Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Other

Keith R Kline

Warren Alpert

Wisgary F Torres

Ruben Omar Cardona Cruz

Justin David Brown

Michael Alyn Miller

Cierra D McDonald

Steve Dolan

Carlos Carvallo

Doug Beck

Daniel Av

Sela P Davis

Brian G Jeans

Cody Luitjens

Michael A Siebert

Craig Suthers

Jefferson Ng

Nick Koller

Don Sprague

Mike Horstmanshof

Session participation in online content streams or activities like multiplayer games is enhanced through management of session tracking and automated queuing of players via a central system between host/streamer client device and guest player client devices. Spectators viewing a content stream or waiting to join a multiplayer activity over a network via a game/streaming service request to be placed in a queue to participate in a session of the content stream or activity as guest players with the host/streaming user. Sessions are tracked to determine start and end events. Sets of prior guest players are removed from sessions when the sessions end, and sets of queued spectators are automatically added to the start of a new session of the content stream or activity as guest players. Queuing may be automatically prioritized for users based on user characteristics, and guest players removed at the end of sessions may be automatically re-queued.

System and method for enhancing participation in online multiplayer sessions

An arbitration system is configured to receive, as a set of results data, separate instances of results data from corresponding client computing devices being used to participate in a multiplayer game session. In some examples, an instance of results data comprises input representing an indication or a selection of an identity associated with an outcome of the multiplayer game session. For instance, the input can indicate a participant identity that won the multiplayer game session. In some examples, an instance of results data comprises game data describing the overall activity in a multiplayer game session from a perspective of a player's client computing device, the game data indicating a particular participant identity as a winner of the multiplayer game session. The arbitration system is configured to use the set of results data to determine an arbitrated outcome for the multiplayer game session.

Arbitrating an outcome of a multiplayer game session

The systems and techniques described herein generate a skill rating of a participant with respect to a new title. The system is configured to generate a generic skill rating algorithm based on an aggregate of parameters and parameter weights that already exist in established skill rating algorithms of other titles of a particular game category. Once the generic skill rating algorithm is generated, the system is configured to aggregate, organize, and plug participant performance data into the generic skill rating algorithm so that a representative skill rating for the participant can be calculated. The representative skill rating is provided to the new title thereby enabling the new title to effectively match participants in a multiplayer session of the new title such that a fair and a competitive gaming experience is realized.

Skill matching for a multiplayer session

Devices including gaming consoles, personal computers, tablets, smartphones, and the like may be configured with a client for capturing signals which are representative of user interactions with applications such as games. The captured signals are sent to a cloud-based service for archival storage. The service can subsequently replay the archived captured signals and compare them against known rules to determine if an achievement obtained by a user during interaction with the application was legitimately obtained in compliance with the rules or obtained improperly, for example by cheating or exploiting a bug in the application to falsely trigger the achievement. If the achievement is invalid, then the service can retroactively revoke the achievement. Alternatively, the service can replay the captured signals and detect instances in which an achievement was validly achieved but not properly acknowledged. The achievement can then be awarded or unlocked for the user retroactively.

Achievement replay and fraud detection

A snipper tool device is disclosed for snipping J-channel. The device includes a first member having a first and a second end and a second member having a first and a second extremity. The first and second members are pivotally secured to each other about a first axis which is disposed between the ends of the first member and between the extremities of the second member. The first end of the first member defines a shearing edge and the first extremity of the second member defines a cutting edge, the shearing and cutting edges cooperating together for snipping the J-channel. Also, the second end of the first member defines a hand grip and the second extremity of the second member defines a finger grip, the hand grip and the finger grip being arranged such that when the hand grip and the finger grip move towards each other, the shearing edge and the cutting edge move towards each other for snipping the J-channel. A cutting blade is rigidly secured to the first member between the first axis and the hand grip and a cutting knife is rigidly secured to the second member between the first axis and the finger grip, the cutting blade and the cutting knife moving towards each other when the hand grip and the finger grip move towards each other such that the cutting blade and the cutting knife perform a cutting operation on the J-channel when the J-channel is disposed between the members between the first axis and the grips. Additionally, the device includes a first arm having a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end being pivotally secured to the first member about a second axis disposed between the first axis and the grips. The second arm has an inner and an outer end, the inner end being pivotally secured to the second member about a third axis which is disposed between the first axis and the grips, the axes being disposed parallel relative to each other. The distal end of the first arm defines a first hook for internally engaging the J-channel and the outer end of the second arm defines a second hook for internally engaging the J-channel. The arrangement is such that when the J-channel is located between the members and between the first axis and the grips, the hooks engage the J-channel for supporting the same and for urging the J-channel towards the cutting blade and the cutting knife for performing the cutting operation on the J-channel when the grips are urged towards each other.

Snipper tool device for snipping j-channel

A punch pliers device is disclosed for cutting J-channel used for fastening siding around an opening defined by a building. The device includes a first U-shaped member having a first and a second arm. A second U-shaped member has a first and a second limb, the second member being pivotally secured to the first member such that in a first disposition of the members relative to each other, the arms and the limbs define therebetween an opening for the reception therein of the J-channel. When the members are pivoted relative to each other to a second disposition thereof, at least some of the arms and the limbs cut through the J-channel such that subsequent bending of the J-channel to fit around the opening is permitted.

Punch pliers device for cutting J-channel siding elements

A fastening device is disclosed for fastening siding around an opening defined by a building. The device includes a first and a second J-channel element which co-operate together in an abutting connected angular relationship relative to each other adjacent to the opening. The first element has an exposed portion which defines a miter cut disposed adjacent to the second element. The second element has an exposed face, the arrangement being such that in the vicinity of the miter cut, the exposed portion overlies and conceals the exposed face when the elements are disposed in the aforementioned abutting relationship so that when the siding is installed, the exposed portion and the face of the elements appear to be mitered relative to each other.

Fastening device for fastening siding

Growing community of inventors

Bothell, WA, United States of America

Keith R Kline