WO2013022173A1

WO2013022173A1 - Method for distributing patch file and device thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2013022173A1
Application number: PCT/KR2012/003519
Authority: WO
Inventors: Won Ki Kim; Sung Gook Jang; Kwang Hee Yoo; Joo Hyun Sung; Hye Jin Jin; Yoon Hyung Lee
Original assignee: Neowiz Games Corporation
Priority date: 2011-08-05
Filing date: 2012-05-04
Publication date: 2013-02-14
Also published as: CN102868720A; KR101212898B1; TW201308208A

Abstract

Provided is a technique for improving transmission efficiency of patch files and providing convenience to users. A method of distributing patch files according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: searching for users that access clients to use a service that a server provides during a server check; inquiring whether to accept temporary downloading of patch files to the searched accessing users; transmitting the patch files to terminals of users who accept the temporary downloading; and distributing the patch files, which are stored in the terminals of the accepting users, to terminals of other users through a Peer to Peer (P2P) communication method, after the server check is completed.

Description

METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING PATCH FILE AND DEVICE THEREOF

The present invention relates to a technique of distributing a patch file used for client update when there is a client requiring update for data for client execution and a user such as game client and contents streaming service client is connected in real time. In more detail, the present invention relates to a technique for efficiently providing service and reducing costs by preventing temporary server access concentration of users when a server is checked and a patch file is applied according thereto.

As a recent game culture, especially an online game culture, gains popularity regardless of man and women of all ages, an online game industry is also rapidly developed. Additionally, due to the improvements of multimedia technology such as graphic technology and network infra, a recent online game becomes quite different from a typical game, so that it is expected that the development of an online game industry becomes greater for many years to come.

A recent online game is played in a multi-user based network game system. A representative example of a network game includes an MMORPG. A user as one person on a game obtains experience points through deals, cooperation, and a war with others, and experiences the game.

Additionally, besides the online game culture, users for real-time contents streaming service are also drastically increased. This service allows users to access internet broadcasting and other broadcastings in real time by using a terminal such as a user computer. In that, besides broadcasters, general people record videos for broadcasting to share different cultures and allow other remote people to watch them in real time through computers, users in social network culture are drastically increased now.

In order to use online games and real-time contents streaming services, clients for function implementation need to be installed in a user terminal. Additionally, the clients for service implementation are frequently updated in order to add functions and resolve issues. Accordingly, in the case of online games, a service management server temporarily stops online game services to users, checks servers, and updates a client version to implement additional functions and resolve issues. That is, the service management server is committed to provide high quality services to users.

In order to update clients, users install patch files in client storage spaces installed in terminals of users in order to synchronize the terminals of the users with a client version of a server. In order to receive a patch file via online in the past, users directly access a download server that provides patch files when a server check is finished and the patch files are released on a network.

However, in this case, at the moment that the server check is completed and user accesses are allowed, many users access a patch server in order to download and install patch files. Therefore, network traffic is increased and thus network overload occurs. Accordingly, a speed of downloading patch files becomes slower or even a patch file download server is down.

Moreover, the drastic increase of network traffic is disadvantageous in terms of server operating costs of service providers that provide patch files. Since the service providers pay server operating costs for the maximum traffic amount instead of the total traffic amount, they need to unnecessarily pay heavy charges due to the patch file application.

The present invention provides efficiency and convenience to users by preventing an overload on a network when patch files are distributed for client update. Additionally, the present invention also provides economic effects to service providers by reducing server operating costs as the maximum traffic is reduced in terms of service operations.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a method of distributing patch files, includes: searching for users that access clients to use a service that a server provides during a server check; inquiring whether to accept temporary downloading of patch files to the searched accessing users; transmitting the patch files to terminals of users who accept the temporary downloading; and distributing the patch files, which are stored in the terminals of the accepting users, to terminals of other users through a Peer to Peer (P2P) communication method, after the server check is completed.

The method, after the transmitting of the patch files, may further include transmitting a deletion request message for the patch files to the terminals of the accepting users when opening the patch files is cancelled.

The distributing of the patch files may include distributing the patch files to terminals of users waiting for distribution through a direction communication with a download server when all P2P network connections to the terminals of the accepting users are saturated.

The transmitting of the patch files may include: directly transmitting the patch files from a download server to terminals of users, which are arbitrarily selected as many as a critical value from the accepting users through a direction communication when the number of the terminals of the accepting users exceeds the critical value; and transmitting the patch files to terminals of remaining users, which exceed the critical value, among the accepting users, through a P2P communication method with the terminals of the selected users.

The inquiring of whether to accept the temporary downloading may be performed within a predetermined time after an expected timing of the server check completion.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a patch file distribution controlling device includes: an access detecting unit searching for users that access clients to use a service that a server provides during a server check; a temporary download determining unit inquiring whether to accept temporary downloading of patch files to the searched accessing users; and a patch file distribution controlling device transmitting the patch files to terminals of users who accept the temporary downloading, and distributing the patch files, which are stored in the terminals of the accepting users, to terminals of other users through a P2P communication method, after the server check is completed.

The patch file transmission controlling unit may transmit a deletion request message for the patch files to the terminals of the accepting users when opening the patch files is cancelled.

The patch file transmission controlling unit may control terminals of users waiting for distribution to receive the patch files through a direction communication with a download server when all P2P network connections to the terminals of the accepting users are saturated.

The patch file transmission controlling unit may control to directly transmit the patch files from a download server to terminals of users, which are arbitrarily selected as many as a critical value from the accepting users through a direction communication when the number of the terminals of the accepting users exceeds the critical value, and to transmit the patch files to terminals of remaining users, which exceed the critical value, among the accepting users, through a P2P communication method with the terminals of the selected users.

The temporary download determining unit may inquiry whether to accept the temporary downloading within a predetermined time after an expected timing of the server check completion.

According to the present invention, by primarily transmitting patch files in advance to users who access clients to use services in advance during the server check, a phenomenon that users rush to download the patch files when the patch files are released after the check completion may be prevented primarily. Moreover, since users who download the patch files in advance may become resources for distributing the patch files to other users through a P2P communication method, when the patch files are distributed, the p2P communication method is available. Therefore, a traffic overload phenomenon may be prevented. In terms of service providers, since the amount of traffic is dispersed over broader time slots, server operating costs charged for the maximum traffic amount may be reduced. That is, there is economic benefit.

Fig. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a patch file distribution method according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of distributing patch files to other users according to an embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of temporarily downloading patch files according to an embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a view illustrating a flow of a patch file distribution according to an embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a patch file distribution control device according to an embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a graph illustrating a traffic control effect according to an embodiment.

Hereinafter, a patch file distribution method and a control method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Moreover, detailed descriptions related to well-known functions or configurations will be ruled out in order not to unnecessarily obscure subject matters of the present invention. Embodiments below are detailed description for providing more general understandings and do not limit the range of rights. Accordingly, other equivalent embodiments performing the same functions as the present invention are in the range of the rights of the present invention.

Hereinafter, like identification symbols refer to like elements, and unnecessary overlapping descriptions are omitted.

Referring to Fig. 1, the patch file distribution method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes firstly searching for users accessing a service providing client to use a service that a server provides during the server check in operation S1.

The users access an online game service server or a real-time contents streaming server by executing a client access program installed in terminals. On accessing a server, the server is connected to a user terminal through a client.

For example, in the case of an online game, a user accesses a game providing home page through a shortcut or URL input, clicks a game start button to access a game client, and plays a game through communication with a game providing server.

If the server in a checkup state, a user cannot play a game. However, the user may access a game web site. Accordingly, the user cannot access a game server but can access a game web site and a client. That is, even during the server check, users waiting for server open may access a client for communication with a game server including a game home page in order to obtain various kinds of information or use boards.

Accordingly, in this case, a history that a user accesses a client may be caught. And, a user access may be searched from a game server, an additional server, or a simple memory device, and information on user access may be stored therein.

The stored user information includes an IP address of a user terminal. Or, the ID of a user used when a user logs in to access a client may be also included in user information. The stored user information may be used later for identifying a user who temporarily transmits a patch file and relaying communication with terminals of other users efficiently during the server check completion and patch open.

Once operation S1 is completed, a query on whether downloading a patch file temporarily is acceptable is transmitted to a searched accessing user in operation S2. Operation S2 is implemented through various methods, so that a users convenience may be promoted.

As a first example, in the case of a game that is executed by pressing a game execute button on a web page, when it comes to a state that patch files are available for temporary download, the game execute button on the web page may be replaced with a patch file download button, or an additional patch file download button may be displayed on the web page. At this point, the patch file download button is displayed on the web page in operation S2, and user acceptance may be made by clicking the patch file download button.

As a second example, a patch file download and client access window is displayed on pressing a game execute button, a message for notifying that server is being checked and a message for asking the downloading of patch files are displayed from some menus of a window or a pop-up menu.

Besides the first and second examples, operation S2 is performed through various methods, for example, a method of outputting only a message for asking whether to download patch files when a game execute button instead of a client access window is selected.

Once operation S2 is performed, users are divided into two groups, one group including users who accept temporary downloading of patch files and the other group including users who do not. If a user accepts temporary downloading of patch files in operation S2, the patch files are transmitted to the terminal of the accepting user in operation S3.

The patch files may be stored in a temporary storage space (for example, a temporary directory of an operating system) used for storing files temporarily among storage spaces of a user terminal. Or, the patch files may be stored in a specific directory that a user designates.

In order to transmit the patch files to the terminal of the accepting user, operation S2 may be performed after the patch files are completed. However, even if the patch files are not completed, when final patch files are open using a version of the patch files stored in the terminal of a accepting user as metadata, there may be an available service that the user downloads only a different portion than the patch files stored in the terminal and the final patch files.

Once operation S3 is performed, the patch files are stored in the terminal of the user who accepts the asking of operation S2 among terminals of accessing users during the server check. After the server chick is completed, it is determined whether to open the patch files in operation S4.

The opening of the patch files refers to applying the patch files to a service providing client after the sever check is completed. If the patch files do not need to be open according to situations after the server check is completed, or the opening of the patch files is impossible due to defective patch files found, even when the server check is completed, users may not need to download and execute the patch files. Accordingly, whether to distribute the patch files is determined on the basis of the determination of operation S4 on whether the patch files are to be opened.

On the basis of the determination result of operation S4, if the patch files are not opened, patch files, which are stored in the terminal of a user who accepts temporary downloading, should not be unnecessarily stored. Accordingly, in this case, the server transmits to the terminal of the user a request for deleting the patch files stored in a temporary storage space in operation S6.

If it is confirmed that the patch files are to be opened in operation S4, the patch files are provided to all users accessing a Peer to Peer (P2P) method or a direct download method from a server, so that they are distributed in operation S5. That is, when the patch files stored in the server are open, the patch files stored in the terminals of accepting users are distributed to other users through a P2P communication method.

In the past, since there is no user having patch files stored when the patch files are open after the server check is completed, all user terminals download the patch files through a direct communication method with the server when the patch files are open. However, since there are user terminals that store the patch files in advance through operations S2 and S3, a P2P method is used more frequently so that the traffic overload of the server may be prevented.

Fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of distributing patch files to other users according to an embodiment. In the description below, overlapping descriptions relating to Fig. 1 will be omitted.

Fig. 2 is a detailed flowchart illustrating operations S4 and S5 of Fig. 1. Referring to fig. 2, users storing patch files in their storage spaces are selected in operation S7. Operation S7 may be performed right before or after the server check is finished when the patch files are to be opened. The server selects the terminals of users who accept temporary downloading among users in order to provide a smooth operation of a P2P communication server in operation S7.

Once a terminal of a user who accepts temporary downloading, i.e., a terminal storing patch files at the time of when the server check is completed (i.e., the patch open timing), is selected in operation S7, a P2P communication with the terminal of the user selected by other users is relayed first in operation S8.

In operation S8, when terminals of other users access a P2P network, the IP of the selected user may be provided first.

The P2P communication to the terminal of the selected user having the patch files stored may have a predetermined communication amount available by accesses of other users, or the P2P communication to the terminal of some users among users selected by the P2P communication connection to other users may be saturated in operation S8.

Accordingly, as shown in Fig. 2, it is determined whether the p2P network of all the selected users is saturated in operation S9.

If it is determined that the p2P network of all the selected users is saturated in operation S9, the terminals of remaining users except for the terminals of other users connected to the selected users via the P2P network are controlled by the server to direct communicate with the download server in operation S10. Through this, the P2P network is utilized to the maximum so that the traffic overload may be controlled.

Once operation S10 is performed, operation S11 for updating a list of users having the patch files stored is additionally performed. When patch files are open, they are stored in the terminals of other users through the P2P method or the direct communication method with the download server. Over time, there may become more other users having a full version of the patch files stored. Accordingly, as a list of users having the patch files stored is updated in operation S11, a list of user terminals storing the patch files is added. Through this, the terminals of more users may be utilized as patch file providing resources in the P2P network.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of temporarily downloading patch files according to an embodiment. In the description below, overlapping descriptions relating to Figs. 1 and 2 with will be omitted.

Referring to Fig. 3, in correspondence to operation S1 of Fig. 1, an access to a service providing client of a user terminal is detected and the IP address of the user terminal is stored in operation S12.

Then, in correspondence to operation S2 of Fig. 1, an inquiry on whether to temporarily download patch files in a user terminal is provided in operation S13.

Then, operation S14 for determining whether the user terminal accepts the temporary downloading is performed, and if the user terminal accepts the temporary downloading, in order to select a downloading method of the patch files, it is determined whether the number of user terminals having the patch files stored exceeds a critical value (for example, 50) in operation S15.

In operation S15, in order to determine the number of user terminals having the patch files stored in advance, users not receiving files among the users accepting the temporary downloading are searched. This is because file reception begins when the temporary downloading is accepted and, of course, it stops when completed.

If the number of user terminals that complete file transmission exceeds the critical value in operation S15, the patch files are temporarily downloaded to newly accessing users who accept the temporary downloading of the patch files through a P2P method in operation S16. That is, the critical value of operation S15 is 50, for example, which is the value that still secures the speed even if patch files are temporarily downloaded through a P2P method.

If the number of user terminals that complete file transmission does not exceed the critical value in operation S15, the patch files are directly transmitted from the server in operation S17. Then, upon completion of the check, the patch files are distributed to other users.

Fig. 4 is a view illustrating a flow of a patch file distribution according to an embodiment. In the description of Fig. 4, overlapping descriptions relating to Figs. 1 to 3 will be omitted.

Referring to Fig. 4, a download server 200 directly transmits patch files to the terminals 310 of users, who access the download server 200 during the server check and accept the temporary downloading of the patch files, among user terminals 300. The patch file transmission to the terminals 310 of the accepting users is performed during the server check.

At the timing of when the server check is completed and the patch files are open, the terminals 310 of the accepting users are connected to the terminals 320 of other users through a P2P network. Then, the patch files stored in the terminals 310 of the accepting users are dispersed and distributed to the terminals 320 of other users.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a patch file distribution controlling device according to an embodiment. In the description of Fig. 5, overlapping descriptions relating to Figs. 1 to 4 will be omitted.

Referring to Fig. 5, the patch file distribution controlling device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an access detecting unit 110, a temporary download determining unit 120, and a patch file transmission controlling unit 130, and may further include an IP management unit 140.

The access detecting unit 110 performs a function for searching for the terminal 301 of a user accessing a client to use a service that a server provides during the server check. That is, the access detecting unit 110 becomes a subject for performing operation S1 of Fig. 1.

The temporary download determining unit 120 performs a function for inquiring whether the searched accessing user accepts the temporary downloading of patch files. That is, operation S2 of fig. 1 is performed. The temporary download determining unit 120 may inquiry whether to accept the temporary downloading right before the expected timing of the check completion or within a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) from the expected timing. The above inquiry timing may be applied to operation S2 of Fig. 1.

The temporary download determining unit 120 receives the responses of terminals receiving the inquiry, and then delivers the received responses to the patch file transmission controlling unit 130.

The patch file transmission controlling unit 130 controls the temporary downloading of the patch files, and then, controls distributing the patch files to the

terminals

302 and 303 of other users after a check is completed.

Firstly, the responses of the terminals are received from the temporary download determining unit 120, and the terminal 301 including acceptance information in the response directly communicate with the download server 200 in order to download the patch files. Of course, as mentioned above, if users having patch files stored more than a predetermined number (for example, 50) is secured, the temporary downloading may be also performed through a P2P method.

When the check is completed and the patch files are open, patch files stored in the terminals 301 of the accepting users are distributed to the

terminals

302 and 303 of other users. The patch file transmission controlling unit 130 relays a P2P communication between the terminal 301 where the patch files are already stored through the temporary downloading and the

terminals

302 and 303 of other users not having the patch files stored, among the terminals of users 300.

The IP management unit 140 performs a function for managing IP address information extracted to manage information on user terminals when the access detecting unit 110 and the temporary download determining unit 120 perform functions for extracting and managing information on the terminals of the accessing users described with reference to Fig. 1. Additionally, when a list of user terminals storing the patch files is updated, the IP addresses of updated user terminals are received from the patch file transmission controlling unit 130, and then managed.

Referring to Fig. 6, a graph 600 that measures a server traffic over time while the patch file distribution method and its control method according to an embodiment of the present invention are used and a graph 610 that measures a server traffic when the methods of the present invention are not applied are shown.

Referring to the graph 610 of when the methods of the present invention are not applied, a traffic during a normal server operation maintains about P0, i.e., its maximum value. Then, there is almost no traffic at the timing T3 that a server check starts. From the timing T0 that the server check is completed and patch files are open, many user terminals access a server again in order to download the patch files therefrom. According thereto, the maximum value of a server traffic is increased to P1 of the maximum value, and later, the server traffic is reduced as the patch file transmission is completed.

Referring to the graph 600 of when the methods of the present invention are applied, traffic is reduced from the timing T3 that the server check begins, and the traffic is partially increased at the timing T1 that the patch files are distributed in advance. Then, as being closer to the check completion timing T0, the timing T2 that more user terminals access the server in order to download the patch files in advance occurs. However, the access amount of user terminals at the timing T2, i.e., the server traffic, is definitely less than when the patch files are simultaneously distributed after the patch file open.

When it comes to the timing T0 that the server check is completed, the patch files are distributed between user terminals having the patch files stored in advance and other user terminals through a P2P communication method. According thereto, the maximum traffic value of the server at the timing T0 may be maintained as P0, i.e., a level during a normal server operation.

That is, by increasing the traffic during the server check period dT and reducing the maximum value of the traffic at the timing T0, server operating costs charged for the maximum traffic value may be drastically reduced. Moreover, since the total traffic amount is also reduced according to the use of a P2P communication method, server operating costs may be reduced even in the system making a charge on the basis of the total traffic amount.

Claims

A method of distributing patch files, comprising:

searching for users that access clients to use a service that a server provides during a server check;

inquiring whether to accept temporary downloading of patch files to the searched accessing users;

transmitting the patch files to terminals of users who accept the temporary downloading; and

distributing the patch files, which are stored in the terminals of the accepting users, to terminals of other users through a Peer to Peer (P2P) communication method, after the server check is completed.
The method of claim 1, after the transmitting of the patch files, further comprising transmitting a deletion request message for the patch files to the terminals of the accepting users when opening the patch files is cancelled.
The method of claim 1, wherein the distributing of the patch files comprises distributing the patch files to terminals of users waiting for distribution through a direction communication with a download server when all P2P network connections to the terminals of the accepting users are saturated.
The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting of the patch files comprises:

directly transmitting the patch files from a download server to terminals of users, which are arbitrarily selected as many as a critical value from the accepting users through a direction communication when the number of the terminals of the accepting users exceeds the critical value; and

transmitting the patch files to terminals of remaining users, which exceed the critical value, among the accepting users, through a P2P communication method with the terminals of the selected users.
The method of claim 1, wherein the inquiring of whether to accept the temporary downloading is performed within a predetermined time after an expected timing of the server check completion.
A patch file distribution controlling device comprising:

an access detecting unit searching for users that access clients to use a service that a server provides during a server check;

a temporary download determining unit inquiring whether to accept temporary downloading of patch files to the searched accessing users; and

a patch file distribution controlling device transmitting the patch files to terminals of users who accept the temporary downloading, and distributing the patch files, which are stored in the terminals of the accepting users, to terminals of other users through a P2P communication method, after the server check is completed.
The device of claim 6, wherein the patch file transmission controlling unit transmits a deletion request message for the patch files to the terminals of the accepting users when opening the patch files is cancelled.
The device of claim 6, wherein the patch file transmission controlling unit controls terminals of users waiting for distribution to receive the patch files through a direction communication with a download server when all P2P network connections to the terminals of the accepting users are saturated.
The device of claim 6, wherein the patch file transmission controlling unit controls to directly transmit the patch files from a download server to terminals of users, which are arbitrarily selected as many as a critical value from the accepting users through a direction communication when the number of the terminals of the accepting users exceeds the critical value, and to transmit the patch files to terminals of remaining users, which exceed the critical value, among the accepting users, through a P2P communication method with the terminals of the selected users.
The device of claim 6, wherein the temporary download determining unit inquiries whether to accept the temporary downloading within a predetermined time after an expected timing of the server check completion.