Use of online messaging to facilitate selection of participants in game play

• US 8,475,279 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2010
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Danieli, Damon V., Selbie, John R., Stipes, Matthew J., Pennock, John P., Bamford, Drew C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hsu, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US12/750,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20100184517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/29, 463/42, 463/31, 709/204, 709/206, 709/207
• 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 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• 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 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/556 Player lists, e.g. online players, buddy list, black list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6072 of an input signal, e.g. pitch and rhythm extraction, voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users

Abstract

A method and system facilitating selection of participants in multiplayer online electronic games. The method provides an efficient procedure for players to host and join new instances of multiplayer online electronic games, as well as providing a scheme that enables players to join multiplayer online electronic games that are already in progress. The method is implemented through a gaming utility that runs on each player'"'"'s electronic device (e.g. PC) and interacts behind the scenes with an online messaging service. Player hosts are enabled to select players from a list of contacts provided by the online messaging service who they want to invite to join a chat session. A selected multiplayer online electronic game is selectively launched on all of the player'"'"'s computers through a single command issued by the host. Additionally, the gaming utility provides players with a list of existing chat sessions being hosted by other players so as to enable the players to join multiplayer online electronic games that are already in progress. The system includes a plurality of electronic devices linked in communication across a communications network, such as a LAN or the Internet. Each electronic device is operatively coupled to a headset having a pair of headphones and a microphone. The headset is worn by a player, enabling the players to verbally communicate with others in a verbal chat session.

Claims

1. A computer program product comprising one or more data storage devices having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to display a user interface for providing chat functionality and joining multiple players in an online game, the user interface comprising:

a user interface (UI) frame comprising a chat pane and a command pane, wherein the chat pane is identified by a selectable chat pane tab and the command pane is identified by a selectable command pane tab, and wherein selecting the chat pane tab causes the chat pane to be displayed within the UI frame and selecting the command pane tab causes the command pane to be displayed within the UI frame;

a contact list identifying one or more contacts added by a user and acquired from an online messaging service along with a plurality of available status indicators for each contact, wherein the plurality of status indicators include at least an online messaging service status and a separate gaming status;

a settings list identifying status of the user, wherein the settings list includes at least a status selector for the user to identify the user'"'"'s own online messaging service status and separately identify the user'"'"'s own gaming status, wherein the gaming status is selected by identifying a game in which the user is participating;

a chat list identifying each chat in which the user is involved;

wherein the chat list is capable of maintaining a plurality of different chats, each of the plurality of different chats simultaneously being maintained and involving the user; and

wherein the chat list, settings list, and contact list are separate and contained within the command pane of the UI frame.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the user interface further comprises a chat room pane, the chat room pane selectively displayable and the chat room pane displaying a name of a chat session, a list of players participating in the chat session, and for each player in the list of players, the chat room pane displaying a channel assignment or invite status associated with the each player in the list of players.