Managing game metrics and authorizations

• US 9,526,990 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2013
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Harris, Adam P., Schneider, Steve C.
• Primary Examiner(s): GARNER, WERNER G
• Application Number:
  US14/101,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20140100027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/75 Enforcing rules, e.g. detecting foul play or generating lists of cheating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5586 for enforcing rights or rules, e.g. to prevent foul play
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00

Abstract

Various metrics as may be deployed in an active, passive, or hybrid validation architecture are disclosed. A computing device configured to monitor network game activity may identify an inconsistency between user game data and a particular game metric governing a particular aspect of the network gaming environment. Upon identification of an inconsistency between game data and a game metric, which may indicative of illicit game play, a validation process (e.g., active, passive, and/or hybrid) may be implemented to further confirm the existence of illicit game. Alternatively, an action to maintain integrity of the gaming community may be executed without further confirmation whereby a purportedly illicit game device may be ejected from the network.

Claims

1. A method for validating devices in a gaming network, the method comprising:

storing a library of game metrics in a memory, wherein each stored game metric defines a rule of a game title in the gaming network;

receiving over a communication network data regarding game play of the game title by a user device in the gaming network; and

executing instructions stored in the memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor;

identifies at least one aspect of the received game play data that does not correspond to a game metric from the library of game metrics,

determines that the at least one aspect of the received game play data that does not correspond to the game metric is authorized,

validates the user device for continued game play in the gaming network based on the determination that the at least one aspect of the received game play data that does not correspond to the game metric is authorized, and

updates a list of validated user devices based on the validation of the user device, wherein a frequency of subsequent monitoring of the user device is based on validations of the user device over a period of time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the authorization is based on a hidden functionality provided by a developer of the game title.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the authorization is based on a reward for an in-game achievement by a user of the user device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the authorization is based on a bonus code provided by a user of the user device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the authorization is based on a bonus code provided by a game resource associated with the game title.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the authorization pertains to a predetermined period of time, and wherein the validation does not apply after the predetermined period of time has passed.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device is validated less frequently based on a validation record indicating that no cheating has been detected for the user device over the period of time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device is validated more frequently based on a record indicating that cheating has been detected for the user device within the period of time.

9. A server system for validating devices in a gaming network, the system comprising:

a memory that stores a library of game metrics, wherein each stored game metric defines a rule of a game title in the gaming network;

a communication interface that receives over a communication network data regarding game play of the game title by a user device in the gaming network; and

a processor that executes instructions stored in the memory, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor;

identifies at least one aspect of the received game play data that does not correspond to a game metric from the library of game metrics,

determines that the at least one aspect of the received game play data that does not correspond to the game metric is authorized,

validates the user device for continued game play in the gaming network based on the determination that the at least one aspect of the received game play data that does not correspond to the game metric is authorized, and

generates a list of validated user devices based on the validation of the user device, wherein a frequency of subsequent monitoring of the user device is based on validations of the user device over a period of time.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the authorization is based on a hidden functionality provided by a developer of the game title.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the authorization is based on a reward for an in-game achievement by a user of the user device.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the authorization is based on a bonus code provided by a user of the user device.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the authorization is based on a bonus code provided by a game resource associated with the game title.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the authorization pertains to a predetermined period of time, and wherein the validation does not apply after the predetermined period of time has passed.

15. A method for maintaining community integrity, the method comprising:

receiving gameplay data sent over a communication network from a plurality of player devices in a gaming network interacting with a game title, the gameplay data for each player device including a game status and one or more parameters associated with an observed game status; and

executing instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor;

determines that the one or more parameters are prerequisite to the observed game status;

generates a rule that defines fair game play for the game title as meeting the one or more prerequisite parameters prior to achieving the observed game status, wherein failure to meet the one or more prerequisite parameters prior to achieving the game status is associated with cheating;

evaluates subsequently received gameplay data for adherence to the generated rule, wherein a player of a player device that achieves the game status without meeting the one or more prerequisite parameters is identified as a cheater; and

generates a list of cheating player devices based on the evaluation of the received gameplay data of the player device, wherein the identification of the player as a cheater increases a frequency of subsequent evaluations of the player device of the identified cheater for adherence to the generated rules.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the generated rule is specific to the game title.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the prerequisite parameters comprise an indication of authorization for the observed game status.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the prerequisite parameters comprise compliance with laws of physics.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the prerequisite parameters comprise compliance with a predetermined range or a predetermined limit.