System and method for dynamically loading game software for smooth game play

• US 6,764,403 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2002
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Gavin, Andrew Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Sager, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASHBURN, STEVEN L
• Application Number:
  US10/267,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20030109313A1
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/31-33, 463/43, 345/428, 345/528, 345/473, 345/474, 345/620, 345/960, 345/990, 345/995, 434/38, 434/43, 434/47
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/50 Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/55 Controlling game characters or game objects based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/56 Computing the motion of game characters with respect to other game characters, game objects or elements of the game scene, e.g. for simulating the behaviour of a group of virtual soldiers or for path finding
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• 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 2300/203 Image generating hardware
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/207 for accessing game resources from local storage, e.g. streaming content from DVD
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/534 for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/96 Iterative display of preconfigured images

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for dynamically loading game software for smooth game play. A load boundary associated with a game environment is identified. A position of a character in the game environment is then monitored. Instructions corresponding to another game environment are loaded into a memory when the character crosses the load boundary, such that game play is not interrupted.

Claims

1. A method for creating dynamic loading game software, comprising:

calculating a load time of a game environment;

setting a duration of another game environment that is equal to at least twice the calculated load time of the game environment;

establishing a load boundary at a midpoint of the other game environment; and

triggering the game environment to be loaded when a character in the other game environment crosses the load boundary.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein load times for the game environment, the other game environment, and a next game environment are equivalent.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein load times for the game environment, the other game environment, and a next game environment are not equivalent.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the load time of the game environment increases as a level of difficulty increases.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the game environment when the character reaches an end of the other game environment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a portion of the game environment is displayed while the character traverses the other game environment.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein triggering the game environment to be loaded further comprises restricting movement of the character when the character reaches an end of the other game environment, if the loading of the game environment is not complete.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein triggering the game environment to be loaded further comprises continuing loading the game environment if the character crosses a continuation point of the other game environment.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein triggering the game environment to be loaded further comprises ceasing loading of the game environment if the character fails to cross a continuation point of the other game environment.

10. An electronic-readable medium having embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a machine to perform a method for creating dynamic loading game software, comprising:

calculating a load time of a game environment;

setting a duration of another game environment that is equal to at least twice the calculated load time of the game environment;

establishing a load boundary at a midpoint of the other game environment; and

triggering the game environment to be loaded when a character in the other game environment crosses the load boundary.

11. The electronic-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising displaying the game environment when the character reaches an end of the other game environment.

12. The electronic-readable medium of claim 10, wherein a portion of the game environment is displayed while the character traverses the other game environment.

13. The electronic-readable medium of claim 10, wherein triggering the game environment to be loaded further comprises restricting movement of the character when the character reaches an end of the other game environment, if the loading of the game environment is not complete.

14. The electronic-readable medium of claim 10, wherein triggering the game environment to be loaded further comprises continuing loading the game environment if the character crosses a continuation point of the other game environment.

15. A system for creating dynamic loading game software, comprising:

means for calculating a load time of a game environment;

means for setting a duration of another game environment that is equal to at least twice the calculated load time of the game environment;

means for establishing a load boundary at a midpoint of the other game environment; and

means for triggering the game environment to be loaded when a character in the other game environment crosses the load boundary.