Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC

Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC

Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

Steve C Schneider

Adam Pierce Harris

Various metrics as may be deployed in an active, passive, or hybrid validation architecture are disclosed. A computing device configured to monitor network game activity may identify an inconsistency between user game data and a particular game metric governing a particular aspect of the network gaming environment. Upon identification of an inconsistency between game data and a game metric, which may indicative of illicit game play, a validation process (e.g., active, passive, and/or hybrid) may be implemented to further confirm the existence of illicit game. Alternatively, an action to maintain integrity of the gaming community may be executed without further confirmation whereby a purportedly illicit game device may be ejected from the network.

Managing game metrics and authorizations

A system and method for passively validating network game users is provided. Data indicative of game behavior and actions at one or more nodes interacting with a network game in a network game community are monitored. The data is evaluated to determine whether the one or more nodes are adhering to one or more rules associated with the network game. Data indicative of illicit game behavior may trigger various responses including invalidation of the node engaged in the illicit behavior. Alternatively, a query may be generated to further identify the nature and/or actual existence of illicit behavior at the node. Monitoring of game data may occur at a server, a peer, as part of a peer group or combinations thereof, which may be based on routine schedule or part of constant game behavior monitoring.

Invalidating network devices with illicit peripherals

A system and method for actively validating a network device is provided. Nodes in a network game community are prompted to engage in interrogation and response to facilitate the identification of nodes operating with hacked, modified and non-typical game configurations. In one embodiment, a query is presented to a user's machine which triggers a response, and where the response indicates whether certain data at the user is valid and wherein invalid data is suggestive of illegal community behavior. Functions are triggered and data is queried to determine whether the state of game environment is operating according to known metrics or constraints.

Defining new rules for validation of network devices

Managing playlists, comprising: displaying a current playlist and one or more playlists that intersect the current playlist at a current media item; selecting one of the following: (1) when a pivot command to pivot from the current playlist to a pivoted playlist is received, first moving to a next media item of the pivoted playlist, and displaying the pivoted playlist and one or more playlists that intersect the pivoted playlist at the next media item of the pivoted playlist; (2) otherwise when no pivot command is received, second moving to a next media item of the current playlist, and displaying the current playlist and one or more playlists that intersect the current playlist at the next media item of the current playlist.

Pivot command for playlist

Generating rules for maintaining community integrity

A system and method for actively validating a network device is provided. Nodes in a network game community are prompted to engage in interrogation and response to facilitate the identification of nodes operating with hacked, modified and non-typical game configurations. In one embodiment, a query is presented to a user's machine which triggers a response, and where the response indicates whether certain data at the user is valid and wherein invalid data is suggestive of illegal community behavior. Functions are triggered and data is queried to determine whether the state of game environment is operating according to known metrics or constraints. Various queries to test user integrity include memory peeks, confirmation of location of functions in memory, memory hashing, profiling of threads operating on the user machine, and combinations thereof. Queries may be actively initiated by a server, peer, peer group or combinations thereof and may be scheduled on a routine basis, triggered in response to passive listening, and via collaborating users who suspect cheat activity.

Validation of network devices

Maintenance of community integrity in a gaming network is disclosed. One or more devices interacting with a particular game in the gaming network may be monitored. During the course of monitoring these devices, indicia of the violation of certain rules that define fair game play may be identified. A user and/or device engaged in certain illicit game play activity that resulted in the violation of the rules that define fair game play may subsequently be identified. The identified user and/or device may then be penalized as to maintain the integrity of the gaming community. Various penalties may be implemented, including ejection from the gaming network or prohibitions with regard to future access to the gaming network. Various retributive actions may also be taken against a particular user who has engaged in illicit game play activity with respect to future game session activity.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Steve C Schneider