Method of interfacing on a computer network by visual representation of users, method of interacting and computer network

• US 20040125135A1
• Filed: 12/15/2003
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1991
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: America Online Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Williams, Kenneth A., Stephenson, Jeffrey A., Slayback, David R., George, Matthew D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,766,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/751
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5566 by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/558 by assessing the players' skills or ranking

Abstract

A method of interfacing used on a network having a central computer system and a plurality of remote computer system is provided. Each remote computer system includes a video display. The method includes the steps of creating a first visual representation of a first user on the visual display of the first computer system and a second visual representation of a second user on the visual display of the second computer system. The second visual representation is then displayed on the visual display of the first computer system and the first visual representation is displayed on the video display of the second computer system. Applied to video games, the method creates a first visual representation of a first player on a first remote computer system, identifies an interest and a skill level of the first player for at least one video game, indicates predetermined personal characteristics of the first player, saves the visual representation, interest, skill levels and personal characteristics of the first player, accesses the central computer system from the first remote computer system over telephone lines, selects a second player who has accessed the central computer system from a second remote computer system, and invites the second player to play a selected video game. The step of inviting allows the second player to access the visual representation, interest, skill levels and personal characteristics of the first player. The method of interacting is used on a network having a central computer system and a plurality of remote computer systems. Each remote computer system is operated by a user and has access to at least one predetermined application program. The method allows an application program to be employed by at least two primary users and then allows a different user to watch the action of the predetermined application program as it is employed by the primary users. The computer network includes a central computer system, a plurality of remote computer systems connected to the central computer system over telephone lines, means for creating visual representations of users on the visual displays of the remote computer systems, means for sending the visual representation of a user from one remote computer system to a predetermined number of other remote computer systems, and means for running an application program between users of different remote computer systems.

Claims

1. A method of interfacing on a network having a first computer system and a second computer system, where each computer system has a video display, the method comprising:

creating a first visual representation of a first user on the visual display of the first computer system and a second visual representation of a second user on the visual display of the second computer system; and

displaying the second visual representation on the video display of the first computer system and the first visual representation on the video display of the second computer system.