Multiplayer platform for mobile applications

• US 8,162,757 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Inventors: Sohl, Barry, Radcliff, Cory, Olson, Brooke Elizabeth
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Arthur O.
• Application Number:
  US11/875,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20080220875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,649 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/24, 463/29, 463 36- 37, 463 39- 40, 463 46- 47, 463/42, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/139, 273/141.A, 273/141.R, 273/142.A, 273/142.B, 273/142.C, 273/142.H, 273/142.HA, 273/142.J, 273/142.R, 273/143.A, 273/143.R, 273/148.B, 273/309, 273/460, 381/311, 381/315, 370/913, 340/5.61, 340/5.64, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 345/2.3, 455/41.2, 455/106, 455/151.2, 455/226.2, 455/300, 455/311, 455347-349, 4554261-4262, 455/500, 455512-513, 455/526, 455/554.2, 455/555, 455/575.5, 711102-104, 711/115, 711/163, 714 471- 473, 714 48- 49, 714735-737, 902/23
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/913 Wireless or radio

Abstract

A wireless terminal comprising a transmitter configured to support a wireless connection with a server and a processor configured to enable a user to play an interactive game through the server with a plurality of other users on wireless terminals across a plurality of platforms.

Claims

1. A wireless terminal, comprising:

a transmitter configured to support a wireless connection with a server, wherein the server includes a plurality of virtual game servers each individually dedicated to a different specific platform; and

a processor configured to operate on a first platform, the processor including an Application Program Interface that handles all communication between an application running on the wireless terminal and a specific platform of the server, and wherein launch of the application running on the wireless terminal creates a network engine on the wireless terminal operative to allow and maintain access to all services performed by the Application Program Interface on the wireless terminal, and shutdown of the application running on the wireless terminal terminates the network engine, and wherein the services performed by the Application Program Interface include a service to enable a user to play an interactive game through the server with a plurality of other users on wireless terminals across a plurality of platforms, and to communicate with a first virtual game server of the plurality of virtual game servers, the first virtual game server dedicated to the first platform.

2. The wireless terminal of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to provide login services that enable the user to self-identify and authenticate the wireless terminal.

3. The wireless terminal of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to provide lobby services, wherein the lobby services comprise at least one lobby having one or more keysets associated therewith.

4. The wireless terminal of claim 3 wherein lobby services include functions to provide a user'"'"'s ability to enter, join, leave, create, close, or search for lobbies matching certain specified criteria.

5. The wireless terminal of claim 3 wherein the keysets associated with a lobby further comprises metadata and a runtime value, wherein the metadata is defined in XML format.

6. The wireless terminal of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to provide game services that manages wireless terminal generated and server generated game events to administer game lifecycle functionality.

7. The wireless terminal of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to provide event services to manage network events, wherein the network events comprises server network events and wireless terminal network events.

8. The wireless terminal of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to interact with the other users on wireless terminals in real-time via HTTP.

9. A method of wireless gaming, comprising:

supporting a wireless connection with a server, wherein the server includes a plurality of virtual game servers each individually dedicated to a different specific platform;

playing an interactive game on a wireless terminal, operating on a first platform, through the server with a plurality of other users on wireless terminals across a plurality of platforms wherein launch of the game running on the wireless terminal creates a network engine on the wireless terminal operative to allow and maintain access to all services performed by an Application Program Interface included on said wireless terminal, said Application Program Interface handling all communications across said wireless connection from said wireless terminal to said server, and shutdown of the game running on the wireless terminal terminates the network engine; and

communicating with a first virtual game server of the plurality of virtual game servers, the first virtual game server dedicated to the first platform.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing login services that enable the user to self-identify and authenticate the wireless terminal.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing lobby services that facilitate the user'"'"'s ability to enter, join, leave, create, close, or search for lobbies matching certain specified criteria, wherein the step of providing the lobby services comprise at least one lobby and associating one or more keysets therewith.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing game services that manages wireless terminal generated and server generated game events to administer game lifecycle functionality.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing event services to manage network events, wherein the network events comprises server network events and wireless terminal network events.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein further comprising enabling the users to communicate in real-time via HTTP with the other users on wireless terminals to play the interactive game.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a program of instructions executable by a processor in a wireless terminal, the instructions comprising:

code to interface with a transceiver supporting a wireless connection, with a server, wherein the server includes a plurality of virtual game servers each individually dedicated to a different specific platform;

code to enable a user to play an interactive game, operating on a first platform, through a server with a plurality of other users on wireless terminals across a plurality of platforms wherein launch of the interactive game running on the wireless terminal creates a network engine on the wireless terminal operative to allow and maintain access to all services performed by an Application Program Interface included on said wireless terminal, said Application Program Interface handling all communications across said wireless connection from said wireless terminal to said server, and shutdown of the interactive game running on the wireless terminal terminates the network engine; and

code to communicate with a first virtual game server of the plurality of virtual game servers, the first virtual game server dedicated to the first platform.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 further comprising code to provide login services that enable the user to self-identify and authenticate the wireless terminal.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15 further comprising code to provide lobby services that facilitate the user'"'"'s ability to enter, join, leave, create, close, or search for lobbies matching certain specified criteria, wherein the lobby services comprise at least one lobby having one or more keysets associated therewith.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 15 further comprising code to provide game services that manages wireless terminal generated and server generated game events to administer game lifecycle functionality.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 15 further comprising code to provide event services to manage network events, wherein the network events comprises server network events and wireless terminal network events.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 15 further comprising code to interact with the other users on wireless terminals in real-time via HTTP.

21. A server, comprising:

a transmitter configured to support a connection with a plurality of wireless terminals; and

a processor configured to enable a plurality of users to play an interactive game on the wireless terminals across a plurality of platforms wherein launch of the interactive game running on a wireless terminal creates a network engine on the wireless terminal operative to allow and maintain access to all services performed by an Application Program Interface included on said wireless terminal, said Application Program Interface handling all communications across said connection with a plurality of wireless terminals, and shutdown of the game running on the wireless terminal terminates the network engine.

22. The server of claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to provide login services that enable the plurality of users to each self-identify and authenticate the wireless terminals.

23. The server of claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to provide lobby services that facilitate the plurality of users'"'"' ability to enter, join, leave, create, close, or search for lobbies matching certain specified criteria, wherein the lobby services comprise at least one lobby having one or more keysets associated therewith.

24. The server of claim 23 wherein the keysets associated with a lobby further comprises metadata and a runtime value, wherein the metadata is defined in XML format.

25. The server of claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to provide game services that manages the wireless terminal generated and server generated game events to administer game lifecycle functionality.

26. The server of claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to provide event services to manage network events, wherein the network events comprise server network events and wireless terminal network events.

27. The server of claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to interact with the plurality of users on the wireless terminals in real-time via HTTP.

28. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a program of instructions executable by a processor in a server, the instructions comprising:

code to interface with a transceiver supporting a wireless connection, with a plurality of wireless terminals; and

code to enable a plurality of users to play an interactive game on the wireless terminals across a plurality of platforms wherein launch of the interactive game running on a wireless terminal creates a network engine on the wireless terminal operative to allow and maintain access to all services performed by an Application Program Interface included on said wireless terminal, said Application Program Interface handling all communications across said wireless connection with a plurality of wireless terminals, and shutdown of the interactive game running on the wireless terminal terminates the network engine, wherein the server includes a plurality of virtual game servers each dedicated to a platform of the plurality of platforms.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 28 further comprising code to provide login services that enable the plurality of users to each self-identify and authenticate the wireless terminals.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 28 further comprising code to provide lobby services that facilitate the plurality of users'"'"' ability to enter, join, leave, create, close, or search for lobbies matching certain specified criteria, wherein the lobby services comprise at least one lobby having one or more keysets associated therewith.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 28 further comprising code to provide game services that manage the wireless terminal generated and server generated game events to administer game lifecycle functionality.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 28 further comprising code to provide event services to manage network events, wherein the network events comprise server network events and wireless terminal network events.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 28 further comprising code to interact with the plurality of users on the wireless terminals in real-time via HTTP.