Method of and System for Virtual Mobile Game Session Discovery and Player Matching

• US 20090047982A1
• Filed: 08/16/2007
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Shi, Weidong, Hans, Mathieu C., Ferrans, James C., Engelsma, Jonathan R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,233,916 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/34 using peer-to-peer connections
• 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 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/408 Peer to peer connection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/534 for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/556 Player lists, e.g. online players, buddy list, black list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5566 by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 : according to signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 : detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system for establishing multi-party wireless game sessions includes a game session broker and at least two wireless units. Each wireless unit includes a first wireless device having relatively low power consumption and a second wireless device having relatively high power consumption. The game session broker is configured to receive a session ready message that includes location information for a first player and search for a second player having location information matching the location information for the first player. Upon finding a matching player, the game session broker sends session available messages to the wireless units associated with the first and second players. Session ready messages are sent and session available message are received using the first wireless devices. Upon receiving the session available message, the first and second players can establish a wireless game session using their respective second wireless devices. Preferably, the second wireless devices are maintained powered-off until a session available message is received.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a multiparty wireless interactive session, which comprises:

sending a session ready message to a session broker using a first wireless device, said session ready message including location information;

receiving a session available message from said session broker using said first wireless device; and

,

in response to receiving said session available message, initiating a session using a second wireless device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first wireless device consumes less power than said second wireless device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first wireless device includes a cellular telephone radio.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second wireless device includes a wireless local area network radio.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said location information includes proximity information with respect to at least one wireless local area network access point.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said proximity information includes strength of a signal received from said access point.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said location information includes a GPS position.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, including:

powering-off said second wireless device prior to receiving said session available message.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, including:

powering-on said second wireless device in response to receiving said session available message.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, including, prior to sending said session ready message:

powering-on said second wireless device;

obtaining said location information using said second wireless device; and

,

powering-off said second wireless device.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, including:

maintaining said second wireless device in powered-off condition during at least a portion of a time interval between sending said session ready message and receiving said session available message.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, including:

sending a new session ready message to said session broker using a first wireless device when said location information changes.

5. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second wireless device includes a Bluetooth radio.

14. An interactive wireless device, which comprises:

a first radio having a first power consumption;

a second radio having a second power consumption, said second power consumption being greater than said first power consumption;

means for sending a session ready message to a session broker using said first radio;

means for receiving a session available message from said session broker using said first radio; and

,

means responsive to receiving said session available message for establishing a multiparty wireless session using said second radio.

15. The game device as claimed in claim 14, including:

means for obtaining location information; and

,

means for including said location information in said session ready message.

16. The game device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said means for obtaining location information includes a GPS receiver.

17. The game device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said means for obtaining location information means for measuring a signal strength using said second radio.

18. The game device as claimed in claim 15, including:

means for powering on said second radio in response to receiving said session available message.

19. A session broker, which comprises:

an interface to a wireless telephone system;

means for receiving a session ready message from a first wireless unit via said interface to said wireless telephone system, said session ready message including location information for said first wireless unit;

means for finding a second wireless unit having a location matching the location of said first wireless unit; and

,

means for sending, via said interface to said wireless telephone system, a session available message to said first and second wireless units.