends to use the online game in an illegal manner through the robot program installs the robot program in the user computer 11. [

Using the game account registered as a member, the robot program can play a game by pretending to be a user as a user, concentrate the role of acquiring a game item by confronting a specific monster, Play online game.

Referring to FIG. 2, an embodiment for detecting game play by a robot program according to the present invention will be described.

First, the game server 15 transmits a test signal to the game client 12 through the communication network 13 (S21).

Here, the test signal is a signal that is ignored if the game client receiving the signal is normal, and the game client 12 is configured to recognize and ignore the test signal received from the game server 15.

The test signal may be understood as a signal for inducing the robot program to behave abnormally.

One example of constructing a test signal is to make a portion of the valid signal used in the game progress incomplete.

3A, assuming that any signal used in the game constitutes one complete signal when field # 1, field # 2, field # 3 must be consecutive, the test signal is shown in FIG. 3B As shown in the illustrated example, the field # 1 and the field # 2 exist but the field # 3 may be omitted.

In this example, if the game client 12 is normal, if an incomplete signal as shown in FIG. 3B is received, it is determined that the corresponding signal is a valid signal because both the field # 1, the field # 2, and the field # Therefore, this incomplete signal is ignored.

However, if the robot program is running in the user computer 11, the robot program arbitrarily analyzes the signal received from the game server 15 according to the programmed contents and executes the signal. Therefore, when a signal as shown in FIG. 3B is received Even the game environment can change.

Another example of configuring a test signal is to include a special code in the test signal instructing it to ignore the signal.

Referring to FIG. 4, a specific code of a predetermined size can be included in each signal. The position where the special code is inserted, the special code value, and the like can be variously configured as needed.

For example, the special code may be composed of 4 bits of binary information, and '1110' among the values may be defined as a value indicating disregard of the corresponding signal.

In this example, if the game client 12 is normal, a signal having a special code value of '1110' is ignored. However, if the robot program is running in the user computer 11, the robot program can interpret and process the test signal as a valid signal, thereby changing the game environment.

On the other hand, the game server 15 stores the log information related to the transmission of the test signal made in step S21 and the user action information received from the game client 12 corresponding thereto in the database 16 (S22).

The log information management program 17 outputs the log information stored in the database 16 through an output means such as a monitor screen or a printer to process the log information so that the game manager 18 can confirm it (S23).

At this time, the log information management program 17 may analyze each log information stored in the database 16 and select log information indicating a user action that can not occur in response to the test signal transmitted in step S21.

That is, if a user action that can not be generated in response to the test signal transmitted in step S21 appears, this indicates that the game is illegally performed by the robot program.

Therefore, if such log information is selectively provided, the game manager can more easily grasp which user has played the game using the robot program based on the log information.

Now let's take a closer look at the process of applying test signals.

5, when the normal game client 12 receives a signal from the game server 15 (S51), it checks whether the signal is a test signal (S52).

If it is determined in step S52 that the signal received in step S51 is a test signal, the signal is ignored (S53). If the signal is not a test signal, the signal is interpreted and processed (S54).

That is, when the signal received in step S51 is a test signal, the game environment is not changed due to the test signal, so that there is no possibility of any user action corresponding to the test signal.

Therefore, special log information related to the user action is not recorded in the database 16. [

6, when a test signal is received from the game server 15 (S61), the robot program interprets the test signal arbitrarily and processes it effectively, so that the game environment may be changed due to the test signal (S62, S63).

For example, in step S61, a test signal received from the game server 15 is related to a signal for dropping a game item on the game screen. When the game item falls on the game screen, the user inputs a specific game command, . ≪ / RTI >

Even if the test signal is incompletely configured as in the example shown in FIG. 3B or has a special code as in the example shown in FIG. 4, basic information such as the type of the game item can be obtained from the information of the fields # 1 and # 2 The robot program can effectively process the test signal and drop the game item on the game screen to change the game environment.

Then, the robot program can take a user action to acquire a corresponding game item on the game screen (S64).

Then, information such as the user action taken by the robot program and its result is transmitted to the game server 15 (S65), and the game server 15 stores the log information related to the user action in the database 16. [

Since the acquisition of the game item can not occur in the normal game environment, it is possible to detect the game play by the robot program by monitoring whether or not the acquisition status of the specific game item has occurred according to the test signal.

Referring to FIG. 7, another embodiment for detecting game play by a robot program according to the present invention will be described.

First, the game server 15 advances the game in a state in which a predetermined game command input with the game client 12 is prohibited (S71).

The type and content of the game that the game server 15 proceeds with the game client 12 in step S71 can be variously configured as needed.

For example, the game server 15 can play the game in a manner that restricts the in-game functions of the user character, such as preventing the user character from moving by spelling the user character.

At this time, the game command whose input is prohibited can be set by the game command which is used to cancel the limitation of the in-game function of the user character.

In the above example, a game command for releasing the magic that prevents the user character from moving may be prohibited.

Meanwhile, the game server 15 stores the log information related to the game performed in step S71 in the database 16 (S72).

Then, the log information management program 17 analyzes the log information stored in the database 16 to determine whether the prohibited game command is input (S73).

Accordingly, the game manager 18 can easily confirm which game play is performed by the robot program.

That is, in a normal game environment, the user can not input prohibited game commands, so that if a prohibited game command is input and the game progresses accordingly, it can be considered that the game has progressed by the robot program.

Specific examples will be provided to help understand the explanation.

8, the game server 15 proceeds the game in such a manner that the user character is not moved by spelling the corresponding user character in step S71, and the game command 'ctrl + c Quot; key is prohibited.

Here, 'ctrl + c' means that the 'ctrl' key and the 'c' key of the keyboard 81 must be simultaneously input, or the corresponding command must be input using the mouse 82.

In this case, a normal user can not input the 'ctrl + c' key by using the keyboard 81 or the mouse 82 connected to the user computer 11.

However, if the robot program 85 is proceeding with a game, the robot program 85 can operate the functions of the game client to release the magic of the user character and continue the game.

That is, since the robot program 85 is a computer program installed in the user computer 11, even if the 'ctrl + c' key input using the keyboard 81 or the mouse 82 is locked, .

If the robot program 85 is operated in a state in which the prohibited game command is input and the magic is canceled, the game related information transmitted by the robot program is transmitted to the game server 15, Information is stored and held in the database 16.

Therefore, if the fact that the prohibited game command is input after proceeding the game with the predetermined game command input prohibited in step S71 is revealed through the log information, it can be regarded that the game is progressed by the robot program.

As described above, according to the embodiments of the present invention, the game manager can accurately detect illegal game play by the robot program based on the log information even if the game player does not monitor the in-game behavior of each user character.

In addition, since illegal game use status is accurately recorded in the log information, the sanction basis for the user of the robot program becomes clear, so that unnecessary disputes can be prevented in advance.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. to be.

1 shows an overview of a system for providing an online game service,

Figure 2 is an embodiment of a method of detecting game play by a robot program according to the present invention,

FIGS. 3 and 4 show examples for explaining test signals,

5 shows an example in which a test signal is applied to a normal game client,

6 shows an example in which a test signal is applied to a robot program,

7 and 8 show another embodiment of a method for detecting game play by a robot program according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

11: user computer 12: game client

13: communication network 15: game server

16: Database 17: Log information management program

18: Game Manager

Claims (6)

Transmitting a test signal (a signal to be ignored if it is a normal game client) to a game client through a communication network; Storing the log information related to the transmission of the test signal and the corresponding user action information received from the game client in the database; And And outputting log information stored in the database to the log information management program so that the log information can be confirmed by the game manager. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the test signal is configured such that a predetermined portion of the valid game signal is incomplete, and the game client is configured to ignore an incomplete signal. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the test signal includes a special code indicating that the corresponding signal is ignored, and the game client is configured to ignore the signal including the special code. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Wherein the log information management program is configured to select log information indicating a user action that can not occur in response to the test signal. delete delete

Images