Creating an interactive gaming environment

• US 7,822,809 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2008
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kato, Eiko Erika, Fernandes, Brian, McCarroll, William, Dhupelia, Shekhar V., Van Datta, Glen
• Primary Examiner(s): JEAN GILLES, JUDE
• Application Number:
  US12/218,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20090006545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 709/239, 709/229, 709/203, 709/204
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• 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 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/208 for storing personal settings or data of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• 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 2300/513 server hierarchy, e.g. local, regional, national or dedicated for different tasks, e.g. authenticating, billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/534 for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/123 Tax preparation or submission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1012 based on compliance of requirements or conditions with available server resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1014 based on the content of a request
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 : Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 : Pattern matching access

Abstract

Methods for creating an interactive gaming environment are provided. In various embodiments, methods of the present invention may include initializing an interactive game application at a game server which is then characterized as having an active status, notifying a lobby server concerning the active status of the game server, registering the application with a universe management server via the lobby server, and allowing users to join the interactive gaming environment. The users joining the interactive gaming environment may be identified by a server key obtained from the game server.

Claims

1. A method for creating an interactive gaming environment, the method comprising:

initializing an application at a game server such that the game server is characterized as having an active status, the application corresponding to the interactive gaming environment;

notifying a lobby server as to the active status of the game server;

executing an authentication process at an authentication server, wherein a user is assigned to the lobby server upon successful user authentication;

registering the application with a universe management server, wherein registration occurs via the lobby server; and

allowing users to join the interactive gaming environment, wherein the users joining the interactive gaming environment are identified by a server key obtained from the game server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication process includes assigning a session key to a user, the session key associated with a privilege level for determining the level of access granted to the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein successful user authentication comprises sending periodic server reports to a proxy application server, the proxy application server located within an application server.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the periodic server reports confirm the operation of a hosted application.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the periodic server reports include status information.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the proxy application server is configured to communicate with the universe management server regarding application status information received from the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein registration of the application permits the user to participate in a system-wide function.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the system-wide function is a ladder ranking engine.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the system-wide function is a clan engine.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the system-wide function is chat.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the system-wide function is group or community management.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the system-wide function is messaging.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein participation in the system-wide function occurs during connection to the lobby server.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein participation in the system-wide function occurs during game play.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the successfully authenticated user sends periodic reports to a proxy application server.