Method, Apparatus, System, Medium, and Signals for Supporting Game Piece Movement in a Multiple-Party Communication
First Claim
1. A method for moving game piece images displayed on a first client computer in communication with a server in a computer network, the method comprising:
- causing at least one game piece image to be displayed on a display area of the first client computer, said game piece image having an image area and an image boundary enclosing said image area;
receiving a cursor movement signal representing a cursor movement produced in response to user input received from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer;
determining whether a current position of said cursor is within said image boundary associated with said game piece image;
transmitting a piece movement request message to the server to elicit a piece movement message from the server when said current position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message representing a desired change in a position of a cursor in response to said cursor movement signal;
receiving said piece movement message at the first client computer, said piece movement message representing said change in said position of said cursor; and
causing a change in a position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer in response to said piece movement message.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, apparatus and methods related to multiple-party communications conducted between client computers in a computer network. For example, a method and apparatus for moving game piece images displayed on a first client computer in communication with a server in a computer network are disclosed. The method involves causing at least one game piece image to be displayed on a display area of the first client computer, the game piece image having an image area and an image boundary enclosing the image area. The method also involves receiving a cursor movement signal representing a cursor movement produced in response to user input received from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer, and determining whether a current position of the cursor is within the image boundary associated with the game piece image. The method further involves transmitting a piece movement request message to the server to elicit a piece movement message from the server when the current position of the cursor is within the image boundary, the piece movement request message representing a desired change in a position of a cursor in response to the cursor movement signal. The method also involves receiving the piece movement message at the first client computer, the piece movement message representing the change in the position of the cursor, and causing a change in a position of the game piece image on the display area of the first client computer in response to the piece movement message.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method for moving game piece images displayed on a first client computer in communication with a server in a computer network, the method comprising:
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causing at least one game piece image to be displayed on a display area of the first client computer, said game piece image having an image area and an image boundary enclosing said image area; receiving a cursor movement signal representing a cursor movement produced in response to user input received from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer; determining whether a current position of said cursor is within said image boundary associated with said game piece image; transmitting a piece movement request message to the server to elicit a piece movement message from the server when said current position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message representing a desired change in a position of a cursor in response to said cursor movement signal; receiving said piece movement message at the first client computer, said piece movement message representing said change in said position of said cursor; and causing a change in a position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer in response to said piece movement message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for moving game piece images displayed on a first client computer in communication with a server in a computer network, the apparatus comprising:
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means for causing at least one game piece image to be displayed on a display area of the first client computer, said game piece image having an image area and an image boundary enclosing said image area; means for receiving a cursor movement signal representing a cursor movement produced in response to user input received from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer; means for determining whether a current position of said cursor is within said image boundary associated with said game piece image; means for transmitting a piece movement request message to the server to elicit a piece movement message from the server when said current position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message representing a desired change in a position of a cursor in response to said cursor movement signal; means for receiving said piece movement message at the first client computer, said piece movement message representing said change in said position of said cursor; and means for causing a change in a position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer in response to said piece movement message. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for moving game piece images displayed on a first client computer in communication with a server in a computer network, the apparatus comprising a processor circuit operably configured to:
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cause at least one game piece image to be displayed on a display area of the first client computer, said game piece image having an image area and an image boundary enclosing said image area; receive a cursor movement signal representing a cursor movement produced in response to user input received from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer; determine whether a current position of said cursor is within said image boundary associated with said game piece image; transmit a piece movement request message to the server to elicit a piece movement message from the server when said current position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message representing a desired change in a position of a cursor in response to said cursor movement signal; receive said piece movement message at the first client computer, said piece movement message representing said change in said position of said cursor; and cause a change in a position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer in response to said piece movement message. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A computer readable medium encoded with codes for directing a processor circuit to move game piece images displayed on a first client computer in communication with a server in a computer network, said codes directing the processor circuit to:
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cause at least one game piece image to be displayed on a display area of the first client computer, said game piece image having an image area and an image boundary enclosing said image area; receive a cursor movement signal representing a cursor movement produced in response to user input received from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer; determine whether a current position of said cursor is within said image boundary associated with said game piece image; transmit a piece movement request message to the server to elicit a piece movement message from the server when said current position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message representing a change in a position of a cursor in response to said cursor movement signal; receive said piece movement message at the first client computer, said piece movement message representing said change in said position of said cursor; and cause a change in a position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer in response to said piece movement message.
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26. A computer readable signal encoded with codes for directing a processor circuit to move game piece images displayed on a first client computer in communication with a server in a computer network, said codes directing the processor circuit to:
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cause at least one game piece image to be displayed on a display area of the first client computer, said game piece image having an image area and an image boundary enclosing said image area; receive a cursor movement signal representing a cursor movement produced in response to user input received from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer; determine whether a current position of said cursor is within said image boundary associated with said game piece image; transmit a piece movement request message to the server to elicit a piece movement message from the server when said current position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message representing a change in a position of a cursor in response to said cursor movement signal; receive said piece movement message at the first client computer, said piece movement message representing said change in said position of said cursor; and cause a change in a position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer in response to said piece movement message.
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27. A method for supporting movement of game piece images displayed on first and second client computers in communication with a server in a computer network, the method comprising:
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receiving a piece movement request message at the server from one of the first and second client computers, said piece movement request message representing a desired change in a position of a game piece image displayed on respective display areas of said first and second client computers; and transmitting a piece movement message representing said desired change in said position of said game piece image to each of the first and second client computers when said desired change meets a criterion. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An apparatus for supporting movement of game piece images displayed on first and second client computers in communication with a server in a computer network, the apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving a piece movement request message at the server from one of the first and second client computers, said piece movement request message representing a desired change in a position of a game piece image displayed on respective display areas of said first and second client computers; and means for transmitting a piece movement message representing said desired change in said position of said game piece image to each of the first and second client computers when said desired change meets a criterion. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An apparatus for supporting movement of game piece images displayed on first and second client computers in communication with a server in a computer network, the apparatus comprising a processor circuit operably configured to:
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receive a piece movement request message at the server from one of the first and second client computers, said piece movement request message representing a desired change in a position of a game piece image displayed on respective display areas of said first and second client computers; and transmit a piece movement message representing said desired change in said position of said game piece image to each of the first and second client computers when said desired change meets a criterion. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A computer readable medium encoded with codes for directing a processor circuit to support movement of game piece images displayed on first and second client computers in communication with a server in a computer network, said codes directing the processor circuit to:
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receive a piece movement request message at the server from one of the first and second client computers, said piece movement request message representing a desired change in a position of a game piece image displayed on respective display areas of said first and second client computers; and transmit a piece movement message representing said desired change in said position of said game piece image to each of the first and second client computers when said desired change meets a criterion.
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46. A computer readable signal encoded with codes for directing a processor circuit to support movement of game piece images displayed on first and second client computers in communication with a server in a computer network, said codes directing the processor circuit to:
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receive a piece movement request message at the server from one of the first and second client computers, said piece movement request message representing a desired change in a position of a game piece image displayed on respective display areas of said first and second client computers; and transmit a piece movement message representing said desired change in said position of said game piece image to each of the first and second client computers when said desired change meets a criterion.
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47. A system for moving game piece images displayed on a first client computer in communication with a server in a computer network, the system comprising:
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a client processor circuit operably configured to; cause at least one game piece image to be displayed on a display area of the first client computer, said game piece image having an image area and an image boundary enclosing said image area; receive a cursor movement signal representing a cursor movement produced in response to user input received from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer; determine whether a current position of said cursor is within said image boundary associated with said game piece image; transmit a piece movement request message to the server to elicit a piece movement message from the server when said current position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message representing a desired change in a position of a cursor in response to said cursor movement signal; a server processor circuit operably configured to; receive said piece movement request message at the server from the first client computer; transmit a piece movement message representing said desired change in said position of said game piece image to the first client computer when said desired change meets a criterion; and wherein said client processor circuit is operably configured to receive said piece movement message; and cause a change in a position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer in response to said piece movement message.
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Specification