System and method of providing leaderboards for mobile gaming in a wireless network

• US 9,616,348 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2010
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Minch, David M., Mahan, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Milap
• Assistant Examiner(s): PINHEIRO, JASON PAUL
• Application Number:
  US12/875,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20110065511A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,412 Days
• Field of Search: 463 40, 463 42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5533 using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/558 by assessing the players' skills or ranking
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation

Abstract

A method of receiving a leaderboard associated with a software game executed at a wireless device is provided. The method includes monitoring at least one metric associated with the software game while the software game is played. The method further includes collecting a value of the at least one metric when the game is over and comparing the value of the at least one metric to a device leaderboard. The method additionally includes transmitting the value of the at least one metric to a game server when the value of the at least one metric is a best value when compared to the device leaderboard. The device leaderboard may indicate a ranking of scores achieved by playing the software game at the wireless device in which the software game is executed.

Claims

1. A method of receiving a leaderboard associated with a software game provided by a game server executed at a wireless device, the method comprising:

monitoring, by the wireless device, a plurality of metrics associated with the software game while the software game is played;

collecting, by the wireless device, a value for each of the plurality of metrics when the software game is over;

comparing, by the wireless device, the value of each of the plurality of metrics to a device leaderboard;

displaying, by the wireless device, the value of at least a first metric of the plurality of metrics based on the value of the first metric being above a threshold value for the first metric but below a best value for the first metric above which there are no other values for the first metric when compared to the device leaderboard, wherein the value of the first metric is added to the device leaderboard only based on the value of the first metric being greater than the best value for the first metric;

transmitting, by the wireless device over a wireless network, the value of at least a second metric of the plurality of metrics to the game server based on the value of the second metric of the plurality of metrics being a best value for the second metric above which there are no other values for the second metric when compared to the device leaderboard; and

receiving, at the wireless device over the wireless network, a global leaderboard from the game server, wherein the global leaderboard indicates to a user of the wireless device a ranking of scores achieved by a plurality of global users playing the software game.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device leaderboard indicates a ranking of scores achieved by playing the software game at the wireless device in which the software game is executed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the global leaderboard indicates a top ten ranking of scores received from a plurality of global users playing the software game provided by the game server.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the global leaderboard further indicates a ranking of the best value for the second metric received from the wireless device when the best value for the second metric received from the wireless device is not in the top ten ranking of scores.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of metrics is selected from a group comprising a game score, a time to complete a level, a time to finish the software game, a character strength, a number of kills, a number of objectives achieved, an amount of money earned, or a combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, by the wireless device over the wireless network, leaderboard metadata including a unique game identification, a game family identification, and layout data in a first transmission to the game server; and

transmitting, by the wireless device over the wireless network, leaderboard metadata including a leaderboard version number in subsequent transmissions to the game server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first metric is a different type of metric than the second metric.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold value comprises a tenth best value of the second metric.

9. A wireless device for receiving a leaderboard associated with a software game provided by a game server executed at the wireless device, comprising:

means for monitoring a plurality of metrics associated with the software game while the software game is played;

means for collecting a value for each of the plurality of metrics when the software game is over;

means for comparing the value of each of the plurality of metrics to a device leaderboard;

means for displaying the value of at least a first metric of the plurality of metrics based on the value of the first metric being above a threshold value for the first metric but below a best value for the first metric above which there are no other values for the first metric when compared to the device leaderboard, wherein the value of the first metric is added to the device leaderboard only based on the value of the first metric being greater than the best value for the first metric;

means for transmitting the value of at least a second metric of the plurality of metrics over a wireless network to the game server based on the value of the second metric of the plurality of metrics being a best value for the second metric above which there are no other values for the second metric when compared to the device leaderboard; and

means for receiving, over the wireless network, a global leaderboard from the game server, wherein the global leaderboard indicates to a user of the wireless device a ranking of scores achieved by a plurality of global users playing the software game.

10. The wireless device of claim 9, wherein the device leaderboard indicates a ranking of scores achieved by playing the software game at the wireless device in which the software game is executed.

11. The wireless device of claim 9, wherein the global leaderboard indicates a top ten ranking of scores received from a plurality of global users playing the software game provided by the game server.

12. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the global leaderboard further indicates a ranking of the best value for the second metric received from the wireless device when the best value for the second metric received from the wireless device is not in the top ten ranking of scores.

13. The wireless device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of metrics is selected from a group comprising a game score, a time to complete a level, a time to finish the software game, a character strength, a number of kills, a number of objectives achieved, an amount of money earned, or a combination thereof.

14. A wireless device for receiving a leaderboard associated with a software game provided by a game server executed at the wireless device, the wireless device comprising:

a processor, wherein the processor is configured to;

monitor a plurality of metrics associated with the software game while the software game is played;

collect a value for each of the plurality of metrics when the software game is over;

compare the value of each of the plurality of metrics to a device leaderboard;

cause a user interface of the wireless device to display the value of at least a first metric of the plurality of metrics based on the value of the first metric being above a threshold value for the first metric but below a best value for the first metric above which there are no other values for the first metric when compared to the device leaderboard, wherein the value of the first metric is added to the device leaderboard only based on the value of the first metric being greater than the best value for the first metric;

cause a transmitter of the wireless device to transmit the value of at least a second metric of the plurality of metrics over a wireless network to the game server based on the value of the second metric of the plurality of metrics being a best value above which there are no other values for the second metric when compared to the device leaderboard; and

cause a receiver of the wireless device to receive, over the wireless network, a global leaderboard from the game server, wherein the global leaderboard indicates to a user of the wireless device a ranking of scores achieved by a plurality of global users playing the software game.

15. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the device leaderboard indicates a ranking of scores achieved by playing the software game at the wireless device in which the software game is executed.

16. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the global leaderboard indicates a top ten ranking of scores received from a plurality of global users playing the software game provided by the game server.

17. The wireless device of claim 16, wherein the global leaderboard further indicates a ranking of the best value for the second metric received from the wireless device when the best value for the second metric received from the wireless device is not in the top ten ranking of scores.

18. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of metrics is selected from a group comprising a game score, a time to complete a level, a time to finish the software game, a character strength, a number of kills, a number of objectives achieved, an amount of money earned, or a combination thereof.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising:

at least one instruction for causing a computer to monitor a plurality of metrics associated with a software game provided by a game server while the software game is played;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to collect a value for each of the plurality of metrics when the software game is over;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to compare the value of each of the plurality of metrics to a device leaderboard;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to display the value of at least a first metric of the plurality of metrics based on the value of the first metric being above a threshold value for the first metric but below a best value for the first metric above which there are no other values for the first metric when compared to the device leaderboard, wherein the value of the first metric is added to the device leaderboard only based on the value of the first metric being greater than the best value for the first metric;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to transmit the value of at least a second metric of the plurality of metrics over a wireless network to the game server based on the value of the second metric of the plurality of metrics being a best value above which there are no other values for the second metric when compared to the device leaderboard; and

at least one instruction for causing the computer to receive, over the wireless network, a global leaderboard from the game server, wherein the global leaderboard indicates to a user of the computer a ranking of scores achieved by a plurality of global users playing the software game.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the device leaderboard indicates a ranking of scores achieved by playing the software game at the computer in which the software game is executed.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the global leaderboard indicates a top ten ranking of scores received from a plurality of global users playing the software game provided by the game server.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the global leaderboard further indicates a ranking of the best value for the second metric received from the computer when the best value for the second metric received from the computer is not in the top ten ranking of scores.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the plurality of metrics is selected from a group comprising a game score, a time to complete a level, a time to finish the software game, a character strength, a number of kills, a number of objectives achieved, an amount of money earned, or a combination thereof.