System and method for networking video games

• US 6,315,668 B1
• Filed: 04/13/1999
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Warner Bros Entertainment Incorporated (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Midway Games Inc.
• Inventors: Allen, Jeffrey L., Metke, Anthony R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROCKETTI, JULIE K
• Application Number:
  US09/290,431
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 463/40, 463/41, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/358 Adapting the game course according to the network or server load, e.g. for reducing latency due to different connection speeds between clients
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/208 for storing personal settings or data of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/513 server hierarchy, e.g. local, regional, national or dedicated for different tasks, e.g. authenticating, billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/534 for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5566 by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols

Abstract

A system for a networking electronic game units, includes an arcade router coupled with one or more game units at each of a plurality of locations and coupled to a communications resource for supporting bi-directional exchange of information with the one or more game units. A first router is coupled with a first group of the communications resources for supporting bi-directional exchange of information with a first group of game units. A first server is coupled with the first router for controlling the bi-directional exchange of information so as to support interactive play by game units at different locations. Embodiments of the system may include a state synchronizing method for synchronizing the exchange of information among game units which are engaged in interactive play in such a manner that each of the game units operates on substantially the same sequence of incoming information, and a bandwidth manager for controlling access of each game unit to the network based on available bandwidth and on a player skill level associated with each game unit.

Claims

1. A system for networking electronic game units, comprising:

an arcade router coupled with one or more game units at each of a plurality of locations and coupled to a communications resource for supporting bi-directional exchange of information with said one or more game units;

a first router coupled with a first group of said communications resources for supporting bi-directional exchange of information with a corresponding first group of said one or more game units;

a first server coupled with said first router for controlling said bi-directional exchange of information so as to support interactive play by a plurality of game units at different ones of said plurality of locations; and

a state synchronizing system for synchronizing the exchange of state information among game units which are engaged in interactive play in such a manner that each of said game units operates on substantially the same sequence of incoming information.

2. The system of claim 1 having a plurality of first routers and further including at least one additional router coupled by one or more communications resources to two or more of said first routers, and at least one additional server coupled with said additional router for controlling bi-directional exchange of information between said two or more first routers for supporting interactive play for game units coupled via communications resources with said two or more first routers.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein each of said servers includes a bandwidth manager for controlling access of a game unit to the network based on available bandwidth and on a player skill level associated with the game unit.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said bandwidth manager includes:

means for determining available bandwidth;

means for determining a player skill level associated with each game unit requesting access to the network;

means for determining the average skill level (ASL) of all players requesting access to the network;

means for establishing a promotion threshold (PT) based on said average skill level and said available bandwidth; and

means for granting player access to the network if the player'"'"'s skill level exceeds said promotion threshold.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said bandwidth manager further includes means for assigning a predetermined percentage of said bandwidth as a free access percentage (FAP) wherein access is granted without regard to player skill for so long as said free access percentage of said bandwidth is available.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said bandwidth manager further includes means for establishing a skilled player reserve percentage (SRP) of said bandwidth and a skilled player threshold skill level, above which a game unit will be granted access to said skilled player reserve percentage of said bandwidth.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein when said free access percentage of said bandwidth is in use, network access is granted when player skill level exceeds a promotion threshold determined in accordance with the following:

8. The system of claim 3 wherein said bandwidth manager further includes means for establishing an overhead reserve percentage of said bandwidth unavailable for player access.

9. The system of claim 2 wherein said at least one additional router and server comprise one or more regional routers and servers for supporting interactive play for game units coupled via communications resources with two or more first routers, at least one super-regional router and server for supporting interactive play for game units which are coupled via communications resources and first routers with two or more of said regional routers and servers and a national router and server for supporting interactive play for game units coupled via communications resources, first routers and regional routers to two or more of said super-regional routers.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said first server further includes a bandwidth manager for controlling access of each game unit to said network based on available bandwidth and on a player skill level associated with each game unit.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said bandwidth manager includes:

means for determining available bandwidth;

means for determining a player skill level associated with each game unit requesting access to the network;

means for determining the average skill level (ASL) of all players requesting access to the network;

means for establishing a promotion threshold (PT) based on said average skill level and said available bandwidth; and

means for granting player access to the network if the player'"'"'s skill level exceeds said promotion threshold.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said state synchronizing means further includes means for determining the number of game units participating in a multi-system game, means for transmitting input data from each of said game units when in each of a plurality of states to each other game unit, and means for preventing each game unit from transitioning to a next state until the input data from every other game unit in said multi-system game in the prior state have been received, such that all game units in said multi-system game operate on the same set of said input data in each state prior to transitioning to the next state.

13. A bandwidth manager for a network for linking a plurality of game units for interactive play, said bandwidth manager controlling access of each game unit to said network based on available bandwidth and on a player skill level associated with each game unit, said bandwith manager comprising:

means for determining available bandwidth;

means for determining a player skill level associated with each game unit requesting access to the network;

means for determining the average skill level (ASL) of all players requesting access to the network;

means for establishing a promotion threshold (PT) based on said average skill level and said available bandwidth; and

means for granting player access to the network if the player'"'"'s skill level exceeds said promotion threshold.

14. The bandwidth manager of claim 13 and further including means for assigning a predetermined percentage of said bandwidth as a free access percentage (FAP) wherein access is granted without regard to player skill for so long as said free access percentage of said bandwidth is available.

15. The bandwidth manager of claim 14 and further including means for establishing a skilled player reserve percentage (SRP) of said bandwidth and a skilled player threshold skill level, above which a game unit will be granted access to said skilled player reserve percentage of said bandwidth.

16. The bandwidth manager of claim 15 wherein when said free access percentage of said bandwidth is in use, network access is granted when player skill level exceeds a promotion threshold determined in accordance with the following:

17. A method for managing bandwidth in a network for linking a plurality of game units for active play, said method controlling access of each game unit to communications resources of said network based on available bandwidth and on a player skill level associated with each game unit, said method comprising the steps of:

determining available bandwidth on each communication resource;

determining a player skill level associated with each game unit requesting access to the network;

determining the average skill level (ASL) of all players requesting access to the network;

establishing a promotion threshold (PT) based on said average skill level and said available bandwidth; and

granting player access to the network if the player'"'"'s skill level exceeds said promotion threshold.

18. The method of claim 17 and further including the step of assigning a predetermined percentage of said bandwidth as a free access percentage (FAP) wherein access is granted without regard to player skill for so long as said free access percentage of said bandwidth is available.

19. The method of claim 17 and further including the step of establishing a skilled player reserve percentage (SRP) of said bandwidth and a skilled player threshold skill level, above which a game unit will be granted access to said skilled player reserve percentage of said bandwidth.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein when said free access percentage of said bandwidth is in use, network access is granted when player skill level exceeds a promotion threshold determined in accordance with the following:

21. A bandwidth manager for a network for linking a plurality of game units for interactive play, said bandwidth manager controlling access of each game unit to said network based on available bandwidth and on a player skill level associated with each game unit, said bandwith manager comprising:

means for determining available bandwidth at each level of the network;

means for determining a player skill level associated with each game unit requesting access to the network;

means for determining the average skill level (ASL) of all players requesting access to the network;

means for establishing a promotion threshold (PT) for each level of the network based on said average skill level and said available bandwidth; and

means for granting player access to a given level of the network if the player'"'"'s skill level exceeds said promotion threshold for that level of the network.

22. The bandwidth manager of claim 21, wherein the available bandwidth is determined by subtracting an overhead bandwidth from a total bandwidth of the network.

23. The bandwidth manager of claim 21, further comprising means for determining whether the promotion threshold is above a free promotion threshold.

24. The bandwidth manager of claim 23, further comprising means for promoting all game units to a skill above the promotion threshold if the promotion threshold is below the free promotion threshold.

25. The bandwidth manager of claim 21, further comprising means for referring a player to a local server if the player has a skill level below the promotion level.

26. A method for managing bandwidth in a network for linking a plurality of game units for active play, said method controlling access of each game unit to communications resources of said network based on available bandwidth and on a player skill level associated with each game unit, said method comprising the steps of:

determining available bandwidth on each communications resource;

determining a player skill level associated with each game unit requesting access to the network;

determining the average skill level (ASL) of all players requesting access to the network;

establishing a promotion threshold (PT) for each level of the network based on said average skill level and said available bandwidth; and

granting player access to a given level of the network if the player'"'"'s skill level exceeds said promotion threshold for that level of the network.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein determining the available bandwidth on each communications resource comprises subtracting an overhead bandwidth from a total bandwidth.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising determining whether the promotion threshold is greater than a free promotion threshold.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising promoting the skill level of all players if the promotion threshold is less than the free promotion threshold.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising referring a player to a local server if the player has a skill level below the promotion threshold.

31. A state synchronizing system for synchronizing the exchange of state information among a plurality of game units which transition through a plurality of states in a course of a game and which are engaged in interactive play in such a manner that each of said game units operates on substantially the same sequence of incoming information, the state synchronizing system further including means for determining a number of game units participating in a multi-system game, means for transmitting input data from each of said game units when in each state to each of the other of the plurality of game units, and means for preventing each game unit from transitioning to a next state until the input data from every other game unit in said multi-system game in a prior state have been received, such that all game units in said multi-system game operate on a same set of said input data in each state prior to transitioning to the next state.

32. The state synchronizing system of claim 31, further comprising a buffer connected to the game units for storing the inputs from said game units until said buffer has received an input for all of said game units.

33. The state synchronizing system of claim 31, wherein the means for transmitting input data is a T-1 line.

34. The state synchronizing system of claim 31, wherein the means for transmitting input data is a fiber optic line.

35. The state synchronizing system of claim 31, wherein the means for preventing transitioning waits for a predetermined time to receive input from all of the game units.

36. The state synchronizing system of claim 35, wherein the predetermined time is 1/60 of a second.

37. A state synchronizing method for synchronizing the exchange of state information among game units which transition through a plurality of states in the course of a game which are engaged in interactive play in such a manner that each of said game units operates on substantially a same sequence of incoming information, said state synchronizing method further including the steps of:

determining a number of game units participating in a multi-system game;

transmitting input data from each of said game units when in each state to each other game unit; and

preventing each of said game units from transitioning to a next state until input data from every other game unit in said multi-system game in a prior state have been received, such that all game units in said multi-system game operate on a same set of said input data in each state prior to transitioning to a next state.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising transmitting inactivity for an inactive game unit in said multi-system game when said inactive game unit does not provide any input for a predetermined time.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the predetermined time is 1/60 of a second.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the transmitting is done via a T-1 line.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein the transmitting is done via a fiber optic line.