Overlaying interactive video game play with real-time chat sessions with game switching
First Claim
1. A client device that is configured for use in playing a computer game, comprising:
- a processor; and
memory in communication with the processor useable in storing data and machine instructions that causes the processor to perform actions, including;
launching the computer game for execution;
pausing the launch of the computer game;
injecting hooks into a portion of a component used by the computer game on the client device while the launch is paused, wherein injecting the hooks includes modifying at least one input or output function of the computer game by inserting code that is configured to perform a jump to a game overlay component, wherein injecting the hooks further comprises modifying at least one input or output function with a jump to the game overlay component, wherein the game overlay component is configured to determine if the monitored input or output is to be directed to a messaging session;
resuming the launch such that the computer game executes on the client device;
executing the computer game including the hooked component;
employing the hooks to monitor for a user input or a display output;
determining if a monitored user input is associated with the messaging session, and if so;
directing the user input to the messaging session;
if the output is associated with a display output, employing the output to display, at least in part, a user interface window for the messaging session overlaid onto a game display managed through the computer game;
detecting a user selection within the messaging session indicating a request to join a second computer game that is different from the first computer game; and
enabling the second computer game to be launched on the client device, with an other messaging session, such that the client device plays both computer games with messaging sessions overlaid thereon.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments are directed towards providing an interactive game experience whereby a game player may combine game play with a user interface overlaid onto the game that is useable to interact and communicate with other players inside and/or outside of the current game. Through the use of the user interface, a player may select different game sets to play, and rapidly switch between games with different players, while maintaining a real-time interactive chat session, or similar communication session, including, without limit, voice communication sessions. A game client component may launch a game, and then hooks into the game to intercept various input and video functions.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A client device that is configured for use in playing a computer game, comprising:
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a processor; and memory in communication with the processor useable in storing data and machine instructions that causes the processor to perform actions, including; launching the computer game for execution; pausing the launch of the computer game; injecting hooks into a portion of a component used by the computer game on the client device while the launch is paused, wherein injecting the hooks includes modifying at least one input or output function of the computer game by inserting code that is configured to perform a jump to a game overlay component, wherein injecting the hooks further comprises modifying at least one input or output function with a jump to the game overlay component, wherein the game overlay component is configured to determine if the monitored input or output is to be directed to a messaging session; resuming the launch such that the computer game executes on the client device; executing the computer game including the hooked component; employing the hooks to monitor for a user input or a display output; determining if a monitored user input is associated with the messaging session, and if so;
directing the user input to the messaging session;if the output is associated with a display output, employing the output to display, at least in part, a user interface window for the messaging session overlaid onto a game display managed through the computer game; detecting a user selection within the messaging session indicating a request to join a second computer game that is different from the first computer game; and enabling the second computer game to be launched on the client device, with an other messaging session, such that the client device plays both computer games with messaging sessions overlaid thereon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system that is configured for use in managing a computer game, comprising:
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a game client manager that is configured to perform actions, including; receiving a request to play the computer game; launching for play the requested computer game; pausing the launch of the computer game; injecting hooks into components employed by the computer game while the launch is paused, wherein injecting the hooks includes modifying at least one input or output function of the computer game by inserting code that is configured to perform a jump to a game overlay component, wherein injecting the hooks further comprises modifying at least one input or output function with a jump to the game overlay component, wherein the game overlay component is configured to determine if the monitored input or output is to be directed to a messaging session; resuming the launch such that the computer game executes on the client device; launching the game overlay component; receiving messaging session data; and providing the messaging session data to the game overlay component for use in the messaging session during play of the computer game; and the game overlay component that is configured to perform actions, including; employing the hooks to monitor for a user input or a display output; if a user input is detected, determining if the user input is associated with the computer game or the messaging session, and routing the user input to the computer game or the messaging session based on the determination; if the display output is detected, modifying the display output to enable display of a user interface window for the messaging session that is overlaid onto a game display associated with the computer game; detecting a user selection within the messaging session indicating a request to join a second computer game, the first computer game and the second computer game not being the same computer game; and enabling the second computer game to be launched on the client device, with an other messaging session, such that the client device plays both computer games with messaging sessions overlaid thereon. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of managing a computer game, comprising:
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launching the computer game for execution; pausing the launch of the computer game; injecting hooks into a portion of a computer game component while the launch is paused, wherein injecting the hooks includes modifying at least one input or output function of the computer game by inserting code that is configured to perform a jump to a game overlay component, wherein injecting the hooks further comprises modifying at least one input or output function with a jump to the game overlay component, wherein the game overlay component is configured to determine if the monitored input or output is to be directed to a messaging session; resuming the launch such that the computer game executes on the client device; executing the computer game including the hooked computer game component; executing the game overlay component configured to establish the messaging session user interface window overlaid onto a game display that is managed through the computer game; employing the hooks to monitor user inputs and display outputs; if a monitored input or output is associated with the messaging session, directing the input to the messaging session or employing the output to display, at least in part, the user interface for the messaging session overlaid onto the game display; detecting a user selection within the messaging session indicating a request to join a second computer game that is not the same as the first computer game; and enabling the second computer game to be launched on the client device, with an other messaging session, such that the client device plays both computer games with messaging sessions overlaid thereon. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification