Computerized method and system for generating a gaming experience in a networked environment

• US 8,460,108 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hendrickson, Gregory L., Cluts, Jonathan C., Heath, Pamela J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pandya, Sunit
• Application Number:
  US11/065,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20060194632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,028 Days
• Field of Search: 463/7, 463/16, 463 29- 31, 463 39- 42, 370/254, 370/463, 370/465
• 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 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• 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 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5533 using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807

Abstract

Methods and systems for generating a gaming experience, e.g., an immersive gaming experience, in a networked environment are provided. Gaming experiences generated according to the methods provided herein transform a localized, networked environment into a “virtual game space”, thereby encouraging group and/or team play. Comprehensive assessments about nearby and/or common household devices, systems (e.g., lighting or sound systems), and/or other networked objects (e.g., clothing, furniture, fabric, etc.) are made and dynamically and intelligently woven into the fabric of the game itself. In this way, any networked device within the environment may be called upon to act as a game controller or input/output device, allowing game challenges to be expanded across a room, a home, and even a neighborhood. Methods for scaling a gaming experience uniquely to each environment, depending on the availability and capabilities of networked devices, are also provided.

Claims

1. A computerized method for generating a gaming experience in a networked environment, the method comprising:

receiving an indication that a user has chosen to initiate play of a game;

identifying, utilizing a first computing process, any networked devices in the networked environment;

identifying, utilizing a second computing process, a list of devices from the identified networked devices that are capable of being incorporated into the game, wherein the devices that are capable of being incorporated into the game are devices that are capable of having a specified effect on the gaming experience in response to interaction of the user with the game and in response to interaction of the user with the devices, and wherein the list of devices includes a common household device, a tablet computing device and a game controller;

determining that the common household device, tablet computing device and the game controller are available for incorporation into the gaming experience;

identifying, utilizing a third computing process, at least one additional listed networked device that is available for incorporation into the gaming experience, the at least one additional available listed networked device being one or more of a home lighting system, a home lighting device, and a wired telephone;

determining a first specified effect of the tablet computing device on the gaming experience;

determining a second specified effect of the game controller on the gaming experience;

determining a third specified effect on the gaming experience of a relative position of the common household device in a physical space;

initiating play of the game; and

generating the gaming experience, the gaming experience including the first specified effect and the second specified effect and the third specified effect, in response to interaction of the user with the game and in response to interaction of the user with the tablet computing device, the game controller, and the common household device,

wherein each of the first, second, and third computing processes are performed by one or more computing devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying at least one additional listed networked device that is available for incorporation into the gaming experience comprises determining that a plurality of additional listed networked devices is available for incorporation into the gaming experience, and wherein the method further comprises:

determining if any of the plurality of additional listed available networked devices are related devices; and

if it is determined that any of the plurality of additional listed available networked devices are related devices, incorporating one or more of the related devices into the gaming experience according to at least one filter.

3. One or more computer storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for performing a computerized method for building a gaming experience for a networked environment, the method comprising:

receiving one or more customizable game templates of the gaming experience, at least one of the customizable game templates identifying a first networked device capable of being incorporated into a game, wherein networked devices that are capable of being incorporated into the game are capable of having a specified effect on the networked environment of the gaming experience in response to interaction of a user with the game, in response to interaction of the user with the networked devices, and in response to a relative position of the devices within a physical space;

receiving a first data entry identifying the first networked device as a tablet computing device;

receiving a second data entry identifying a first specified effect of the tablet computing device on the gaming experience in response to interaction of the user with the game; and

publishing the first and second data entries to a gaming community.

4. The one or more computer storage media of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a third data entry identifying a game controller as a second networked device capable of being incorporated into the gaming experience;

receiving a fourth data entry identifying a second specified effect of the second networked device on the gaming experience in response to interaction of the user with the game; and

publishing the third and fourth data entries to the gaming community.

5. The one or more computer storage media of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises determining whether the first and second networked devices are related devices.

6. The one or more computer storage media of claim 5, wherein if the first and second networked devices are determined to be related devices, the method further comprises:

receiving a data entry identifying at least one filter to be applied to the second data entry and the fourth data entry, wherein the filter indicates a preference for alternately implementing the first specified effect and the second specified effect; and

publishing the data entry to the gaming community.

7. The one or more computer storage media of claim 4, wherein the tablet computing device and the game controller are related devices, and wherein the at least one of the customizable game templates permits incorporation of both the tablet computing device and the game controller into the gaming experience.

8. The one or more computer storage media of claim 7, wherein the at least one of the customizable game templates applies at least one filter to the tablet computing device and the game controller.