NETWORK DELIVERY OF ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE

• US 20090094600A1
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Booth, Simon, Sargaison, Stewart, Watson, Brian, Miura, Victor Octav Suba
• Granted Patent: US 8,166,131 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/177
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of 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 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/209 characterized by low level software layer, relating to hardware management, e.g. Operating System, Application Programming Interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/534 for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/538 for performing operations on behalf of the game client, e.g. rendering
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5513 involving billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes

Abstract

A system and method for preparing entertainment software for reduced network delivery time includes analyzing entertainment software to identify a first stage implementing a subset of the functionality of the entertainment software such that the first stage is deliverable to an entertainment platform across a network more quickly than the delivery of the entire entertainment software, and preparing the identified first stage for download, such that the identified first stage may be downloaded and used on the entertainment platform.

Claims

1. A method for preparing entertainment software for reduced network delivery time, the method comprising:

analyzing entertainment software to identify a first software stage implementing a subset of the functionality of the complete entertainment software such that the first software stage is deliverable to an entertainment platform across a network more quickly than the delivery of the complete entertainment software; and

preparing the identified first software stage for download, such that the identified first software stage is usable on the entertainment platform to execute a subset of the functionality of the complete entertainment software.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the entertainment software to identify the first software stage includes:

executing the entertainment software using an emulator, the emulator collecting data related to the execution of the entertainment software; and

using the data collected by the emulator to identify the first stage.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the entertainment software to identify the first software stage includes:

executing the entertainment software using an emulator;

collecting data related to the execution of the entertainment software;

receiving input from a user of the entertainment software being executed using the emulator; and

using the collected data and the received input to identify the first software stage.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein collecting data related to the execution of the entertainment software includes collecting from multiple executions of the entertainment software.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein collecting data related to the execution of the entertainment software includes recording portions of the entertainment software accessed during the execution of the entertainment software using an emulator.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein receiving input from a user of the entertainment software includes receiving an indication that a portion of the entertainment software should be included in the first stage.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein receiving input from a user of the entertainment software includes receiving an indication that a portion of the entertainment software should not be included in the first stage.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein preparing the first stage for download includes compressing at least a portion of the first stage.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein preparing the first stage for download includes removing at least a portion of the first stage.

10. A method for distributing entertainment software, the method comprising:

providing a data store of entertainment software deliverable in multiple stages;

distributing a first stage corresponding to an entertainment software title provided by the data store, the first stage usable to execute a subset of functionality of the entertainment software title.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising distributing a second stage including at least some portion of the entertainment software title not included in the first stage.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first stage is distributed without charge and the second stage is distributed for a fee.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first stage corresponds to one or more levels within a video game.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the subset of functionality of the entertainment software title included in the first stage includes those portions of the entertainment software title that are likely to be used within a predetermined period of use.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the first stage is offered for sale by subscription.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the price of the first stage is dependent on the size of the first dataset.

17. A video game distribution method comprising:

providing a video game deliverable in multiple stages;

providing a data store of distribution information;

distributing a first stage of the video game using the distribution information, the data store providing a subset of functionality of the video game;

receiving information regarding the use of the distributed first stage; and

updating the distribution information based on the received information.

18. The video game distribution method of claim 17, wherein the distribution information includes information regarding customer purchases and customer use of distributed video games.

19. The video game distribution method of claim 18, wherein the distribution information is used to provide customer rewards.

20. An advertising-supported method of distributing entertainment software, the method comprising:

distributing a first stage of entertainment software deliverable in multiple stages, the first stage including advertising; and

offering a second stage of the entertainment software, the second stage modifying the advertising included in the first stage.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the second stage modifies the advertising included in the first stage by disabling the advertising.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the second stage is offered at a greater cost than the first stage.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein distributing the first stage of entertainment software includes augmenting the first stage with at least one video overlay including advertising.

24. A method for distributing video games across a network, the method comprising:

distributing a first stage of a video game facilitating game play of a portion of the video game;

distributing a second stage of the video game facilitating game play of a portion of the video game not provided by the first stage,

wherein the first stage of the video game is usable to play the video game before the second stage of the video game has been received.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the second stage is distributed upon satisfaction of a predetermined condition.