Diversion agent uses cinematographic techniques to mask latency

• US 6,356,288 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1997
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Uniloc 2017 LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Shteyn, Yevgeniy, Freeman, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US08/994,827
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 345/348, 345/349, 345/473, 345/474, 345/475, 345/726, 345/867, 463/31
• US Class Current: 715/867
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• 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 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/534 for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A software agent is a functional part of a user-interactive software application running on a data processing system. The agent creates a user-perceptible effect in order to mask latency present in delivery of data to the user. The agent creates the effect employing cinematographic techniques.

Claims

1. A method of enabling a user to interact stochastically with a software application in a distributed system comprising multiple data processing machines connected via a data network, the method comprising:

a. under control of a substantially stochastic delay related to communication of data via the network, enabling the creation of a diversionary effect, locally at a data processing machine associated with the user, where the diversionary effect is related to a substantially stochastic context of the software application to mask the delay so as to reduce a chance that the delay causes the user to be distracted from the application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating of the diversionary effect uses a cinematographic technique.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the diversionary effect comprises a visual effect on a display monitor of the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the enabling to create comprises providing a software agent.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a respective diversionary effect is created dependent on a respective magnitude of the determined delay.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the diversionary effect is created dependent on a history of user-interaction with the application.

7. A software agent for local use at a user and for use with a software application in a distributed system with multiple data processing machines connected via a data network, the agent being operative to create, locally at the user and under control of a substantially stochastic delay in the data communication via the network, a diversionary effect related to a substantially stochastic context of the software application to mask the delay so as to reduce a chance that the delay causes the user to be distracted from the application.

8. The agent of claim 7, operative to determine the delay.

9. The agent of claim 7, using a cinematographic technique to create the diversionary effect.

10. The agent of claim 7, for creating a respective diversionary effect dependent on a respective magnitude of the determined delay.

11. The agent of claim 7, for creating the diversionary effect dependent on a history of user-interaction with the application.

12. A user-interactive software application for a distributed data processing system on a data network, the application comprising a software agent for local use at a user'"'"'s machine, the agent being operative to create, under control of a network delay, locally at the user a diversionary effect related to a context of the software application to mask the delay so as to reduce a chance that the delay causes the user to be distracted from the application.

13. The application of claim 12, for enabling multi-user interaction, and comprising respective software agents for local use at a respective machine of a respective user, the respective agent being operative to create, under control of a respective network delay, locally at the respective user a respective diversionary effect related to a context of the software application to mask the respective delay so as to reduce a chance that the respective delay causes the respective user to be distracted from the application.