SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING APPLICATION INTEGRITY

• US 20090111583A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Harris, Adam, Zalewski, Gary
• Application Number:
  US11/932,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20090111583A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/497 Partially or entirely replaying previous game actions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/75 Enforcing rules, e.g. detecting foul play or generating lists of cheating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/535 for monitoring, e.g. of user parameters, terminal parameters, application parameters, network parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5586 for enforcing rights or rules, e.g. to prevent foul play
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/634 for replaying partially or entirely the game actions since the beginning of the game

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and techniques for improving an integrity of an online game include engaging in an online game session by a tester. The tester observing unexpected operation of the online game and pressing a triggering mechanism in response to the unexpected operation. Then capturing a time-based history of the online game session, and communicating the time-based history to a network entity where it is determined if the online game operation malfunctioned.

Claims

1. A method for improving an integrity of an application, the method comprising:

interacting with the application;

observing unexpected operation of the application;

activating a triggering mechanism in response to the unexpected operation;

capturing a time-based history of the application session; and

communicating the time-based history to a network entity for evaluation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the application comprises an online game.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein capturing the time-based history of the application session comprises capturing online game session activity that occurred a predetermined amount of time before the triggering mechanism is pressed.

4. The method of claim 2, further testing the online game.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein activating a triggering mechanism comprises pressing a panic button.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein observing unexpected operation of the application comprises observing a glitch in the operation of the application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the network entity comprises a server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the time-based history comprises transmitting the time-based history over a local area network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the time-based history comprises transmitting the time-based history over a wide area network.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the wide area network comprises the Internet.

11. A method of testing an online game, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of a triggering mechanism being activated in response to unexpected operation of an online game;

receiving a time-based history of online game activity around a time of the triggering mechanism being activated;

recreating game activity from the time-based history; and

evaluating the game activity to determine if there is a malfunction in the operation of the game.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising troubleshooting the malfunction in the operation of the game.

13. An online game test unit comprising:

a triggering mechanism;

a processor that captures a time-based history of game activity when the triggering mechanism is activated;

a network interface that transmits the time-based history to a network entity, the network entity determines if there is a malfunction in the operation of the online game.