Methods and apparatus for distributed gaming over a mobile device

• US 20050288080A1
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Winview IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Airplay Network
• Inventors: Lockton, David B., Berner, Mark K., Micheli, Mark J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,870,639 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/1
• 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 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/75 Enforcing rules, e.g. detecting foul play or generating lists of cheating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/535 for monitoring, e.g. of user parameters, terminal parameters, application parameters, network parameters
• 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 2300/558 by assessing the players' skills or ranking
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5586 for enforcing rights or rules, e.g. to prevent foul play

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.

Claims

1. A method of detecting unusual performance in a game, the game having a participant, the method comprising:

calculating for the participant a performance metric;

comparing the performance metric to a threshold value; and

based on the comparison, optionally forming a connection to a server for uploading a set of data from the participant to the server.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

broadcasting a one-way transmission from the server to the participant.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one-way transmission includes a histogram.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the one-way transmission includes a distribution based on a set of sample participants, wherein the set of sample participants comprises a representative sample of a plurality of the participants in the game.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the distribution is a histogram.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the threshold value is based on the distribution.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection to the server is formed when the performance metric exceeds the threshold value.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection to the server comprises a two-way connection.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking for the participant a participant improvement factor, wherein the participant improvement factor is based on an average performance level for the participant; and

storing the participant improvement factor;

wherein the threshold value is based on the participant improvement factor.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking for the game a game improvement factor, wherein the game improvement factor is based on an average performance level for a plurality of participants in the game; and

storing the game improvement factor;

wherein the threshold value is based on the game improvement factor.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the server logs activity for the participant.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising examining the uploaded data for a set of particular characteristics.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the particular characteristics comprise:

an indication that a device used by the participant to upload the data has been accessed abnormally;

or

an indication that the uploaded data has been altered;

or

a participant'"'"'s performance data that shows substantial improvement over a history of performance for the participant;

or

a participant'"'"'s performance data that shows substantial improvement over a history of performance for a particular set of games, wherein the game is in the particular set of games.

14. The method of claim 1, the connection comprising a mobile device network.

15. A system for detecting unusual performance in a game, the game having a participant, the system comprising:

means for calculating for the participant a performance metric;

means for comparing the performance metric to a threshold value; and

means for based on the comparison, optionally forming a connection to a server for uploading a set of data from the participant to the server.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the connection to the server is formed when the performance metric exceeds the threshold value.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the connection to the server comprises a two-way connection.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

means for tracking for the participant a participant improvement factor, wherein the participant improvement factor is based on an average performance level for the participant; and

means for storing the participant improvement factor;

wherein the threshold value is based on the participant improvement factor.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

tracking for the game a game improvement factor, wherein the game improvement factor is based on an average performance level for a plurality of participants in the game; and

storing the game improvement factor;

wherein the threshold value is based on the game improvement factor.

20. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

means for examining the uploaded data for a set of particular characteristics.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the particular characteristics comprise:

an indication that a device used by the participant to upload the data has been accessed abnormally;

or

an indication that the uploaded data has been altered;

or

a participant'"'"'s performance data, wherein the performance data shows substantial improvement over a history of performance for the participant;

or shows substantial improvement over a history of performance for a particular set of games, wherein the game is in the particular set of games.

22. The system of claim 15, the connection comprising a mobile device network.

23. A method of detecting unusual performance in a game, the game having a participant, the participant having a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving via the mobile device a one-way transmission, wherein the one-way transmission comprises a set of data;

calculating for the participant a performance metric;

comparing the performance metric to the received set of data;

based on the comparison, optionally establishing a two-way connection with a server.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the set of data comprises a threshold value, wherein establishing the two-way connection occurs when the performance metric exceeds the threshold value.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein establishing the two-way connection further comprises switching the one-way connection to the two-way connection.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the switching is performed for a single mobile device.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the two-way connection comprises a mobile device network.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the set of data comprises a histogram.

29. The method of claim 23, further comprising examining the mobile device.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein examining the mobile device further comprises:

determining whether the mobile device has been accessed abnormally;

or

determining whether data stored by the mobile device has been altered;

or

determining whether the performance metric comprises an anomaly, wherein the anomaly indicates a likelihood of an unfair game.

31. A system for detecting unusual performance in a game, the game having a participant, the system comprising:

a mobile device having;

a processor for;

calculating a performance metric; and

comparing the performance metric to a set of data; and

a memory for storing the performance metric and the set of data;

a server for hosting the game; and

a network, wherein the mobile device receives through the network a one-way transmission from the server, the one-way transmission including the set of data.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the set of data comprises a histogram.

33. The system of claim 31, further comprising a two-way connection from the mobile device to the server through the network, wherein the two-way communication is formed when the performance metric exceeds a threshold value.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the threshold value is based on an average performance level for the participant.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the threshold value is based on an average performance level for the game.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the server examines the mobile device by using the two-way connection.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein examining the mobile device further comprises:

determining whether the mobile device has been accessed abnormally;

or

determining whether data stored by the mobile device has been altered;

or

determining whether the performance metric includes an anomaly, wherein the anomaly indicates a prohibited action for the game.