Method, apparatus, system, medium, and signals for supporting game piece movement in a multiple-party communication

• US 8,702,505 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AK Meeting IP LLC (Pueblo Nuevo LLC)
• Original Assignee: Uranus International Limited
• Inventors: Kropivny, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Rowland, Steve
• Application Number:
  US11/694,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20080242422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,580 Days
• Field of Search: 463/14, 463 30- 40, 463/42, 273/260, 709/205
• US Class Current: 463/31
• 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 on a first client computer, the first client computer being 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 user input from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer, said user input being operable to change a display position of a cursor on said display area;

transmitting, from the first client computer, a piece movement request message to the server, wherein the first client computer is configured to generate and transmit said piece movement request message in response to receiving user input of an actuator button signal when a display position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message including information representing a change in position of said cursor on said display area of the first client computer while said actuator button signal is being received and being operable to elicit transmission of a piece movement message from the server to the first client computer, said piece movement message including information representing said change in position of said cursor included in said piece movement request message;

receiving said piece movement message from the server at the first client computer; and

causing a change in a displayed position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer, wherein the first client computer is configured to cause said change in response to receipt of said piece movement message at the first client computer and not in response to movement of said cursor such that movements of said cursor and said displayed position of said game piece image provide an indication of network latency due to a round-trip time associated with transmission of the piece movement request message to the server and transmission of the piece movement message back to the client computer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether said display 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 transmitting said piece movement request message in response to user input of said actuator button signal comprises transmitting said piece movement request message in response to user actuation of an actuator button associated with the pointing device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting said piece movement request message comprises transmitting a message comprising a message identifier, a user identifier associated with the first client computer, and display position coordinates of a current position of said cursor.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting said piece movement request message comprises transmitting 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.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein causing said corresponding change in said position of said game piece image comprises producing a display signal at said display output of the first client computer to cause said game piece image to be deleted and redisplayed at said display position coordinates representing said position of said cursor.

41. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving said piece movement message from the server at the first client computer comprises receiving a piece movement message including information operable to cause a change in a displayed position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer that has been modified by the processor circuit of the server in accordance with a movement criteria associated with a game being played.

2. A method for moving game piece images on a first client computer, the first client computer being in communication with a server in a computer network, the method comprising configuring the first client computer 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 user input from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer, said user input being operable to change a display position of a cursor on said display area;

transmit, from the first client computer, a piece movement request message to the server, wherein the first client computer is configured to generate and transmit said piece movement request message in response to receiving user input of an actuator button signal when a display position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message including information representing a change in position of said cursor on said display area of the first client computer while said actuator button signal is being received and being operable to elicit transmission of a piece movement message from the server to the first client computer, said piece movement message including information representing said change in position of said cursor included in said piece movement request message;

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

cause a change in a displayed position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer, wherein the first client computer is configured to cause said change in response to receipt of said piece movement message at the first client computer and not in response to movement of said cursor such that movements of said cursor and said displayed position of said game piece image provide an indication of network latency due to a round-trip time associated with transmission of the piece movement request message to the server and transmission of the piece movement message back to the client computer.

8. An apparatus for moving game piece images displayed on a first client computer, the first client computer being 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 user input from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer, said user input being operable to change a display position of a cursor on said display area;

means for causing the first client computer to transmit a piece movement request message to the server in response to receiving an actuator button signal when a display position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message including information representing a change in position of said cursor on said display area of the first client computer while said actuator button signal is being received and being operable to elicit transmission of a piece movement message from the server to the first client computer, said piece movement message including information representing said change in position of said cursor included in said piece movement request message;

means for receiving said piece movement message at the first client computer; and

means for causing a change in a displayed position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer, said change occurring in response to receipt of said piece movement message at the first client computer and not in response to movement of said cursor such that movements of said cursor and said displayed position of said game piece image provide an indication of network latency due to a round-trip time associated with transmission of the piece movement request message to the server and transmission of the piece movement message back to the client computer.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for determining whether said display position of said cursor is within said image boundary comprises means for determining whether said cursor has crossed said image boundary.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for transmitting said piece movement request message in response to receiving said actuator button signal comprises means for transmitting said piece movement request message in response to user actuation of an actuator button associated with the pointing device.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for transmitting said piece movement request message comprises means for transmitting a message comprising a message identifier, a user identifier associated with the first client computer, and position coordinates of a current display position of said cursor.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for transmitting said piece movement request message comprises means for transmitting 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.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 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 display position coordinates representing said position of said cursor.

42. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for receiving said piece movement message from the server at the first client computer comprises means for receiving a piece movement message including information operable to cause a change in a displayed position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer that has been modified by the server in accordance with a movement criteria associated with a game being played.

9. An apparatus for moving game piece images displayed on a first client computer, the first client computer being 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 user input from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer, said user input being operable to change a display position of a cursor on said display area;

means for causing the first client computer to transmit a piece movement request message to the server in response to receiving an actuator button signal when a display position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message including information representing a change in position of said cursor on said display area of the first client computer while said actuator button signal is being received and being operable to elicit transmission of a piece movement message from the server to the first client computer, said piece movement message including information representing said change in position of said cursor included in said piece movement request message;

means for receiving said piece movement message at the first client computer;

means for causing a change in a displayed position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer, said change occurring in response to receipt of said piece movement message at the first client computer and not in response to movement of said cursor; and

wherein said means for receiving said user input comprises means for receiving a plurality of user inputs operable to cause successive changes to said display position of said cursor on said display area and wherein said means for receiving said piece movement message comprises means for receiving a plurality of piece movement messages operable to cause said game piece image to move from a starting position to an end position on said display area of the first client computer along a path defined by said plurality of piece movement messages such that movements of said cursor and said displayed position of said game piece image provide an indication of network latency due to a round-trip time associated with transmission of the piece movement request message to the server and transmission of the piece movement message back to the client computer.

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

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 user input from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer, said user input being operable to change a display position of a cursor on said display area;

transmit a piece movement request message to the server in response to receiving an actuator button signal when a display position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message including information representing a change in position of said cursor on said display area of the first client computer while said actuator button signal is being received and being operable to elicit transmission of a piece movement message from the server to the first client computer, said piece movement message including information representing said change in position of said cursor included in said piece movement request message;

receive said piece movement message at the first client computer; and

cause a change in a displayed position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer, said change occurring in response to receipt of said piece movement message at the first client computer and not in response to movement of said cursor such that movements of said cursor and said displayed position of said game piece image provide an indication of network latency due to a round-trip time associated with transmission of the piece movement request message to the server and transmission of the piece movement message back to the client computer.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to determine whether said display position of said cursor is within said image boundary by determining whether said cursor has crossed said image boundary.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to transmit said piece movement request message in response to receiving said actuator button signal by transmitting said piece movement request message in response to user actuation of an actuator button associated with the pointing device.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to transmit 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.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to transmit said piece movement request message by transmitting 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.

21. The apparatus of claim 15 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.

43. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said processor circuit of the first client computer is operably configured to receive a piece movement message including information operable to cause a change in a displayed position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer that has been modified by the server in accordance with a movement criteria associated with a game being played.

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

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 user input from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer, said user input being operable to change a display position of a cursor on said display area;

transmit a piece movement request message to the server in response to receiving an actuator button signal when a display position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message including information representing a change in position of said cursor on said display area of the first client computer while said actuator button signal is being received and being operable to elicit transmission of a piece movement message from the server to the first client computer, said piece movement message including information representing said change in position of said cursor included in said piece movement request message;

receive said piece movement message at the first client computer; and

cause a change in a displayed position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer, said change occurring in response to receipt of said piece movement message at the first client computer and not in response to movement of said cursor,

wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to receive said user input by receiving a plurality of user inputs operable to cause successive changes to said display position of said cursor on said display area and to receive a plurality of piece movement messages operable to cause said game piece image to move from a starting position to an end position on said display area of the first client computer along a path defined by said plurality of piece movement messages such that movements of said cursor and said displayed position of said game piece image provide an indication of network latency due to a round-trip time associated with transmission of the piece movement request message to the server and transmission of the piece movement message back to the client computer.

22. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with codes for directing a processor circuit of a client computer to move game piece images displayed on a first client computer, the first client computer being in communication with a server in a computer network, said codes directing the processor circuit to perform operations comprising:

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 user input from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer, said user input being operable to change a display position of a cursor on said display area;

cause the first client computer to transmit a piece movement request message to the server in response to receiving an actuator button signal when a display position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message including information representing a change in position of said cursor on said display area of the first client computer while said actuator button signal is being received and being operable to elicit transmission of a piece movement message from the server to the first client computer, said piece movement message including information representing said change in position of said cursor included in said piece movement request message;

receive said piece movement message at the first client computer; and

cause a change in a displayed position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer, said change occurring in response to receipt of said piece movement message at the first client computer and not in response to movement of said cursor such that movements of said cursor and said displayed position of said game piece image provide an indication of network latency due to a round-trip time associated with transmission of the piece movement request message to the server and transmission of the piece movement message back to the client computer.

23. 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 configuring the server to:

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

cause the network interface of the server to transmit a piece movement message representing said requested change in said position of said game piece image to each of the first and second client computers when at least one of;

a) a processor circuit of said server determines that 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

b) said processor circuit of said server determines that said requested 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; and

wherein receiving said piece movement request message comprises receiving, at said network interface, a plurality of piece movement request messages representing successive requests to move said game piece image along a path defined by said plurality of piece movement request messages and wherein said piece movement message transmitted by the server comprises a plurality of piece movement messages operable to cause respective movements of said game piece image on said respective display areas of said first and second client computers, said movements of said game piece image occurring following a round-trip time associated with transmission of each piece movement request message to the network interface of the server and transmission of the piece movement message back from the network interface of the server to the first and second client computers.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising transmitting a pointer message to the first and second client computers in response to receiving said piece movement request message, said pointer message being operable to cause corresponding changes in position of a pointer displayed on said first and second client computers and said game piece image.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein causing the server to transmit said piece movement message comprises causing the server to transmit 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.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein causing the server to transmit said piece movement message comprises causing the server to transmit a copy of said piece movement request message to the first client computer.

27. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

receiving a piece action request message at the network interface of 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

causing the network interface of the server to 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.

28. 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 wherein said piece movement request message comprises 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;

means for causing the server to 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 at least one of;

a) 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

b) 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; and

wherein said means for receiving said piece movement request message comprises means for receiving a plurality of piece movement request messages representing successive requests to move said game piece image along a path defined by said plurality of piece movement request messages and wherein said means for causing the server to transmit said piece movement message comprises means for causing the server to transmit a plurality of piece movement messages operable to cause respective movements of said game piece image on said respective display areas of said first and second client computers, said movements of said game piece image occurring following a round-trip time associated with transmission of each piece movement request message to the server and transmission of the piece movement message back to the first and second client computers.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising means for transmitting a pointer message to the first and second client computers in response to receiving said piece movement request message and said pointer message being operable to cause corresponding changes in position of a pointer displayed on said first and second client computers and said game piece image.

30. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said means for causing the server to transmit said piece movement message comprises means for causing the server to transmit 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 apparatus of claim 28 wherein said means for causing the server to transmit said piece movement message comprises means for causing the server to transmit a copy of said piece movement request message to the first client computer.

32. The apparatus of claim 28 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.

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 a processor circuit of the server operably configured to perform operations comprising:

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 wherein said piece movement request message comprises 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;

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 at least one of;

a) 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

b) 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; and

wherein the server is operably configured to receive said piece movement request message by receiving a plurality of piece movement request messages representing successive requests to move said game piece image along a path defined by said plurality of piece movement request messages and wherein said piece movement message transmitted by the server comprises a plurality of piece movement messages operable to cause respective movements of said game piece image on said respective display areas of said first and second client computers, said movements of said game piece image occurring following a round-trip time associated with transmission of each piece movement request message to the server and transmission of the piece movement message back to the first and second client computers.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said processor circuit is operably configured to transmit a pointer message to the first and second client computers in response to receiving said piece movement request message, said pointer message being operable to cause corresponding changes in position of a pointer displayed on said first and second client computers and said game piece image.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 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.

36. The apparatus of claim 33 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.

37. The apparatus of claim 33 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.

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

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 wherein said piece movement request message comprises 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;

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 at least one of;

a) 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

b) 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; and

wherein the server is operably configured to receive said piece movement request message by receiving a plurality of piece movement request messages representing successive requests to move said game piece image along a path defined by said plurality of piece movement request messages and wherein said piece movement message transmitted by the server comprises a plurality of piece movement messages operable to cause respective movements of said game piece image on said respective display areas of said first and second client computers, said movements of said game piece image occurring following a round-trip time associated with transmission of each piece movement request message to the server and transmission of the piece movement message back to the first and second client computers.

39. 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 user input from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer, said user input being operable to change a display position of a cursor on said display area; and

transmit a piece movement request message to the server in response to receiving an actuator button signal when a display position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message including information representing a change in position of said cursor on said display area of the first client computer while said actuator button signal is being received and being operable to elicit transmission of a piece movement message from the server to the first client computer, said piece movement message including information representing said change in position of said cursor included in said piece movement request message; and

a server processor circuit operably configured to;

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

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

wherein said client processor circuit is operably configured to;

receive said piece movement message; and

cause a change in a displayed position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer, said change occurring in response to receipt of said piece movement message at the first client computer and not in response to movement of said cursor such that movements of said cursor and said displayed position of said game piece image provide an indication of network latency due to a round-trip time associated with transmission of the piece movement request message to the server and transmission of the piece movement message back to the client computer.

40. The system of claim 39 further comprising a communications network through which communications are conducted between the server and the first client computer.

44. A method for moving game piece images on a first client computer, the first client computer being in communication with a server in a computer network, the method comprising configuring the first client computer 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 user input from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer, said user input being operable to change a display position of a cursor on said display area;

cause the first client computer to transmit a piece movement request message to the server in response to receiving user input of an actuator button signal when a display position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message including information representing a change in position of said cursor on said display area of the first client computer while said actuator button signal is being received and being operable to elicit transmission of a piece movement message from the server to the first client computer, said piece movement message including information representing said change in position of said cursor included in said piece movement request message;

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

cause a change in a displayed position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer, said change occurring in response to receipt of said piece movement message at the first client computer and not in response to movement of said cursor; and

cause a secondary pointer to be displayed on the display area of the first client computer and causing a change in a position of said secondary pointer on said display area of the first client computer in response to receiving said piece movement message from the server, said secondary pointer and said cursor being simultaneously displayed such that movements of said cursor and said secondary pointer provide an indication of network latency due to a round-trip time associated with transmission of the piece movement request message to the server and transmission of the piece movement message back to the client computer.

48. The method of claim 44 wherein causing a secondary pointer to be displayed on the display area of the first client computer comprises causing said piece movement request message to elicit transmission of a pointer message from the server to the first client computer, said pointer message including information representing said change in position of said cursor on said display area of the first client computer.

45. An apparatus for moving game piece images displayed on a first client computer, the first client computer being 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 user input from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer, said user input being operable to change a display position of a cursor on said display area;

means for causing the first client computer to transmit a piece movement request message to the server in response to receiving an actuator button signal when a display position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message including information representing a change in position of said cursor on said display area of the first client computer while said actuator button signal is being received and being operable to elicit transmission of a piece movement message from the server to the first client computer, said piece movement message including information representing said change in position of said cursor included in said piece movement request message;

means for receiving said piece movement message at the first client computer;

means for causing a change in a displayed position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer, said change occurring in response to receipt of said piece movement message at the first client computer and not in response to movement of said cursor; and

means for causing a secondary pointer to be displayed on the display area of the first client computer and means for causing a change in a position of said secondary pointer on said display area of the first client computer, in response to receiving said piece movement message from the server, said secondary pointer and said cursor being simultaneously displayed such that movements of said cursor and said secondary pointer provide an indication of network latency due to a round-trip time associated with transmission of the piece movement request message to the server and transmission of the piece movement message back to the client computer.

49. The apparatus of claim 45 wherein said means for causing a secondary pointer to be displayed on the display area of the first client computer comprises means for causing said piece movement request message to elicit transmission of a pointer message from the server to the first client computer, said pointer message including information representing said change in position of said cursor on said display area of the first client computer.

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

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 user input from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer, said user input being operable to change a display position of a cursor on said display area;

transmit a piece movement request message to the server in response to receiving an actuator button signal when a display position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message including information representing a change in position of said cursor on said display area of the first client computer while said actuator button signal is being received and being operable to elicit transmission of a piece movement message from the server to the first client computer, said piece movement message including information representing said change in position of said cursor included in said piece movement request message;

receive said piece movement message at the first client computer;

cause a change in a displayed position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer, said change occurring in response to receipt of said piece movement message at the first client computer and not in response to movement of said cursor; and

cause a secondary pointer to be displayed on the display area of the first client computer and to cause a change in a position of said secondary pointer on said display area of the first client computer in response to receiving said piece movement message from the server, said secondary pointer and said cursor being simultaneously displayed such that movements of said cursor and said secondary pointer provide an indication of network latency due to a round-trip time associated with transmission of the piece movement request message to the server and transmission of the piece movement message back to the client computer.

50. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein said processor circuit of the first client computer is operably configured to elicit transmission of a pointer message from the server to the first client computer, said pointer message including information representing said change in position of said cursor on said display area of the first client computer.

47. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with codes for directing a processor circuit of a client computer to move game piece images displayed on a first client computer, the first client computer being in communication with a server in a computer network, said codes directing the processor circuit to perform operations comprising:

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 user input from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer, said user input being operable to change a display position of a cursor on said display area;

cause the first client computer to transmit a piece movement request message to the server in response to receiving an actuator button signal when a display position of said cursor is within said image boundary, said piece movement request message including information representing a change in position of said cursor on said display area of the first client computer while said actuator button signal is being received and being operable to elicit transmission of a piece movement message from the server to the first client computer, said piece movement message including information representing said change in position of said cursor included in said piece movement request message;

receive said piece movement message at the first client computer;

cause a change in a displayed position of said game piece image on said display area of the first client computer, said change occurring in response to receipt of said piece movement message at the first client computer and not in response to movement of said cursor; and

cause a secondary pointer to be displayed on the display area of the first client computer and to cause a change in a position of said secondary pointer on said display area of the first client computer in response to receiving said piece movement message from the server, said secondary pointer and said cursor being simultaneously displayed such that movements of said cursor and said secondary pointer provide an indication of network latency due to a round-trip time associated with transmission of the piece movement request message to the server and transmission of the piece movement message back to the client computer.