Seeding in a bayesian skill scoring framework

• US 20070026934A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Graepel, Thore, Herbrich, Ralf
• Granted Patent: US 8,175,726 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/23
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 11/0051 Indicators of values, e.g. score counters

Abstract

Skill scores represent a ranking or other indication of the skill of the player based on the outcome of the game in a gaming environment. Skills scores can be used in matching compatible players on the same team and matching opposing players or teams to obtain an evenly-matched competition. An initial skill score of a player in a new gaming environment may be based in whole or in part on the skill score of that player in another game environment. The influence that the skill scores for these other game environments may have in the skill score seeding for the new game environment may be weighted based on a defined compatibility factor with the new game environment. The compatibility factor can be determined based on a game-to-game basis, compatible categories or features, game developer defined parameters, or any combination of considerations.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining an initial skill score of a player for a new gaming environment based on at least one seed skill score of the player from a different gaming environment.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

recording the initial skill score of the player in a storage device in association with the new gaming environment.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the new gaming environment and the different gaming environment are related by a compatibility factor between the two gaming environments.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the new gaming environment and the different gaming environment are related by a compatibility factor between the two gaming environments and the compatibility factor influences an amount by which the initial skill score is adjusted from a base skill score.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the new gaming environment and the different gaming environment are related by a compatibility factor between the two gaming environments and the compatibility factor and the seed skill score influence an amount by which the initial skill score is adjusted from a base skill score.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the new gaming environment and the different gaming environment are related by a compatibility factor and the determining operation comprises:

computing the initial skill score of the player as an interpolation between a base skill score and the seed skill score based on the compatibility factor.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the different gaming environment is a member of a plurality of different gaming environments and each of the different gaming environments are related to the new gaming environment are by individual compatibility factors, and further comprising comprises:

selecting at least one of the compatibility factor of the different gaming environments;

computing the at least one seed skill score of the player from the at least one selected compatibility factor and skill scores of the player in the different gaming environments.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the computing operation comprises:

computing the seed skill score of the player as a weighted average of the skill scores of the player in the different gaming environments.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

matching the player with at least one other player in the new gaming environment based on the initial skill score of the player.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one other player is an opponent during game play of the new gaming environment.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one other player is a teammate during game play of the new gaming environment.

12. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer process, the computer process comprising:

determining an initial skill score of a player for a new gaming environment based on at least one seed skill score of the player from a different gaming environment.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein the computer process further comprises:

recording the initial skill score of the player in a storage device.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein the new gaming environment and the different gaming environment are related by a compatibility factor defining a characteristic of compatibility between the two gaming environments.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein the new gaming environment and the different gaming environment are related by a compatibility factor and the determining operation comprises:

computing the initial skill score of the player as an interpolation between a base skill score and the seed skill score based on the compatibility factor.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein the different gaming environment is a member of a plurality of different gaming environments and each of the different gaming environments are related to the new gaming environment are by individual compatibility factors, and further comprising comprises:

selecting at least one of the compatibility factor of the different gaming environments;

computing the at least one seed skill score of the player from the at least one selected compatibility factor and skill scores of the player in the different gaming environments.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein the computing operation comprises:

computing the seed skill score of the player as a weighted average of the skill scores in the different gaming environments.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein the computer process further comprises:

matching the player with at least one other player in the new gaming environment based on the initial skill score of the player.

19. A skill scoring system comprising:

a seeding module that determines an initial skill score of a player for a new gaming environment based on at least one seed skill score of the player from a different gaming environment.

20. The skill scoring system of claim 19 further comprising:

a storage device that stores the initial skill score of the player in association with the new gaming environment.