Efficient method for providing game content to a client

• US 20050026692A1
• Filed: 08/01/2003
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Turbine Incorporated (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Turbine Incorporated (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dyl, Christopher J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,702,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6009 for importing or creating game content, e.g. authoring tools during game development, adapting content to different platforms, use of a scripting language to create content

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for efficiently providing content to a client in a massively multiplayer game.

Claims

1. A method for efficiently transmitting to a client a content update, the method comprising the steps of:

a) hosting for transmission a content update comprising a plurality of data files;

b) identifying a subset of the plurality of data files comprising the content update as high-quality data files;

c) creating a high-quality content update comprising the identified high-quality data files;

d) receiving a client connection request;

e) determining that high-quality data files are to be transmitted to the client;

f) transmitting data files from the high-quality content update; and

g) transmitting the remaining data files comprised in the content update.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step a) comprises storing on a network storage device a content update comprising a plurality of data files.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein step b) comprises identifying a subset of the plurality of data files comprising the content update as high-quality data files using a data quality function.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the plurality of data files contained in the content update are sorted by data quality and a certain fixed percentage of the highest quality data components are separated as high-quality data files.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the data quality function is based on the sizes of the plurality of data files.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of removing the high-quality data files from the content update.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein step e) comprises determining that the received request includes a bit value indicating high-quality files should be transferred.

8. A method for efficiently transmitting a content update from a server to a client, the method comprising:

a) the server hosting a content update comprising a plurality of data files;

b) identifying a subset of the plurality of data files comprising the content update as high-quality data files;

c) creating, by the server, a high-quality content update comprising the identified high-quality data files;

d) the client requesting a connection with the server;

e) determining, by the server, that high-quality data files should be transmitted to the client;

f) the client receiving data files from the high-quality content update to the client; and

g) the client receiving the remaining data files comprised in the content update to the client.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein step a) comprises storing on a network storage device a content update comprising a plurality of data files.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein step b) comprises identifying a subset of the plurality of data files as high-quality data files using a data quality function.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the plurality of data files contained in the content update are sorted by data quality and a certain fixed percentage of the highest quality data components are separated as high-quality data files.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the data quality function is based on the sizes of the plurality of data files.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of removing the high-quality data files from the content update.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein step e) comprises determining that the received request includes a bit value indicating high-quality files should be transferred.

15. A computer based content updating apparatus comprising:

a non-volatile memory element storing a content update comprising a plurality of data files;

a processor in electrical communication with the non-volatile memory element identifying a subset of the data files in the content update as high-quality data files, separating the high-quality data files from the content update, and storing in the non-volatile memory element a high-quality content update comprising the separated high-quality data files; and

a transceiver in electrical communication with the non-volatile memory element and the processor, the transceiver receiving a connection request from a remote client on a network;

wherein the processor determines that high-quality data files are to be transmitted to the client and the transceiver transmits data files from the high-quality content update and the remaining data files comprising the content update.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the processor identifies a subset of the plurality of data files as high-quality data files using a data quality function.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the processor removes the high-quality data files from the content update.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the connection request from a remote client received by the transceiver includes a bit value indicating high-quality files should be transferred.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the non-volatile memory element comprises a network storage device.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the non-volatile memory element is associated with a first computer, the processor is associated with a second computer, the transceiver is associated with a third computer, and the first computer, second computer, and third computer are in electrical connection with each other over a network.