Network game system, client device and server apparatus
First Claim
1. A network game system in which a plurality of characters including a plurality of player characters manipulated in correspondence to information input by users each operating one of a plurality of client devices connected to a server apparatus via a network and a plurality of computer characters whose actions are automatically manipulated, wherein:
- said client devices each comprise;
a storage unit for storing character information including position information indicating the positions of said plurality of characters, and registering computer characters to be managed at the subject client device among said computer characters as relegated characters;
an arithmetic operation unit for obtaining through arithmetic calculation updated character information indicating the extent of change occurring in the position of a relegated character and the extent of change occurring in the motion of said relegated character in correspondence to each of said relegated characters by using said character information stored at said storage unit as the game progresses; and
a communication unit for transmitting said updated character information corresponding to each relegated character having been obtained through said arithmetic calculation to said server apparatus as a character information packet;
said server apparatus receives the transmitted character information packet and transmits the received character information packet to other client devices participating in the game; and
said other client devices receive said transmitted character information packet and stores said updated character information based upon the received character information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
At each of game consoles connected to a network game system, character information and relegated character information are stored at a storage unit. An arithmetic operation unit determines through arithmetic operations the extent of changes in the position and motion of each of the relegated characters as the game progresses based upon the character information stored at the storage unit. A communication unit transmits a character information packet having the calculated character information to a game server. The game server transmits the received character information packet to the other game consoles participating in the game. At each of the other game consoles, the received character information is stored and an image of the relegated character reflecting the changes is generated. Thus, the executions of the processing and management of the various characters taking part in the game are distributed.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A network game system in which a plurality of characters including a plurality of player characters manipulated in correspondence to information input by users each operating one of a plurality of client devices connected to a server apparatus via a network and a plurality of computer characters whose actions are automatically manipulated, wherein:
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said client devices each comprise;
a storage unit for storing character information including position information indicating the positions of said plurality of characters, and registering computer characters to be managed at the subject client device among said computer characters as relegated characters;
an arithmetic operation unit for obtaining through arithmetic calculation updated character information indicating the extent of change occurring in the position of a relegated character and the extent of change occurring in the motion of said relegated character in correspondence to each of said relegated characters by using said character information stored at said storage unit as the game progresses; and
a communication unit for transmitting said updated character information corresponding to each relegated character having been obtained through said arithmetic calculation to said server apparatus as a character information packet;
said server apparatus receives the transmitted character information packet and transmits the received character information packet to other client devices participating in the game; and
said other client devices receive said transmitted character information packet and stores said updated character information based upon the received character information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 21)
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4. A client device used to participate in a network game in which a plurality of characters including a plurality of player characters each manipulated in response to information input by users each operating one of a plurality of client devices connected via a network and a plurality of automatically-manipulated computer characters take part, comprising:
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a storage unit for storing character information including position information indicating the positions of said plurality of characters, and registering computer characters to be managed at the subject client device among said computer characters as relegated characters; and
an arithmetic operation unit for obtaining through arithmetic calculation updated character information indicating the extent of change occurring in the position of a relegated character and the extent of change occurring in the motion of said relegated character in correspondence to each of said relegated characters by using said character information stored at said storage unit as the game progresses. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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22. A server apparatus that manages a network game in which a plurality of characters including a plurality of player characters and a plurality of computer characters take part, comprising:
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a storage unit for storing character information including position information indicating the positions of said plurality of characters managed at a plurality of client devices connected to a network;
a decision-making unit for determining, based upon said position information contained in said character information, a positional relationship among the positions of said player characters managed at each client device and the position of a computer character managed at a client device, and making a decision with regard to a client device best suited to be delegated to manage said computer character based upon the determined positional relationship; and
a communication unit for transmitting a character management change packet to said client device having been determined as said client device to manage said computer character.
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23. A character management program for executing a network game in which a plurality of characters, including a plurality of player characters manipulated in response to information input by users each operating one of a plurality of client devices connected to a network and a plurality of automatically-manipulated computer characters take part, comprising:
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a module for individually storing into a storage unit of each client device character information including position information indicating the positions of said plurality of characters;
a module for registering each computer character among said computer characters to be managed at a subject client device as a relegated character at said storage unit of each subject client device; and
a module for obtaining through an arithmetic operation updated character information indicating the extent of change in the position and motion of said relegated character as the game progresses by using said character information stored in said storage unit of each subject client device. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a character management program for executing a network game in which a plurality of characters, including a plurality of player characters manipulated in response to information input by users each operating one of a plurality of client devices connected to a network and a plurality of automatically-manipulated computer characters take part, the character management program comprising:
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a module for individually storing into a storage unit of each client device character information including position information indicating the positions of said plurality of characters;
a module for registering each computer character among said computer characters to be managed at a subject client device as a relegated character at said storage unit of each client device; and
a module for obtaining through an arithmetic operation updated character information indicating the extent of change in the position and motion of said relegated character as the game progresses by using said character information stored in said storage unit of each client device. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A network game system in which a plurality of characters including a single player character or a plurality of player characters manipulated in response to information input through user operations of a single client device or a plurality of client devices connected to a server apparatus via a network and a plurality of automatically-manipulated computer characters take part, wherein:
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said client devices each comprise;
a storage unit for storing character information including position information indicating the positions of said plurality of characters, and registering computer characters to be managed at the subject client device among said computer characters as relegated characters;
an arithmetic operation unit for obtaining through arithmetic calculation updated character information indicating the extent of change occurring in the position of each relegated character and the extent of change occurring in the motion of said relegated character by using said character information stored at said storage unit as the game progresses; and
a communication unit for transmitting said updated character information corresponding to each relegated character having been obtained through said arithmetic calculation to said server apparatus as a character information packet;
said server apparatus receives the transmitted character information packet and transmits the received character information packet to other client devices participating in the game; and
said other client devices receive the transmitted character information packet and stores updated character information based upon the received character information. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A character management program for executing a network game in which a plurality of characters, including a single player character or a plurality of player characters manipulated in response to information input through user operations of a single client device or a plurality of client devices connected to a server apparatus via a network and a plurality of automatically-manipulated computer characters take part, comprising:
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a module for individually storing into a storage unit of each client device character information including position information indicating the positions of said plurality of characters;
a module for registering each computer character among said computer characters to be managed at a subject client device as a relegated character at said storage unit of each client device; and
a module for obtaining through an arithmetic operation updated character information indicating the extent of change in the position and motion of said relegated character as the game progresses by using said character information stored in said storage unit of said subject client device. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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Specification