Using crowd-sourcing to verify the accuracy of results of client-side determinations

• US 8,852,000 B1
• Filed: 07/11/2012
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Kabam (Netmarble Corporation)
• Inventors: Lin, Michael, Rhinesmith, Justin
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, WEN TAI
• Application Number:
  US13/546,843
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/75 Enforcing rules, e.g. detecting foul play or generating lists of cheating players
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

The accuracy of results of client-side determinations used for defining views of a virtual space may be verified via crowd-sourcing. Results of primary client-side determinations may be received from client computing platforms. Individual ones of the primary client-side determinations may be performed by individual client computing platforms presenting views of an instance of the virtual space to users. The results of the primary client-side determinations may form a basis for determining view information. The accuracy of the results of the primary client-side determinations may be verified by comparing the results of the primary client-side determinations with results of secondary client-side determinations performed by one or more client computing platforms. Individual ones of the secondary client-side determinations may simulate corresponding primary client-side determinations.

Claims

1. A system configured to verify the accuracy of results of client-side determinations used for defining views of a virtual space, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising;

a client-side determination receipt module configured to receive results of primary client-side determinations of game outcomes in a game from one or more client computing platforms including a first client computing platform, individual ones of the primary client-side determinations of the game outcomes being performed by individual client computing platforms presenting views of the instance of the virtual space, in which game is played, to users, the game outcomes of the primary client-side determinations forming a basis for determining view information of the virtual space; and

a client-side determination verification module configured to verify the accuracy of the game outcomes of the primary client-side determinations by comparing the game outcomes of the primary client-side determinations with game outcomes of secondary client-side determinations performed by one or more client computing platforms, individual ones of the secondary client-side determinations simulating corresponding primary client-side determinations of the game outcomes, wherein a first game outcome of a primary determination performed by the first client computing platform is verified as accurate responsive to the first game outcome corresponding with at least a threshold quantity of game outcomes of corresponding secondary client-side determinations of the game outcome performed by other client computing platforms.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the threshold quantity of game outcomes of corresponding secondary client-side determinations equals half of the number of client computing platforms performing the corresponding secondary client-side determinations of the game outcomes, where individual ones of the client computing platforms performing the corresponding secondary client side determinations perform a single secondary client side determination of the game outcome.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a client-side determination provisioning module configured to transmit determination information to individual client computing platforms, the determination information being configured to facilitate primary determinations performed by individual client computing platforms presenting views of the instance of the virtual space to users.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the determination information for a given primary client-side determination includes starting parameters for the given primary client-side determination.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the determination information for the given primary client-side determination includes a token.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the determination provisioning module is further configured to hash the starting parameters for the given primary client-side determination to the token, and to store the hashed starting parameters.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the first game outcome includes a first token.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the client-side determination provisioning module is further configured to transmit determination information to individual ones of the other client computing platforms, the determination information being configured to facilitate corresponding secondary determinations performed by individual ones of the other client computing platforms.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the client-side determination receipt module is further configured to receive game outcomes of secondary client-side determinations from the other client computing platforms.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the client-side determination verification module is further configured to add received game outcomes of primary client-side determinations to a queue for subsequent verification.

11. A method for verifying the accuracy of results of client-side determinations used for defining views of a virtual space, the method being implemented in a computer system comprising one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the method comprising:

receiving results of primary client-side determinations of game outcomes in a game from one or more client computing platforms including a first client computing platform, individual ones of the primary client-side determinations of the game outcomes being performed by individual client computing platforms presenting views of the instance of the virtual space, in which the game is played, to users, the game outcomes of the primary client-side determinations forming a basis for determining view information of the virtual space; and

,

verifying the accuracy of the game outcomes of the primary client-side determinations by comparing the game outcomes of the primary client-side determinations with game outcomes of secondary client-side determinations performed by one or more client computing platforms, individual ones of the secondary client-side determinations simulating corresponding primary client-side determinations of the game outcomes, wherein a first game outcome of a primary determination performed by the first client computing platform is verified as accurate responsive to the first game outcome corresponding with at least a threshold quantity of game outcomes of corresponding secondary client-side determinations performed by other client computing platforms.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the threshold quantity of game outcomes of corresponding secondary client-side determinations equals half of the number of client computing platforms performing the corresponding secondary client-side determinations of the game outcomes, where individual ones of the client computing platforms performing the corresponding secondary client side determinations perform a single secondary client side determination of the game outcome.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting determination information to individual client computing platforms, the determination information being configured to facilitate primary determinations performed by individual client computing platforms presenting views of the instance of the virtual space to users.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the determination information for a given primary client-side determination includes starting parameters for the given primary client-side determination.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the determination information for the given primary client-side determination includes a token.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

hashing the starting parameters for the given primary client-side determination to the token; and

storing the hashed starting parameters.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first game outcome includes a first token.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting determination information to individual ones of the other client computing platforms, the determination information being configured to facilitate corresponding secondary determinations performed by individual ones of the other client computing platforms.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving game outcomes of secondary client-side determinations from the other client computing platforms.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising adding received game outcomes of primary client-side determination to a queue for subsequent verification.