Efficient method for providing game content to a client

• US 7,702,723 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2003
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Turbine Incorporated (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Turbine Incorporated (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dyl, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdullahi; Salad
• Assistant Examiner(s): SALL, EL HADJI MALICK
• Application Number:
  US10/632,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20050026692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,454 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/220, 709/242, 709/200, 463/42
• US Class Current: 709/203
• 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 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• 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 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• 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 2300/6009 for importing or creating game content, e.g. authoring tools during game development, adapting content to different platforms, use of a scripting language to create content

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for efficiently providing content to a client in a massively multiplayer game.

Claims

1. A method for efficiently transmitting, to a client, a content up date for an on-line game, the method comprising the steps of:

a) hosting in a non-volatile memory element, for transmission, a content update having a plurality of data files;

b) identifying a subset of the plurality of data files as high-quality data files using a data quality function to identify a subset of the plurality of data files contained in the content update as high-quality data files;

c) creating a high-quality content update that includes the identified high-quality data files;

d) receiving a client connection request;

e) determining that high-quality data files are to be transmitted to the client on the basis of information indicating high-quality files should be transferred, wherein the client is one of a plurality of clients comprising a player platform;

f) transmitting the high-quality data files from the high-quality content update; and

g) transmitting remaining non-high-quality data files in the content update;

wherein the plurality of data files contained in the content update are sorted by data quality,

wherein a certain fixed percentage of the highest quality data files are separated as high-quality data files;

wherein the high-quality data files comprise data files having at least one of audio and graphics, and

wherein a high-quality data file is larger than a corresponding non-high-quality data file.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step a) comprises storing, on a network storage device, a content update having a plurality of data files.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of removing the high-quality data files from the content update.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step e) comprises determining that the received request includes a bit value indicating high-quality files should be transferred.

5. A method for efficiently transmitting a content update for an on-line game from a server to a client, the method comprising:

a) the server hosting, in a non-volatile memory element, a content update having a plurality of data files;

b) identifying a subset of the plurality of data files from the content update as high-quality data files by identifying a subset of the plurality of data files as high-quality data files using a data quality function;

c) creating, by the server, a high-quality content update that includes the identified high-quality data files;

d) the client requesting a connection with the server;

e) determining, by the server, that high-quality data files should be transmitted to the client on the basis of information indicating high-quality files should be transferred, wherein the client is one of a plurality of clients comprising a client platform;

f) the client receiving data files from the high-quality content update; and

g) the client receiving remaining non-high-quality data files from the content update;

wherein the plurality of data files contained in the content update are sorted by data quality, and

wherein a certain fixed percentage of the highest quality data files are separated as high-quality data files;

wherein the high-quality data files comprise data files having at least one of audio and graphics, and

wherein a high-quality data file is larger than a corresponding non-high-quality data file.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein step a) comprises storing, on a network storage device, a content update comprising a plurality of data files.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of removing the high-quality data files from the content update.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein step e) comprises determining that the received request includes a bit value indicating high-quality files should be transferred.

9. A computer based content updating apparatus for updating content for an on-line game, said apparatus comprising:

a non-volatile memory element storing a content update for the on-line game, the content update having a plurality of data files;

a processor in electrical communication with the non-volatile memory element for identifying a subset of the data files in the content update as high-quality data files using a data quality function, separating the high-quality data files from the content update, and storing, in the non-volatile memory element, a high-quality content update that includes the separated high-quality data files; and

a transceiver in electrical communication with the non-volatile memory element and the processor, the transceiver receiving a connection request from a remote client on a network, on the basis of information indicating high-quality files should be transferred, the client being one of a plurality of clients comprising a player platform;

wherein the processor determines that high-quality data files are to be transmitted to the client and the transceiver transmits data files from the high-quality content update and remaining non-high-quality data files from the content update

wherein the plurality of data files contained in the content update are sorted by data quality,

wherein a certain fixed percentage of the highest quality data files are separated as high-quality data files;

wherein the high-quality data file comprise data files containing at least one of audio and graphics, and

wherein a high-quality data file is larger than a corresponding non-high-quality data file.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor removes the high-quality data files from the content update.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the connection request from a remote client received by the transceiver includes a bit value indicating high-quality files should be transferred.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the non-volatile memory element comprises a network storage device.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the non-volatile memory element is associated with a first computer, the processor is associated with a second computer, the transceiver is associated with a third computer, and the first computer, second computer, and third computer are in electrical connection with each other over a network.