Instant messaging embedded games

• US 20040224772A1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ryan, Donald R., Iverson, Kristofer N., Trussel, Bryan G., David, Jonathan T., Canessa, Gregory J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,549,924 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/34 using peer-to-peer connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/493 Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/408 Peer to peer connection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5513 involving billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/556 Player lists, e.g. online players, buddy list, black list
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 : Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 : Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 : involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 : Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 : Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

Instant messaging systems and methods are disclosed. The systems and methods allow users to play competitive and collaborative games using an instant messaging client application. The client application may create a user interface screen that includes an instant messaging region or window for exchanging instant messages and a game region or window for playing games.

Claims

1. A method of providing a game to at least two users of an instant messaging service, the method comprising:

(a) receiving from a first user of an instant messaging system a request to participate in a game with at least a second user of the instant messaging system who is a member of the first user'"'"'s buddy list; and

(b) transmitting a game module to at least one of the first and second users.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the game module comprises a complete game application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the game comprises a competitive game.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the game comprises a collaborative game.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the game comprises a competitive and collaborative game.

6. The method of claim 1, further including transmitting high score information to the first and second users.

7. The method of claim 1, further including transmitting game statistics to the first user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the game statistics comprise an identification of which members of the first user'"'"'s buddy list who have played at least one predetermined game.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the game statistics further comprise an identification of which members of the first user'"'"'s buddy list who have not played the at least one predetermined game.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the game statistics comprise one or more user handicaps, tournament ladder data or event ladder data.

11. The method of claim 10, further including using the game statistics for sorting.

12. The method of claim 1, further including transmitting an alert to at least the first user when a member of the first user'"'"'s buddy list exceeds a previous high score.

13. The method of claim 1, further including (c) storing the state of a partially completed game in a server in response to a request from at least one of the first and second users.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein (c) comprises storing the state of the partially completed game in response to a request from the last user connected to the server.

15. The method of claim 13, further including transmitting the state of the partially completed game to at least one of the first and second users in response to a request from at least one of the first and second users.

16. The method of claim 1, further including creating a game tournament between the first user and at least a portion of members of the first user'"'"'s buddy list.

17. The method of claim 1, further including transmitting to at least the first user promotional data describing a premium version of the game.

18. The method of claim 17, further including transmitting the premium version of the game to the first user in response to a request from the first user.

19. The method of claim 1, further including assigning instant messaging icons to the first and second users based on the game performance of first and second users.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the assignment is based on the game performance of the first and second users over a plurality of games.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the game performance comprises an average score.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises transmitting the game module from a server to the first user and the second user.

23. A method of distributing a premium version of a game to users of an instant messaging system, the method comprising:

(a) providing to users of the instant messaging system access to a free version of the game in a user interface screen of the instant messaging system;

(b) providing promotional information describing the premium version of the game in the user interface screen of the instant messaging system; and

(c) delivering the premium version of the game to a user of the instant messaging system in response to a request from the user.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein (c) comprises transmitting the premium version of the game over a computer network.

25. The method of claim 24, further including (d) linking the premium version of the game to a user interface of the instant messaging system.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein (d) comprises inserting a link to the premium version of the game in a menu.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the request in (c) includes the payment of a fee.

28. An instant messaging system comprising;

at least two nodes within a computer network that each include a client application having a user interface and configured to allow users to send instant messages and play games within the same user interface; and

at least one server configured to route instant messages and games to the at least two nodes.

29. An instant messaging system comprising;

at least two nodes within a computer network that each include a client application having a user interface and configured to allow users to send instant messages and play games within the same user interface; and

a transmission medium coupled to the at least two nodes to allow the client applications to send and receive instant messages and games.

30. An instant messaging user interface comprising:

a first region for exchanging instant messages; and

a second region for participating in a game with a member of a buddy list.

31. The user interface of claim 30, further including a third region displaying promotional information for a premium version of the game.

32. The user interface of claim 30, further including a third region displaying game information.

33. The user interface of claim 32, wherein the game information comprises game statistics.

34. The user interface of claim 33, wherein the game statistics comprise at least one high score.

35. The user interface of claim 30, further including a third region displaying user profile information.

36. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for causing an instant messaging server computer to perform the steps comprising:

(a) receiving from a first user of an instant messaging system a request to participate in a game with at least a second user of the instant messaging system who is a member of the first user'"'"'s buddy list; and

(b) transmitting a game module to at least the second user.