SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROVIDING LEADERBOARDS FOR MOBILE GAMING IN A WIRELESS NETWORK

• US 20110065511A1
• Filed: 09/03/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: MINCH, David M., MAHAN, Michael P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,616,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5533 using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/558 by assessing the players' skills or ranking
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation

Abstract

A method of receiving a leaderboard associated with a software game executed at a wireless device is provided. The method includes monitoring at least one metric associated with the software game while the software game is played. The method further includes collecting a value of the at least one metric when the game is over and comparing the value of the at least one metric to a device leaderboard. The method additionally includes transmitting the value of the at least one metric to a game server when the value of the at least one metric is a best value when compared to the device leaderboard. The device leaderboard may indicate a ranking of scores achieved by playing the software game at the wireless device in which the software game is executed.

Claims

1. A method of receiving a leaderboard associated with a software game executed at a wireless device, the method comprising:

monitoring at least one metric associated with the software game while the software game is played;

collecting a value of the at least one metric when the game is over;

comparing the value of the at least one metric to a device leaderboard; and

transmitting the value of the at least one metric to a game server when the value of the at least one metric is a best value when compared to the device leaderboard.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device leaderboard indicates a ranking of scores achieved by playing the software game at the wireless device in which the software game is executed.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a global leaderboard from the game server.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the global leaderboard indicates a ranking of scores achieved by a plurality of global users playing the software game provided by the game server.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the global leaderboard indicates a top ten ranking of scores received from a plurality of global users playing the software game provided by the game server.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the global leaderboard further indicates a ranking of the best value received from the wireless device when the best value received from the wireless device is not in the top ten ranking of scores.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one metric is selected from a group comprising a game score, a time to complete a level, a time to finish the game, a character strength, a number of kills, a number of objectives achieved, an amount of money earned, or a combination thereof.

8. A wireless device for receiving a leaderboard associated with a software game executed at the wireless device, the method comprising:

means for monitoring at least one metric associated with the software game while the software game is played;

means for collecting a value of the at least one metric when the game is over;

means for comparing the value of the at least one metric to a device leaderboard; and

means for transmitting the value of the at least one metric to a game server when the value of the at least one metric is a best value when compared to the device leaderboard.

9. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the device leaderboard indicates a ranking of scores achieved by playing the software game at the wireless device in which the software game is executed.

10. The wireless device of claim 8, further comprising:

means for receiving a global leaderboard from the game server.

11. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the global leaderboard indicates a ranking of scores achieved by a plurality of global users playing the software game provided by the game server.

12. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the global leaderboard indicates a top ten ranking of scores received from a plurality of global users playing the software game provided by the game server.

13. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the global leaderboard further indicates a ranking of the best value received from the wireless device when the best value received from the wireless device is not in the top ten ranking of scores.

14. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the at least one metric is selected from a group comprising a game score, a time to complete a level, a time to finish the game, a character strength, a number of kills, a number of objectives achieved, an amount of money earned, or a combination thereof.

15. A wireless device for receiving a leaderboard associated with a software game executed at the wireless device, the wireless device comprising:

a processor, wherein the processor is operable to;

monitor at least one metric associated with the software game while the software game is played;

collect a value of the at least one metric when the game is over;

compare the value of the at least one metric to a device leaderboard; and

transmit the value of the at least one metric to a game server when the value of the at least one metric is a best value when compared to the device leaderboard.

16. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the device leaderboard indicates a ranking of scores achieved by playing the software game at the wireless device in which the software game is executed.

17. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further operable to:

receive a global leaderboard from the game server.

18. The wireless device of claim 17, wherein the global leaderboard indicates a ranking of scores achieved by a plurality of global users playing the software game provided by the game server.

19. The wireless device of claim 17, wherein the global leaderboard indicates a top ten ranking of scores received from a plurality of global users playing the software game provided by the game server.

20. The wireless device of claim 19, wherein the global leaderboard further indicates a ranking of the best value received from the wireless device when the best value received from the wireless device is not in the top ten ranking of scores.

21. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the at least one metric is selected from a group comprising a game score, a time to complete a level, a time to finish the game, a character strength, a number of kills, a number of objectives achieved, an amount of money earned, or a combination thereof.

22. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium, comprising;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to monitor at least one metric associated with the software game while the software game is played;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to collect a value of the at least one metric when the game is over;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to compare the value of the at least one metric to a device leaderboard; and

at least one instruction for causing the computer to transmit the value of the at least one metric to a game server when the value of the at least one metric is a best value when compared to the device leaderboard.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the device leaderboard indicates a ranking of scores achieved by playing the software game at the wireless device in which the software game is executed.

24. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for causing the computer to receive a global leaderboard from the game server.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the global leaderboard indicates a ranking of scores achieved by a plurality of global users playing the software game provided by the game server.

26. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the global leaderboard indicates a top ten ranking of scores received from a plurality of global users playing the software game provided by the game server.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the global leaderboard further indicates a ranking of the best value received from the wireless device when the best value received from the wireless device is not in the top ten ranking of scores.

28. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the at least one metric is selected from a group comprising a game score, a time to complete a level, a time to finish the game, a character strength, a number of kills, a number of objectives achieved, an amount of money earned, or a combination thereof.

29. A method of providing a global leaderboard associated with a software game executed on at least one wireless device, the method comprising:

receiving a value of at least one metric from the at least one wireless device;

comparing the value of the at least one metric to the global leaderboard; and

indicating a ranking of the value of the at least one metric at least partially based on the global leaderboard.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

storing the value of the at least one metric within the global leaderboard.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

transmitting a new global leaderboard to the wireless device with a global ranking at least partially based on all wireless devices associated with the software game.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the new global leaderboard indicates whether the value of the at least one metric is a best value.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the new global leaderboard indicates whether the value of the at least one metric is a top ten value.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the new global leaderboard indicates a top ten ranking of all wireless devices associated with the software game and a ranking of the value of the at least one metric when the value of the at least one metric is not in the top ten.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the at least one metric is selected from a group comprising a game score, a time to complete a level, a time to finish the game, a character strength, a number of kills, a number of objectives achieved, an amount of money earned, or a combination thereof.

36. A server for providing a global leaderboard associated with a software game executed on at least one wireless device, the server comprising:

means for receiving a value of at least one metric from the at least one wireless device;

means for comparing the value of the at least one metric to the global leaderboard; and

means for indicating a ranking of the value of the at least one metric at least partially based on the global leaderboard.

37. The server of claim 36, further comprising:

means for storing the value of the at least one metric within the global leaderboard.

38. The server of claim 37, further comprising:

means for transmitting a new global leaderboard to the wireless device with a global ranking at least partially based on all wireless devices associated with the software game.

39. The server of claim 38, wherein the new global leaderboard indicates whether the value of the at least one metric is a best value.

40. The server of claim 38, wherein the new global leaderboard indicates whether the value of the at least one metric is a top ten value.

41. The server of claim 38, wherein the new global leaderboard indicates a top ten ranking of all wireless devices associated with the software game and a ranking of the value of the at least one metric when the value of the at least one metric is not in the top ten.

42. The server of claim 36, wherein the at least one metric is selected from a group comprising a game score, a time to complete a level, a time to finish the game, a character strength, a number of kills, a number of objectives achieved, an amount of money earned, or a combination thereof.

43. A server for providing a global leaderboard associated with a software game executed on at least one wireless device, the server comprising:

a processor, wherein the processor is operable to;

receive a value of at least one metric from the at least one wireless device;

compare the value of the at least one metric to the global leaderboard; and

indicate a ranking of the value of the at least one metric at least partially based on the global leaderboard.

44. The server of claim 43, wherein the processor is further operable to:

store the value of the at least one metric within the global leaderboard.

45. The server of claim 44, wherein the processor is further operable to:

transmit a new global leaderboard to the wireless device with a global ranking at least partially based on all wireless devices associated with the software game.

46. The server of claim 45, wherein the new global leaderboard indicates whether the value of the at least one metric is a best value.

47. The server of claim 45, wherein the new global leaderboard indicates whether the value of the at least one metric is a top ten value.

48. The server of claim 45, wherein the new global leaderboard indicates a top ten ranking of all wireless devices associated with the software game and a ranking of the value of the at least one metric when the value of the at least one metric is not in the top ten.

49. The server of claim 43, wherein the at least one metric is selected from a group comprising a game score, a time to complete a level, a time to finish the game, a character strength, a number of kills, a number of objectives achieved, an amount of money earned, or a combination thereof.

50. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium, comprising;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to receive a value of at least one metric from at least one wireless device;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to compare the value of the at least one metric to a global leaderboard; and

at least one instruction for causing the computer to indicate a ranking of the value of the at least one metric at least partially based on the global leaderboard.

51. The computer program product of claim 50, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for causing the computer to store the value of the at least one metric within the global leaderboard.

52. The computer program product of claim 51, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for causing the computer to transmit a new global leaderboard to the wireless device with a global ranking at least partially based on all wireless devices associated with the software game.

53. The computer program product of claim 52, wherein the new global leaderboard indicates whether the value of the at least one metric is a best value.

54. The computer program product of claim 52, wherein the new global leaderboard indicates whether the value of the at least one metric is a top ten value.

55. The computer program product of claim 52, wherein the new global leaderboard indicates a top ten ranking of all wireless devices associated with the software game and a ranking of the value of the at least one metric when the value of the at least one metric is not in the top ten.

56. The computer program product of claim 50, wherein the at least one metric is selected from a group comprising a game score, a time to complete a level, a time to finish the game, a character strength, a number of kills, a number of objectives achieved, an amount of money earned, or a combination thereof.