Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

Ngmoco, LLC

Stephen Cain Detwiler

Payton R White

James E Marr

Yutaka Takeda

Attila Vass

Gary M Zalewski

Howard Berkey

Hirotoshi Maegawa

Shin Iima

David Gaxiola

Vivek Chopra

James Marr

Traversal of a Network Address Translator (NAT) can be facilitated for a mobile device configured to communicate with one or more other devices over a network via one or more wireless access points.A direction of travel can be estimated for the mobile device.One or more wireless access points the mobile device is likely to encounter can be predicted usingtheanestimated direction of travelfor the mobile device. Information regarding behavior of one or more NATs associated with the predicted wireless access point(s) can be predicted. Such information can be stored in such a way that the information is retrievable by one or more other devices or using the information to traverse one or more of the NATs. Alternatively, information can be retrieved regarding behavior of one or more NATs associated with the predicted wireless access points. This information can be used to traverse one or more of the NATs.

NAT traversal for mobile network devices

A system and method for distributing virtual items for collection by a user device in the real world are provided. One embodiment of a method includes sending a notification to a user device indicating availability of a virtual item, the virtual item configured to be available to the user device when the user device is determined to be proximate to one or more real world geolocations associated with the virtual item. The method provides for determining that the user device is proximate to the one or more geolocations and for providing information related to the virtual item so as to enable viewing of at least a portion of the virtual item. The method also provides sending an activated version of the virtual item to the user device when predetermined conditions associated with viewing the virtual item have been met.

Distributing virtual items for collection in the real world

Streaming content may be delivered through a combination of broadcast and a backchannel. A desired streamlet may be selected from the packet of information and presented with a display. A remainder of a data stream associated with the streamlet may be requested and received from via a backchannel while the desired streamlet is being presented. The remaining data stream may then be presented with the display.

Combined broadcast and backchannel delivery of streaming content

An apparatus and computer implemented method for modifying a state of a virtual item and a corresponding computer-readable medium are disclosed. A receiving device receives information relating to one or more virtual items from a server via a broadcast signal. The information is filtered according to one or more criteria to select a selected virtual item from among the one or more virtual items. The criteria include a physical world location of the receiving device. A state of the selected virtual item is modified from an initial state to a modified state and information relating the modified state back is sent back to the server.

Modifying virtual item states in conjunction with digital broadcast

Streaming content may be delivered through a combination of broadcast and a backchannel. Related apparatus and methods for receiving and distributing streaming content are described. A receiving device may receive a packet of information in the form of a broadcast signal from a broadcast source. The packet of information may contain one or more streamlets and a table of contents associated with the streamlets. A desired streamlet may be selected from the packet of information and presented with a display. A remainder of a data stream associated with the streamlet may be requested and received from via a backchannel while the desired streamlet is being presented. The remaining data stream may then be presented with the display.

A system and a method are disclosed for communicating between two programming languages on a client device. Commands in a high-level language are encoded as character string containing a series of numbers separated by delimiters, with each component of the command encoded as a different number. The encoded character strings are passed to compiled code that runs natively on the client device, and the native code decodes the character strings into corresponding native commands and executes the native commands. This communication protocol allows applications written in high-level code to perform functions that are typically set aside for native code, such as communicating with web servers and modifying files saved in memory. High-level code may also be transferred to client devices without being subjected to the restrictions that some operating systems place on the transfer for application binaries, which allows application developers to automatically send application updates to users.

Communication protocol between a high-level language and a native language

Prioritizing network traffic among two or more distinct channels of communication within a single application in a node configured to communicate with one or more other nodes over a network is disclosed. For a particular time quantum, a bandwidth quantum may be distributed amongst two or more communication channels according to priorities associated with those channels. Ready data for each channel may be transmitted over a network path up to the size of the reserved portion for that channel and not greater than a path maximum transmission unit (MTU) size for a network path. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Network bandwidth detection and distribution

Each peer node in a plurality has a different corresponding key value. Each of the nodes can broadcast one or more items to a plurality of recipient nodes. The recipient nodes are arranged into a list according to a key value order. The list is divided into two or more parts of approximately equal size, and each part of the list and the one or more items is forwarded to a recipient peer node corresponding to a first key value in that part of the list. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. This abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Load balancing distribution of data to multiple recipients on a peer-to-peer network

Methods and apparatus for optimizing quality of streaming data transmitted between a first node and a second node over a network, the streaming data including one or more frame groups is disclosed. A processor-readable medium having embodied therein processor readably instructions for implementing a method for optimizing quality of streaming data transmitted between a first node and a second node over a network is also disclosed.

Predictive frame dropping to enhance quality of service in streaming data

Traversal of a Network Address Translator (NAT) can be facilitated for a mobile device configured to communicate with one or more other devices over a network via one or more wireless access points. A direction of travel can be estimated for the mobile device. One or more wireless access points the mobile device is likely to encounter can be predicted using the estimated direction of travel. Information regarding behavior of one or more NATs associated with the predicted wireless access point(s) can be predicted. Such information can be stored in such a way that the information is retrievable by one or more other devices or using the information to traverse one or more of the NATs. Alternatively, information can be retrieved regarding behavior of one or more NATs associated with the predicted wireless access points. This information can be used to traverse one or more of the NATs.

A method and system for load balancing the distribution of a file or block of data to multiple recipients on a peer to peer network is disclosed.

In a node configured to communicate with one or more other nodes over a network, available bandwidth for network traffic may be distributed among two or more distinct channels of communication within a single application running on the node. An available bandwidth may be detected for communication between the first node and a second node. A distribution may be determined for the available bandwidth among the two or more communication channels. A sending rate may be adjusted for data sent from the first node to the second node over one or more of the two or more communication channels in response to a detected change in the available bandwidth.

Systems and methods for mediation of content-related services are provided. A client device playing content may send a request for a service related to the content. Configuration information is generated for the client device, reflecting a set of permissions that are determined based on a market segment of the client device. Once the client device is configured according to the set of permissions, the client device can communicate with a service provider of the requested service. Such communication and any further activity regarding the service is governed by the set of permissions, as is reporting regarding such communication and activity

Mediation of content-related services

Prioritizing network traffic among two or more distinct channels of communication within a single application in a node configured to communicate with one or more other nodes over a network is disclosed. For a particular time quantum, a bandwidth quantum may be distributed amongst two or more communication channels according to priorities associated with those channels.

Growing community of inventors

Oakland, CA, United States of America

Stephen Cain Detwiler