Systems and methods for simulating a particular user in an interactive computer system

• US 8,016,664 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2005
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Take-Two Interactive Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Take-Two Interactive Software Incorporated
• Inventors: Thomas, Jeffrey J., Navarro, Abraham J., Read, Gordon K., Zdyrko, David M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas; Eric M
• Application Number:
  US11/105,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20060246972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,344 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/4, 463/7, 463/13, 463/23, 463/32, 463 41- 43
• US Class Current: 463/23
• 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 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/33 using wide area network [WAN] connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/208 for storing personal settings or data of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6009 for importing or creating game content, e.g. authoring tools during game development, adapting content to different platforms, use of a scripting language to create content
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball

Abstract

The field of the invention relates to interactive computer systems and more particularly to systems and methods for simulating a particular user'"'"'s behavior in an interactive computer system. In one embodiment, a computer program product includes a simulator configured to simulate a user interacting with a computer program. The simulator includes a learning mode of operation and a simulation mode of operation. During the learning mode, the simulator is configured to monitor the user'"'"'s interaction with the computer program for one or more events and analyze one or more current circumstances during the occurrence of the one or more events. The simulator is further configured to record one or more user inputs in response to the occurrence of the one or more events, store the one or more user inputs in one or more data fields, and associate the one or more data fields with the one or more events and the one or more current circumstances. During the simulation mode of operation, the simulator is configured to monitor the computer program for the one or more particular events, retrieve the one or more data fields associated with the one or more particular events, analyze one or more current circumstances upon the occurrence of the one or more particular events, and invoke one or more simulated inputs based on the value of the one or more data fields in response to the occurrence of the one or more events and the one or more current circumstances.

Claims

1. A computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium having a sequence of instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to execute a first process for learning the behavior of a first user interacting with a multi-user computer game and a second process for simulating the first user interacting with the multi-user computer game, wherein the first process for learning, comprises the steps of:

monitoring the first user'"'"'s interaction with the computer game for the occurrence of one or more events;

recording one or more first user inputs in response to the occurrence of the one or more events;

analyzing one or more current circumstances during the one or more first user inputs upon the occurrence of the one or more events;

storing the one or more first user inputs in one or more data fields, an occurrence of the respective first user input being a value; and

logically associating the one or more data fields with the one or more events and the one or more current circumstances,

wherein the association of the one or more data fields with the one or more events and the one or more current circumstances is stored in a data structure including sub data structures, each sub data structure concerning one of a respective circumstance and a respective event and including a set of parameters associated with the one of the respective circumstance and the respective event.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the second process for simulating enables a second user to interact with a substantial simulation of the first user via the computer program and comprises the steps of:

monitoring the computer game for the one or more events;

analyzing the one or more current circumstances upon the occurrence of the one or more events;

retrieving the one or more data fields associated with the one or more events and the one or more current circumstances; and

invoking a response based on the value of the one or more data fields subsequent to the occurrence of the one or more events and the one or more current circumstances,

wherein for the respective event and the associated one or more current circumstances, the respective data field associated with the value which is numerically greater provides the invoked response.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the one or more data fields are organized in one or more profiles.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the multi-user computer game is a football game, the one or more events include a called pass play and a called run play, and the one or more current circumstances include score and time.

5. The computer program product of claim 4, wherein the one or more events include a blitz, a dive tackle, and a special move.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the one or more current circumstances include at least one of a spatial position of one or more opposing avatars, a time, a score, and a spatial position of one or more avatars.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the one or more current circumstances include an archetype of one or more avatars.

8. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the one or more events includes movement of an avatar.

9. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the multi-user computer game is a basketball game, the one or more events include at least one of a jump shot, a slam dunk, and a special move, and the one or more current circumstances include at least one of score and time.

10. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the multi-user computer game is a first-person shooting game having an avatar controlled by the user and an opposing avatar, the one or more events include a direction of movement of the avatar controlled by the user, and the one or more current circumstances include a score and a position of the opposing avatar.

11. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the simulation process includes invoking a default response if there is no value in the one or more data fields.

42. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the second process for simulating enables a second user to interact with a substantial simulation of the first user via the computer program, the second process comprising:

monitoring the computer game for the one or more events;

analyzing the one or more current circumstances upon the occurrence of the one or more events;

retrieving the one or more data fields associated with the one or more events and the one or more current circumstances; and

invoking a response based on the value of the one or more data fields subsequent to the occurrence of the one or more events and the one or more current circumstances,

wherein for the respective event and the associated one or more current circumstances, the respective data field associated with the value which is randomly selected provides the invoked response.

43. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the second process for simulating enables a second user to interact with a substantial simulation of the first user via the computer program, the second process comprising:

monitoring the computer game for the one or more events;

analyzing the one or more current circumstances upon the occurrence of the one or more events;

retrieving the one or more data fields associated with the one or more events and the one or more current circumstances; and

invoking a response based on the value of the one or more data fields subsequent to the occurrence of the one or more events and the one or more current circumstances,

wherein, the value of the respective data field being a record of when the response based on the respective data field was last selected, if the value is greater than an average of all values associated with data fields associated with the respective event and the associated one or more current circumstances, then the first user input associated with the respective data field provides the invoked response.

12. A system for simulating a first user of a multi-user interactive computer video game, comprising:

a simulator configured to learn a first user'"'"'s behavioral interactions with the multi-user interactive computer video game and enable a second user to interact via the multi-user interactive computer video game with a substantial simulation of the first user operating the multi-user interactive computer video game; and

a database coupled to the simulator and configured to store data that enables the simulator to substantially simulate the first user,

wherein the data is logically associated information regarding the first user'"'"'s behavioral interactions, the database being populated with the data by the simulator and being analyzable by the simulator so that the substantial simulation of the first user is effected, the data being recorded as a first profile,

wherein access to the first profile requires a validation of access to the first profile, and wherein an update status of the first profile is analyzed so that any new available update is effected on the first profile.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the simulator and the computer video game are located in a video game console and the database is located in a remote computer system accessible by a plurality of video game consoles.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer video game is located in a local processor and the simulator and the database are located in a remote server accessible by the local processor via a wide area network.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer video game, the simulator, and the database are located in a remote server accessible by the local processor via a wide area network.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer video game is located in a local processor and the simulator and the database are located on a portable memory device enabled to be directly connected to the local processor.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the multi-user interactive computer video game is a football game having a first team of avatars and a second team of avatars, and the simulator is configured to substantially simulate the first user controlling the second team of avatars playing against the first team of avatars.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the data includes a user profile corresponding to the first user, wherein the user profile is logically linked with the first user'"'"'s response to one or more events and one or more situations.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the simulator is configured to monitor an occurrence of the one or more events and subsequently analyze one or more current circumstances to determine a representation of the first user'"'"'s response to the occurrence of the one or more events given the one or more current circumstances during the substantial simulation of the first user.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the multi-user interactive computer video game is a football game having a first team of avatars and a second team of avatars, and the simulator is configured to substantially simulate the first user controlling one of the first and second teams of avatars, and wherein the one or more events includes an offensive play called and a defensive play called, and the one or more current circumstances include a time, a score, and a spatial position of the first and second team of avatars.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the multi-user interactive computer video game is a race car game having a first car controlled by the first user and a second car controlled by the second user, and the simulator is configured to substantially simulate the first user controlling the first car, and wherein the one or more events includes turning a corner and driving on a straight-away, and the one or more circumstances include spatial position of the second car relative to the first car.

22. A system for simulating a first user of a multi-user interactive computer program, comprising:

a means for recording the behaviors of a first user as the first user is interacting with the computer program;

a means for storing data resulting from the recording, the data being behaviors of the first user logically linked to the interaction of the first user with the computer program; and

a means for simulating the behaviors of the first user when a second user desires to interact with a simulation of the first user based on the stored data,

wherein the means for simulating the behaviors of the first user when a second user desires to interact with a simulation of the first user based on the stored data includes monitoring the operation of the multi-user interactive computer program for one or more events, analyzing one or more current circumstances upon the occurrence of the one or more events, and invoking a response representing the first user'"'"'s response to the occurrence of the event given the one or more current circumstances, the stored data being recorded as a first profile, wherein access to the first profile requires a validation of access to the first profile, and wherein an update status of the first profile is analyzed so that any new available update is effected on the first profile.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the multi-user interactive computer program is a football game.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the multi-user interactive computer program is a basketball game.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the multi-user interactive computer program is a chess game.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the multi-user interactive computer program is a football game having a first team of avatars controlled by the first user and a second team of avatars controlled by the second user, wherein the one or more events include movement of the second team of avatars, offensive play called, and defensive play called, and the one or more current circumstances include score, time and spatial position of the first and second teams of avatars.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the one or more current circumstances includes score and time.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein the one or more current circumstances includes the spatial position of one or more avatars.

29. The system of claim 22, wherein the one or more current circumstances includes an archetype of one or more avatars.

30. The system of claim 22, wherein the one or more events includes the movement of one or more avatars.

31. A method enabling a second user to interact via a multi-user interactive computer video game with a substantial simulation of a first user operating the multi-user interactive computer video game, comprising the steps of:

analyzing a first user'"'"'s interaction with a multi-user interactive computer video game;

storing data related to the first user'"'"'s interaction with the multi-user interactive computer video game; and

simulating the first user'"'"'s interaction with the multi-user interactive computer video game during a second user'"'"'s interaction with the multi-user interactive computer video game,

wherein the step of storing data includes recording one or more first user inputs in response to the occurrence of the one or more events, storing the one or more first user inputs in one or more data fields, and logically associating the one or more data fields with the one or more events and the one or more current circumstances,

wherein the association of the one or more data fields with the one or more events and the one or more current circumstances is stored in a data structure including sub data structures, each sub data structure concerning one of a respective circumstance and a respective event and including a set of parameters associated with the one of the respective circumstance and the respective event.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the analyzing step includes

monitoring the first user'"'"'s interaction with the computer game for the occurrence of one or more events, and

analyzing one or more current circumstances during input of one or more first user inputs upon the occurrence of the one or more events.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the simulating step includes:

monitoring the computer game for the one or more events;

analyzing the one or more current circumstances upon the occurrence of the one or more events;

retrieving the one or more data fields associated with the one or more events and the one or more current circumstances; and

invoking a response based on the value of the one or more data fields subsequent to the occurrence of the one or more events and the one or more current circumstances.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

organizing one or more data fields in one or more user profiles.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the one or more current circumstances include game time.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the one or more current circumstances include game score.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the one or more current circumstances include a spatial position of one or more avatars of first user.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the one or more current circumstances include a spatial position of one or more opposing avatars.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the one or more current circumstances include an archetype of one or more avatars.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the one or more events includes movement of an avatar.

41. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

invoking a default response if there is no data available to simulate the first user'"'"'s interaction.