Methods, systems, and computer program products for determining an integrity measure of a game user using dynamically generated data events

• US 8,419,531 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2007
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MFV.com Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MFV.com Incorporated
• Inventors: Lineberger, William B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bumgarner, Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weatherford, Syvila
• Application Number:
  US11/906,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20080176659A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,024 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29, 463/35
• US Class Current: 463/29
• 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 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• 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 2300/8047 Music games

Abstract

The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer program products for determining an integrity measure of a game user using dynamic performance events. According to one aspect, the method includes providing a plurality of predetermined data events in a gaming interface for sending to a client device and inserting, during sending of the gaming interface to the client device, at least one dynamically generated data event into the predetermined data events for determining an integrity measure of a game user. After sending gaming interface to a client device, input response to the at least one dynamically generated data event is received. Based on the input response to the at least one dynamically generated data event, a game user integrity measure is determined.

Claims

1. A method for determining an integrity measure of a game user, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of predetermined data events in a gaming interface for sending to a client device, wherein the plurality of predetermined data events includes one or more audio/visual cues for presentation to a user as part of a game;

inserting, during sending of the gaming interface to the client device, at least one dynamically generated data event into the predetermined data events for determining an integrity measure of a game user, wherein the at least one dynamically generated data event includes an audio/visual cue that is of a same type as the audio/visual cues of the predetermined data events, that is part of the game, and that requests a same type of response as the audio/visual cues corresponding to the predetermined data events;

receiving an input response to the at least one dynamically generated data event, wherein the input response is capable of being successfully performed by a human user using the gaming interface and an associated input device;

receiving input responses to the predetermined data events;

determining a game user integrity measure comprising a score based on the received input response to the at least one dynamically generated data event and the responses to the predetermined data events; and

indicating a presence of a non-human player based on the score.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the plurality of predetermined data events in a gaming interface includes providing a plurality of audio or visual cues corresponding to musical notes in an online skills-based musical game.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein inserting, during sending of the gaming interface to the client device, at least one dynamically generated data event into the predetermined data events includes inserting at least one visual cue corresponding to a musical note.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the plurality of predetermined data events in a gaming interface includes providing a plurality of audio or visual cues corresponding to obstacles in an online skills-based racing game.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein inserting, during sending of the gaming interface to the client device, at least one dynamically generated data event into the predetermined data events includes inserting at least one audio and visual cue corresponding to an obstacle.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a game user integrity response measure includes:

assigning a first point value when the input response to the at least one dynamically generated data event includes unsuccessful negotiation of each of the plurality of predetermined data events; and

assigning a second point value when the input response to the at least one dynamically generated data event includes unsuccessful negotiation of each of the at least one dynamically generated data event, wherein the second point value is less than the first point value.

7. A system for determining an integrity measure of a game user, the system comprising:

a game server;

a game server module, executed by the game server, for providing a plurality of predetermined data events in a gaming interface for sending to a client device, wherein the plurality of predetermined data events includes one or more audio/visual cues for presentation to a user as part of a game; and

a game user integrity measure module, executed by the game server, for generating and inserting at least one dynamically generated data event into the predetermined data events, for receiving an input response to the at least one dynamically generated data event and input responses to the predetermined data events, and for determining a game user integrity response measure comprising a score that is based on the received input response to the at least one dynamically generated data event and the received input responses to the predetermined data events, wherein the at least one dynamically generated data event includes an audio/visual cue that is of a same type as the audio/visual cues of the predetermined data events, that is part of the game, and that requests a same type of response as the audio/visual cues corresponding to the predetermined data events and wherein the input response is capable of being successfully performed by a human user using the gaming interface and an associated input device, and wherein the user must respond to the at least one dynamically generated data event and each of the plurality of predetermined data events correctly in order to obtain a perfect score, the game user integrity module indicating a presence of a non-human player based on the score.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the game server module and the game user integrity measure module are located on a single hardware platform.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the game server module and the game user integrity measure module are located on separate hardware platforms.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing a computer program, executable by a processor, the computer program comprising executable instructions for:

providing a plurality of predetermined data events in a gaming interface for sending to a client device, wherein the plurality of predetermined data events includes one or more audio/visual cues for presentation to a user as part of a game;

inserting, during sending of the gaming interface to the client device, at least one dynamically generated data event into the predetermined data events for determining an integrity measure of a game user, wherein the at least one dynamically generated data event includes an audio/visual cue that is of a same type as the audio/visual cues of the predetermined data events, that is part of the game, and that requests a same type of response as the audio/visual cues corresponding to the predetermined data events;

receiving an input response to the at least one dynamically generated data event, wherein the input response is capable of being successfully performed by a human user using the gaming interface and an associated input device;

receiving input responses to the predetermined data events;

determining a game user integrity measure comprising a score based on the received input response to the at least one dynamically generated data event and the responses to the predetermined data events; and

indicating a presence of a non-human player based on the score.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 wherein providing the plurality of predetermined data events in a gaming interface includes providing a plurality of audio or visual cues corresponding to musical notes in an online skills-based musical game.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein inserting, during sending of the gaming interface to the client device, at least one dynamically generated data event into the predetermined data events includes inserting at least one visual cue corresponding to a musical note.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 wherein providing the plurality of predetermined data events in a gaming interface includes providing a plurality of audio or visual cues corresponding to obstacles in an online skills-based racing game.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 wherein inserting, during sending of the gaming interface to the client device, at least one dynamically generated data event into the predetermined data events includes inserting at least one audio and visual cue corresponding to an obstacle.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 wherein determining a game user integrity response measure includes:

assigning a first point value when the input response to the at least one dynamically generated data event includes unsuccessful negotiation of each of the plurality of predetermined data events; and

assigning a second point value when the input response to the at least one dynamically generated data event includes unsuccessful negotiation of each of the at least one dynamically generated data event, wherein the second point value is less than the first point value.