Systems and methods for game activation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for activating a computer game in response to a user attempting to play the game on a computing device, comprising:
- a license server configured to detect a communication link between the license server and the computing device, and to execute, responsive to detecting the communication link, functions to;
receive from the computing device a combination of (a) a game identifier for a requested game and (b) a device identifier for the computing device via the link, the device identifier derived from a combination of at least one user-configurable parameter and at least one non-user-configurable parameter of the computing device;
access a database of known game identifiers, each known game identifier being associated with (a) a known game, (b) a device count corresponding to a total number of known devices on which the known game was previously played, and (c) known device identifiers for the known devices;
obtain from the database a usage policy for the requested game, the usage policy including a maximum device count for the requested game; and
send an activation instruction to the computing device based at least in part on (a) a device comparison between the device identifier for the computing device and the known device identifiers, and (b) a count comparison between the device count and the maximum device count;
an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) server in operative communication with the license server and the computing device, the IVR server configured to;
instructs the user to provide a device code comprising at least one of the device identifier and a second hash code of the device identifier;
instruct the user to complete a phone transaction in response to the license server detecting no communication link between the license server and the computing device;
translate the game code and the device code into at least one activation code; and
send the at least one activation code to the license server; and
wherein the license server is further configured to extract the game identifier and the device identifier from the at least one activation code.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are provided for controlling the activation of computer games. In one embodiment, the technique may involve receiving a combination of a game identifier for the game and a device identifier for the device. The technique may further involve accessing a database of known game identifiers, each known game identifier being associated with a device count corresponding to a total number of known devices on which a known game was previously played or activated, and obtaining a usage policy for the game.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A system for activating a computer game in response to a user attempting to play the game on a computing device, comprising:
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a license server configured to detect a communication link between the license server and the computing device, and to execute, responsive to detecting the communication link, functions to; receive from the computing device a combination of (a) a game identifier for a requested game and (b) a device identifier for the computing device via the link, the device identifier derived from a combination of at least one user-configurable parameter and at least one non-user-configurable parameter of the computing device; access a database of known game identifiers, each known game identifier being associated with (a) a known game, (b) a device count corresponding to a total number of known devices on which the known game was previously played, and (c) known device identifiers for the known devices; obtain from the database a usage policy for the requested game, the usage policy including a maximum device count for the requested game; and send an activation instruction to the computing device based at least in part on (a) a device comparison between the device identifier for the computing device and the known device identifiers, and (b) a count comparison between the device count and the maximum device count; an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) server in operative communication with the license server and the computing device, the IVR server configured to; instructs the user to provide a device code comprising at least one of the device identifier and a second hash code of the device identifier; instruct the user to complete a phone transaction in response to the license server detecting no communication link between the license server and the computing device; translate the game code and the device code into at least one activation code; and send the at least one activation code to the license server; and wherein the license server is further configured to extract the game identifier and the device identifier from the at least one activation code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for activating a computer game in response to a user attempting to play the game on a computing device, comprising:
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receiving from the computing device, in response to detecting availability of a communication link and via the link, a combination of (a) a game identifier for the game and (b) a device identifier for the computing device, the device identifier derived from at least one user-configurable parameter and at least one non-user-configurable parameter of the computing device; accessing a database of known game identifiers, each known game identifier being associated with (a) a known game, (b) a device count corresponding to a total number of known devices on which the known game was previously played, and (c) known device identifiers for the known devices; obtaining a usage policy for the game, the policy comprising a maximum device count for the game; and sending an activation instruction to the computing device based at least in part on (a) a device comparison between the device identifier for the computing device and the known device identifiers, and (b) a count comparison between the device count and the maximum device count; and sending the activation instruction to the computing device based at least in part on a time comparison between (a) a maximum play time defined in the usage policy and (b) an actual play time of the game on the computing device; and wherein the activation instruction comprises a disallow instruction responsive to the actual play time exceeds the maximum play time, the disallow instruction preventing the user from playing the game on the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification