Latency server and matchmaker

• US 6,304,902 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2000
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: HearMe (Palktalk.com)
• Inventors: Rothschild, Jeffrey J., Black, Norman R. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): MEKY, MOUSTAFA M
• Application Number:
  US09/524,516
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/204, 709/218, 709/223, 709/205, 709/209, 709/217, 709/224, 709/225, 709/226, 709/227, 709/229, 709/239
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0829 Packet loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0852 Delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10015 Access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. using brokers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/101 based on network conditions

Abstract

A method and apparatus to efficiently and effectively ensure that the quality of the data communications links are adequate for digital electronic game playing is provided. A number of servers are connected to the Internet. The servers periodically perform communications link quality measurements among themselves. At least one of the servers is designated as a matchmaker. When a game is requested by clients, the matchmaker acts as a game coordinator and compiles the results of the measurements. Based on the compilation and other information from its database, the matchmaker selects a few servers as candidate servers. These candidates perform data communications link quality measurements with the requesting clients. Based on these measurements, the matchmaker selects a server as the server for the requested game.

Claims

1. A method to assign at least one client computer running an application program to one server computer amongst a plurality of server computers comprising the steps of:

performing communications link quality measurements among the plurality of server computers;

classifying the plurality of server computers into a plurality of server groups according to the communications link quality measurements, wherein server computers belonging to a particular server group exhibit the same approximate communications link quality measurements;

designating a plurality of representative server computers, wherein at least one server computer from each server group is selected as a representative server computer for that particular server group;

determining a minimum communications link quality criterion required for using the application program;

selecting a qualified server computer from said plurality of representative server computers, wherein the measured communication link quality of said qualified server group meets the minimum communication link quality criterion;

selecting a final server computer from said server group to which said qualified server computer belongs; and

establishing data communications between said final server computer and the client computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the application program is a game.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications link quality measurements involve latency measurements.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications link quality measurements involve bandwidth measurements.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications link quality measurements involve error rate measurements.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps:

selecting a pool of server computers upon the basis of the communications link quality measurements involving latency measurements with respect to said qualified server;

performing communications link quality measurements between said pool and the client computer;

compiling results from said communications link quality measurements between said pool and the client computer;

designating a server from said pool as the application program server for the client computer.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said designated server is selected from said pool upon the basis of said minimum communications link quality criterion.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said designated server is selected from said pool upon the basis of said communications link quality measurements.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said designated server is selected from said pool upon the basis of the client computer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said data communications is established through an Internet communications network.

11. A method to assign at least one client computer running an application program to one server computer amongst a plurality of server computers comprising the steps of:

(a) performing communications link quality measurements among the plurality of server computers;

(b) compiling results from the communications link quality measurements;

(c) determining a minimum communications link quality criterion required for using the application program;

(d) selecting a first pool of candidates from the plurality of server computers based on said minimum communications link quality criterion and the compiled results of said communications link quality measurements;

(e) further selecting a second pool of candidates from said first pool of candidates;

(f) performing communications link quality measurements between the second pool of candidates and said client computer;

(g) compiling results from said communications link quality measurements between said second pool of candidates and said client computer;

(h) determining whether any server computer associated with said second pool of candidates qualifies under said minimum communications link quality criterion for using the application program;

(i) selecting a qualified server from said second pool of candidates qualifying under said determining step (h); and

(j) notifying said qualified server of its selection.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

(k) determining all server computers connected to said qualified server;

(l) performing additional communications link quality measurements between said server computers connected to said qualified server and the client computer;

(m) compiling results from said additional communications link quality measurements; and

(n) designating an application program server for the client computer from said server computers connected to said qualified server based on said minimum communications link quality criterion, said additional communications link quality measurements, and the client computer.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

(o) selecting an additional pool of candidates from said second pool of candidates selected in said step (e), if no server computer qualifies under said minimum communications link quality criterion; and

(p) performing said steps (f)-(j) until said second pool of candidates is exhausted.