Method and device for continuing an electronic multi-player game, in case of an absence of a player of said game

• US 20060154710A1
• Filed: 12/10/2002
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Serafat, Reza
• Application Number:
  US10/538,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20060154710A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• 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 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/86 Watching games played by other players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/535 for monitoring, e.g. of user parameters, terminal parameters, application parameters, network parameters
• 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: A63F 2300/6054 by generating automatically game commands to assist the player, e.g. automatic braking in a driving game

Abstract

The present invention is related to a method and device for continuing and simulating an electronic multi-player game, i.e. an electronic game that involves more than one player or participant, if one of the players leaves the game. The invention is for special use in the field of mobile terminal devices, communication networks such as the internet and other mobile networks. The method for continuing a multi-player game in case of an absence of a player participating in the game comprises running a multi player game application receiving an indication that the player taking part in the multi-player game is absent, and continuing the game by simulating the participation of the player who is actually absent. So it is possible to continue a multi-player game, if one of the game partners intends to pause or to leave the game party.

Claims

1. A method for continuing a multi-player game in case of an absence of a player participating in said game, said method comprising:

running a multi player game application,

characterized by

receiving an indication that said player taking part in said multi-player game is absent,

continuing the game by simulating the participation of said player who is actually absent.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said multi-player game is a network based multi-player game.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring the inputs of at least one player of said multi-player game,

analyzing said inputs to determine gaming characteristics of said at least one monitored player, and

simulating the participation of said absent player in correspondence with said determined gaming characteristics.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising determining a result of said game based on said determined gaming characteristics of said at least one monitored player.

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising transferring said determined gaming characteristics to another gaming device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said indication that a player is absent comprises a notification received from said absent player.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sending a notification to at least one of said other players of said multi-player game, said notification comprising an information that the participation of at least one player is actually simulated.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the interruption of said game, if all players are absent.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising terminating said simulation of the participation, if said absent player returns to the game.

10. A software tool comprising program code means stored on a computer readable medium for carrying out the method of anyone of claims 1 to 9claim 1 when said software tool is run on a computer or network device.

11. A computer program product comprising program code means stored on a computer readable medium for carrying out the method of claim 1 when said program product is run on a computer or network device.

12. A computer program product comprising program code, downloadable from a server for carrying out the method of claim 1 when said program product is run on a computer or network device.

13. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing a program that instructs a computer to perform the steps of the method of claim 1.

14. A multi-player gaming device for continuing a multi-player game in case of an absence of a player participating in said game, comprising:

a memory,

a processor being connected to said memory, said processor being configured to run a multi-player game program,

at least two interfaces being connected to said processor, said interfaces being configured to exchange game data,

characterized by

a detector to detect an indication that a player of said multi-player game is absent, and

a simulation component being connected to said processor, said simulation component being configured to simulate the participation of an absent player on the game, if said absence indication has been detected.

15. The multi-player gaming device according to claim 14 further comprising a network interface.

16. The multi-player gaming device according to claim 14 further comprising a mobile telephone.

17. The multi-player gaming device according to claim 14, wherein said simulation component comprises an artificial intelligence engine.

18. A network multi-player game server capable of continuing a multi-player game, if a participant in said game becomes absent, comprising:

a memory,

a processor being connected to said memory, said processor being configured to run a multi-player game program,

at least one interface connected to said processor, each said interfaces interface being configured to receive and transmit game data, said network multi-player game server being characterized by

a detector to detect an indication that a player of said multi-player game is absent, and

a simulation component being connected to said processor, said simulation component being configured to simulate the participation of an absent player, if said absence indication has been detected.