Multi-session user launching and invitation system and method

• US 20060178216A1
• Filed: 07/15/2004
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: WildTangent Incorporated (Samarion SE)
• Original Assignee: WildTangent Incorporated (Samarion SE)
• Inventors: Shea, Mattew T, Cooper, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/564,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20060178216A1
• 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 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/513 server hierarchy, e.g. local, regional, national or dedicated for different tasks, e.g. authenticating, billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/537 for exchanging game data using a messaging service, e.g. e-mail, SMS, MMS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/556 Player lists, e.g. online players, buddy list, black list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5566 by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control

Abstract

A system, apparatus and method for enabling users to launch and invite users to join multi-user sessions, such as multi player game sessions, via Instant Messages are described herein.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method comprising:

facilitating composition at an inviter device an invitation comprising control information for formation of a multi-user session;

transmitting said invitation to an instant messaging server for delivery to a recipient device associated with an instant messaging identifier;

executing at said inviter device a process specified by said control information; and

if first multi-user session data is received from said recipient device, responding with second multi-user session data to said recipient device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said invitation comprises a session ID of the multi-user session formed employing at least in part a user ID of an instant message service offered by the instant messaging server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said invitation comprises an IP address of said inviter device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises receiving said first multi-user session data via a relay server.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein responding comprises delivering said second multi-user session data to said relay server for relaying to said recipient device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an indication that a user at said recipient device has accepted said invitation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said invitation comprises an instant message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said executing of a process performed automatically and unconditionally.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said executing of a process occurs in response to an indication of a user at said recipient device accepting said invitation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein multi-user session is a multi-player game session, and said invitation comprises at least one game parameter of a game.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said at least one game parameter specifies a type of game play.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said at least one parameter specifies a game name for a user at the inviter device.

13. A computing device having a processor and a memory containing computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

14. A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

15. A computer implemented method comprising:

facilitating acceptance, at a recipient device, an instant message invitation, from an inviter device, comprising control information for formation of a multi-user session;

in response to accepting said invitation, executing a process specified by said control information; and

transmitting to said inviter device data generated by said process to contribute to the formation of said multi-user session.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting said game data to a relay server for relay to the inviter device.

17. A computing device having a processor and a memory containing computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 15.

18. A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 15.