Client-server gaming

• US 8,996,944 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2011
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nival, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nival, Inc.
• Inventors: Ivanov, Eugene, Ogorodov, Ivan M., Zelenshikov, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Kerveros, James C
• Application Number:
  US13/339,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20130172079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 714/746, 714/748
• US Class Current: 714/746
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/358 Adapting the game course according to the network or server load, e.g. for reducing latency due to different connection speeds between clients
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• 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 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06

Abstract

In a client-server game system, or in accordance with a computer-readable program stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, a client participates in a game with other clients by performing an in-game simulation. Based on results of the in-game simulation, the client sends error-checking data to a server. The server analyzes the error-checking data to determine whether a simulation error has been caused by at least one of the clients. Upon determining that the simulation error has been caused, the server causes a reference simulation to be performed. Based on the results of the reference simulation, the server identifies the client(s) that caused the simulation error. The server then sends a patch to the client(s) that caused the simulation error. The client applies the patch to correct and reset the in-game simulation.

Claims

1. In a client-server game system, a method comprising:

a server receiving through a network error-checking data associated with a plurality of clients that are participating in a game through the network;

the server analyzing the error-checking data to determine whether a simulation error has been caused by at least one of the clients while participating in the game; and

upon determining that the simulation error has been caused, the server a) causing a reference simulation to be performed, b) based on the results of the reference simulation, identifying one or more of the clients that caused the simulation error, and c) sending a patch through the network to the one or more clients that caused the simulation error for the one or more clients to correct and reset an in-game simulation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon determining that the simulation error has been caused, the server causing the reference simulation to be performed in accordance with a compiled server world model and additional data for simulation steps that follow a latest simulation step for which the server world model has been compiled.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

the server receiving through the network a plurality of commands from the clients, the commands being used by the clients to perform the in-game simulation, and the commands forming at least a portion of the additional data.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

the server receiving through the network partial model data from the clients, the partial model data from each client being indicative of at least a part of a client world model simulated by the client, and the partial model data forming at least another portion of the additional data.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

before causing the reference simulation to be performed, the server entering a recovery mode;

after sending through the network the patch to the one or more clients that caused the simulation error, the server exiting the recovery mode;

after receiving through the network at least one command from at least one of the clients, the server storing the received command if not in the recovery mode, and the server deleting the received command if in the recovery mode; and

the server periodically sending through the network the stored commands to the clients for each of the clients to perform the in-game simulation in accordance with the commands.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon determining that the simulation error has not been caused by any of the clients in a current simulation step, the server confirming the current simulation step.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

upon determining that the simulation error has not been caused, the server compiling a server world model for a latest simulation step for which all preceding simulation steps have been confirmed.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

the server receiving through the network partial model data from the clients, the partial model data from each client being indicative of at least a part of a client world model simulated by the client;

upon determining that the simulation error has not been caused, the server compiling a server world model for a latest simulation step for which all preceding simulation steps have been confirmed and for which the partial model data has been received from all clients.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

upon compiling the server world model, the server deleting confirmed simulation steps, partial model data and compiled server world models, if any have been stored, that precede the latest simulation step for which the server world model has been compiled.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the analyzing further comprises comparing the error-checking data received through the network from each client to determine whether all of the error-checking data matches, a mismatch indicating the simulation error by the one or more clients in a current simulation step.

11. In a client-server game system, a method comprising:

a client, which has a display and a control device and is connected to a network and is one of a plurality of clients participating in a game through the network, performing an in-game simulation and presenting the in-game simulation through the display;

the client generating error-checking data based on results of the in-game simulation;

the client sending the error-checking data through the network to a server for the server to analyze the error-checking data to determine whether at least one of the plurality of clients has generated a simulation error, to identify which one or more of the plurality of clients generated the simulation error, and to generate a patch for correcting the simulation error; and

upon receiving the patch from the server through the network, the client applying the patch to correct and reset the in-game simulation.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

the client sending command data through the network to the server for the server to generate aggregate command data from command data received by the server through the network from the plurality of clients;

the client receiving the aggregate command data through the network from the server; and

upon receiving the aggregate command data, the client performing the in-game simulation in accordance with the aggregate command data and presenting the in-game simulation through the display.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the error-checking data is sent through the network to the server for the server, after determining that the simulation error has been generated, to cause a reference simulation to be performed to determine a correct state of a server world model for the game and to identify which one or more of the plurality of clients generated the simulation error based on the correct state of the server world model.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

the client sending partial model data through the network to the server to be used in the reference simulation, the partial model data being indicative of at least a part of a client world model simulated by the client.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the partial model data is sent through the network to the server also for the server to compile a confirmed version of the server world model from partial model data received by the server through the network from the plurality of clients and for the server to use the confirmed version of the server world model in the reference simulation.

16. A computer-readable program stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the program, when executed by a computer, causing the computer to perform a method comprising:

the computer, which is a client in a client-server game system, performing an in-game simulation for a networked computerized game, the computer being connected to a network, the computer being one of a plurality of clients participating in the game via the network, the computer having a display and a control device, the in-game simulation being for presentation through the display to a user when the user is playing the game by manipulating the control device;

the computer generating error-checking data based on results of the in-game simulation;

the computer sending the error-checking data through the network to a server for the server to analyze the error-checking data to determine whether at least one of the plurality of clients has generated a simulation error, to identify which one or more of the plurality of clients generated the simulation error, and to generate a patch for correcting the simulation error; and

upon receiving the patch from the server through the network, the computer applying the patch to correct and reset the in-game simulation and presenting the corrected in-game simulation through the display.

17. The computer-readable program of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

the computer generating command data in response to the user manipulating the control device;

the computer sending the command data through the network to the server for the server to generate aggregate command data from command data received by the server through the network from the plurality of clients;

the computer receiving the aggregate command data through the network from the server; and

upon receiving the aggregate command data, the computer performing the in-game simulation in accordance with the aggregate command data and presenting the in-game simulation through the display.

18. The computer-readable program of claim 16, wherein according to the method:

the error-checking data is sent through the network to the server for the server, after determining that the simulation error has been generated, to cause a reference simulation to be performed to determine a correct state of a server world model for the game and to identify which one or more of the plurality of clients generated the simulation error based on the correct state of the server world model.

19. The computer-readable program of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises:

the computer sending partial model data through the network to the server to be used in the reference simulation, the partial model data being indicative of at least a part of a client world model simulated by the computer.

20. The computer-readable program of claim 19, wherein according to the method:

the partial model data is sent through the network to the server also for the server to compile a confirmed version of the server world model from partial model data received by the server through the network from the plurality of clients and for the server to use the confirmed version of the server world model in the reference simulation.