Method and system for implementing a single user computer application in a multi-user session

• US 20090187834A1
• Filed: 01/17/2008
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Jones, Allan, Rapo, Andrew, Yanover, Paul, Parkis, Steven, Thomes, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US12/009,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20090187834A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/758
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• 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 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/57 details of game services offered to the player
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

There is provided a method of implementing a single user computer application in a multi-user session comprising receiving a request to access the single user computer application, opening a first multi-user session, tolling a pre-run phase of the first multi-user session, and initiating a run phase during which concurrent running of the single user computer application by each user in a multi-user pool is monitored and data corresponding to a performance of every user is provided to each user. A system for implementing a single user computer application in a multi-user session comprises a multi-user implementation server, a single user computer application database including the single user computer application, a multi-user shell application configured to provide an interface between the single user computer application and a multi-user control application capable of coordinating concurrently running the single user computer application by every user in a multi-user pool.

Claims

1. A method of implementing a single user computer application in a multi-user session, the method comprising:

receiving a first initial request to access the single user computer application from a first user;

opening a first multi-user session;

tolling a pre-run phase of the first multi-user session during which a multi-user pool is determined, the multi-user pool including the first user and one or more users joined during the pre-run phase; and

initiating a run phase of the first multi-user session during which concurrent running of the single user computer application by each user in the multi-user pool is monitored, and data corresponding to a performance of every user in the multi-user pool is provided to each user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data corresponding to the performance of every user in the multi-user pool comprises a real-time score of every user in the multi-user pool.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising terminating the run phase.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the terminating the run phase occurs after a predetermined runtime.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising closing the first multi-user session and providing each user with final data corresponding to a total first multi-user session performance of every user in the multi-user pool.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the final data corresponding to the total first multi-user session performance of every user in the multi-user pool comprises a final score of every user in the multi-user pool.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising opening a subsequent multi-user session when a subsequent initial request to access the single user computer application is received.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising hosting an online chat for the users joined in the multi-user pool during the pre-run phase.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the single user computer application comprises entertainment content.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the single user computer application implemented in a multi-user session comprises a single player game implemented in multi-player game session.

11. A system for implementing a single user computer application in a multi-user session, the system comprising:

a multi-user implementation server;

a single user computer application database stored on the multi-user implementation server, the single user computer application database including the single user computer application;

a multi-user shell application configured to provide an interface between the single user computer application and a multi-user control application; and

the multi-user control application located on the multi-user implementation server, the multi-user control application capable of coordinating concurrently running the single user computer application by every user included in a multi-user pool, thereby implementing the single user computer application in the multi-user session.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the single user computer application comprises entertainment content.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the single user computer application implemented in a multi-user session comprises a single player game implemented in multi-player game session.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the multi-user control application performs functions comprising:

receiving a first initial request to access the single user computer application from a first user;

opening a first multi-user session;

tolling a pre-run phase of the first multi-user session during which the multi-user pool is determined, the multi-user pool including the first user and one or more users joined during the pre-run phase; and

initiating a run phase of the first multi-user session during which concurrent running of the single user computer application by each user in the multi-user pool is monitored, and data corresponding to a performance of every user in the multi-user pool is provided to each user.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the data corresponding to the performance of every user in the multi-user pool comprises a real-time score of every user in the multi-user pool.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the functions performed by the multi-user control application further comprise terminating the run phase after a predetermined runtime.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the functions performed by the multi-user control application further comprise closing the first multi-user session and providing each user with final data corresponding to a total first multi-user session performance of every user in the multi-user pool.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the final data corresponding to the total first multi-user session performance of every user in the multi-user pool comprises a final score of every user in the multi-user pool.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the functions performed by the multi-user control application further comprise opening a subsequent multi-user session when a subsequent initial request to access the single user computer application is received.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the functions performed by the multi-user control application further comprise hosting an online chat for the users joined in the multi-user pool during the pre-run phase.