System, method and computer program for enabling an interactive game

• US 8,317,618 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuff, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Kevin Y
• Application Number:
  US11/303,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20070155506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,539 Days
• Field of Search: 463/39, 463/40, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/493 Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004

Abstract

A system, method and computer program enable an interactive game. A game server, in response to a user request, provides a unique identifier associated with an instance of the interactive game. The game server forwards one or more invitations to join the interactive game in accordance with the user request. Thereafter, the game server registers one or more wireless communication devices to be used as data controllers for use by participants that join the game.

Claims

1. A set top box, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that are executable by the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving an interactive callback address from a game server;

sending an image that corresponds to the interactive callback address to a display device;

receiving first user input indicating a selection of the image;

storing information associated with a first channel being displayed when the first user input is received;

sending a game setup menu to the display device in response to the first user input;

receiving second user input indicating a selection of a particular game and identifying a wireless communication device used by a player;

sending game navigation information associated with the wireless communication device to the display device;

sending a unique identifier obtained from the game server and associated with the particular game to the display device; and

when the game setup menu terminates, tuning to the first channel based on the stored information associated with the first channel.

2. The set top box of claim 1, further comprising a controller usable to navigate the game setup menu and useable by the player to participate in the particular game.

3. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise tuning to a second channel associated with the particular game in response to the first user input.

4. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise sending the unique identifier and information regarding the wireless communication device to the game server.

5. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the set top box communicates with the wireless communication device via a short-range radio-frequency link.

6. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a cellular telephone.

7. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier enables a remote player different from the player to join the particular game.

8. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the processor receives commands from a plurality of controllers associated with a plurality of local players.

9. The set top box of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise receiving the unique identifier from each of the plurality of local players, and sending the commands associated with the particular game received from each of the plurality of local players to the game server.

10. The set top box of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise receiving from the game server visuals associated with the particular game.

11. A method comprising:

receiving first commands from a first wireless device at an interactive game server via a first network, wherein the first commands are forwarded to the interactive game server from a set top box, wherein the first commands are associated with a game instance of a particular game;

receiving, via a cellular network, second commands associated with the game instance at the interactive game server, the second commands sent from a second wireless device that is remotely located from the set top box;

receiving a first request at the interactive game server to pause the game instance;

receiving a second request at the interactive game server to resume the game instance when the second wireless device is collocated with the set top box; and

resuming the game instance at the interactive game server, wherein the first commands from the first wireless device and third commands from the second wireless device are forwarded to the interactive game server via the first network from the set top box after resuming the game instance.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending visuals associated with the first wireless device to the set top box, wherein the set top box sends the visuals to a display device coupled to the set top box.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending visuals associated with the first wireless device to the set top box, wherein the set top box sends the visuals to a display device of the first wireless device.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending images of control features of the game instance associated with the first wireless device to the set top box via the first network and sending images of control features of the game instance associated with the second wireless device via the cellular network.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing an identifier associated with the second wireless device to enable the second wireless device to continue sending commands associated with the game instance after the game instance is resumed.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the first commands are received at the set top box via a short-range wireless network.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving an initial request to join the game instance from the second wireless device via a message service;

when the initial request includes a unique identifier associated with the game instance, enabling the second wireless device to join the game instance based on the unique identifier; and

when the initial request does not include the unique identifier associated with the game instance, prompting a host of the game instance regarding whether to allow the second wireless device to join the game instance.

18. A computer readable tangible medium comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving a request via a first network for a game instance from a set top box, wherein the request includes first identification information associated with at least one local player and second identification information of a wireless device associated with a remote player;

sending a unique identifier of the game instance to the set top box via the first network;

sending an invite to join the game instance as a message service message via a cellular network to the wireless device associated with the remote player, wherein the invite includes the unique identifier;

receiving third identification information associated with at least one game player from the set top box via the first network, wherein the third information is sent from a game console used by the at least one game player, and wherein the third identification information includes the unique identifier and information about the game console;

receiving the unique identifier from the wireless device of the remote player;

starting the game instance;

receiving commands associated with the game instance from the game console via the first network;

receiving commands associated with the game instance from the wireless device via the cellular network;

sending first visuals associated with the game instance to the at least one game player via the first network to the set top box;

sending second visuals associated with the game instance to the remote player via the cellular network;

detecting an interruption of the game instance;

retrieving information identifying an alternative controller associated with a particular game player; and

resuming the interrupted game instance based on the retrieved information.

19. The computer readable tangible medium of claim 18, wherein the message service message comprises a short-message service message.

20. The computer readable tangible medium of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises retrieving second information associated with an alternative connectivity configuration associated with the particular game player and resuming the interrupted game instance further based on the second information.