Method for monitoring computer programs

• US 20130072306A1
• Filed: 07/26/2012
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cyber Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cyber Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Parnprome, Nipoj
• Granted Patent: US 8,529,343 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/75 Enforcing rules, e.g. detecting foul play or generating lists of cheating 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 2300/209 characterized by low level software layer, relating to hardware management, e.g. Operating System, Application Programming Interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/535 for monitoring, e.g. of user parameters, terminal parameters, application parameters, network parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5586 for enforcing rights or rules, e.g. to prevent foul play
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/52 during program execution, e.g. stack integrity ; Preventing unwanted data erasure; Buffer overflow
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/53 by executing in a restricted environment, e.g. sandbox or secure virtual machine

Abstract

As disclosed in this patent disclosure, I have invented a method for substantially disabling at least one cheat program, referred to as the anti-cheat software, used in conjunction with at least one online competitive game program involving at least two players, each player using at least one computer that are in online communication with each other. My invention allows the players'"'"' remote terminal to continue to function and operate independent of the host server, while at the same time having the host server, in conjunction with the anti-cheat software, substantially disable programs not required to operate the remote terminal and not required to play the online game—the programs that are substantially disabled may or may not be “cheat programs”, but essentially any program not required for the operation of the remote terminal and the online game.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring at least one online competitive game program involving at least two players, each player using at least one computer that are in online communication with each other, comprising the steps of:

(a) running, via a first remote terminal, an online competitive game program;

(b) running, via a second remote terminal, the online competitive game program of Step 1;

(c) said first remote terminal and said second remote terminal accessing the address of a host server, wherein said host server comprises at least one anti-cheat program;

(d) upon the access of Step 3, said anti-cheat program scanning the task manager of said first remote terminal and scanning the task manager of said second remote terminal;

(e) determining, via said anti-cheat software, all programs, processes and sub-processes running on said first remote terminal and said second remote terminal;

(f) determining, via said anti-cheat program, if the programs, processes and sub-processes determined in Step (e) are core systems programs;

(g) determining, via said anti-cheat program, if the programs, processes and sub-processes determined in Step (e) are the online competitive game program of Step (a) and Step (b);

(h) identifying, via the anti-cheat program, programs that are not determined to be the system programs, processes and sub-processes of Step (f), and programs, processes and sub-processes that are not determined to be the online competitive program of Step (g).

2. The method of claim 1 wherein Steps (a) though (h) inclusive, are repeated at least once.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising Step (i), substantially disabling, via the anti-cheat program, programs that are not determined to be the system programs, processes and sub-processes of Step (f), and programs, processes and sub-processes that are not determined to be the online competitive program of Step (g).

4. The method of claim 2 wherein following the repeat of Steps (a) through Steps (h), inclusive, further comprising Step (g), substantially disabling, via the anti-cheat program, programs that are not determined to be the system programs, processes and sub-processes of Step (f), and programs, processes and sub-processes that are not determined to be the online competitive program of Step (g).

5. A computer software product for monitoring at least one online competitive game program involving at least two players, each player using at least one computer that are in online communication with each other, each player using a competitive game program wherein each said programs provide substantially the same game, the product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, the instructions comprising a monitoring program for installation in each of said player'"'"'s remote terminals that are in online communication with each other, wherein said instructions comprise:

(a) scanning the task manager of said first remote terminal and scanning the task manager of said second remote terminal;

(b) determining all programs, processes and sub-processes running on said first remote terminal and said second remote terminal;

(c) determining if the programs, processes and sub-processes determined in Step (b) are core systems programs;

(d) determining if the programs, processes and sub-processes determined in Step (b) are competitive game programs;

(e) identifying programs that are not determined to be the system programs, processes and sub-processes of Step (c), and programs, processes and sub-processes that are not determined to be the online competitive program of Step (d).

6. The product of claim 5 further comprising an instruction for substantially disabling programs that are not determined to be the system programs, processes and sub-processes of Step (c), and programs, processes and sub-processes that are not determined to be the online competitive program of Step (d).

7. A computer software product for monitoring at least one online competitive game program involving at least two players, each player using at least one computer that are in online communication with each other, each player using a competitive game program wherein each said programs provide substantially the same game, the product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, the instructions comprising a monitoring program for installation in each of said player'"'"'s remote terminals that are in online communication with each other, wherein said instructions comprise:

(a) scanning the task manager of said first remote terminal and scanning the task manager of said second remote terminal;

(b) determining all programs, processes and sub-processes running on said first remote terminal and said second remote terminal;

(c) determining if the programs, processes and sub-processes determined in Step (b) are core systems programs;

(d) determining if the programs, processes and sub-processes determined in Step (b) are competitive game programs;

(e) identifying programs that are not determined to be the system programs, processes and sub-processes of Step (c), and programs, processes and sub-processes that are not determined to be the online competitive program of Step (d); and

(f) substantially disabling programs that are not determined to be the system programs, processes and sub-processes of Step (c), and programs, processes and sub-processes that are not determined to be the online competitive program of Step (d).