Contextual Gamer Options Menu

• US 20080248845A1
• Filed: 04/06/2007
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Johnson, Jerry Alan, Morgan, Henry Paul, Shaw, David Raymond
• Application Number:
  US11/697,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20080248845A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/1
• 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 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting

Abstract

A dynamically configurable contextual gamer options menu provides options to online game players. The game options are determined as a function of the game being played and relationships between game players. Game options are updated, added, and/or deleted dynamically as relationships and context change.

Claims

1. A method for specifying game options, the method comprising dynamically specifying a menu comprising at least one game option in accordance with a relationship between a first game player and at least a second game player, wherein:

the at least one game option is dynamically changeable as the relationship changes; and

the at least one game option is specified by a game application.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising providing a displayable indication representing each respective one of the at least one game option, wherein:

a number of displayable indications is in accordance with the relationship; and

the number of displayable indications is dynamically changeable as the relationship changes.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the game application a notification of an occurrence of a user interface event;

obtaining, by the game application, relationship information related to the user interface event;

determining, by the game application, if a game option pertaining to the relationship information is to be specified; and

if a game option pertaining to the relationship information is to be specified, specifying the game option pertaining to the relationship information.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a game option from the at least one game option;

receiving, by the game application, an indication of the selected game option;

determining, by the game application, an action related to the selected game option; and

performing, by the game application, the determined action.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

rendering to the first player a profile of the second player; and

rendering at least one of the at least one game option in accordance with the profile,

wherein the at least one or the at least one game option is dynamically changeable as the profile changes.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the at least one game option is further in accordance with a game being played; and

the at least one game option is dynamically changeable as the game changes.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

if the second player is not a member of a group, one of the at least one game options comprises a game option to invite the second player to join the group; and

if the second player is a member of a group, a game option comprising an invitation to join the group is not rendered.

8. A system for specifying game options, the system comprising:

a processing portion configured to;

determine a relationship between a first game player and at least a second game player; and

determine at least one game option in accordance with the relationship; and

a display portion configured to dynamically render a menu comprising the at least one game option, wherein the at least one game option is dynamically changeable as the relationship changes.

9. A system in accordance with claim 8, further configured to render, via the display portion, a displayable indication representing each respective one of the at least one game option, wherein:

a number of displayable indications rendered is in accordance with the relationship; and

the number of displayable indication is dynamically changeable as the relationship changes.

10. A system in accordance with claim 8, the processing portion further configured to execute a game application, wherein the game application is configured to:

receive a notification of an occurrence of a user interface event;

obtain relationship information related to the user interface event;

determine if a game option pertaining to the relationship information is to be specified; and

if a game option pertaining to the relationship information is to be specified, render, via the display portion, the game option pertaining to the relationship information.

11. A system in accordance with claim 8, the processing portion further configured to:

select a game option from the at least one game option;

provide, to the game application, an indication of the selected game option;

determine, via the game application, an action related to the selected game option; and

perform, by the game application, the determined action.

12. A system in accordance with claim 8, further configured to:

render, via the display portion, to the first player a profile of the second player; and

render, via the display portion, at least one of the at least one game option in accordance with the profile, wherein the at least one or the at least one game option is dynamically changeable as the profile changes.

13. A system in accordance with claim 8, wherein:

the at least one game option is further in accordance with a game being played; and

the at least one game option is dynamically changeable as the game changes.

14. A system in accordance with claim 8, wherein:

if the second player is not a member of a group, one of the at least one options comprises an option to invite the second player to join the group; and

if the second player is a member of a group, an option comprising an invitation to join the group is not rendered.

15. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instruction for dynamically specifying a menu comprising at least one game option in accordance with a relationship between a first game player and at least a second game player, wherein the at least one game option is dynamically changeable as the relationship changes.

16. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 15, the computer-executable instructions further for specifying a displayable indication representing each respective one of the at least one game option, wherein:

a number of displayable indications rendered is in accordance with the relationship; and

the number of displayable indication is dynamically changeable as the relationship changes.

17. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 15, the computer-executable instructions further for:

providing to the first player a profile of the second player; and

providing at least one of the at least one game option in accordance with the profile,

wherein the at least one or the at least one game option is dynamically changeable as the profile changes.

18. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 15, wherein:

the at least one game option is further in accordance with a game being played; and

the at least one option is dynamically changeable as the game changes.

19. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 15, wherein:

if the second player is not a member of a group, one of the at least one game options comprises a game option to invite the second player to join the group; and

if the second player is a member of a group, a game option comprising an invitation to join the group is not rendered.

20. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 15, the computer-executable instructions further for:

receiving, by the game application a notification of an occurrence of a user interface event;

obtaining, by the game application, relationship information related to the user interface event;

determining, by the game application, if a game option pertaining to the relationship information is to be specified; and

if a game option pertaining to the relationship information is to be specified, specifying the game option pertaining to the relationship information.