Add-on management methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of executing an add-on program, the method comprising:
- receiving a selection from a user that identifies for installation the add-on program in association with game logic, wherein an add-on interface including a plurality of add-on programs for selection is presented to the user via a client associated with the user and delivers the selection;
installing the add-on program that is selected on a game server system configured to provide a video stream to the client, the video stream being a result of execution of the game logic, wherein the add-on program includes computing instructions executable by a processor and that augment functionality of the game logic, wherein the game logic is operable to provide the video stream before installing the add-on program, the client being geographically remote from the game server system;
generating video data for the video stream using the game logic;
generating video frames from the video data for the video stream;
receiving a game command from the client at the game logic, wherein the game command originates from the client in response to user input;
determining by the game logic if the received game command is for the game logic or for the add-on program;
executing the game command by the game logic when the game command is for the game logic;
sending the received game command via an application programming interface (API) of the game logic in communication with an API of the add-on program when the game command is for the add-on program;
adding, by executing the computing instructions of the add-on program, an overlay of add-on video frames to the video frames for the video stream based on add-on data created by the add-on program in response to the received game command;
sending the video stream to the client, the video stream including the video frames generated by the game logic including the add-on video frames for the overlay; and
storing the add-on data in a location geographically remote from the client and accessible by the add-on program, the add-on data being associated with an account of a user of the client, wherein the account includes information associating the add-on program with the game logic.
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Abstract
A computing system is configured to execute a computer program on a server and to provide a video stream of the program output to a geographically remote client over a communication network. An add-on manager is provided to facilitate the use of add-ons to extend the functionality of the computer program. The add-on manager is responsive to commands received from the client and is configured to associate individual add-ons and add-on data with specific user accounts. The add-ons can be located on the server or some other location remote from the client.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of executing an add-on program, the method comprising:
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receiving a selection from a user that identifies for installation the add-on program in association with game logic, wherein an add-on interface including a plurality of add-on programs for selection is presented to the user via a client associated with the user and delivers the selection; installing the add-on program that is selected on a game server system configured to provide a video stream to the client, the video stream being a result of execution of the game logic, wherein the add-on program includes computing instructions executable by a processor and that augment functionality of the game logic, wherein the game logic is operable to provide the video stream before installing the add-on program, the client being geographically remote from the game server system; generating video data for the video stream using the game logic; generating video frames from the video data for the video stream; receiving a game command from the client at the game logic, wherein the game command originates from the client in response to user input; determining by the game logic if the received game command is for the game logic or for the add-on program; executing the game command by the game logic when the game command is for the game logic; sending the received game command via an application programming interface (API) of the game logic in communication with an API of the add-on program when the game command is for the add-on program; adding, by executing the computing instructions of the add-on program, an overlay of add-on video frames to the video frames for the video stream based on add-on data created by the add-on program in response to the received game command; sending the video stream to the client, the video stream including the video frames generated by the game logic including the add-on video frames for the overlay; and storing the add-on data in a location geographically remote from the client and accessible by the add-on program, the add-on data being associated with an account of a user of the client, wherein the account includes information associating the add-on program with the game logic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of installing an add-on program, the method comprising:
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receiving a selection from a user that identifies for installation the add-on program in association with game logic, wherein an add-on interface including a plurality of add-on programs for selection is presented to the user; establishing an add-on environment configured for the add-on program to be accessed by a computer program, wherein an application programming interface (API) of the add-on program is defined for exchanging communications with an API of the computer program, the computer program being executed using a server geographically remote from the client, wherein the add-on program includes computing instructions that augment functionality of the computer program; placing the add-on program in the add-on environment; associating the add-on program with an account of a user of the client; identifying storage for add-on data generated by the add-on program while the add-on program is being executed by a processor, wherein the storage is accessible by the add-on program; associating the storage for the add-on data with the account, wherein the account includes information associating the add-on program with the computer program; and adding, by the computer program, an overlay of add-on video frames to video frames generated based on video data for a video stream, the add-on video frames generated by the add-on program based on the add-on data in response to game commands, wherein the video stream sent to the client includes the video frames that include the video data generated by the computer program and the add-on video frames for the overlay, wherein determinations are made if received game commands originating from the client in response to user input are for the computer program or for the add-on program. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of executing an add-on program, the method comprising:
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receiving a selection from a user that identifies for installation the add-on program in association with game logic, wherein an add-on interface including a plurality of add-on programs for selection is presented to the user via a client associated with the user and delivers the selection; installing the add-on program that is selected on a game server system having game logic to provide a video stream to the client, wherein the add-on program includes computing instructions executable by a processor and that augment functionality of the game logic, wherein the game logic is operable to provide the video stream before installing the add-on program, the client being geographically remote from the game server system; associating the add-on program with the client and game logic through an account of the user; executing the game logic after the associating; determining using the game logic if a received game command is for the game logic or for the add-on program; executing the game command by the game logic when the game command is for the game logic; forwarding the game command via an application programming interface (API) of the game logic in communication with an API of the add-on program when the game command is for the add-on program; adding, by executing the computing instructions of the add-on program, an overlay of add-on video frames to video frames generated based on video data for the video stream, the add-on video frames generated based on add-on data created by the add-on program in response to the game command; and sending the video stream to the client, the video stream including the video frames generated by the game logic and the add-on video frames for the overlay, wherein the video stream is associated with the video data, wherein operations of the method are executed by a processor. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification