Use of online messaging to facilitate selection of participants in game play

• US 7,240,093 B1
• Filed: 02/29/2000
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Danieli, Damon V., Stipes, Matthew J., Selbie, John R., Pennock, John P., Bamford, Drew C.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIA, SYED
• Application Number:
  US09/515,793
• Time in Patent Office: 2,681 Days
• Field of Search: 463/40, 463/42, 463/48
• US Class Current: 709/205
• 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 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• 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 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/556 Player lists, e.g. online players, buddy list, black list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6072 of an input signal, e.g. pitch and rhythm extraction, voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• 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: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users

Abstract

A method and system facilitating selection of participants in multiplayer online electronic games. The method provides an efficient procedure for players to host and join new instances of multiplayer online electronic games, as well as providing a scheme that enables players to join multiplayer online electronic games that are already in progress. The method is implemented through a gaming utility that runs on each player'"'"'s electronic device (e.g. PC) and interacts behind the scenes with an online messaging service. Player hosts are enabled to select players from a list of contacts provided by the online messaging service who they want to invite to join a chat session. A selected multiplayer online electronic game is selectively launched on all of the player'"'"'s computers through a single command issued by the host. Additionally, the gaming utility provides players with a list of existing chat sessions being hosted by other players so as to enable the players to join multiplayer online electronic games that are already in progress. The system includes a plurality of electronic devices linked in communication across a communications network, such as a LAN or the Internet. Each electronic device is operatively coupled to a headset having a pair of headphones and a microphone. The headset is worn by a player, enabling the players to verbally communicate with others in a verbal chat session.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a host player to select one or more other participants to join in playing a multi player online electronic game, comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling the host player to create a list of contacts comprising one or more other persons who may be interested in participating in playing the multiplayer online electronic game;

(b) enabling the host player to select one or more of the other persons from among the list of contacts to participate in playing the multi player online electronic game;

(c) automatically sending an electronic invitation to each of the one or more other persons selected by the host player, to join in playing the multiplayer online electronic game, wherein the electronic invitation comprises a verbal message;

(d) enabling each of the one or more other persons who receive the electronic invitation that was automatically sent, to selectively join the multi player online electronic game as a participant; and

(e) providing an availability status for each person in the list of contacts so as to enable the host player to identify persons in the list of contacts who are currently available for playing the multiplayer online electronic game.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing an availability status for each person in the list of contacts so as to enable the host player to identify persons in the list of contacts who are currently available to participate in playing the multiplayer online electronic game.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of enabling each person in the list of contacts to select the availability status indicating the person'"'"'s availability for participating in playing the multiplayer online electronic game.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the host player is enabled to build a list of chat contacts through use of an online messaging service, said list of chat contacts automatically being parsed to create the list of contacts.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one person in the list of contacts is not currently logged into the online messaging service and has been invited to join the multiplayer online electronic game, further comprising the step of automatically forwarding the electronic invitation to join the multiplayer online electronic game to said at least one person when said at least one person logs into the online messaging service.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein selection of game participants and voice chat communications before and during game play is facilitated by a gaming utility that runs on an electronic device operated by each game participant and at least one person in the list of contacts has been invited to join the multi player online electronic game and has not started an instance of the gaming utility on the electronic device(s) operated by said at least one person, further comprising the step of automatically forwarding the electronic invitation to join the multi player online electronic game to said at least one person when said at least one person launches an instance of the gaming utility on the electronic device(s) operated by said at least one person.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of enabling the electronic invitation to be accepted by a person invited to join the game through a verbal response spoken by said person.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of providing a list of multiplayer online electronic games to the host player;

and enabling the host player to select the multi player online electronic game from said list of multi player online electronic games.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a user interface including a first display area on which the list of contacts is displayed and a second display area corresponding to a voice chat session; and

(b) enabling the host to select the one or more contacts to invite to join the voice chat session by selecting one or more contacts from among the list of contacts displayed in the first display area and dragging and dropping them onto the second display area.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a plurality of contacts can be selected and dragged and dropped onto the second display area at one time.

11. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 1.

12. A method for enabling a host player to select one or more other players to participate in a multiplayer online electronic game played using a plurality of electronic devices linked in communication over a communications network, each of said plurality of electronic devices being operated by a different player, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling the host player to initiate a chat session;

(b) enabling the host player to invite one or more other players to join the chat session, and sending an electronic invitation to join the chat session to each of the one or more players invited by the host player to join the chat session;

(c) enabling any of the players who were invited by the host, to be a participant in the chat session;

(d) enabling the host player to forward a network address corresponding to an electronic device being operated by the host to any other player participating in the chat session;

(e) automatically launching an instance of the multiplayer online electronic game on each electronic device being operated by any player participating in the chat session, said step of automatically launching being in response to a game initiating action performed by the host player so that any player participating in the chat session automatically becomes a participant in the multiplayer online electronic game; and

(f) enabling each player to transmit voice chat data to all of the other players who have joined the chat session.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of providing a network address of the electronic device the host player is using and operating so as to enable the host player to invite one or more other players to join in playing the multi player online electronic game, by referencing said network address.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the host player is a member of an online messaging service that enables the host player to build a player contact list comprising a list of one or more players with whom the host prefers to chat and/or play multi player online electronic games, further comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying the player contact list to the host player; and

(b) enabling the host player to select one or more other players to participate in playing the multiplayer online electronic game from the player contact list.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing an availability status for each player in the player contact list.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of enabling each player to select an availability status indicating the player'"'"'s availability to join a chat session.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a user interface including a first display area on which the list of contacts is displayed and a second display area corresponding to a voice chat session; and

(b) enabling the host to select the one or more contacts to invite to join the voice chat session by selecting one or more contacts from among the list of contacts displayed in the first display area and dragging and dropping them onto the second display area.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein a plurality of contacts can be selected and dragged and dropped onto the second display area at one time.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the electronic invitation includes an audible announcement apprising any player receiving the electronic invitation that the host player has invited the player to join the chat session.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of enabling the electronic invitation to join the chat session to be accepted by a recipient through a verbal response spoken by the recipient, whereupon said recipient becomes a participant in the chat session.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein each player is a member of an online messaging service that enables the player to build a player contact list comprising a list of one or more players with whom the player prefers to chat and/or play multiplayer online computer games, further comprising the step of:

(a) providing a list of chat sessions that are being hosted by at least one other player contact in a player contact list built by the player; and

(b) enabling the player to join a chat session appearing in the list of chat sessions.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of providing a headset operatively coupled in communication with each of said plurality of electronic devices, each headset comprising at least one sound transducer and a microphone employed by each player to participate in a voice chat session.

23. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of providing a list of multiplayer online electronic games;

and enabling the host player to select the multi player online electronic game that will be played.

24. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 12.

25. A method for enabling a host player, who is a member of an online messaging service that enables the host player to build a player contact list of one or more players with whom the host prefers to chat and/or play multiplayer online computer games, to select one or more other players to participate in a multiplayer online electronic game played using a plurality of electronic devices linked in communication over a communications network, each of said plurality of electronic devices being operated by a different player, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling the host player to initiate a voice chat session;

(b) enabling the host player to invite one or more other players to join the voice chat session;

(c) enabling any of the players who were invited by the host, to be a participant in the voice chat session;

(d) enabling the host player to forward a network address corresponding to an electronic device being operated by the host to any other player participating in the voice chat session; and

(e) providing a player contact list to the host player and enabling the host player to select one or more players to participate in the multi player online electronic game from the player contact list by transmitting a voice chat message from the host player to any other player participating in the voice chat session, said voice chat message identifying a multiplayer online electronic game that the host player will be launching or has already launched on the electronic device operated by the host player so that any other player participating in the voice chat session can selectively launch an instance of the multiplayer online electronic game on the electronic device operated by the player, so that any player participating in the chat session who selectively launches the multiplayer online electronic game becomes a participant in the multiplayer online electronic game.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of providing an availability status for each player in the player contact list.

27. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 25.

28. A system for enabling a host player to select one or more other players to participate in playing a multiplayer online electronic game played using a plurality of electronic devices linked in communication over a communications network, each of said plurality of electronic devices being operated by a different player and including:

(a) a display on which a user interface is implemented;

(b) a memory in which a plurality of machine instructions are stored;

(c) a microphone operatively coupled to the electronic device and which produces audio signals in response to words spoken by a user into the microphone;

(d) a sound transducer operatively coupled to the electronic device so as to replicate sounds corresponding to an audio data signal received over the communications network by the electronic device to which said at least one sound transducer is operatively coupled; and

(e) a processor coupled to the memory for executing said plurality of machine instructions, said processor implementing a plurality of functions when executing the machine instructions, including;

(i) enabling the host player to initiate a chat session;

(ii) enabling the host player to invite one or more other players to join the chat session;

(iii) enabling any of the players who were invited by the host, to be a participant in the chat session;

(iv) automatically launching an instance of the multiplayer online electronic game on each electronic device being operated by any player participating in the chat session, said step of automatically launching being in response to a game initiating action performed by the host player so that any player participating in the chat session automatically becomes a participant in the multi player online electronic game;

(v) employing the microphone, the sound transducer, and the electronic device to enable each player to transmit voice chat data to all other players participating in the chat session;

(vi) sending an electronic invitation to a player being invited by the host player to join the chat session;

(vii) producing an audible announcement with said at least one sound transducer apprising a recipient of the electronic invitation that the host player has invited the recipient to join the chat session; and

(viii) enabling the electronic invitation to be accepted by the recipient through use of a verbal response spoken into the microphone by the recipient.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the host player is a member of an online messaging service that enables the host player to build a player contact list of one or more players with whom the host may desire to play multiplayer online computer games, and wherein execution of the plurality of machine instructions further implements the functions of:

(a) obtaining the player contact list from the online messaging service;

(b) displaying the player contact list to the host player; and

(c) enabling the host player to select one or more players to participate in the multiplayer online electronic game from the player contact list.