Discovery and Distribution of Game Session Information

• US 20100317430A1
• Filed: 08/24/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: VanAntwerp, Mark D., Newson, Paul E., Multerer, Boyd C., Morais, Dinarte R., Anderson, Darren L., Koikawa, Mitsuo
• Application Number:
  US12/862,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20100317430A1
• 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 13/335 using Internet
• 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 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity

Abstract

Discovery and distribution of game session security information includes receiving a request to generate a new game session from a computing device and maintaining a record of a game session identifier for the new game session and a game session key for the new game session, and making the new game session available for other computing devices to join. A request for information describing one or more of a plurality of game sessions may also be received and responded to with the information describing the one or more game sessions as well as a session key that can be used to communicate with at least one of the one or more other computing devices that are part of the game session.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, from a computing device, a request for information including a parameter describing a game session including a skill level of the game session, the game session being hosted by one or more other computing devices and the game session being currently available for play; and

responding to the request with the information including a parameter describing the game session including the skill level of the game session and a game session key enabling secure communication for the computing device with at least one of the one or more other computing devices that are part of the game session.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises a game console.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the computing device and the at least one of the one or more other computing devices comprise different types of computing devices.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, the parameter describing the game session including a game session ID.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein responding to the request comprises returning to the computing device information allowing the computing device to join the game session hosted by the one or more other hosting computing devices.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the computing device and the one or more other hosting computing device are situated behind different network address translation (NAT) devices.

7. A computer-readable media having computer instructions encoded thereon, the computer readable instructions, upon execution by a processor, configuring the processor to perform the method of claim 1.

8. A method comprising:

requesting information describing one or more of a plurality of game sessions;

receiving the information describing the one or more of the plurality of game sessions, the information including;

an identifier of a game being hosted at a computing device;

a fully qualified address of the computing device hosting the game;

one or more game session keys associated respectively with the one or more of the plurality of game sessions, wherein;

the one or more game session keys is for secure communication with the computing device hosting the game; and

the one or more game session keys facilitate another computing device playing the game hosted at the computing device without communication from the another computing device associated with the game being routed through a server device.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the computing device comprises a game console.

10. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the another computing device comprises a game console.

11. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the one or more game session keys is created at the computing device.

12. A method as recited in claim 8, the information further including a skill level of the game being hosted at the computing device.

13. A computer-readable media having computer instructions encoded thereon, the computer readable instructions, upon execution by a processor, configuring the processor to perform the method of claim 8.

14. A computing device configured to perform the method of claim 8.

17. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the another computing device comprises a game console.

18. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the one or more game session keys is created at the computing device hosting the game.

15. A method comprising:

sending information describing a game session, the information comprising;

an identifier of a game being hosted at a computing device;

a fully qualified address of the computing device hosting the game;

a number of slots configured to be filled by other computing devices to join the game during the game session;

receiving a request from another computing device to join the game; and

utilizing a session key associated with the game session for game play, wherein the session key is for secure communication between the computing device hosting the game and the another computing device without the communication from the another computing device associated with the game being routed through a server device.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the computing device hosting the game comprises a game console.

19. A method as recited in claim 15, the information further comprising a skill level of the game session.

20. A computer-readable media having computer instructions encoded thereon, the computer readable instructions, upon execution by a processor, configuring the processor to perform the method of claim 15.