Seeding in a skill scoring framework

• US 8,175,726 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Herbrich, Ralf, Graepel, Thore K. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn, Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US11/540,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20070026934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,048 Days
• Field of Search: 700/91, 700/93
• US Class Current: 700/91
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 11/0051 Indicators of values, e.g. score counters

Abstract

Skill scores represent a ranking or other indication of the skill of the player based on the outcome of the game in a gaming environment. Skills scores can be used in matching compatible players on the same team and matching opposing players or teams to obtain an evenly-matched competition. An initial skill score of a player in a new gaming environment may be based in whole or in part on the skill score of that player in another game environment. The influence that the skill scores for these other game environments may have in the skill score seeding for the new game environment may be weighted based on a defined compatibility factor with the new game environment. The compatibility factor can be determined based on a game-to-game basis, compatible categories or features, game developer defined parameters, or any combination of considerations.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first seed skill score for a first game that has previously been played by a player, the first seed skill score comprising a first seed average score and a first seed confidence level, the first seed average score reflecting an average score of the player in the first game and the first seed confidence level reflecting a distribution of scores by the player in the first game;

determining an initial skill score of the player for a new game based on at least the first seed skill score of the player for the first game, wherein the new game and the first game are different games that are related by a compatibility factor reflecting compatibility between the first game and the new game, the initial skill score for the new game comprising an initial average score based on the first seed average score and an initial confidence level based on the first seed confidence level; and

recording the initial skill score of the player in a storage device of a gaming computing device in association with the new game.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the compatibility factor influences an amount by which the initial skill score for the new game is adjusted from a base skill score for the new game.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the compatibility factor and the first seed skill score influence an amount by which the initial skill score for the new game is adjusted from a base skill score for the new game.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the initial skill score further comprises:

computing the initial skill score of the player as an interpolation between a base skill score for the new game and the first seed skill score for the first game based on the compatibility factor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first game is a member of a plurality of different games including at least a second game that is related to the new game by a second compatibility factor, and

determining the initial skill score of the player for the new game is based on a blended seed skill score reflecting the first seed skill score and a second seed skill score for the second game.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the initial skill score of the player for the new game comprises computing the blended seed skill score of the player as a weighted average of at least the first seed skill score weighted by the compatibility factor and the second seed skill score weighted by the second compatibility factor.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

matching the player with at least one other player in the new game based on the initial skill score of the player.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the at least one other player is an opponent during game play of the new game.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the at least one other player is a teammate during game play of the new game.

10. One or more computer-readable storage devices having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer process comprising:

receiving a first seed skill score for a first game that has previously been played by a player, the first seed skill score comprising a first seed average score and a first seed confidence level, the first seed average score reflecting an average score of the player in the first game and the first seed confidence level reflecting a distribution of scores by the player in the first game;

determining an initial skill score of the player for a new game based on at least the first seed skill score of the player for the first game, wherein the new game and the first game are different games that are related by a compatibility factor reflecting compatibility between the first game and the new game, the initial skill score for the new game comprising an initial average score based on the first seed average score and an initial confidence level based on the first seed confidence level; and

recording the initial skill score of the player in a storage medium of a gaming computing device.

11. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 10, wherein determining the initial skill score further comprises:

computing the initial skill score of the player as an interpolation between a base skill score for the new game and the first seed skill score based on the compatibility factor.

12. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 10, wherein:

the first game is a member of a plurality of different games including at least a second game that is related to the new game by a second compatibility factor, and

determining the initial skill score of the player for the new game is based on a blended seed skill score reflecting the first seed skill score and a second seed skill score for the second game.

13. The one or more computer-readable storage media devices of claim 12, wherein determining the initial skill score of the player for the new game comprises computing the blended seed skill score of the player as a weighted average of at least the first seed skill score weighted by the compatibility factor and the second seed skill score weighted by the second compatibility factor.

14. The one or more computer-readable storage media devices of claim 10, wherein the computer process further comprises:

matching the player with at least one other player in the new game based on the initial skill score of the player.

15. A system comprising:

a seeding module configured to;

receive a first seed skill score for a first game that has previously been played by a player, the first seed skill score comprising a first seed average score and a first seed confidence level, the first seed average score reflecting an average score of the player in the first game and the first seed confidence level reflecting a distribution of scores by the player in the first game; and

determine an initial skill score of the player for a new game based on at least the first seed skill score of the player for the first game, wherein the new game and the first game are different games that are related by a compatibility factor reflecting compatibility between the first game and the new game, the initial skill score for the new game comprising an initial average score based on the first seed average score and an initial confidence level based on the first seed confidence level; and

a storage device of a gaming computing device configured to store the initial skill score of the player in association with the new game.

16. A system as in claim 15, further comprising a player match module configured to create matches between players in the new game based upon skill score matching and player preferences.