Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC

Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC

William McCarroll

Glen Van Datta

Brian Fernandes

Eiko Erika Kato

Shekhar V Dhupelia

Adam Pierce Harris

Methods for creating an interactive gaming environment are provided. In various embodiments, methods of the present invention may include initializing an interactive game application at a game server which is then characterized as having an active status, notifying a lobby server concerning the active status of the game server, registering the application with a universe management server via the lobby server, and allowing users to join the interactive gaming environment. The users joining the interactive gaming environment may be identified by a server key obtained from the game server.

Method for ladder ranking in a game

Methods for creating an interactive gaming environment are provided. In various embodiments, methods of the present invention may include initializing an interactive game application at a game server which is then characterized as having an active status, notifying a lobby server concerning the active status of the game server, registering the application with a universe management server via the lobby server, and allowing users to join the interactive gaming environment. The users joining the interactive gaming environment. may be identified by a server key obtained from the game server.

A communication device communicates with an originating device during an originating session and receives originating data from the originating device over a wireless communication link and then communicates with a receiving device during a receiving session and sends the originating data to the receiving device over a wireless communication link, such that the originating session and the receiving session occur at different times, and at least one of the sessions is an ad hoc communication session.

Data distribution by proxy

Method for authenticating a user in an interactive gaming environment

Systems for balancing distribution of participants in a gaming environment are provided. In various embodiments, systems of the present invention may include multiple application servers each hosting a common game application, a lobby server for assigning new client devices to one of the application servers, and a universe manager for receiving reports from each of the application servers concerning the status of the game application. The universe manager may further instruct the lobby server to reallocate assignment of subsequent new client devices in order to balance the number of client devices assigned to each application servers.

Balancing distribution of participants in a gaming environment

Creating an interactive gaming environment

A multi-user online application network computing configuration maintains application level information at a portal or lobby server, rather than at each individual application server or host machine. Users can therefore learn about and select a desired application, such as an online game, through communication with the lobby server. After appropriate authorization processing, users can contact the associated application server, such as a game host, to begin their participation. The lobby server can therefore reduce the bandwidth requirements and other operating demands on the application server. In addition, cross-application communications in real-time are facilitated through the lobby server concept. The multi-user application environment also provides a common data model for maintaining user information, such as for establishing a ladder ranking system in the online gaming context in which user achievements are recorded and shared among users and among the different game applications.

Managing users in a multi-user network game environment

Systems for communication across multiple game applications are provided. In various embodiments, systems of the present invention may include a first application server hosting a first game application, a second application server hosting a second game application that is different from the first game application, a first client device for interaction with the first game application, a second client device for interaction with the second game application, and a universe management server for maintaining information about the first client device and the second client device. The information maintained in the universe management server may include game application interaction information, which allows the universe management server to facilitate real-time communication between a user of the first client device and a user of the second client device. The universe management system may further receive communications from both client devices via the first and second application server.

Communication across multiple game applications

A system includes an associated tamperproof circuit that contains a cryptography unit and one or more keys. The system receives software having one or more portions of code that have been digitally signed prior to receipt of the code by the system. The cryptography unit and one of the keys contained in the tamperproof circuit are used to decrypt a signature file for a portion of the code. The validity of the portion of code is determined by using the decrypted signature file, and if the portion of code is invalid, operation of the system is prevented. One or more portions of the code received by the system, such as a communications protocol, may also be encrypted prior to receipt of the code by the system. The system obtains a key from a remote server via a secure communications channel and uses the key and the cryptography unit contained in the tamperproof circuit to decrypt the communications protocol. The system then uses the communications protocol to communicate across a network with another client, such as to play an online game.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

William McCarroll