Methods and apparatus for distributed gaming over a mobile device
First Claim
1. A method of detecting unusual performance in a game, the game having a plurality of persons who participate in the game, each on a client device, the method comprising:
- selecting a sampling group of persons participating in the game, the sampling group comprising a subset of all persons participating in the game;
receiving responses to game elements of the game from client devices of the sampling group to the server;
sending from a server to each client device participating in the game, a threshold value determined from the responses received from the sampling group;
calculating for each person participating in the game a performance metric;
comparing the performance metric to the threshold value thereby forming a comparison; and
based on the comparison, for each person participating in the game not in the sampling group, optionally forming a connection to the server for uploading a set of data from the person'"'"'s client device to the server.
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Abstract
Some embodiments of the invention provide a method and system for detecting unusual performance in a game. The game has a participant. The method calculates for the participant, a performance metric. The method compares the performance metric to a threshold value. Based on the comparison, the method optionally connects to a server. In some embodiments, the connection is for uploading a set of data from the participant to the server. The server, of some embodiments, broadcasts to the participant. The broadcast is a one-way transmission. In some embodiments, the broadcast includes a distribution based on a set of sample participants. In these embodiments, the set of sample participants comprises a representative sample of all the participants in the game. The threshold value, of some embodiments, is based on the broadcast and in some embodiments, the broadcast includes a histogram. The connecting occurs, in some embodiments, when the performance metric exceeds the threshold value. The connection, for some embodiments, includes a two-way connection. In some embodiments, the method also tracks for the participant, a participant improvement factor. The participant improvement factor is based on an average performance level for the participant. The method stores the participant improvement factor. The threshold value, in some of these embodiments, is based on the participant improvement factor. The method of some embodiments tracks for the game, a game improvement factor. The game improvement factor is based on an average performance level for several participants in the game. The method stores the game improvement factor. The threshold value, in some of these embodiments, is based on the game improvement factor. In some embodiments, the method examines the uploaded data for particular characteristics. In some embodiments, the particular characteristics indicate the likelihood of cheating activity.
396 Citations
55 Claims
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1. A method of detecting unusual performance in a game, the game having a plurality of persons who participate in the game, each on a client device, the method comprising:
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selecting a sampling group of persons participating in the game, the sampling group comprising a subset of all persons participating in the game; receiving responses to game elements of the game from client devices of the sampling group to the server; sending from a server to each client device participating in the game, a threshold value determined from the responses received from the sampling group; calculating for each person participating in the game a performance metric; comparing the performance metric to the threshold value thereby forming a comparison; and based on the comparison, for each person participating in the game not in the sampling group, optionally forming a connection to the server for uploading a set of data from the person'"'"'s client device to the server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of detecting unusual performance in a game, the game having a plurality of persons who participate in the game, each on a client device, the method comprising:
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receiving via the client device a set of data comprising game elements and a threshold value for the game; selecting a sampling group of persons participating in the game, the sampling group comprising a subset of all persons participating in the game; receiving responses to the game elements from the client devices of the sampling group; utilizing the responses received from the sampling group at a server during the game to determine the threshold value for the game; and based on the threshold value for the game, optionally establishing a two-way connection with the server and one or more client devices outside of the sampling group. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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- 42. A server for conducting a game for a plurality of persons who participate in the game, each on a client device, and for detecting unusual performance in the game among the persons participating in the game by sending game elements and a threshold value, wherein the threshold value is determined based on responses received from a subset of client devices to each client device participating in the game and forming a connection between the server and the subset of the client devices to receive responses to the game elements from the subset of client devices, determining from the received responses the threshold value, and based on the threshold value, optionally receiving from the client devices of persons not in the subset, a set of data.
Specification