System, game server, terminal, and computer program product for link point scaling in a multiplayer location-aware game

• US 20060247053A1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Mattila, Jouka
• Application Number:
  US11/093,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20060247053A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/32 using local area network [LAN] connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• 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 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• 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 2300/513 server hierarchy, e.g. local, regional, national or dedicated for different tasks, e.g. authenticating, billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5586 for enforcing rights or rules, e.g. to prevent foul play

Abstract

A system for scaling a link point in a multiplayer location-aware game comprises a plurality of clients capable of executing a client-side game application and a network entity capable of communicating with the plurality of clients. The plurality of clients are capable of communicating across at least one network to play a multiplayer location-aware game. The network entity is capable of determining a number of clients participating in the multiplayer location-aware game. The network entity is capable of determining a location of each of the clients participating in the multiplayer location-aware game. The network entity is capable of determining a size of at least one link point based on the number of clients and based on the location of each client.

Claims

1. A system for scaling a link point in a multiplayer location-aware game, the system comprising:

a plurality of clients capable of executing a client-side game application, the plurality of clients being capable of communicating across at least one network to play a multiplayer location-aware game; and

a network entity capable of communicating with the plurality of clients;

wherein the network entity is capable of determining a number of clients participating in the multiplayer location-aware game;

wherein the network entity is capable of determining a location of each of the clients participating in the multiplayer location-aware game; and

wherein the network entity is capable of determining a size of at least one link point based on the number of clients and based on the location of each client.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the network entity is capable of determining the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined minimum number of clients per link point.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the network entity is capable of determining the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined maximum number of link points between any two clients.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the network entity is capable of determining the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined maximum distance between any two clients.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the network entity is capable of determining the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined minimum link point size and a predefined maximum link point size.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the predefined minimum link point size and the predefined maximum link point size may vary based on a geographic location of the at least one link point.

7. A network entity for scaling a link point in a multiplayer location-aware game, the network entity comprising:

a processor capable of communicating with a plurality of clients capable of executing a client-side game application and capable of communicating across at least one network to play a multiplayer location-aware game;

wherein the processor is capable of determining a number of clients participating in the multiplayer location-aware game;

wherein the processor is capable of determining a location of each of the clients participating in the multiplayer location-aware game; and

wherein the processor is capable of determining a size of at least one link point based on the number of clients and based on the location of each client.

8. The network entity of claim 7, wherein the processor determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined minimum number of clients per link point.

9. The network entity of claim 7, wherein the processor determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined maximum number of link points between any two clients.

10. The network entity of claim 7, wherein the processor determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined maximum distance between any two clients.

11. The network entity of claim 7, wherein the processor determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined minimum link point size and a predefined maximum link point size.

12. The network entity of claim 11, wherein the predefined minimum link point size and the predefined maximum link point size may vary based on a geographic location of the at least one link point.

13. A terminal for scaling a link point in a multiplayer location-aware game, the terminal comprising:

a processor capable of executing a client-side game application, the processor being capable of communicating with a network entity across at least one network to play a multiplayer location-aware game with a plurality of clients;

wherein the processor is capable of interfacing with at least one of the plurality of clients based on a size of at least one link point determined by the network entity; and

wherein the processor is capable of interfacing with the network entity when the network entity determines the size of the at least one link point based on a number of clients and based on a location of each client.

14. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the processor is capable of interfacing with the network entity when the network entity determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined minimum number of clients per link point.

15. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the processor is capable of interfacing with the network entity when the network entity determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined maximum number of link points between any two clients.

16. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the processor is capable of interfacing with the network entity when the network entity determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined maximum distance between any two clients.

17. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the processor is capable of interfacing with the network entity when the network entity determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined minimum link point size and a predefined maximum link point size.

18. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the predefined minimum link point size and the predefined maximum link point size may vary based on a geographic location of the at least one link point.

19. A computer program product for scaling a link point in a multiplayer location-aware game, the computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion capable of determining a number of players participating in the multiplayer location-aware game;

a second executable portion capable of determining a location of each of the players participating in the multiplayer location-aware game; and

a third executable portion capable of determining a size of at least one link point based on the number of players and based on the location of each player.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the third executable portion determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined minimum number of players per link point.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the third executable portion determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined maximum number of link points between any two players.

22. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the third executable portion determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined maximum distance between any two players.

23. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the third executable portion determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined minimum link point size and a predefined maximum link point size.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the predefined minimum link point size and the predefined maximum link point size may vary based on a geographic location of the at least one link point.