METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING GAMES IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK USING PTT/PTV TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEMS THEREOF

• US 20070004517A1
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aricent Holdings Luxembourg SARL (Capgemini SE)
• Original Assignee: Flextronics Software Systems Limited (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Company LP)
• Inventors: Mahajan, Sunil
• Granted Patent: US 7,593,744 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 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• 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 2300/5513 involving billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video

Abstract

A push-to-talk/push-to-video based communication system configured to implement a plurality of games, including group games and methods thereof. A game controller in communication over an access network with a push-to-talk/push-to-video server, and plurality of push-to-talk/push-to-video clients implements group games in the PTT/PTV based communication network. Game controller has a first game control means, a game authentication means, a billing means, a second game control means, and a local storage means. A group management server enables receiving and storing of user information and a presence server maintains presence information.

Claims

1. A system for implementing games in a communication network using push-to-talk/push-to-video technology, the system comprising:

a push-to-talk/push-to-video server in communication with a plurality of push-to-talk/push-to-video clients over an access network; and

a game controller in communication with said push-to-talk server/push-to-video server and any or all of said plurality of push-to-talk/push-to-video clients, the game controller having;

a first game control means configurable to interface with any or all of said push-to-talk/push-to-video clients to manage a game in session employing a game logic;

a game authentication means, capable of authenticating game participation request from any of said plurality of push-to-talk/push-to-video clients;

a game billing means capable of generating billing records of any of said push-to-talk/push-to-video clients participating in a game;

a second game control means enabling an end user by generating game configuration, game controls, game schedules and game groups; and

a local storage means for storing game and participation information;

wherein said game controller is capable of controlling the flow of a game by controlling bearer floor, and wherein said system is configured to implement games involving any or all of said plurality of push-to-talk/push-to-video clients in communication with said push-to-talk/push-to video server over said access network.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said game controller hosts any one of said plurality of push-to-talk/push-to-video clients.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said game controller is implemented as standalone entity or embedded in PTT Server.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said game controller is configured to control access to media floor.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein any one of said plurality of push-to-talk/push-to-video clients is capable of participating in a scheduled gaming session or an ongoing gaming session.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first game control means is configurable to permit registration by any or all of said plurality of push-to-talk/push-to-video clients for a group game.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said first game control means is configured to receive user information from any or all of said plurality of push-to-talk/push-to-video clients initiating to participate in a game and transfers said user information to said local storage means for temporary storing.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said game controller is capable of hosting multiple group games concurrently.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said game controller alternates between any one of said plurality of push-to-talk/push-to-video clients participating in a group game.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is configured to display game related information to said plurality of push-to-talk/push-to-video clients participating in a group game.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said game related information comprises game contents, next steps, clips and videos.

12. The system according to claim 1, capable of being implemented in a wireless or a wireline communication system.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said game controller is capable of holding the media floor for any duration of time.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein said game controller is configured to optionally insert advertising material in between the floor occupying and floor releasing sequences.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein said game controller is capable of using floor control to announce game results.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein said game controller is capable of removing players from the game.

17. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a group management server configured to receive and store user information received from said local storage means.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said group management server enables access to said user information by said game controller.

19. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a presence server, configured to maintain presence information of any or all of said plurality of push-to-talk/push-to-video clients participating in a game.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said presence server enables access to said presence information by said game controller and/or any or all of said plurality of push-to-talk/push-to-video clients participating in a game.

21. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is configurable to implement any of a plurality of group games, including tambola, quizzing, controlled group voting, or group auction.

22. A method of implementing games in a communication network using push-to-talk/push-to-video technology, the method comprising:

configuring a push-to-talk/push-to-video server in communication with a plurality of push-to-talk/push-to-video clients over an access network;

configuring a game controller having a first game control means, a game authentication means, a billing means, a second game control means, and a local storage means, said game controller in communication with said push-to-talk server/push-to-video and any or all of said plurality of push-to-talk/push-to-video clients;

managing a game session employing a game logic by said first game control means, said first game control means interfacing with any or all of said push-to-talk/push-to-video clients;

authenticating game participation of any of said plurality of push-to-talk/push-to-video clients by said game authentication means;

generating billing records of any of said push-to-talk/push-to-video clients participating in a game by said billing means;

enabling an end user to generate game controls by said second game control means;

storing game and participation information by said local storage means; and

implementing a game involving any or all of said plurality of push-to-talk/push-to-video clients in communication with said push-to-talk/push-to-video server over said access network wherein the flow of a game is controlled by said game controller by exercising control over bearer floor or employing other means defined between game controller and game client software.

23. The method according to claim 22, comprising controlling access to media floor by said game controller.

24. The method according to claim 22, comprising concurrently hosting multiple games by said game controller.

25. The method according to claim 22, comprising displaying game related information to said plurality of push-to-talk/push-to-video clients participating in a group game by said game controller.

26. The method according to claim 22, implemented in a wireless or a wireline communication system.

27. The method according to claim 22, comprising holding the media floor for any duration of time by said game controller.

28. The method according to claim 22, comprising revoking media floor from any or all of said push-to-talk/push-to-video clients by said game controller.

29. The method according to claim 22, comprising optionally inserting advertising material in between the floor occupying and floor releasing sequences by said game controller.

30. The method according to claim 22, comprising announcing game results by said game controller of using said floor control.

31. The method according to claim 22, comprising receiving user information from any or all of said plurality of push-to-talk/push-to-video clients and transferring said user information to said local storage means for temporary storing by said first game control means.

32. The method according to claim 22, further comprising receiving and storing user information from said local storage means by a group management server.

33. The method according to claim 22, further comprising maintaining presence information of any or all of said plurality of push-to-talk/push-to-video clients participating in a game by a presence server.

34. The method according to claim 22, wherein implementing a game comprises implementing any of a plurality of group games, including tambola, quizzing, controlled group voting, or group auction.