Multiplayer Platform for Mobile Applications

• US 20080220875A1
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Inventors: Sohl, Barry, Olson, Brooke Elizabeth, Radcliff, Cory
• Granted Patent: US 8,162,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/913 Wireless or radio

Abstract

A wireless terminal comprising a transmitter configured to support a wireless connection with a server and a processor configured to enable a user to play an interactive game through the server with a plurality of other users on wireless terminals across a plurality of platforms.

Claims

1. A wireless terminal, comprising:

a transmitter configured to support a wireless connection with a server; and

a processor configured to enable a user to play an interactive game through the server with a plurality of other users on wireless terminals across a plurality of platforms.

2. The wireless terminal of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to provide login services that enable the user to identify itself and authenticate the wireless terminal.

3. The wireless terminal of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to provide lobby services, wherein the lobby services comprise at least one lobby having one or more keysets associated therewith.

4. The wireless terminal of claim 3 wherein lobby services include functions to provide a user'"'"'s ability to enter, join, leave, create, close, or search for lobbies matching certain specified criteria.

5. The wireless terminal of claim 3 wherein the keysets associated with a lobby further comprises metadata and a runtime value, wherein the metadata is defined in XML format.

6. The wireless terminal of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to provide game services that manages wireless terminal generated and server generated game events to administer game lifecycle functionality.

7. The wireless terminal of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to provide event services to manage network events, wherein the network events comprises server network events and wireless terminal network events.

8. The wireless terminal of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to interact with the other users on wireless terminals in real-time via HTTP.

9. A method of wireless gaming, comprising:

supporting a wireless connection with a server; and

playing an interactive game on a wireless terminal through the server with a plurality of other users on wireless terminals across a plurality of platforms.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing login services that enable the user to identify itself and authenticate the wireless terminal.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing lobby services that facilitate the user'"'"'s ability to enter, join, leave, create, close, or search for lobbies matching certain specified criteria, wherein the step of providing the lobby services comprise at least one lobby and associating one or more keysets therewith.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing game services that manages wireless terminal generated and server generated game events to administer game lifecycle functionality.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing event services to manage network events, wherein the network events comprises server network events and wireless terminal network events.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein further comprising enabling the users to communicate in real-time via HTTP with the other users on wireless terminals to play the interactive game.

15. A wireless terminal, comprising:

means for supporting a wireless connection with a server; and

means for enabling a user to play an interactive game through the server with a plurality of other users on wireless terminals across a plurality of platforms.

16. The wireless terminal of claim 15 wherein the means for enabling a user to play an interactive game further comprises means for providing login services that enable the user to identify itself and authenticate the wireless terminal.

17. The wireless terminal of claim 15 wherein the means for enabling a user to play an interactive game further comprises means for providing lobby services that facilitate the user'"'"'s ability to enter, join, leave, create, close, or search for lobbies matching certain specified criteria, wherein the lobby services comprise at least one lobby having one or more keysets associated therewith.

18. The wireless terminal of claim 15 wherein the means for enabling a user to play an interactive game further comprises means for providing game services that manage wireless terminal generated and server generated game events to administer game lifecycle functionality.

19. The wireless terminal of claim 15 wherein the means for enabling a user to play an interactive game further comprises means for providing event services to manage network events, wherein the network events comprises server network events and wireless terminal network events.

20. The wireless terminal of claim 15 wherein the means for enabling a user to play an interactive game further comprises means for interacting via HTTP in real-time.

21. A computer readable medium embodying a program of instructions executable by a processor in a wireless terminal, the instructions comprising:

code to interface with a transceiver supporting a wireless connection, with a server; and

code to enable a user to play an interactive game through a server with a plurality of other users on wireless terminals across a plurality of platforms.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21 further comprising code to provide login services that enable the user to identify itself and authenticate the wireless terminal.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 21 further comprising code to provide lobby services that facilitate the user'"'"'s ability to enter, join, leave, create, close, or search for lobbies matching certain specified criteria, wherein the lobby services comprise at least one lobby having one or more keysets associated therewith.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 21 further comprising code to provide game services that manages wireless terminal generated and server generated game events to administer game lifecycle functionality.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 21 further comprising code to provide event services to manage network events, wherein the network events comprises server network events and wireless terminal network events.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 21 further comprising code to interact with the other users on wireless terminals in real-time via HTTP.

27. A server, comprising:

a transmitter configured to support a connection with a plurality of wireless terminals; and

a processor configured to enable a plurality of users to play an interactive game on the wireless terminals across a plurality of platforms.

28. The server of claim 27 wherein the processor is further configured to provide login services that enable the plurality of users to identify themselves and authenticate the wireless terminals.

29. The server of claim 27 wherein the processor is further configured to provide lobby services that facilitate the plurality of users'"'"' ability to enter, join, leave, create, close, or search for lobbies matching certain specified criteria, wherein the lobby services comprise at least one lobby having one or more keysets associated therewith.

30. The server of claim 29 wherein the keysets associated with a lobby further comprises metadata and a runtime value, wherein the metadata is defined in XML format.

31. The server of claim 27 wherein the processor is further configured to provide game services that manages the wireless terminal generated and server generated game events to administer game lifecycle functionality.

32. The server of claim 27 wherein the processor is further configured to provide event services to manage network events, wherein the network events comprise server network events and wireless terminal network events.

33. The server of claim 27 wherein the processor is further configured to interact with the plurality of users on the wireless terminals in real-time via HTTP.

34. A server, comprising:

means for supporting a wireless connection with a plurality of wireless terminals; and

means for enabling a plurality of users to play an interactive game on the wireless terminals across a plurality of platforms

35. The server of claim 34 wherein the means for enabling a plurality of users to play an interactive game further comprises means for providing login services that enable the plurality of users to identify themselves and authenticate the wireless terminals.

36. The server of claim 34 wherein the means for enabling a plurality of users to play an interactive game further comprises means for providing lobby services that facilitate the plurality of users'"'"' ability to enter, join, leave, create, close, or search for lobbies matching certain specified criteria, wherein the lobby services comprise at least one lobby having one or more keysets associated therewith.

37. The server of claim 34 wherein the means for enabling a plurality of users to play an interactive game further comprises means for providing game services that manage the wireless terminal generated and server generated game events to administer game lifecycle functionality.

38. The server of claim 34 wherein the means for enabling a plurality of users to play an interactive game further comprises means for providing event services to manage network events, wherein the network events comprise server network events and wireless terminal network events.

39. The server of claim 34 wherein the means for enabling a plurality of users to play an interactive game further comprises means for interacting via HTTP in real-time.

40. A computer readable medium embodying a program of instructions executable by a processor in a server, the instructions comprising:

code to interface with a transceiver supporting a wireless connection, with a plurality of wireless terminals; and

code to enable a plurality of users to play an interactive game on the wireless terminals across a plurality of platforms.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 40 further comprising code to provide login services that enable the plurality of users to identify themselves and authenticate the wireless terminals.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 40 further comprising code to provide lobby services that facilitate the plurality of users'"'"' ability to enter, join, leave, create, close, or search for lobbies matching certain specified criteria, wherein the lobby services comprise at least one lobby having one or more keysets associated therewith.

43. The computer readable medium of claim 40 further comprising code to provide game services that manage the wireless terminal generated and server generated game events to administer game lifecycle functionality.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 40 further comprising code to provide event services to manage network events, wherein the network events comprise server network events and wireless terminal network events.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 40 further comprising code to interact with the plurality of users on the wireless terminals in real-time via HTTP.