Ubiquitous unified player identity tracking system

• US 20060121992A1
• Filed: 12/07/2004
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Arthur, Erik John, Chen, Ling Tony, Lamb, Steven D., Helm, James N., Macauley, James David, Asmi, Yasser B., Bortnik, Michal
• Granted Patent: US 7,621,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/43
• 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 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• 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 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5513 involving billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5526 Game data structure
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

Systems and method for providing a single sign in a gaming console that associates online activity that is out-of-game/cross game, and/or online activity that is in-game, and/or activity that is offline and in-game with that account. While online, a service tracks activity of gamers and provides usage statistics in a profile. While offline, the game console tracks the player'"'"'s activity via a mechanism to collect detailed information about a specific player'"'"'s in-game statistics and accomplishments. The offline activity is cached and uploaded when the console connects to the online service. Players can accumulate achievements offline that are credited towards online activities.

Claims

1. In a gaming console, a method of providing a unique player identity that extends across multiple contexts, said method comprising:

providing a sign in mechanism where users access said gaming console via a profile associated with said unique player identity;

storing settings in accordance with said profile;

associating said profile with an offline account;

tracking user activity within said offline account; and

attributing said user activity to said profile.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating an in-game profile with said profile.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising applying said settings in accordance with said in-game profile.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said settings are applied to game preferences and controller settings.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating an online service with said profile.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

tracking online user activity; and

attributing said online user activity to said profile.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

caching said offline user activity; and

synchronizing said offline activity to said profile such that said profile reflects both said offline and said online user activity.

8. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for providing a unique player identity that extends across multiple contexts, said instructions comprising steps for:

providing a sign in mechanism where users access said gaming console via a profile associated with said unique player identity;

storing settings in accordance with said profile;

associating said profile with an offline account;

tracking user activity within said offline account; and

attributing said user activity to said profile.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, further comprising associating an in-game profile with said profile.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions for applying said settings in accordance with said in-game profile.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein said settings are applied to game preferences and controller settings.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 8, further comprising instructions for associating an online service with said profile.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions for:

tracking online user activity; and

attributing said online user activity to said profile.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for:

caching said offline user activity; and

synchronizing said offline activity to said profile such that said profile reflects both said offline and said online user activity.

15. A system for providing a unique player identity that extends across multiple contexts, comprising:

an online service that tracks online player activity in a profile associated with said unique player identity;

a gaming console that tracks offline player activity in said profile;

wherein said console provides a sign in mechanism wherein users access said gaming console via said profile, and wherein settings and preferences are stored in said profile.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said profile is associated with an in-game profile for online and offline game play.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said offline player activity is cached and updated to said profile when said gaming console connects to said online service.