Multi-player game employing dynamic re-sequencing

• US 20070270225A1
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Advance Program Limited
• Original Assignee: Netamin Communication Corp.
• Inventors: Law, Gabriel, Wang, Andy
• Application Number:
  US11/807,621
• Publication Number:
  US 20070270225A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/358 Adapting the game course according to the network or server load, e.g. for reducing latency due to different connection speeds between clients
• 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 2300/534 for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5593 involving scheduling aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

A solution for network latency inherent in a multiplayer online game involving more than two players is disclosed. The solution is a dynamic re-sequencing and synchronization mechanism that enables seamless and simultaneous participation by remote users, such that an event can have an immediate and consequential effect on a related event without the unwanted effects resulting from network latency.

Claims

1. A method of compensating for network latency in an online event utilizing a plurality of participants, the method comprising providing an awareness of an action and an initial opportunity to react to the action first to one of the participants acting as an interceptor and, subsequently, providing an awareness of the action to two other ones of the participants acting as an initiator and a receiver.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the method further comprises qualifying one of the participants as the initiator, qualifying one of the participants as the receiver, and qualifying one of the participants as the interceptor;

a reaction by the interceptor results in an outcome signal, which is conveyed to each of the initiator, receiver and interceptor at a specific time for each; and

the outcome signal comprises instructions regarding the time to display the reaction.

3. The method according to claim 2, and further comprising qualifying the initiator, the receiver, and the interceptor.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the receiver has the initial opportunity to react to the reaction.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the qualifying of the initiator comprises determining which participant is in possession of a game object.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the qualifying of the receiver comprises determining to which participant the initiator is attempting to convey a game object.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein the qualifying of an interceptor comprises taking into account one or more of established rules of the game, particular participant parameters defined by the game, and in-game situations.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the method further comprises qualifying all participants in the game as members of either an active group or an awaiting group; and

members of the awaiting group are qualified as members of the active group according to a pre-determined, game-specific formula.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the game comprises at least two teams, and wherein the initiator and the receiver are on the same team.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the providing of an awareness of an action comprises providing a display of an occurrence of an action.

11. A method of compensating for network latency in an online event utilizing participants who during play can assume roles of an initiator, a receiver, and an interceptor, the method comprising:

initiating an action, the action being initiated by an initiator and directed to a receiver;

providing an awareness of the action and an initial opportunity to react to the action first to the interceptor;

providing an awareness of the action to the initiator and the receiver.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein:

the online event requires more than two participants; and

a client structure of the online event utilizes at least one server.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein:

a reaction by the interceptor, following the providing of an awareness of the action to the interceptor, results in an outcome signal; and

the receiver has the initial opportunity to react to the reaction by the interceptor.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein:

the outcome signal is conveyed to each of the initiator, receiver and interceptor at a specific time for each; and

the outcome signal comprises instructions regarding the time to display the reaction.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein:

the initiator is the participant who is in possession of a game object; and

the receiver is the participant to whom the initiator is attempting to convey the game object.

16. A method of compensating for network latency in an online event utilizing a plurality of participants, the method comprising:

detecting an occurrence of an action, which has been instigated by an initiator;

providing an awareness of the action and an initial opportunity to react to the action first to an interceptor; and

providing an awareness of the action to the initiator and to an intended receiver of the action.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein:

the online event requires more than two participants; and

a client structure of the online event utilizes at least one server.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein:

a reaction is made by the interceptor in response to the action; and

the intended receiver has an initial opportunity to respond to the reaction.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein:

the method further comprises qualifying one of the participants as the initiator, qualifying one of the participants as the receiver, and qualifying one of the participants as the interceptor;

the qualifying of the initiator comprises determining a participant that is in possession of a game object; and

the qualifying of a receiver comprises determining to which participant the initiator is attempting to convey a game object.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein a client structure of the online event utilizes at least one server and the online event requires more than two participants.