Enabling rent/buy redirection in invitation to an online service

• US 7,587,502 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2006
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Crawford, Lee, Ver Valen, Clay
• Primary Examiner(s): Boutah; Alina N.
• Application Number:
  US11/383,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20060258460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 709203-205, 709/227, 709/219, 709226-229, 463/42, 243/42, 705/59, 705/26
• US Class Current: 709/229
• 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 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/57 details of game services offered to the player
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A system and method are directed towards enabling a user to access a client service such as a client game program that interacts with an online service such as a multiplayer game. A client probe detects execution of the client service on a first client device, and sends an instant message with address information to a second client device. A messaging service on the second client device, displays a presence of the first client and provides a selectable button to initiate the client service. If not already installed, the messaging service requests the client service from a remote online service such as a portal that may be independent from the online game service. The remote online service may provide options to freely try, rent, or buy the client service. The second client device downloads the client service and uses the address to connect to the same online multiplayer game.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a user to access a client service that interacts with an online service, comprising:

receiving an indication that a first client service is executing and is interacting with the online service, wherein the online service comprises a multiplayer game, and wherein the indication includes an address to the online service;

providing a selectable interface control for accessing a second client service that can interact with the online service;

detecting selection of the selectable interface control; and

providing access to the second client service via a remote service if the second client service is not currently available for local execution, wherein providing access to the second client service includes;

determining whether the remote service has authority to distribute the second client service;

redirecting a user to the remote service such that the user is enabled to rent or buy the second client service via the remote service if the remote service has authority to distribute the second client service; and

requesting access to the second client service from a distributor separate from the remote service if the remote service lacks authority to distribute the second client service.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing the second client service for local execution; and

causing the second client service to interact with the online service via the address to the online service.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein accessing comprises:

enabling the user to rent the second client service or purchase the second client service; and

downloading the second local service for local execution.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

executing the second client service if the second client service is available for local execution; and

causing the second client service to interact with the online service via the address to the online service.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication comprises receiving a message from a contact, wherein the message is initiated by a client probe upon detecting that the first client service is executing and is interacting with the online service.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a messaging system presence indicator that identifies a user of the first client service and indicates a communication status of the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selectable interface control comprises a selectable graphic on a display of a messaging interface.

8. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that enable a user to access a client service that interacts with an online service, the actions comprising:

receiving an indication that a first client service is executing and is interacting with the online service, wherein the online service comprises a multiplayer game, and wherein the indication includes an address to the online service;

providing a selectable interface control for accessing a second client service that can interact with the online service;

detecting selection of the selectable interface control; and

providing access to the second client service via a remote service if the second client service is not currently available for local execution, wherein providing access comprises;

detecting that the second client service is not currently available for local execution;

initiating communication with the remote service;

determining whether the remote service has authority to distribute the second client service;

requesting access to the second client service from the remote service if the remote service has authority to distribute the second client service such that a user is enabled to rent the second client service or purchase the second client service; and

requesting access to the second client service from a distributor separate from the remote service if the remote service does not have authority to distribute the second client service.

9. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions for performing actions, including:

receiving an indication that a first client service is executing and is interacting with the online service, wherein the online service comprises a multiplayer game, and wherein the indication includes an address to the online service;

providing a selectable interface control for accessing a second client service that can interact with the online service;

detecting selection of the selectable interface control; and

providing access to the second client service via a remote service if the second client service is not currently available for local execution, wherein providing access to the second client service includes;

determining whether the remote service has authority to distribute the second client service;

redirecting a user to the remote service such that the user is enabled to rent or buy the second client service via the remote service if the remote service has authority to distribute the second client service; and

requesting access to the second client service from a distributor separate from the remote service if the remote service lacks authority to distribute the second client service.

10. A client device for enabling a user to access a client service that interacts with an online service, comprising:

a communication interface in communication with the online service and a remote service, wherein the online service comprises a multiplayer game;

a memory for storing instructions; and

a processor in communication with the communication interface and with the memory, wherein the processor performs actions based at least in part on the stored instructions, including;

receiving an indication that a first client service is executing and is interacting with the online service, wherein the indication includes an address to the online service;

providing a selectable interface control for accessing a second client service that can interact with the online service;

detecting selection of the selectable interface control; and

providing access to the second client service via the remote service if the second client service is not currently available for local execution, wherein providing access to the second client service includes;

determining whether the remote service has authority to distribute the second client service;

redirecting a user to the remote service such that the user is enabled to rent or buy the second client service via the remote service if the remote service has authority to distribute

the second client service; and

requesting access to the second client service from a distributor separate from the remote service if the remote service lacks authority to distribute the second client service.

11. The client device of claim 10, wherein the processor further performs the actions of:

accessing the second client service for local execution; and

causing the second client service to interact with the online service via the address to the online service.

12. The client device of claim 10, wherein the action of accessing comprises the actions of:

enabling the user to rent the second client service or purchase the second client service; and

downloading the second client service for local execution.

13. The client device of claim 10, wherein the processor further performs the actions of:

executing the second client service if the second client service is available for local execution; and

causing the second client service to interact with the online service via the address to the online service.

14. The client device of claim 10, the action of receiving the indication comprises receiving a message from a contact, wherein the message is initiated by a client probe upon detecting that the first client service is executing and is interacting with the online service.

15. The client device of claim 10, wherein the selectable interface control comprises a selectable graphic on a display of a messaging interface.

16. A client device for enabling a user to access a client service that interacts with an online service, comprising:

a communication interface in communication with the online service and a remote service, wherein the online service comprises a multiplayer game;

a memory for storing instructions; and

a processor in communication with the communication interface and with the memory, wherein the processor performs actions based at least in part on the stored instructions, including;

receiving an indication that a first client service is executing and is interacting with the online service, wherein the indication includes an address to the online service;

providing a selectable interface control for accessing a second client service that can interact with the online service;

detecting selection of the selectable interface control; and

providing access to the second client service via the remote service if the second client service is not currently available for local execution, wherein the action of providing access comprises the actions of;

detecting that the second client service is not currently available for local execution;

initiating communication with the remote service;

determining whether the remote service has authority to distribute the second client service;

requesting access to the second client service from the remote service if the remote service has authority to distribute the second client service such that a user is enabled to rent the second client service or purchase the second client service; and

requesting access to the second client service from a distributor separate from the remote service if the remote service does not have authority to distribute the second client service.