System and method for providing interoperability of independently-operable electronic games

• US 20070021213A1
• Filed: 06/22/2005
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Decker, Peter, Viray, Ricky, Foe, Scott, Waits, Lisa
• Granted Patent: US 8,083,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions

Abstract

A system for providing interoperability of electronic games independently-operable from one another includes a network entity and a client. The client can interact with the network entity to play a master electronic game using shared attributes otherwise configured for use in a subordinate electronic game, where the client can interpret the respective shared attributes for use during play of the master electronic game. During play of the master electronic game, the client can receive a selection of at least one subordinate game from within the master electronic game. In response, the client can initiate the selected subordinate game for play using shared attributes otherwise configured for use in the master electronic game and/or another subordinate electronic game. Similarly, the client can interpret the respective shared attributes for use during play of the selected subordinate game.

Claims

1. A system for providing interoperability of electronic games independently-operable from one another, wherein the interoperability is provided by means of at least one shared attribute for use during play of the independently-operable electronic games, wherein the independently-operable electronic games include a master electronic game and at least one subordinate electronic game, and wherein the system comprises:

a network entity capable of operating the master electronic game and maintaining the state of the master electronic game; and

a client capable of interacting with the network entity to play the master electronic game using at least one shared attribute otherwise configured for use in a subordinate electronic game, the client being capable of interpreting the respective shared attributes for use during play of the master electronic game,

wherein, during play of the master electronic game, the client is capable of receiving a selection of at least one subordinate game from within the master electronic game such that the client initiates the selected subordinate game for play using at least one shared attribute otherwise configured for use in at least one of the master electronic game and another subordinate electronic game, the client being capable of interpreting the respective shared attributes for use during play of the selected subordinate game, and

wherein at least one shared attribute used during play of the master electronic game is the same as at least one shared attribute used during play of the selected subordinate game.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the network entity also provides a user profile associated with the client, the user profile including the shared attributes, and

wherein the client is capable of loading at least one shared attribute from the user profile for use during play of the master electronic game before interacting with the network entity to play the master electronic game.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the master electronic game operated by the network entity provides an avatar associated with a client user, and wherein, during play of the master electronic game, the client is capable of at least one of configuring the avatar, and directing the avatar perform at least one function, using at least one shared attribute otherwise configured for use in a subordinate electronic game.

4. A client for facilitating interoperability of electronic games independently-operable from one another, wherein the interoperability is provided by means of at least one shared attribute for use during play of the independently-operable electronic games, wherein the independently-operable electronic games include a master electronic game and at least one subordinate electronic game, and wherein the client comprises:

a processor capable of operating a master game client for interacting with a network entity to play the master electronic game using at least one shared attribute otherwise configured for use in a subordinate electronic game, wherein the processor is also capable of operating a module for interpreting the respective shared attributes for use during play of the master electronic game,

wherein, during play of the master electronic game, the master game client is capable of receiving a selection of at least one subordinate game from within the master electronic game such that the processor is capable of initiating the selected subordinate game for play using at least one shared attribute otherwise configured for use in at least one of the master electronic game and another subordinate electronic game, the module being capable of interpreting the respective shared attributes for use during play of the selected subordinate game, and

wherein at least one shared attribute used during play of the master electronic game is the same as at least one shared attribute used during play of the selected subordinate game.

5. A client according to claim 4, wherein a user of the client is associated with a user profile including the shared attributes, and

wherein the module is capable of loading at least one shared attribute from the user profile for use during play of the master electronic game before the master electronic game is played.

6. A client according to claim 5, wherein at least one shared attribute is capable of changing during play of the master electronic game, and wherein the master electronic game is capable of communicating with a network entity to reflect the change in the user profile such that the changed attribute is subsequently used during play of the master electronic game and at least one subordinate game.

7. A client according to claim 4, wherein the processor is further capable of operating a subordinate game client for interacting with a network entity to play the selected subordinate game using at least one shared attribute otherwise configured for use in at least one of the master electronic game and another subordinate electronic game, the module being capable of interpreting the respective shared attributes for use during play of the selected subordinate game.

8. A client according to claim 7, wherein a user of the client is associated with a user profile including the shared attributes, and

wherein the module is capable of loading at least one shared attribute from the user profile for use during play of the selected subordinate game before the selected subordinate game is played.

9. A client according to claim 4, wherein the master electronic game provides an avatar associated with a user, and wherein the master game client is configured such that, during play of the master electronic game, a user is capable of at least one of configuring the avatar, and directing the avatar perform at least one function, using at least one shared attribute otherwise configured for use in a subordinate electronic game.

10. A network entity for providing interoperability of electronic games independently-operable from one another, wherein the interoperability is provided by means of at least one shared attribute for use during play of the independently-operable electronic games, wherein the independently-operable electronic games include a master electronic game and at least one subordinate electronic game, and wherein the network entity comprises:

a cross-game attribute server capable of maintaining interpretations of shared attributes configured for use during play of associated electronic games, and interpretable for use during play of other electronic games; and

a master game server capable of interacting with a client to play the master electronic game using at least one shared attribute otherwise configured for use in a subordinate electronic game, the respective shared attributes being interpreted in accordance with interpretations maintained by the cross-game attribute server for use during play of the master electronic game,

wherein, during play of the master electronic game, at least one subordinate game is capable of being selected from within the master electronic game such that the selected subordinate game is initiated for play using at least one shared attribute otherwise configured for use in at least one of the master electronic game and another subordinate electronic game, the respective shared attributes being interpreted in accordance with interpretations maintained by the cross-game attribute server for use during play of the selected subordinate game, and

wherein at least one shared attribute used during play of the master electronic game is the same as at least one shared attribute used during play of the selected subordinate game.

11. A network entity according to claim 10 further comprising:

a database capable of storing a user profile including the shared attributes,

wherein at least one shared attribute is capable of being loaded from the user profile for use during play of the master electronic game before playing the master electronic game.

12. A network entity according to claim 11, wherein at least one shared attribute is capable of changing during play of the master electronic game, and wherein the database is capable of reflecting the change in the user profile such that the changed attribute is subsequently used during play of the master electronic game and at least one subordinate game.

13. A network entity according to claim 10, wherein the network entity is capable of communicating with a subordinate game server associated with the selected subordinate game to effectuate play of the selected subordinate game using at least one shared attribute otherwise configured for use in at least one of the master electronic game and another subordinate electronic game, the respective shared attributes being interpreted in accordance with interpretations maintained by the cross-game attribute server for use during play of the selected subordinate game.

14. A network entity according to claim 13 further comprising:

a database capable of storing a user profile including the shared attributes,

wherein at least one shared attribute is capable of being loaded from the user profile for use during play of the selected subordinate game before playing the selected subordinate game.

15. A network entity according to claim 10, wherein the master electronic game provides an avatar associated with a user, and wherein the master game server is capable of communicating with the client during play of the master electronic game such that a client user is capable of at least one of configuring the avatar, and directing the avatar perform at least one function, using at least one shared attribute otherwise configured for use in a subordinate electronic game.

16. A method of providing interoperability of electronic games independently-operable from one another, wherein the interoperability is provided by means of at least one shared attribute for use during play of the independently-operable electronic games, wherein the independently-operable electronic games include a master electronic game and at least one subordinate electronic game, and wherein the method comprises:

interacting with a network entity to play the master electronic game using at least one shared attribute otherwise configured for use in a subordinate electronic game, the respective shared attributes being interpreted for use during play of the master electronic game,

wherein playing the master electronic game includes selecting at least one subordinate game from within the master electronic game such that the selected subordinate game is initiated for play using at least one shared attribute otherwise configured for use in at least one of the master electronic game and another subordinate electronic game, the respective shared attributes being interpreted for use during play of the selected subordinate game, and

wherein at least one shared attribute used during play of the master electronic game is the same as at least one shared attribute used during play of the selected subordinate game.

17. A method according to claim 16 further comprising:

providing a user profile including the shared attributes; and

loading at least one shared attribute from the user profile for use during play of the master electronic game before playing the master electronic game.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein playing the master electronic game further includes changing at least one shared attribute, and reflecting the change in the user profile such that the changed attribute is subsequently used during play of the master electronic game and at least one subordinate game.

19. A method according to claim 16 further comprising:

operating a subordinate game client to interact with a network entity to play the selected subordinate game using at least one shared attribute otherwise configured for use in at least one of the master electronic game and another subordinate electronic game, the respective shared attributes being interpreted for use during play of the selected subordinate game.

20. A method according to claim 19 further comprising:

providing a user profile including the shared attributes; and

loading at least one shared attribute from the user profile for use during play of the selected subordinate game before playing the selected subordinate game.

21. A method according to claim 16, wherein the master electronic game provides an avatar associated with a user, and wherein playing the master electronic game includes at least one of configuring the avatar, and directing the avatar perform at least one function, using at least one shared attribute otherwise configured for use in a subordinate electronic game.