Method, Apparatus, System, Medium, and Signals for Supporting Game Piece Movement in a Multiple-Party Communication

• US 20080242422A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AK Meeting IP LLC (Pueblo Nuevo LLC)
• Original Assignee: Uranus International Limited
• Inventors: Kropivny, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 8,702,505 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• 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 13/358 Adapting the game course according to the network or server load, e.g. for reducing latency due to different connection speeds between clients
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4015 where at least one of the additional parallel sessions is real time or time sensitive, e.g. white board sharing, collaboration or spawning of a subconference

Abstract

Systems, apparatus and methods related to multiple-party communications conducted between client computers in a computer network. For example, a method and apparatus for moving game piece images displayed on a first client computer in communication with a server in a computer network are disclosed. The method involves causing at least one game piece image to be displayed on a display area of the first client computer, the game piece image having an image area and an image boundary enclosing the image area. The method also involves receiving a cursor movement signal representing a cursor movement produced in response to user input received from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer, and determining whether a current position of the cursor is within the image boundary associated with the game piece image. The method further involves transmitting a piece movement request message to the server to elicit a piece movement message from the server when the current position of the cursor is within the image boundary, the piece movement request message representing a desired change in a position of a cursor in response to the cursor movement signal. The method also involves receiving the piece movement message at the first client computer, the piece movement message representing the change in the position of the cursor, and causing a change in a position of the game piece image on the display area of the first client computer in response to the piece movement message.

Claims

1. A method for moving game piece images displayed on a first client computer in communication with a server in a computer network, the method comprising:

causing at least one game piece image to be displayed on a display area of the first client computer, said game piece image having an image area and an image boundary enclosing said image area;

receiving a cursor movement signal representing a cursor movement produced in response to user input received from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer;

determining whether a current position of said cursor is within said image boundary associated with said game piece image;

transmitting a piece movement request message to the server to elicit a piece movement message from the server when said current position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message representing a desired change in a position of a cursor in response to said cursor movement signal;

receiving said piece movement message at the first client computer, said piece movement message representing said change in said position of said cursor; and

causing a change in a position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer in response to said piece movement message.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising causing a change in a position of a pointer associated with said cursor and displayed on said display area of the first client computer, in response to one of:

receiving said piece movement message; and

receiving a pointer message from the server, said pointer message representing said change in said position of said cursor.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether said current position of said cursor is within said image boundary comprises determining whether said cursor has crossed said image boundary.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether said current position of said cursor is within said image boundary further comprises determining whether an actuator button signal has been received while said cursor is within said image boundary, said actuator button signal being produced in response to user actuation of an actuator button associated with the pointing device.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising producing said piece movement request message.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein producing said piece movement request message comprises producing a message comprising a message identifier, a user identifier associated with the first client computer, and position coordinates of a current position of said cursor.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein producing said piece movement request message comprises producing a message comprising at least one of:

an identifier identifying said game piece image; and

an identifier identifying an owner of said game piece image.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein causing said corresponding change in said position of said game piece image comprises causing said game piece image to be deleted and redisplayed at said position coordinates representing said position of said cursor.

9. An apparatus for moving game piece images displayed on a first client computer in communication with a server in a computer network, the apparatus comprising:

means for causing at least one game piece image to be displayed on a display area of the first client computer, said game piece image having an image area and an image boundary enclosing said image area;

means for receiving a cursor movement signal representing a cursor movement produced in response to user input received from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer;

means for determining whether a current position of said cursor is within said image boundary associated with said game piece image;

means for transmitting a piece movement request message to the server to elicit a piece movement message from the server when said current position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message representing a desired change in a position of a cursor in response to said cursor movement signal;

means for receiving said piece movement message at the first client computer, said piece movement message representing said change in said position of said cursor; and

means for causing a change in a position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer in response to said piece movement message.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising means for causing a change in a position of a pointer associated with said cursor and displayed on said display area of the first client computer, in response to one of:

receiving said piece movement message; and

receiving a pointer message from the server, said pointer message representing said change in said position of said cursor.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for determining whether said current position of said cursor is within said image boundary comprises means for determining whether said cursor has crossed said image boundary.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for determining whether said current position of said cursor is within said image boundary further comprises means for determining whether an actuator button signal has been received while said cursor is within said image boundary, said actuator button signal being produced in response to user actuation of an actuator button associated with the pointing device.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising means for producing said piece movement request message.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means for producing said piece movement request message comprises means for producing a message comprising a message identifier, a user identifier associated with the first client computer, and position coordinates of a current position of said cursor.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means for producing said piece movement request message comprises producing a message comprising at least one of:

an identifier identifying said game piece image; and

an identifier identifying an owner of said game piece image.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for causing said corresponding change in said position of said game piece image comprises means for causing said game piece image to be deleted and redisplayed at said position coordinates representing said position of said cursor.

17. An apparatus for moving game piece images displayed on a first client computer in communication with a server in a computer network, the apparatus comprising a processor circuit operably configured to:

cause at least one game piece image to be displayed on a display area of the first client computer, said game piece image having an image area and an image boundary enclosing said image area;

receive a cursor movement signal representing a cursor movement produced in response to user input received from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer;

determine whether a current position of said cursor is within said image boundary associated with said game piece image;

transmit a piece movement request message to the server to elicit a piece movement message from the server when said current position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message representing a desired change in a position of a cursor in response to said cursor movement signal;

receive said piece movement message at the first client computer, said piece movement message representing said change in said position of said cursor; and

cause a change in a position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer in response to said piece movement message.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to cause a change in a position of a pointer associated with said cursor and displayed on said display area of the first client computer, in response to one of:

receiving said piece movement message; and

receiving a pointer message from the server, said pointer message representing said change in said position of said cursor.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to determine whether said current position of said cursor is within said image boundary by determining whether said cursor has crossed said image boundary.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to determine whether said current position of said cursor is within said image boundary by determining whether an actuator button signal has been received while said cursor is within said image boundary, said actuator button signal being produced in response to user actuation of an actuator button associated with the pointing device.

21. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to produce said piece movement request message.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to produce a piece movement request message comprising a message identifier, a user identifier associated with the first client computer, and position coordinates of a current position of said cursor.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to produce said piece movement request message by producing a message comprising at least one of:

an identifier identifying said game piece image; and

an identifier identifying an owner of said game piece image.

24. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to cause said game piece image to be deleted and redisplayed at said position coordinates representing said position of said cursor.

25. A computer readable medium encoded with codes for directing a processor circuit to move game piece images displayed on a first client computer in communication with a server in a computer network, said codes directing the processor circuit to:

cause at least one game piece image to be displayed on a display area of the first client computer, said game piece image having an image area and an image boundary enclosing said image area;

receive a cursor movement signal representing a cursor movement produced in response to user input received from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer;

determine whether a current position of said cursor is within said image boundary associated with said game piece image;

transmit a piece movement request message to the server to elicit a piece movement message from the server when said current position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message representing a change in a position of a cursor in response to said cursor movement signal;

receive said piece movement message at the first client computer, said piece movement message representing said change in said position of said cursor; and

cause a change in a position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer in response to said piece movement message.

26. A computer readable signal encoded with codes for directing a processor circuit to move game piece images displayed on a first client computer in communication with a server in a computer network, said codes directing the processor circuit to:

cause at least one game piece image to be displayed on a display area of the first client computer, said game piece image having an image area and an image boundary enclosing said image area;

receive a cursor movement signal representing a cursor movement produced in response to user input received from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer;

determine whether a current position of said cursor is within said image boundary associated with said game piece image;

transmit a piece movement request message to the server to elicit a piece movement message from the server when said current position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message representing a change in a position of a cursor in response to said cursor movement signal;

receive said piece movement message at the first client computer, said piece movement message representing said change in said position of said cursor; and

cause a change in a position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer in response to said piece movement message.

27. A method for supporting movement of game piece images displayed on first and second client computers in communication with a server in a computer network, the method comprising:

receiving a piece movement request message at the server from one of the first and second client computers, said piece movement request message representing a desired change in a position of a game piece image displayed on respective display areas of said first and second client computers; and

transmitting a piece movement message representing said desired change in said position of said game piece image to each of the first and second client computers when said desired change meets a criterion.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said transmitting further comprises transmitting a pointer message to the first and second client computers in response to said piece movement request message, said pointer message representing said change in said position of said game piece image provided by said piece movement request message.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein receiving said piece movement request message comprises receiving a message comprising at least one of a user identifier associated with the client computer that transmitted the piece movement request message to the server, an identifier identifying said game piece image, and an identifier identifying an owner of said game piece image, and wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting a piece movement message when at least one of:

said user identifier associated with the client computer that transmitted the piece movement request message to the server matches said identifier identifying said owner of the game piece; and

said desired change in said position of said game piece image identified by said identifier identifying said game piece image complies with a movement criteria associated with a game being played between the first and second client computers.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein transmitting said piece movement message comprises transmitting a message comprising a message identifier, a user identifier associated with the first client computer;

and

position coordinates representing a position of game piece image.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein transmitting said piece movement message comprises transmitting a copy of said piece movement request message to the first client computer.

32. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

receiving a piece action request message at the server from one of the first and second client computers, said piece action request message representing a desired action to be performed on the game piece image; and

transmitting a piece action message representing said desired action to each of the first and second client computers when said desired action meets a criterion.

33. An apparatus for supporting movement of game piece images displayed on first and second client computers in communication with a server in a computer network, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a piece movement request message at the server from one of the first and second client computers, said piece movement request message representing a desired change in a position of a game piece image displayed on respective display areas of said first and second client computers; and

means for transmitting a piece movement message representing said desired change in said position of said game piece image to each of the first and second client computers when said desired change meets a criterion.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said means for transmitting further comprises means for transmitting a pointer message to the first and second client computers in response to said piece movement request message, said pointer message representing said change in said position of said game piece image provided by said piece movement request message.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said means for receiving said piece movement request message comprises means for receiving a message comprising at least one of a user identifier associated with the client computer that transmitted the piece movement request message to the server, an identifier identifying said game piece image, and an identifier identifying an owner of said game piece image, and wherein said means for transmitting comprises means for transmitting a piece movement message when at least one of:

said user identifier associated with the client computer that transmitted the piece movement request message to the server matches said identifier identifying said owner of the game piece; and

said desired change in said position of said game piece image identified by said identifier identifying said game piece image complies with a movement criteria associated with a game being played between the first and second client computers.

36. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said means for transmitting said piece movement message comprises means for transmitting a message comprising a message identifier, a user identifier associated with the first client computer;

and position coordinates representing a position of game piece image.

37. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said means for transmitting said piece movement message comprises means for transmitting a copy of said piece movement request message to the first client computer.

38. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising:

means for receiving a piece action request message at the server from one of the first and second client computers, said piece action request message representing a desired action to be performed on the game piece image; and

means for transmitting a piece action message representing said desired action to each of the first and second client computers when said desired action meets a criterion.

39. An apparatus for supporting movement of game piece images displayed on first and second client computers in communication with a server in a computer network, the apparatus comprising a processor circuit operably configured to:

receive a piece movement request message at the server from one of the first and second client computers, said piece movement request message representing a desired change in a position of a game piece image displayed on respective display areas of said first and second client computers; and

transmit a piece movement message representing said desired change in said position of said game piece image to each of the first and second client computers when said desired change meets a criterion.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to transmit a pointer message to the first and second client computers in response to said piece movement request message, said pointer message representing said change in said position of said game piece image provided by said piece movement request message.

41. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to receive a piece request message comprising at least one of a user identifier associated with the client computer that transmitted the piece movement request message to the server, an identifier identifying said game piece image, and an identifier identifying an owner of said game piece image, and wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to transmit a piece movement message when at least one of:

said user identifier associated with the client computer that transmitted the piece movement request message to the server matches said identifier identifying said owner of the game piece; and

said desired change in said position of said game piece image identified by said identifier identifying said game piece image complies with a movement criteria associated with a game being played between the first and second client computers.

42. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to transmit a piece movement message comprising a message identifier, a user identifier associated with the first client computer;

and position coordinates representing a position of game piece image.

43. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to transmit said piece movement message by transmitting a copy of said piece movement request message to the first client computer.

44. The apparatus of claim 39 further comprising a processor circuit operably configured to:

receive a piece action request message at the server from one of the first and second client computers, said piece action request message representing a desired action to be performed on the game piece image; and

transmit a piece action message representing said desired action to each of the first and second client computers when said desired action meets a criterion.

45. A computer readable medium encoded with codes for directing a processor circuit to support movement of game piece images displayed on first and second client computers in communication with a server in a computer network, said codes directing the processor circuit to:

receive a piece movement request message at the server from one of the first and second client computers, said piece movement request message representing a desired change in a position of a game piece image displayed on respective display areas of said first and second client computers; and

transmit a piece movement message representing said desired change in said position of said game piece image to each of the first and second client computers when said desired change meets a criterion.

46. A computer readable signal encoded with codes for directing a processor circuit to support movement of game piece images displayed on first and second client computers in communication with a server in a computer network, said codes directing the processor circuit to:

receive a piece movement request message at the server from one of the first and second client computers, said piece movement request message representing a desired change in a position of a game piece image displayed on respective display areas of said first and second client computers; and

transmit a piece movement message representing said desired change in said position of said game piece image to each of the first and second client computers when said desired change meets a criterion.

47. A system for moving game piece images displayed on a first client computer in communication with a server in a computer network, the system comprising:

a client processor circuit operably configured to;

cause at least one game piece image to be displayed on a display area of the first client computer, said game piece image having an image area and an image boundary enclosing said image area;

receive a cursor movement signal representing a cursor movement produced in response to user input received from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer;

determine whether a current position of said cursor is within said image boundary associated with said game piece image;

transmit a piece movement request message to the server to elicit a piece movement message from the server when said current position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message representing a desired change in a position of a cursor in response to said cursor movement signal;

a server processor circuit operably configured to;

receive said piece movement request message at the server from the first client computer;

transmit a piece movement message representing said desired change in said position of said game piece image to the first client computer when said desired change meets a criterion;

and wherein said client processor circuit is operably configured to receive said piece movement message; and

cause a change in a position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer in response to said piece movement message.