Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Tian F Lim

Thomas A Langan

Vipul Vijay Hingne

Nicholas B Wild

Andrew Murphy

Ryan Ross Cooper

A method and system for allowing spectators to experience multimedia information over a network generated by an online video game running on a participant's device comprises a participant system and a universal spectator client system. A participant may utilize a device to experience game play. Each spectator may also have an associated device, which may allow the spectator to receive multimedia information generated by the participant system over a network. A spectator may experience multimedia information generated by a participant regardless of whether the spectator has the same title installed on an associated device and regardless of whether the associated spectator device provides the same capabilities and functionality as the participant device.

Method and system providing spectator information for a multimedia application

A method and system for a platform wide party system that may be deployed in a multiplayer gaming environment. Players may associate themselves with one or more parties, wherein players within a party may choose to automatically exchange messages associated with changes in state of the players in a gaming environment. The party system exposes an API providing a plurality of function calls that may be integrated seamlessly with game play. A first player may indicate desired notification events to be received from a second player associated with the same party as the first player. Upon detection of a desired notification event on the video game console of the second player, an event notification may be communicated to a video game console of the first player causing an action to be performed on the first player's video game console. Actions may include event notifications via text and/or sound, which may be displayed to the first player while engaged in any game session and without requiring the first player to exit the current game session.

Method and system for an integrated platform wide party system within a multiplayer gaming environment

An automated direct transaction and delivery system for digital content ('ATDDC') provides for automated detection of missing digital content or resources required for a player or participant to participate in a multimedia application in either a single player or multiplayer environment is described. The ATDDC automatically detects that a player may not have installed particular required content or that a title update is required in order to participate in a media session or video game. Upon detection of missing content or resources the ATDDC provides direct bid to purchase the content or resources, provides for automatic download, installation and configuration of the content while allowing the player to remain in contact with other players within a party.

Automated direct bids to purchase entertainment content upon a predetermined event

Various aspects are disclosed herein for an architecture for online communal and connected experiences. This architecture can be embodied in an application running a host computing device, where the application provides functionalities such as finding modules on local devices or hosted on online services, launching such modules, switching between a plurality of such concurrently running modules, and providing many-to-many text, voice, and video functionality. This application can also interface with managed runtime code on the host computing device, thereby providing inputting, outputting, and network communication means among a plurality of computing devices having different platforms.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Tian F Lim