Method for online game matchmaking using play style information

• US 7,614,955 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2004
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Tiernan, Scott Lee, Phillips, Bruce Christopher, Riegelsberger, Jens, Steury, Keith, Fulton, William B., Farnham, Shelly D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II; John M
• Assistant Examiner(s): TORIMIRO, ADETOKUNBO OLUSEGUN
• Application Number:
  US10/788,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20050192097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,080 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42, 463/29, 463/40
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• 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

Abstract

A method and system for accumulating data to match and matching a user, based upon a play style and/or personal attribute, in an online gaming environment is described. One aspect of the invention provides a matchmaking system that matches players based upon a play style of the players. The system matches players who are looking for games with players who prefer similar play styles. Similarly the system can match players based upon a personal attribute of the player. The system can be built into existing general skill level and technical capabilities based matchmaking systems to provide more user desired matchmaking parameters, allowing a user to choose based upon play style, personal attribute, general skill level, and/or technical capabilities.

Claims

1. A method for matching users over a network in an online gaming environment, the method comprising steps of:

entering a user into a first online game available over the network;

receiving from the user by way of the network at least one response to at least one query to the user about the first online game experience following completion of the first online game by the user;

determining a play style parameter of a requesting user based on the at least one response, the determined play style parameter for being employed to connect the requesting user to a second online game available over the network, the second game being different from the first online game; and

connecting the requesting user to the second online game based at least in part on the determined play style parameter;

the connecting being based at least in part on a collaborative filtering method that aids the requesting user in the selection of the second online game based upon evaluations of the second online game made by other users.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises the steps of:

receiving a profile of the requesting user; and

identifying the play style parameter of the requesting user in the profile.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the connecting step includes the step of determining whether the determined play style parameter matches a play style parameter requirement for the second online game.

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

providing a list of online games with a play style parameter requirement that matches the determined play style parameter of the requesting user; and

receiving a selection signal representative of the second online game from the list of online games.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises the steps of:

providing a list of play style parameters; and

receiving a selection signal representative of the play style parameter from the list of play style parameters.

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

receiving a request to initiate a matchmaking service for the requesting user;

receiving identification data of the requesting user; and

retrieving a profile of the requesting user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the play style parameter comprises one of:

a competitive parameter, a profanity parameter, a trash talking parameter, and an aggressiveness parameter.

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

determining whether a profile exists for the requesting user; and

loading the existing profile of the requesting user.

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

determining whether to create a new profile of the requesting user; and

creating the new profile of the requesting user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of creating the new profile comprises the steps of:

receiving at least one parameter for the requesting user; and

storing the at least one parameter in the new profile.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one parameter includes the play style parameter of the requesting user.

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

determining whether a profile of the requesting user is to be modified; and

modifying the profile of the requesting user.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of determining whether the profile of the requesting user is to be modified includes a step of receiving data from a collaborative filtering process.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one query includes a question as to whether the user enjoyed playing the first online game.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is the requesting user.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the first online game is a multi-player game including the user and at least one other player and wherein the at least one query includes a question as to whether the user enjoyed playing the at least one other player in the first online game.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one query includes a question as to whether the user enjoyed playing the first online game.

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

receiving a request to host the second online game;

receiving at least one parameter requirement for the second online game, the at least one parameter requirement includes a play style parameter requirement; and

determining whether the play style parameter of the requesting user matches the at least one parameter requirement for the second online game.

19. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for matching users over a network in an online gaming environment, the method comprising steps of:

entering a user into a first online game available over the network;

receiving from the user by way of the network at least one response to at least one query to the user about the first online game experience following completion of the first online game;

determining a play style parameter of a requesting user based on the at least one response, the determined play style parameter for being employed to connect the requesting user to a second online game available over the network, the second game being different from the first online game; and

connecting the requesting user to the second online game based at least in part on the determined play style parameter and on a collaborative filtering method that aids the requesting user in the selection of the second online game based upon evaluations of the second online game made by other users.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, the method further comprising steps of:

receiving a request to host the second online game;

receiving at least one parameter requirement for the second online game, the at least one parameter requirement includes a play style parameter requirement; and

determining whether the play style parameter of the requesting user matches the at least one parameter requirement for the second online game.

21. A matchmaking system for matching users over a network in an online gaming environment, the matchmaking system comprising:

a matchmaking server configured to connect a user to a first online game available over the network, to receive from the user by way of the network at least one response to at least one query to the user about the first online game experience following completion of the first online game, to determine a play style parameter of a requesting user based on the at least one response, the determined play style parameter for being employed to connect the requesting user to a second online game available over the network, the second game being different from the first online game, and to connect the requesting user to the second online game based at least in part upon the determined play style parameter of the requesting user and on a collaborative filtering method that aids the requesting user in the selection of the second online game based upon evaluations of the second online game made by other users; and

a database configured to store a profile of the requesting user, the profile including the play style parameter of the requesting user.

22. The matchmaking system of claim 21, further comprising a computer configured to process data based upon a collaborative filtering process.

23. The matchmaking system of claim 22, wherein the matchmaking server includes the computer.

24. The matchmaking system of claim 22, wherein the computer is further configured to modify the profile of the requesting user responsive to the processed data.

25. The matchmaking system of claim 21, wherein the play style parameter of the requesting user comprises one of:

aggressiveness, playing likeability, enacting the role, and trash talking.

26. The matchmaking system of claim 21, wherein the play style parameter comprises one of:

technical capability and general skill level.

27. The matchmaking system of claim 21, wherein the play style parameter of the requesting user is associated with a particular online game.

28. A method for matching a first player with a second player over a network in an online gaming environment, the method comprising steps of:

entering a user into a first online game available over the network;

receiving from the user by way of the network at least one response to at least one query to the user about the first online game experience following completion of the first online game;

storing the at least one response in a database;

receiving a request to initiate a matchmaking service for the first player;

receiving identification data of the first player;

retrieving a profile of the first player;

determining a play style parameter of the first player based on the at least one response, the determined play style parameter for being employed to connect the requesting user to a second online game available over the network, the second game being different from the first online game;

applying a collaborative filtering method that aids the requesting user in the selection of the second online game based upon evaluations of the second online game made by other users; and

connecting the first player and the second player to the second online game based at least in part on the determined play style parameter.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of determining includes the step of determining a likelihood of whether the second player is a good match for the first player.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of determining further includes the step of determining a likelihood of whether the first player is a good match for the second player.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of determining is based at least in part upon a play style parameter of the second player.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of determining is based at least in part upon data representative of a previous response of the second player.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of determining is based at least in part upon the data representative of a previous response of a third player.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the previous response is an evaluation of the second player.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the previous response is an evaluation of the second online game.

36. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of determining is based upon an evaluation of the first player made by others following a previous online game.