KR20110034083A - The method and system for online game distribution and patch using p2p technology - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method and system for online game distribution and patch using a P2P technology are provided to use a P2P technology as the method optimized to an Internet cafe environment in order to provide a game service at an extraordinary fast speed. CONSTITUTION: The file, data and registry information necessary for game software execution are generated. The generated game software file and data are transferred to a server, and a client downloads metadata and game software installed at the server. The file path metadata location in which the game software file is placed is generated. The criteria for metadata verification are generated. The client requests the installation or update of the game software, and the server transfers the requested metadata to the client.

Description

The method and system for online game distribution and patch using P2P technology}

The present invention relates to a system for installing and updating online games utilizing P2P technology.

Recently, the online game industry is rapidly developing, and with the development of multimedia technology and network technology, games of a completely different dimension are being developed one after another.

In addition, the recent online game is a network game method on the premise of multi-user, the capacity of the game software is increasing rapidly, and the update cycle also occurs quite frequently. In order to enjoy these games, users are downloaded over the network, and the number of users is increasing rapidly.

In addition, due to the nature of online games, frequent program updates are made, and users who want to enjoy the game every time the game is connected to an update server provided by the game company and run the game software supported by the update.

Most of these online games are serviced in the PC room, and the PC room owner should always provide the quality service by reducing the waiting time of users who want to play the game by installing the game software and preparing the game updated with the latest version. Situation.

Especially in the case of a PC room, when a game service company performs a large-scale update, if it is a popular online game, a large number of users may access the game at the same time and update the game. If necessary, other users will not be able to use the service smoothly due to the increase of network traffic in the PC room store. This is directly related to the sales of PC cafe stores.

In addition, the installation process of the existing game software

Usually, downloading the game in a compressed state,

Extracting the downloaded file,

Install the game by running the extracted setup file,

It consists of the steps of applying the new update by running the game, and each process has the characteristic of proceeding to the next step after the user's separate operation and confirmation process.

As mentioned above, as the network traffic increases due to the program's large capacity and frequent updates, the company that serves the game should use a high-cost CDN (Content Delivery Network) service. What's going on is the reality of the online game services industry.

In addition, the user must download the game software for a long time in order to play the game, the game software must be installed for a long time after the download, and the game can only be used after the update procedure for a few minutes after installation.

An object of the present invention is to enable a game service company to provide a stable installation and update services of large-scale games and content in an environment used by a large number of users, such as a PC room, P2P technology optimized for PC room environment This allows users to download, install, and update their game software in a simple way, providing users with an extremely fast and multi-step installation process compared to traditional game software installation and update methods, regardless of Internet traffic restrictions. To provide a service method and system.

In order to achieve the above object, the game software installation and update system according to the present invention is basically based on utilizing P2P technology. It is also characterized by providing software that can be managed to be suitable for operation in the form of managing multiple PCs such as a PC room. When the client installs and updates the game software, it minimizes the load on the internal network and maximizes download efficiency.

In addition, if there is existing game software installed, it can be analyzed in the shortest time to download files quickly without losing the stability and availability of the system.

These installation and update operations are managed by the PC room manager in a centralized manner to facilitate the operation of the PC.

The present invention allows the download and installation to be performed simultaneously at the same time through an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard of a user, which reduces the download time when installing game software and executes the final game through several steps. In addition, the PC room manager can use the management program to simultaneously install a number of games to a number of clients, and can centrally manage updates of game software.

In addition, the service maintenance cost of game service providers can be reduced by network file transfer using P2P. In the PC room-like environment, it minimizes the use of external network and uploads and downloads files and data between internal peers. The game software can be installed and updated faster than the installation and update method.

In order to achieve the technical problem, the distribution method of the online game software of the present invention comprises the steps of extracting and preparing the original of the game software installed in the latest executable version,

In addition to modifying the registry information and installation files required for game execution, extracting and preparing various system file information such as dll files, ocx files, system files such as .NET framework,

Preparing an executable script file that enables the client to automatically apply the system files to the client system.

Uploading the file and date prepared in the above step to the network server for the client to download,

Preparing to transfer files and data at the client's request,

The file and data may be placed on one or more network servers for smooth file transfer.

Generating metadata of the file and data prepared in the above step, the metadata is the size of each file, the version of the file, the date of the file, a set of hash code values generated using a hash technique, etc. And a set of unique characteristics of the file and data prepared above as metadata.

The client program for automatically installing and updating a game developed by the present invention includes, when a request for installing or updating a specific game is received, prior to performing the above-mentioned metadata; Identifying the files to be downloaded and installed by comparing and verifying data and data of the original game software prepared in the file server by using the received metadata; In order to process configuration data or CD keys or files storing personalized information, which are separately managed by game software, the game client may install files or data of the server and information installed on the client through the information on a predefined exclusion list. Even if the file or data does not match the metadata information, the game software will be downloaded and the exceptionally applied files and data may include not downloading or installing.

Requesting and downloading files and data for which game software download and installation have been identified through the above process using a P2P engine; Attempting to download the file if the file exists in the client located on the same network by applying the principle of in-network client priority connection when requesting a file in the above process;

One of the characteristics of the present invention is that the client program for automatic installation and update of the game caused by the present disease can perform the function of downloading and installing the game, and at the same time equipped with a P2P function to provide files and data owned to other clients. have.

The present invention attempts to download from the peer in the network first, but if the peer provides the file to another peer above the appropriate level, the peer exists in consideration of CPU occupancy, memory usage, network occupancy, etc. Even if you can download from a peer or file server that can provide files and data more appropriately. That is, it is a feature of the present invention that in-network Peer priority application is not applied in all situations.

In the process of downloading files and data of the game software, dividing each file into a plurality of pieces according to a predetermined criterion for downloading; Requesting a fragment of each file to another peer, and if the peer has another fragment, requesting transmission to the peer and downloading it.

Placing the downloaded data in the same directory structure as the original on the server and in the correct file location

Through the above process, a separate user implements a method in which a game can be executed immediately after downloading without a separate installation process.

You can flexibly manage the process of comparing metadata as needed. In general, verifying data by comparing the hashcode of files on the client can take a lot of time and can result in a compromise of the overall system availability. By specifying how to verify the file during the metadata preparation, The efficiency comparison process can be simplified and streamlined.

As an example of the present invention, in the case of a specific file, the validation can be simplified by comparing only the file name and the capacity of the file, and the specific file terminates the stability and availability of the system by establishing the validity judgment criteria up to the file name, capacity, and metadata inspection. File can be downloaded quickly.

According to the present invention, a client of a PC room manager transmits an installation or update command for one or more game softwares to one or more computers remotely using a control program in a PC room store environment, and the received client may perform the process.

1 is a schematic structural diagram of a system to which the present invention is applied.

2 is a flowchart performed to initially distribute game software.

3 is a flowchart of a method of installing and updating game software on a client.

4 is a diagram illustrating an example of transmitting fragments to share a file and sharing the transmitted fragments with each other.

Claims (2)

A method and system for installing and updating game software, Extract and create files, data and registry information needed to run the game software, Transmitting the generated game software file and data to the server. Generating a file path metadata location where each game software file is to be located so that the game can be executed immediately after the client downloads the game software file and metadata installed on the server, Generating metadata validation criteria for the client to determine the validity and freshness of the existing installed files and data according to each file and data, Requesting the client to install or update game software, Transmitting metadata from the server to the requested client, Determining, by the client, necessary files and data using the metadata received in the above process; Requesting the client to filter only the file and data based on the determined information, Transmitting, at the server, a file and data requested from a client using a P2P network, Transmitting a file or a part of the file downloaded from the client to another client through a P2P network; Placing the file received from the client at an executable location by the metadata, and registering and processing registry information, system files, and the like. The method of claim 1, wherein in the PC room environment, the PC room manager transmits one or more game software installation, update, and deletion instructions to one or more clients through a PC room client management and control program, The client receiving the command to automatically install or update the game software using the steps of claim 1, In order for the client to automatically update the game software, the PC room manager registers and manages the update schedule using a management and control program. The client receiving the information automatically updates the game software using the steps of claim 1,

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