Online gaming spectator system

• US 20060058103A1
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Danieli, Damon V., Keimig, Jason Kirk, Montoya, Tracey Anne
• Granted Patent: US 7,458,894 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/86 Watching games played by other players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/577 for watching a game played by other players

Abstract

During an online event, a spectator process monitors a state of the event, updating a spectator model, so that spectator data streams can be generated and provided to spectators. The spectator data streams can be formatted and provided with content appropriate for use by different types of spectator devices used by the spectators. The spectator process can also automatically generate virtual commentary appropriate for the action occurring in the event for inclusion in the spectator data streams. A media server receives the rendered data streams and distributes them to the electronic devices being used by the spectators. The distribution can be delayed to avoid a spectator conveying information to a participant that would provide an unfair advantage. Executable code can be included in the spectator data stream to provide additional functionality and facilitate interaction between the spectators, and to enable a spectator to also “play” the game.

Claims

1. A method for enabling spectators to follow play in an online game or other online event, comprising the steps of:

(a) creating a spectator process that responds to a changing state of the electronic game or other online event, said spectator process continuously updating a spectator model to track the changing state of the electronic game or other online event for each of a plurality of different types of spectator devices that are being used by spectators to follow the action in the online game or other event;

(b) using the spectator models for the plurality of different types of spectator devices, generating data streams appropriate for use by each type of spectator device; and

(c) transmitting the data streams to the spectator devices, enabling the spectators using the spectator devices to follow the play of the electronic game.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data streams comprise at least one of audio data and visual data provided by a media server to the spectator devices over at least one network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one network comprises at least one of the Internet, a telephone network, a local area network, a wireless network, a radio network, and a television network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of dynamically allocating computer processing resources between computing tasks that include hosting the electronic game or other online event for participants, implementing the spectator process, and transmitting the data streams to the spectator devices, the step of dynamically allocating being done as a function of a load requirement on the computer processing resources for each of the computing tasks.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data streams for the different types of spectator devices have different formats meet requirements for the different types of spectator devices.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding narrative audio to at least one of the data streams that are generated.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said narrative audio comprises a primary portion of any data stream generated for spectator devices having a limited video display capability.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of hosting a chat session for at least a portion of the spectators.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding meta data to the data stream, said meta data providing at least one of:

(a) an explanation of rules applied in the electronic game or other online event; and

(b) executable code that enables a spectator to interact in a portion of the electronic game or other online event, as if the spectator were playing in the electronic game or other online event.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding meta data to the data stream, said meta data providing at least one of:

(a) possible moves or actions that can be made by a participant in the electronic game or other online event; and

(b) statistics based upon events that have occurred in the electronic game or other online event.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of delaying transmission of the data streams for the electronic game or other online event sufficiently long so that any information about the play in the electronic game or other online event that is provided in the data streams cannot be conveyed by a spectator, to a participant, to unfairly aid the participant.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of filtering undesired language from any audio chat by participants in the electronic game in the electronic game or other online event before transmitting the audio chat in the data streams, to the spectators.

13. A memory medium storing machine executable instructions for carrying out the steps of claim 1.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of delaying transmission of the data streams to the plurality of spectators for a defined time interval, so that a spectator receiving a data stream is unable to provide information included in the data stream to any participant during the play of the electronic game, where the information might provide an advantage to a participant receiving the information relative to other participants in the electronic game.

14. A method for providing a data stream to a plurality of spectators for an electronic game being played online, to enable the spectators to follow play in the electronic game, comprising the steps of:

(a) examining a current game state;

(b) updating a spectator model for each of a plurality of different types of devices used by spectators to follow the play in the electronic game, as a function of the current game state, producing an updated spectator model for each different type of device;

(c) generating appropriate data streams based upon the updated spectator model, for receipt by each different type of device being used by the spectators;

(d) transmitting the appropriate data stream to the type of device being used by each spectator, to enable the spectators to follow the play in the electronic game; and

(e) repeating steps (a)-(d) until the electronic game is completed or a session enabling spectators to follow the play in the electronic game is terminated.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of hosting the electronic game that is being played by participants on a computing device that also carries out at least one of steps (a)-(d).

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of including a narrative for the play in the electronic game with at least one data stream that is generated for transmission.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing with at least one data stream that is generated, an explanation of one of:

(a) a play that has occurred in the electronic game; and

(b) a rule applied in the electronic game.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing additional content with at least one data stream that is generated, the additional content including at least one of:

(a) background information about one of a participant and a play that has occurred in the electronic game;

(b) sound effects relating to a play that has occurred in the electronic game; and

(c) an animation relating to a play that has occurred in the electronic game.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one type of device enables spectators to follow the play in the electronic game without requiring that the electronic game be executed by the at least one type of device.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one data stream includes audio data, but not video data.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein at least data steam comprises a generic data stream that is rendered as a presentation on at least one type of device.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of adding metadata to at least one data stream, said metadata not being directly defined by the current state of the electronic game.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the metadata includes executable code that enables a spectator to do at least one of:

(a) make a wager on a condition in the electronic game; and

(b) engage in playing the electronic game, relative to a condition of the play in the electronic game.

24. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of hosting one of a voice and a text chat session in which a group of the spectators are engaging while following the play in the electronic game.

25. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of editing data streams that are transmitted to the different types of devices to do one of:

(a) delete undesired language; and

(b) mask the undesired language with a sound that makes the undesired language incomprehensible to a listener.

27. A memory medium storing machine executable instructions for carrying out the steps of claim 14.

28. A system for providing data streams to a plurality of spectators for an electronic game being played online over a network, to enable the spectators to follow play in the electronic game on a plurality of spectator devices, comprising:

(a) a memory in which machine instructions are stored;

(b) a network interface that enables data streams to be transmitted over the network, said data streams being adapted for input to a plurality of spectator devices being used by the plurality of spectators; and

(c) a processor coupled to the memory and to the network interface, the processor executing the machine instructions and carrying out a plurality of functions, including;

(i) examining a current game state of the electronic game;

(ii) updating a spectator model for each of a plurality of different types of spectator devices used by a plurality of spectators to follow the play in the electronic game, as a function of the current game state, producing an updated spectator model for each different type of spectator device being used;

(iii) generating appropriate data streams for each different type of spectator device, based upon the updated spectator model;

(iv) transmitting the appropriate data stream over the network, for use by a plurality of spectator devices employed by the plurality of spectators to follow the play in the electronic game; and

(v) repeating functions (i)-(iv) until the electronic game is completed.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to host the electronic game that is being played.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to include a narrative for the play in the electronic game with at least one data stream that is generated for transmission to the plurality of spectator devices.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to include a narrative for the play in the electronic game with at least one data stream that is generated, the narrative providing an explanation of one of:

(a) a play that has occurred in the electronic game; and

(b) a rule applied in the electronic game.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to include additional content relating to the play in the electronic game with at least one data stream that is generated, the additional content including at least one of:

(a) background information about one of a participant and a play that has occurred in the electronic game;

(b) sound effects relating to a play that has occurred in the electronic game; and

(c) an animation relating to a play that has occurred in the electronic game.

33. The system of claim 28, wherein the data stream transmitted to at least one type of spectator device enables spectators to follow the play in the electronic game without requiring that the electronic game be executed by the at least one type of spectator device.

34. The system of claim 28, wherein at least one data stream includes audio data, but not video data.

35. The system of claim 28, wherein at least data steam comprises a generic data stream that is adapted to be rendered as a presentation on at least one type of spectator device.

36. The system of claim 28, wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to add metadata to at least one data stream, said metadata not being directly defined by the current state of the electronic game.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the metadata includes executable code adapted to be executed on a spectator device being used by a spectator that enables the spectator to do at least one of:

(a) make a wager on a condition in the electronic game; and

(b) engage in playing the electronic game, relative to a condition of the play in the electronic game.

38. The system of claim 28, wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to host one of a voice and a text chat session in which a set of spectators are engaging while following the play in the electronic game.

39. The system of claim 28, wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to edit data streams that are transmitted to the different types of devices to do one of:

(a) delete undesired language; and

(b) mask the undesired language with a sound that makes the undesired language incomprehensible to a listener.

40. The system of claim 28, wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to delay transmission of the data streams to the plurality of spectator devices for a defined time interval, so that a spectator who has received a data stream is unable to provide information included in the data stream to any participant in the electronic game during the play of the electronic game, where the information might provide an advantage to a participant receiving the information relative to other participants in the electronic game.