Game Execution Environments
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An application execution environment comprising:
- a local manager configured to establish a virtual I/O shell around an executable application, the virtual I/O shell configured to appear as a local hardware or software device to the executable application;
a virtual sound channel driver configured to redirect sound received from the executable application to the local manager and optionally to provide sound from the local manager to the executable application, the virtual sound channel driver having an API to the executable application that is included in the virtual I/O shell and is configured to simulate one or more local hardware or software sound devices;
a virtual video channel driver configured to redirect video data received from the executable application and optionally to provide video data from the local manager to the executable application, the virtual video channel driver having an API to the executable application that is included in the virtual I/O shell and is configured to simulate one or more local hardware or software video devices;
memory configured to store the local manager, the virtual input channel driver, the virtual sound channel driver or the virtual video channel driver; and
a microprocessor configured to execute the local manager, the virtual input channel driver, the virtual sound channel driver or the virtual video channel driver.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for executing multiple video games, or other sources of video, include a game execution environment in which each game application is executed on the same operating system but within a virtual I/O shell. The virtual I/O shell includes virtual video, audio and input channels that allow each game application to operate as if it had dedicated drivers. In some embodiments, the systems and methods of the invention are used to provide video streams to a plurality of clients over the internet.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An application execution environment comprising:
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a local manager configured to establish a virtual I/O shell around an executable application, the virtual I/O shell configured to appear as a local hardware or software device to the executable application; a virtual sound channel driver configured to redirect sound received from the executable application to the local manager and optionally to provide sound from the local manager to the executable application, the virtual sound channel driver having an API to the executable application that is included in the virtual I/O shell and is configured to simulate one or more local hardware or software sound devices; a virtual video channel driver configured to redirect video data received from the executable application and optionally to provide video data from the local manager to the executable application, the virtual video channel driver having an API to the executable application that is included in the virtual I/O shell and is configured to simulate one or more local hardware or software video devices; memory configured to store the local manager, the virtual input channel driver, the virtual sound channel driver or the virtual video channel driver; and a microprocessor configured to execute the local manager, the virtual input channel driver, the virtual sound channel driver or the virtual video channel driver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A game delivery architecture comprising:
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local components configured to provide those game services for which minimal lag is important, the game services including delivery of game video and audio; regional components configured to manage non-streaming functionality of a video game and to assign a request for the video game to a member of the local components; and global components configured to manage the regional and local components. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification