Method of synchronizing online game, and server device

• US 9,849,389 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2013
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GREE Inc.
• Original Assignee: GREE Inc.
• Inventors: Gould, Robert Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agostino, Paul A
• Application Number:
  US14/432,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20150238867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,545 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/493 Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure
• 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 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/408 Peer to peer connection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/534 for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5533 using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method of synchronizing an online game, and a server device, that do not require centralized information management, reduce the processing burden on each device during online communication, and allow for continuation of processing in an offline environment. A method, according to the present disclosure, of synchronizing an online game that allows for transmission and reception of information related to game processing between a first client terminal and a second client terminal via a server includes: receiving, from the first client terminal connected online, first information related to game processing on the first client terminal; determining whether the first information is information that determines a game status; and storing the first information on the server and transmitting the first information to the second client terminal when the first information is determined to be information that determines the game status.

Claims

1. A method of synchronizing an online game that allows for transmission and reception of information related to game processing between a first mobile device and a second mobile device via a server, the method comprising:

receiving, from the first mobile device connected online, first information related to game processing by the first mobile device, wherein the first information identifies at least a first time and a first location of the first mobile device corresponding to the game processing;

determining a difference between the first time and a second time included in second information related to a preceding game processing;

calculating a distance threshold based on the difference between the first time and the second time;

determining a difference in distance between the first location of the first mobile device and a second location of the first mobile device included in the second information related to the preceding game processing;

comparing the difference in distance to the distance threshold;

invalidating the game processing when a result of the comparing indicates that the difference in distance exceeds the distance threshold; and

transmitting the first information to the second mobile device when a result of the comparing indicates that the difference in distance is less than the distance threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the first information is information that determines a game status; and

transmitting the first information to the second mobile device without storing the first information at the server in the case that the first information is determined not to be information that determines the game status.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein

the first information identifies an action related to an event corresponding to the game processing.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the first information by the server when the result of the comparing indicates that the difference in distance is less than the distance threshold.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein

the first information is not stored by the server when the result of the comparing indicates that the difference in distance is greater than the distance threshold.

6. A system configured to allow for transmission and reception of information related to game processing between a first mobile device and a second mobile device, the system comprising:

circuitry configured to

receive, from the first mobile device connected online, first information related to game processing by the first mobile device, wherein the first information identifies at least a first time and a first location of the first mobile device corresponding to the game processing;

determine a difference between the first time and a second time included in second information related to a preceding game processing;

calculate a distance threshold based on the difference between the first time and the second time;

determine a difference in distance between the first location of the first mobile device and a second location of the first mobile device included in the second information related to the preceding game processing;

compare the difference in distance to the distance threshold;

invalidate the game processing when a result of the comparing indicates that the difference in distance exceeds the distance threshold; and

transmit the first information to the second mobile device when a result of the comparing indicates that the difference in distance is less than the distance threshold.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the circuitry is configured to:

determine whether the first information is information that determines a game status; and

transmit the first information to the second mobile device without storing the first information at the system in the case that the first information is determined not to be information that determines the game status.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein

the first information identifies an action related to an event corresponding to the game processing.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein

the circuitry is configured to store the first information and transmit the first information to the second mobile device when the result of the comparing indicates that the difference in distance is less than the distance threshold.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein

the circuitry is configured to not store the first information when the result of the comparing indicates that the difference in distance is greater than the distance threshold.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein

the system is one or more servers configured to be communicatively coupled to the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium including computer-program instructions, which when executed by a system configured to allow for transmission and reception of information related to game processing between a first mobile device and a second mobile device, cause the system to:

receive first information from the first mobile device connected online, the first information relating to game processing by the first mobile device and identifying at least a first time and a first location of the first mobile device corresponding to the game processing

determine a difference between the first time and a second time included in second information related to a preceding game processing;

calculate a distance threshold based on the difference between the first time and the second time;

determine a difference in distance between the first location of the first mobile device and a second location of the first mobile device included in the second information related to the preceding game processing;

compare the difference in distance to the distance threshold;

invalidate the game processing when a result of the comparing indicates that the difference in distance exceeds the distance threshold; and

cause the first information to be transmitted to the second mobile device when a result of the comparing indicates that the difference in distance is less than the distance threshold.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the computer-program instructions further cause the system to:

determine whether the first information is information that determines a game status; and

cause the first information to be transmitted to the second mobile device without storing the first information in the case that the first information is determined not to be information that determines the game status.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein

the first information identifies an action related to an event corresponding to the game processing.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the computer-program instructions further cause the system to:

control storing the first information and cause the first information to be transmitted to the second mobile device when the result of the comparing indicates that the difference in distance is less than the distance threshold.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the computer-program instructions further cause the system to:

not store the first information when the result of the comparing indicates that the difference in distance is greater than the distance threshold.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein

the system is one or more servers configured to be communicatively coupled to the first mobile device and the second mobile device.