CONNECTED GAMING

• US 20090163272A1
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Baker, Nicholas Robert, Wong, Curtis G., Drucker, Steven, Yee, Dawson, Sloo, David Hendler, Allard, James E., Alles, David Sebastien, Holmdahl, Todd Eric, VanAntwerp, Mark D., Berns, Adam Tipton
• Application Number:
  US11/963,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20090163272A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• 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 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• 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 13/847 Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/209 characterized by low level software layer, relating to hardware management, e.g. Operating System, Application Programming Interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided that facilitate a connected gaming experience for multiple players utilizing multiple disparate devices. A game service affords playing a game over a communication framework which can include wired and wireless local area and wide area networks, as well as access to a global positioning system. The game service allows users to play a game in multiple devices, seamlessly switching devices at desired times and locations. In addition, the game service affords community-driven development of a game, as well as customization, through the communication framework. The latter also facilitates exchange of various contents among players, and between a player and the game service: (a) news, (b) advertising, (c) alerts, and (d) participant'"'"'s real-world positioning information. Real-world embedding into a game is facilitated by the game service in combination with global tracking information received through the communication framework.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system that facilitates a connected gaming experience among multiple users and a plurality of devices containing a first device and a second device, the system comprising:

a registration component that registers the first device, the registration component registers the second device;

an optimization component that optimizes a code of a game for gameplay in the first registered device;

a virtualization component that executes the optimized game on a virtual instance of the first registered device and delivers content of the game to the first registered device, said virtualization component facilitates switching gameplay from the first registered device to the second registered device; and

the optimization component optimizes the code of the game for gameplay in the second registered device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a code management component that reduces a plurality of classes and associated metadata in the game'"'"'s code to a plurality of device-independent code assemblies that provide gameplay and game features.

3. The system of claim 2, the code management component comprises a compilation component that compiles the code assemblies associated with the game'"'"'s code.

4. The system of claim 1, the registration component further comprises a security component that registers a player and collects information that characterizes the player.

5. The system of claim 4, the security component further authenticates a registered player, wherein the authentication employs at least one of an encrypted password, a voice signature, or a sound sequence.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a customization component that allows to modify a game, the customization component comprising a set of development tools accessible through the device associated with the player.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the content of the game is delivered to the first device and second device through a communication framework that comprises at least one of a local area network, a wide area network, and a global positioning system.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the communication framework facilitates to convey a development to the game by a set of registered players and to receive feedback on the development from a set of registered test players.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the communications framework facilitates to identify a real-world location of the player, and the game content delivered to the device associated with the player incorporates space context retrieved from a location in proximity to the player.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the communication framework facilitates to convey real-world location information of a set of associates related to the player, and facilitates to communicate with a member of the set of associates.

11. A computer-implemented method for playing a game within a connected gaming environment, the method comprising:

registering a device in a remote game service for playing a game stored thereon;

optimizing a code of the game for the resources available to the registered device;

conveying audiovisual elements of the optimized game to the registered device; and

receiving a gameplay from the registered device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

initiating the game stored in the remote game service in a first device at a first time in a first location;

switching to a second device at a second time and continuing the game; and

switching to a second location and continuing the game at the second device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein switching to a second device at a second time and continuing the game includes making a pause before continuing the game.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

conveying a change for the game stored in the remote game service, wherein the change can be based at least in part on resources provided by the remote game service;

receiving feedback on the conveyed change from a set of test players and the remote game service; and

committing the conveyed change, if the conveyed change is accepted, or revising the conveyed change otherwise.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the change is directed toward one or more layers of game design, and conveyed in real time.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving feedback on the conveyed change from a set of test players and the remote game service includes at least one of a supplementary change that promotes game consistency, or an enhancement to the conveyed change according to a game community profile.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

engaging a set of players to play a collaborative game hosted in the remote game service; and

conveying a gameplay correlated with a set of gameplays conveyed by disparate players within the set of player to advance the collaborative game'"'"'s mission.

18. The method of claim 16, engaging the set of players includes conveying at least one of a short message service communication, a peer-to-peer instant message, or a voice over internet protocol call.

19. A system that operates in a connected gaming environment, the system comprising:

means for collecting positioning information of a player that is playing a game hosted by a computer-implemented game service;

means for identifying a real-world display medium in proximity to the player;

means gathering information on the real-world area surrounding the display medium;

means for incorporating the real-world information into the game; and

means for carrying out gameplay of the modified game in the real-world embedded display.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for receiving a request for a real-world location information of a set of players in a game community;

means for collecting the requested real-world location information; and

means for conveying the requested real-world location information for display on a registered device of player that belongs to the game community.