SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TWO WAY COMMUNICATION AND CONTROLLING CONTENT IN A GAME

• US 20110219130A1
• Filed: 03/07/2011
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infrared5, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Brass Monkey, Inc.
• Inventors: Accattato, Dominik, Allen, Christopher, Zupko, Andrew, Burton, Trevor
• Granted Patent: US 8,171,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2567 for reachability, e.g. inquiring the address of a correspondent behind a NAT server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

A method for two way communication and control of a game may include executing, by a host device in communication with a computer network, a game application within a web browser. A communication channel is established over the computer network and between the game application and a controller application running on an endpoint device. Data is sent over the communication channel for controlling and playing the game application within the game application. A system for two way communication and control of a game is also provided.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a game, the method comprising:

executing, by a host device in communication with a computer network, a game application within a web browser;

determining, by a server device, whether the game application and a controller application executing on an endpoint device are compatible with each other;

if compatibility is determined, establishing, by the controller application, the game application, or both, a direct communication channel over the computer network between the game application and the controller application; and

sending data, by the controller application, the game application, or both, to one another over the communication channel for controlling and playing the game application within the web browser.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of establishing the communication channel includes opening at least two socket connections between the host device and the endpoint device.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the step of opening includes creating a first socket connection for transmitting loss sensitive data.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the step of creating includes actualizing a TCP connection.

5. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the step of creating includes delivering, over the first socket connection, one or more of:

game control data;

button press data;

game initialization data; and

game controller initialization data.

6. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the step of establishing includes creating a second socket connection for transmitting loss tolerant data.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the step of creating includes actualizing a UDP connection.

8. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the step of creating includes delivering, over the second socket connection, one or more of:

accelerometer data;

video data;

audio data; and

vibration command data.

9. A system for controlling a game within a web browser, the system comprising:

a server device determining whether a game application and a controller application are compatible with each other;

a host device executing the game application within a web browser upon activation of the game application;

an endpoint device communicating at least once with the host device over a computer network and executing the controller application upon activation of the controller application; and

a direct communication channel established, if it is determined that the game application and the controller application are compatible, over the computer network between the host device and the endpoint device to carry data configured for controlling and playing the game application within the web browser.

10. A system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the communication channel includes at least two socket connections.

11. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the first socket connection is configured to carry loss-sensitive data, and the game data sent over the first socket connection is loss-sensitive data.

12. A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the first socket connection is a TCP connection.

13. A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the loss sensitive data includes one or more of:

game control data;

button press data;

game initialization data; and

game controller initialization data.

14. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the second socket connection is configured to carry loss tolerant data, and the game data sent over the second socket connection is loss tolerant data.

15. A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein the second socket connection is a UDP connection.

16. A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein the loss tolerant data includes one or more of:

accelerometer data;

video data;

audio data; and

vibration command data.

17. A method of controlling a game within a web browser, the method comprising:

executing, by a host device, a game application within a web browser;

running, by an endpoint device, a controller application configured to communicate with the game application;

determining, by a server device, whether the game application and the controller application are compatible with each other;

if compatibility is determined, establishing, over a computer network, a TCP socket connection and a UDP socket connection between the game application and the controller application; and

sending, by the game application, the controller application, or both, loss-sensitive game data over the TCP socket and loss-tolerant game data over the UDP socket.