U.S. Pat. No. 11,130,054

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process steps have not been described in detail in order not to obscure the present disclosure.

One example of a cloud gaming system is the Playstation® Now cloud gaming service. At present, in such a system, the client device is a game console, such as a Playstation® 4 game console. Because the resources of a game console are standardized and known, the streaming of gameplay video from the cloud-executed video game to the game console can be optimized to provide a satisfactory experience. For example, the client application that is executed by the game console can be developed specifically for the cloud gaming service in view of the resources of the game console.

However, a game console is a proprietary hardware device, and therefore a more universally available mechanism for providing access to a cloud gaming service is sought. One solution is to implement a game client on a web browser. However, there are several different web browsers and any number of different client devices having various resource configurations. It is not possible to guarantee the resources of the client device and thus it is problematic to provide consistent game streaming of satisfactory quality when substantial reliance is placed on the resources of the client device. For this reason, existing cloud gaming setups can require a specific client device coupled with proprietary software.

In an existing cloud gaming system (e.g. Playstation® Now), a cloud game machine (e.g. a cloud console device) exists in a data center, and a server sets up a connection between a client device (e.g. Playstation® 4 game console) and the cloud game machine. Then the streaming is directly between the cloud game machine and the client, which provides fast connections allowing for sufficient performance to be a viable service. However, when a web browser requests content from a server, and when streaming from the server to the web browser using conventional systems, the performance can be insufficient for cloud gaming due to too many hops existing between the client device and the cloud game machine, and possible insufficiencies of the client device's resources.

Thus, implementations in accordance with the present disclosure provide a system in which a peer-to-peer connection is established between a web browser at a client device and a streaming server. The streaming server is typically installed local to the cloud game machine to minimize latency, and handles decryption of a video stream received from a cloud game machine, thereby reducing reliance on client device resources. It will be appreciated that in such a system, the cloud game machine can be configured to stream to a dedicated game client device (such as a game console), or to the streaming server which then streams to a web client that is instantiated as a web application executed by a web browser at a client device. Thus, the provided system is flexible in accommodating both dedicated client devices and web browser-based clients.

In some implementations, the web application and peer-to-peer connection with the streaming server are implemented using WebRTC technologies. In some implementations, the streaming server is implemented as a Node.js server, and can be configured to publish in UDP for optimal streaming performance. Conventionally, browsers use TCP/IP, which is a serial process such that if a packet is lost, then the connection is broken. However, UDP allows packets to be dropped without breaking connection, which is advantageous for streaming video.

Thus, implementations in accordance with the present disclosure provide a web client that leverages peer-to-peer technology (e.g. using WebRTC protocols) to reduce or eliminate intermediary connections, and uses UDP to optimize streaming performance. The streaming server acts as a dedicated client device with respect to the cloud game machine, accepting a video stream from the cloud game machine and decrypting it. In some implementations, the streaming server uses Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) which is a secure protocol to transmit the video content to the browser-based client.

Thus, implementations in accordance with the present disclosure provide solutions to the problem of enabling satisfactory streaming gameplay of a video game through a web browser on a client device whose resource capabilities cannot be guaranteed, without requiring the installation of proprietary software on the client device. The streaming server outputs a video stream that the browser can accept and render without significantly impacting performance.

Several operations are performed by a server(s) within a data center associated with a cloud gaming site when a user request is received for a game title. When the cloud gaming site receives a user request, a data center hosting the game associated with the selected game title is identified and the request is sent to the identified data center for instantiating the game for the selected game title. In response to the request, a server at the data center identifies the game code, loads the identified game code and initializes the files related to the game code in preparation for presenting the game content to a user. Game data associated with a game includes generic game data and user-specific game data. Therefore, initializing the files includes identifying, loading, and initializing generic game data and user-specific game data. Initializing generic game data may include initializing a graphics engine, installing graphics data, initializing sound files, installing art work, etc. Initializing user specific data may include locating, transferring, and installing user data, user history, game history, etc. Loading of the generic game data and/or user specific data may take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes depending on the complexity of the game/graphics of the game.

While the generic game data is being loaded and initialized, a “splash” screen may be provided for rendering at the client device. A splash screen may be designed to provide representative images of the game that is being loaded, to allow a user a preview of the type of game that is being loaded. Once the generic game data is loaded, the audio content may be rendered and a selection/navigation screen is presented for user selection/customization. User selection input provided at the selection/navigation screen may include game level selection, game icon(s) selection, game mode selection, game winnings, other user-related data that may require uploading of additional game content. Uploading of user selection input can cause additional delay before the game content is made available to the user for game play. In some embodiments, game content is made available by streaming the game content from the game cloud system to a user's computing device for viewing and interacting. After loading user specific data, the game content is available for game play.

FIG. 1Aillustrates an exemplary system used to load game files for a game available through a cloud gaming site. The system includes a plurality of client devices100that are communicatively connected to the cloud gaming site104over a network102, such as the Internet. When a request to access the cloud gaming site104is received from a client device100, the cloud gaming site104accesses user account information106stored in a user data store108to identify a user associated with a client device through which the request is initiated. In some embodiments, the cloud gaming site may also validate the identified user in order to determine all the games the user is authorized to view/play. Following user account identification/validation, the cloud gaming site accesses a game titles data store110to identify the game titles that are available at the game cloud site for the user account initiating the request. The game titles data store110, in turn, interacts with a games database112to obtain the game titles for all the games that are available for the cloud gaming site. As new games are introduced, the games database112will be updated with the game code and the game titles data store110will be provided with game titles information for the newly introduced games. The client device from where the request is initiated may or may not be registered with the cloud gaming site, when the request was initiated. If the user of the client device initiating the request is not a registered user, then the cloud gaming site may identify the user as a new user and select the game titles (for e.g., a default set of game titles) that are appropriate for a new user. The identified game titles are returned to the client device for presenting on a display screen100-a, as shown inFIG. 1A.

User interaction at one of the game titles rendered on the client device is detected and a signal is sent to the cloud gaming site. The signal includes the game title information where the user interaction was detected and the user interaction registered at the game title. In response to the signal received from the client device, the cloud gaming site proactively determines a data center where the game is being hosted and sends a signal to the identified data center to load the game associated with the game title for which the user interaction is detected. In some embodiments, more than one data center may be hosting the game. In such embodiments, the cloud gaming site may determine the geo location of the client device initiating the request and identify a data center that is geographically close to the client device and signal the data center to pre-load the game. The geo location of the user may be determined using a Global Position System (GPS) mechanism within the client device, the client's IP address, the client's ping information, to name a few. Of course, the aforementioned ways to detect the geo location of the user may be exemplary and other types of mechanisms or tools may be used to determine the geo location of the user. Identification of a data center that is close to the client device can minimize latency during user interaction with the game. In some embodiments, the identified data center may not have the required bandwidth/capacity to host the game or may be overused. In these embodiments, the cloud gaming site may identify a second data center that is geographically close to the client device. The loading of the game includes loading game code and executing an instance of the game.

In response to receiving the signal from the cloud gaming site, the identified data center may select a server at the data center to instantiate the game on the server. The server is selected based on the hardware/software capabilities available and the game requirements. The server may include a plurality of game consoles and the server may determine which one of the plurality of game consoles to use to load the game. The game console may be similar to an independent game console, or may be a rack-mounted server or a blade server. The blade server, in turn, may include a plurality of server blades with each blade having required circuitry for instantiating a single dedicated application, such as the game. Of course, the game console described above is exemplary and should not be considered restrictive. Other types of game consoles, including game stations, etc., and other forms of blade server may also be engaged for hosting the identified game.

Once the game console is identified, the generic game-related code for the game is loaded onto the game console and a signal is returned to the client device via the cloud gaming site over the network identifying the game console on which the game is instantiated. The loaded game is thus made available to the user.

FIG. 1Bis a flow diagram conceptually illustrating various operations which are performed for streaming a cloud video game to a client device, in accordance with implementations of the disclosure. The gaming system118executes a video game and generates raw (uncompressed) video120and audio122. The video120and audio122are captured and encoded for streaming purposes, as indicated at reference124in the illustrated diagram. The encoding can provide for compression of the video and audio streams to reduce bandwidth usage and optimize the gaming experience. Examples of encoding formats include H.265/MPEG-H, H.264/MPEG-4, H.263/MPEG-4, H.262/MPEG-2, WMV, VP6/7/8/9, etc.

The encoded audio126and encoded video128are further packetized into network packets, as indicated at reference numeral132, for purposes of transmission over a network such as the Internet. The network packet encoding process can also employ a data encryption process, thereby providing enhanced data security. In the illustrated implementation, audio packets134and video packets136are generated for transport over the network, as indicated at reference140.

The gaming system118additionally generates haptic feedback data130, which is also packetized into network packets for network transmission. In the illustrated implementation, haptic feedback packets138are generated for transport over the network, as further indicated at reference140.

The foregoing operations of generating the raw video and audio and the haptic feedback data, encoding the video and audio, and packetizing the encoded audio/video and haptic feedback data for transport are performed on one or more servers which collectively define a cloud gaming service/system. As indicated at reference140, the audio, video, and haptic feedback packets are transported over a network, such as and/or including the Internet. As indicated at reference142, the audio packets134, video packets136, and haptic feedback packets138, are decoded/reassembled by the client device to define encoded audio146, encoded video148, and haptic feedback data150at the client device. If the data has been encrypted, then the network packets are also decrypted. The encoded audio146and encoded video148are then decoded by the client device, as indicated at reference144, to generate client-side raw audio and video data for rendering on a display device152. The haptic feedback data150can be processed/communicated to produce a haptic feedback effect at a controller device156or other interface device through which haptic effects can be rendered. One example of a haptic effect is a vibration or rumble of the controller device156.

It will be appreciated that a video game is responsive to user inputs, and thus, a similar procedural flow to that described above for transmission and processing of user input, but in the reverse direction from client device to server, can be performed. As shown, a user operating controller device156may generate input data158. This input data158is packetized at the client device for transport over the network to the cloud gaming system. The input data packets160are unpacked and reassembled by the cloud gaming server to define input data162on the server-side. The input data162is fed to the gaming system118, which processes the input data162to update the game state of the video game.

During transport (ref.140) of the audio packets134, video packets136, and haptic feedback packets138, the transmission of data over the network can be monitored to ensure the cloud game stream quality of service. For example, network conditions can be monitored as indicated by reference164, including both upstream and downstream network bandwidth, and the game streaming can be adjusted in response to changes in available bandwidth. That is, the encoding and decoding of network packets can be controlled based on present network conditions, as indicated by reference166.

FIG. 2conceptually illustrates a process for establishing and handling communications amongst a web browser, a streaming server, and a cloud console for purposes of cloud gaming, in accordance with implementations of the disclosure. In the illustrated implementation, the web browser200has been used to access a cloud gaming service, and the user now wishes to initiate gameplay of a cloud video game. The web browser has received a web application that is configured to be executed in the web browser, and in some implementations, accesses a WebRTC API supported by the browser. As the web application is executed by the web browser, for purposes of ease of description of the present implementation, the terms “web browser” and “web application” will be used interchangeably when describing their use for gameplay of the cloud video game.

A peer-to-peer connection is established between the web browser200and a streaming server202. In some implementations, the peer-to-peer connection is established using the RTCPeerConnection API, and furthermore in accordance with Session Description Protocol (SDP). Broadly speaking, this entails signaling to exchange media configuration information by exchanging an offer and an answer using SDP. In the illustrated implementation, the web browser200initiates the offer to the streaming server202, and the streaming server202uses a Session Management module206to generate an answer in response, indicated at ref.208. This establishes a peer-to-peer connection between the web browser200and the streaming server202, which provides for low latency to enable optimal streaming video performance.

The requested cloud video game is executed by the cloud console204, which executes the video game and generates video data that is both encoded in a specific video format and encrypted using an encryption scheme, defining a first video stream. In a situation wherein the client device is a dedicated client gaming device such as a game console, this first video stream can be directly transmitted to the dedicated client gaming device, which is configured to decrypt and decode the first video stream. However, in the present implementation, as the client is a web browser operating on a client device whose resources may not be guaranteed to provide satisfactory streaming service, then it is desirable to limit the dependence on the client device's capabilities. Thus, the streaming server202includes a Video Re-mixing module210that is configured to receive the first video stream and decrypt it (ref.212). This decrypted video can be transmitted over a secure protocol to the web browser200for rendering to a display, thereby defining a second video stream. It will be appreciated that the secure protocol is one in accordance with the peer-to-peer connection established between the streaming server202and the web browser200(e.g. RTCPeerConnection API). In some implementations, the secure protocol is one implemented by WebRTC, such as SRTP. It will be appreciated that the streaming server202, and more specifically the Video Re-mixing module210, removes the encryption that was applied by the cloud console204, and may apply a different encryption supported by the web browser200for the peer-to-peer connection.

Optionally in an alternative implementation, in addition to decrypting the first video stream, the Video Re-mixing module210may also be configured to decode the (decrypted) first video stream (ref.212), and then re-encode the resulting video content (ref.214) in a video format that is suitable or preferred for the particular type of web browser200. Examples of web browser types include Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc. The re-encoded video content is transmitted over the secure protocol to the web browser200, thus defining the second video stream, which has now been transcoded from the first video stream.

The streaming server additionally includes a Command Translation module216that can translate input data received via a browser input mechanism (e.g. keyboard, mouse, touchpad, trackball, or any other browser input device) into a console controller command (ref.218), which will be transmitted to the cloud console204. In some implementations, the input data received from the browser by the streaming server202is transmitted using the RTCDataChannel API. Once received from the streaming server202, the console controller command is applied by the cloud console204to update the state of the executing video game.

FIG. 3illustrates a system for cloud gaming, in accordance with implementations of the disclosure. The user300interacts with a client device304that is configured to access a cloud gaming service. The user300may operate an input device302(e.g. mouse, keyboard, controller device, touchpad, trackball, motion controller, touchscreen, etc.) to generate and provide input to the client device304. Furthermore, the client device304can be configured to render content to a display device314. It will be appreciated that in various implementations, the display device314can be a head-mounted display, monitor, LCD/LED display, touchscreen display, television, projector, etc.

The client device communicates over network316to a cloud gaming server318, which provides access to the user's cloud gaming account. The cloud gaming server318retrieves user data324from a user accounts storage322, the user data324being specific for the user300in the illustrated embodiment. By way of example, the user data324can include various cloud gaming related data such as titles326which are the available game titles for gameplay by the user. These may be game titles which the user has purchased, rented, borrowed, been awarded, or to which the user has otherwise obtained access for gameplay. The user data may also include game save data328, trophies330, statistics332, social data334(e.g. including social graph data), and history data336(e.g. user access history, gameplay history, etc.).

When the user300wishes to play a given cloud video game to which the user has access permission, the user may use a web browser306to access a graphical user interface (GUI) from a cloud gaming server318. The GUI is presented by the client device304on the display314, and the user300may indicate selection of the given cloud video game through the GUI. Upon selection of the video game for gameplay, a game request is transmitted from the client device304to the cloud gaming server318. The game request may identify the game title that the user wishes to play. In response to receiving the game request, the cloud gaming server318activates a cloud game machine204to instantiate the requested video game title. That is, the cloud game machine204is assigned to the requesting client device304, and begins executing the requested video game title.

The game machine204obtains the requested game title code from game titles data store320, and executes the game title code to define the executing video game. The game machine204outputs a first video stream that is encrypted and encoded. The first video stream that is output from the game machine204is provided to a streaming server202, which decrypts the first video stream. The resulting encoded video can then be transmitted over network316in accordance with a secure network communication protocol to the client device304, defining a second video stream. The second video stream is processed by a web application308that is executed by the browser306, and rendered to the display314for interactive gameplay. The web application308is provided to the client device304from the cloud gaming server318, in some implementations, in response to the request to play the cloud video game. In other implementations, the web application308may be provided to the client device304prior to the request to play the cloud video game. In some implementations, the web application, or a portion thereof, can be cached on the client device304in a local storage310that is associated with the web browser306. In such implementations, the web application can, if available, be retrieved from the local storage310for execution when gameplay of a given video game is requested. It will be appreciated that the web application308is configured to provide for the processing of the second video stream that is received from the streaming server202for rendering to the display314, and also may handle interactive input received from the input device302by the client device304, which is processed for transmission back to the streaming server202.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the executing video game may define a game engine which receives input, and processes the input to update the game state of the video game. In some implementations, the game engine of the video game is initialized at the game machine, while initial content is being presented at the client device. The game engine may be initialized and then entered into a paused state, as the game machine awaits a trigger to continue execution of the game engine. Upon receipt of the trigger, which can be defined from a user input, the paused state is exited and the resulting execution of the game engine provides for the initiation of interactive gameplay of the video game. In some implementations, the initialization of the game engine at the game machine can be configured to load the user's last saved game data, as in many cases, a user will typically wish to continue gameplay from their last saved location.

For ease of description, implementations have been described in which the game machine204is contemplated as a singular device such as a game console or equivalent hardware (e.g. bladed game console hardware). However, it will be appreciated that in other implementations, the functionality described as being performed by the game machine may be performed by a plurality of devices, such as a combination of a game console (or equivalent hardware) and an additional streaming processor/server. In such an implementation, the game console may perform execution of the video game and render an initial video stream that is unencoded and/or unencrypted, and this initial video stream may then be encoded and/or encrypted by the separate streaming processor/server to generate the aforementioned first video stream that is processed by the streaming server202in the illustrated implementation. It will be appreciated that the initial video stream can be transmitted to a dedicated client gaming device as described above, which is capable of decrypting and decoding the initial video stream. However, for purposes of enabling cloud gaming through a web browser with satisfactory performance for the user, the streaming server202is utilized as shown. In this manner, the outputted first video stream from the game machine204can be used for streaming gameplay to either of a dedicated client gaming device or a web browser executing on a client device.

In some implementations, for a given video game, game data312can be cached or stored to the local storage310. Such content can be stored and/or retrieved for gameplay of the video game. For example, various art assets, audio assets, settings, and other data may be stored as part of the game data.

In various implementations, a client device can be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a portable gaming console, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a mobile computing device, a portable gaming device, a cellular phone, a set-top box, a streaming media interface/device, a smart television or networked display, or any other computing device capable of being configured to fulfill the functionality of a client as defined herein. In some implementations, the cloud gaming system is configured to detect the type of client device which is being utilized by the user, and provide a cloud-gaming experience appropriate to the user's client device. For example, image settings, audio settings and other types of settings may be optimized for the user's client device.

FIG. 4illustrates a system for providing cloud gaming services, in which a game machine hosted in a data center may service either of a dedicating gaming device client or a browser client device, in accordance with implementations of the disclosure. In the illustrated implementation, a cloud hosting system400is accessible over the network316by client devices to enable the cloud gaming services. Data center assignment logic406is configured to assign a given client device to a specific data center, such as data center408. It will be appreciated that data center assignment logic406may assign a given client device to a particular data center based on a variety of factors, including geographic proximity, network proximity, IP address, load balancing across data centers, network latency (e.g. between client device and data center), prior assignment to a given data center, location of user game save data at a given data center, etc. The data center assignment logic406may also reassign a given client device to a new data center, for example, if network conditions change and it is determined that better game streaming performance can be obtained by reassigning the client device.

In some implementations, the cloud hosting system400manages and provides to client devices a cloud gaming platform interface. The cloud gaming platform interface can be a graphical user interface that enables the user to browse game titles that are available for purchase and/or gameplay, and initiate a request to initiate gameplay of a specific video game. It will be appreciated that the cloud gaming platform interface can be customized depending upon user account data322for the specific user that is accessing the cloud gaming system. In addition to selecting or initiating gameplay of video games, the gaming platform interface may provide other features, e.g. access to social network(s), news, media libraries, video content, audio content, image content, user account settings, etc. In some implementations, when a request to initiate gameplay of a video game is received from a given client device, then the client device is assigned to the data center408and more specifically, to the specific game machine204, for streaming gameplay of the video game.

The data center408can include a game machine manager410that is configured to manage the utilization of the various game machines at the data center including the game machine204. For example, the assignment of a given client to a specific game machine in the data center408may be determined by the game machine manager410. Further, game machines can be pre-loaded with specific video games based on demand (or anticipated demand) for the video games, so that wait times to initiate gameplay of a video game can be reduced. When a client is assigned to a game machine204, the game machine204may load the user's previously saved gaming data from a game save data storage412.

As shown in the illustrated implementation, the output from the game machine204as it executes the cloud video game can be used to service either of a console client device414or a browser client device304. In the case of the console client device (which as noted above, is a dedicated client gaming device rather than a browser-based client), the output from the game machine204is an encrypted and encoded video stream that is transmitted over the network316to the console client device414, for rendering to a display416, which in some implementations can be an HMD.

However, in the case wherein the client device is a browser client device304that executes a browser (e.g. browser306shown atFIG. 3) that is utilized to access the cloud gaming system, then the output from the game machine204is first provided to a streaming server202for decryption and possible transcoding, before being transmitted over the network316to the browser client device304. In some implementations, the browser of the client device304communicates with a web server402to access the cloud gaming platform interface, and to initiate gameplay of a requested video game. In accordance with implementations of the disclosure, the first video stream that is generated by the game machine204is encoded with a suitable encoding scheme and encrypted with a native encryption scheme, whereas the second video stream that is transmitted from the streaming server202to the client device304can be encoded as well, but may be encrypted with a different non-native encryption scheme that is in accordance with the secure transmission protocol (e.g. HTTPS) utilized for transmission between the streaming server202and the client device304.

It should be appreciated that the aforementioned console client device is merely one example of a dedicated client device, and in other implementations, it will be appreciated that other types of dedicated client devices may be substituted. A dedicated client device for purposes of the present disclosure is one that is configured to handle decryption of the encrypted video stream that is output from the game machine204, and typically has been qualified for and installed with proprietary software for this purpose. In addition to game consoles, which are typically special purpose computers running specialized gaming platform software, other types of devices can be configured as dedicated client devices, such as a portable gaming device, a set-top box, smart television, or other device that is configured to perform the functionality of a dedicated client device in accordance with the present disclosure. In contrast to such dedicated client devices, the browser client device304does not handle decryption of the video stream from the game machine204.

FIG. 5illustrates a system for cloud gaming, illustrating components used to establish communication between a client device and a streaming server, in accordance with implementations of the disclosure. To establish communication between the web client308that is executed by the browser306on the client device304and the streaming server516, a signaling procedure is performed. During the signaling procedure, various information is exchanged, including session control messages to initialize or close communication and report errors, network configuration information (e.g. IP address and port), and media capabilities (e.g. codecs and resolutions handled by the browser).

In some implementations, signaling is performed using the RTCPeerConnection API and in accordance with Session Description Protocol (SDP) to define streaming initialization parameters. Furthermore, the Interactive Connectivity Establishment (ICE) framework can be utilized to facilitate exchange of network information and find the best network path between the client device304and the streaming serer516. Broadly speaking, this may entail first attempting a connection using the host address obtained from the respective device's operating system and network card. If this fails (e.g. due to the device(s) employing network address translation (NAT)), then an external address is obtained using a STUN server504, and if that fails, traffic is routed via a TURN relay server506. In some implementations, the STUN server and TURN server can be the same server as a TURN server may include the functionality of a STUN server.

The web client308accesses a WebRTC API500to utilize various WebRTC Services502that handle streaming of data between the web client and the streaming server516. For example, in some implementations, the video stream received by the web client is consumed using WebRTC protocols, e.g. using the RTCPeerConnection component and the underlying WebRTC protocols/codecs. The streaming server516can include a session manager518to handle the establishment of the session between the streaming server and the web client in accordance with the above-described signaling procedure.

The cloud game machine204executes the cloud video game and thereby defines video game logic510. The video game logic510maintains a game state of the video game and continually updates the game state, using input from the user playing the video game when provided from the client. The cloud game machine204may include a video renderer512which generates the encrypted and encoded first video stream. The streaming server516(e.g. a node.js server) includes decryption logic520which is configured to decrypt the first video stream received from the cloud game machine204. Optionally, a transcoder522may transcode the decrypted video stream from one encoding format to another encoding format, so as to optimize for the preferred encoding format for the specific type of the browser306. Additional video processing can be performed, such as bitrate control and/or compression rate, color adjustment, audio processing, etc. As has been noted, the resulting encoded video content is transmitted over a secure protocol to the web client308.

Furthermore, a data channel is established between the web client308and the streaming server516, over which input data generated at the client device304is transmitted to the streaming server516. This input data can be generated in response to interactive input received from an input device (e.g. input device302) at the client device304. In some implementations, the data channel is established using the RTCDataChannel API. The streaming server516includes an input translator524that is configured to translate the input data received over the data channel into one or more commands for the cloud game machine204. The commands are transmitted to the cloud game machine204, which may include an input handler514for processing the received commands and applying them to the video game logic510.

As has been described in accordance with implementations previously discussed, a video stream is transmitted from the streaming server516to the client device304for handling by the web client308and rendering to a display. However, in some implementations, an additional video streaming server508(e.g. a VideoLAN streaming server) can be utilized to stream the video content to the client device304. The additional video streaming server508may be configured to handle transcoding, bitrate control, or other processing of the video content so as to optimize the streaming performance for the client device and associated browser.

FIG. 6illustrates a method for streaming gameplay of a cloud video game, in accordance with implementations of the disclosure. At method operation600, a request to initiate gameplay of a cloud video game is received over a network (e.g. including the Internet) by a cloud gaming system from a client. At method operation602, the client is assigned to a data center, and furthermore assigned to a specific cloud game machine in the data center that is configured to execute the requested video game. At method operation604, the type of the client is determined. If the client is a gaming device that is qualified to handle the video stream generated by the cloud game machine from execution of the video game, then at operation610, the video stream from the cloud game machine is directly streamed to the client.

However, if the client is a browser executed on a client device (that has not been qualified in the same manner as the aforementioned gaming device client), then at operation606the video stream from the cloud game machine is transmitted to a streaming server which acts as a “client” with respect to the cloud game machine. The streaming server handles decryption of the video stream, and may further transcode or otherwise process the video stream. At operation608, the streaming server then transmits a second video stream to the browser which is the client in this case.

The foregoing method thus provides for a cloud game machine to generate an encrypted video stream, and be utilized to service both qualified gaming devices and browser-based client devices.

FIG. 7illustrates an embodiment of an Information Service Provider architecture. Information Service Providers (ISP)770delivers a multitude of information services to users782geographically dispersed and connected via network786. An ISP can deliver just one type of service, such as stock price updates, or a variety of services such as broadcast media, news, sports, gaming, etc. Additionally, the services offered by each ISP are dynamic, that is, services can be added or taken away at any point in time. Thus, the ISP providing a particular type of service to a particular individual can change over time. For example, a user may be served by an ISP in near proximity to the user while the user is in her home town, and the user may be served by a different ISP when the user travels to a different city. The home-town ISP will transfer the required information and data to the new ISP, such that the user information “follows” the user to the new city making the data closer to the user and easier to access. In another embodiment, a master-server relationship may be established between a master ISP, which manages the information for the user, and a server ISP that interfaces directly with the user under control from the master ISP. In another embodiment, the data is transferred from one ISP to another ISP as the client moves around the world to make the ISP in better position to service the user be the one that delivers these services.

ISP770includes Application Service Provider (ASP)772, which provides computer-based services to customers over a network. Software offered using an ASP model is also sometimes called on-demand software or software as a service (SaaS). A simple form of providing access to a particular application program (such as customer relationship management) is by using a standard protocol such as HTTP. The application software resides on the vendor's system and is accessed by users through a web browser using HTML, by special purpose client software provided by the vendor, or other remote interface such as a thin client.

Services delivered over a wide geographical area often use cloud computing. Cloud computing is a style of computing in which dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources are provided as a service over the Internet. Users do not need to be an expert in the technology infrastructure in the “cloud” that supports them. Cloud computing can be divided into different services, such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). Cloud computing services often provide common business applications online that are accessed from a web browser, while the software and data are stored on the servers. The term cloud is used as a metaphor for the Internet (e.g., using servers, storage and logic), based on how the Internet is depicted in computer network diagrams and is an abstraction for the complex infrastructure it conceals.

Further, ISP770includes a Game Processing Server (GPS)774which is used by game clients to play single and multiplayer video games. Most video games played over the Internet operate via a connection to a game server. Typically, games use a dedicated server application that collects data from players and distributes it to other players. This is more efficient and effective than a peer-to-peer arrangement, but it requires a separate server to host the server application. In another embodiment, the GPS establishes communication between the players and their respective game-playing devices exchange information without relying on the centralized GPS.

Dedicated GPSs are servers which run independently of the client. Such servers are usually run on dedicated hardware located in data centers, providing more bandwidth and dedicated processing power. Dedicated servers are the preferred method of hosting game servers for most PC-based multiplayer games. Massively multiplayer online games run on dedicated servers usually hosted by the software company that owns the game title, allowing them to control and update content.

Broadcast Processing Server (BPS)776distributes audio or video signals to an audience. Broadcasting to a very narrow range of audience is sometimes called narrowcasting. The final leg of broadcast distribution is how the signal gets to the listener or viewer, and it may come over the air as with a radio station or TV station to an antenna and receiver, or may come through cable TV or cable radio (or “wireless cable”) via the station or directly from a network. The Internet may also bring either radio or TV to the recipient, especially with multicasting allowing the signal and bandwidth to be shared. Historically, broadcasts have been delimited by a geographic region, such as national broadcasts or regional broadcast. However, with the proliferation of fast internet, broadcasts are not defined by geographies as the content can reach almost any country in the world.

Storage Service Provider (SSP)778provides computer storage space and related management services. SSPs also offer periodic backup and archiving. By offering storage as a service, users can order more storage as required. Another major advantage is that SSPs include backup services and users will not lose all their data if their computers' hard drives fail. Further, a plurality of SSPs can have total or partial copies of the user data, allowing users to access data in an efficient way independently of where the user is located or the device being used to access the data. For example, a user can access personal files in the home computer, as well as in a mobile phone while the user is on the move.

Communications Provider780provides connectivity to the users. One kind of Communications Provider is an Internet Service Provider (ISP) which offers access to the Internet. The ISP connects its customers using a data transmission technology appropriate for delivering Internet Protocol datagrams, such as dial-up, DSL, cable modem, fiber, wireless or dedicated high-speed interconnects. The Communications Provider can also provide messaging services, such as e-mail, instant messaging, and SMS texting. Another type of Communications Provider is the Network Service provider (NSP) which sells bandwidth or network access by providing direct backbone access to the Internet. Network service providers may consist of telecommunications companies, data carriers, wireless communications providers, Internet service providers, cable television operators offering high-speed Internet access, etc.

Data Exchange788interconnects the several modules inside ISP770and connects these modules to users782via network786. Data Exchange788can cover a small area where all the modules of ISP770are in close proximity, or can cover a large geographic area when the different modules are geographically dispersed. For example, Data Exchange788can include a fast Gigabit Ethernet (or faster) within a cabinet of a data center, or an intercontinental virtual area network (VLAN).

Users782access the remote services with client device784, which includes at least a CPU, a memory, a display and I/O. The client device can be a PC, a mobile phone, a netbook, tablet, gaming system, a PDA, etc. In one embodiment, ISP770recognizes the type of device used by the client and adjusts the communication method employed. In other cases, client devices use a standard communications method, such as html, to access ISP770.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced with various computer system configurations including hand-held devices, microprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers and the like. The disclosure can also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a wire-based or wireless network.

With the above embodiments in mind, it should be understood that the disclosure can employ various computer-implemented operations involving data stored in computer systems. These operations are those requiring physical manipulation of physical quantities. Any of the operations described herein that form part of the disclosure are useful machine operations. The disclosure also relates to a device or an apparatus for performing these operations. The apparatus can be specially constructed for the required purpose, or the apparatus can be a general-purpose computer selectively activated or configured by a computer program stored in the computer. In particular, various general-purpose machines can be used with computer programs written in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may be more convenient to construct a more specialized apparatus to perform the required operations.

The disclosure can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable medium. Alternately, the computer readable code may be downloaded from a server using the data exchange interconnects described above. The computer readable medium is any data storage device that can store data, which can be thereafter be read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable medium include hard drives, network attached storage (NAS), read-only memory, random-access memory, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, magnetic tapes and other optical and non-optical data storage devices. The computer readable medium can include computer readable tangible medium distributed over a network-coupled computer system so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

Although the method operations were described in a specific order, it should be understood that other housekeeping operations may be performed in between operations, or operations may be adjusted so that they occur at slightly different times, or may be distributed in a system which allows the occurrence of the processing operations at various intervals associated with the processing, as long as the processing of the overlay operations are performed in the desired way.

Although the foregoing disclosure has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications can be practiced within the scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, the present embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the disclosure is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalents of the described embodiments.

FIG. 8schematically illustrates the overall system architecture of a gaming console, such as Sony® Playstation 3® entertainment device, that may be compatible with controllers for implementing an avatar control system in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. A system unit800is provided, with various peripheral devices connectable to the system unit800. The system unit800can in some implementations be a computing server. The system unit800comprises: a Cell processor828; a Rambus® dynamic random access memory (XDRAM) unit826; a Reality Synthesizer graphics unit830with a dedicated video random access memory (VRAM) unit832; and an I/O bridge834. The system unit800also comprises a Blu Ray® Disk BD-ROM® optical disk reader840for reading from a disk840aand a removable slot-in hard disk drive (HDD)836, accessible through the I/O bridge834. Optionally the system unit800also comprises a memory card reader838for reading compact flash memory cards, Memory Stick® memory cards and the like, which is similarly accessible through the I/O bridge834.

The I/O bridge834also connects to six Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 ports824; a gigabit Ethernet port822; an IEEE 802.11b/g wireless network (Wi-Fi) port820; and a Bluetooth® wireless link port818capable of supporting of up to seven Bluetooth connections.

In operation the I/O bridge834handles all wireless, USB and Ethernet data, including data from one or more game controllers802. For example when a user is playing a game, the I/O bridge834receives data from the game controller802via a Bluetooth link and directs it to the Cell processor828, which updates the current state of the game accordingly.

The wireless, USB and Ethernet ports also provide connectivity for other peripheral devices in addition to game controllers802, such as: a remote control804; a keyboard806; a mouse808; a portable entertainment device810such as a Sony Playstation Portable® entertainment device; a video camera such as an EyeToy® video camera812; and a microphone headset814. Such peripheral devices may therefore in principle be connected to the system unit800wirelessly; for example the portable entertainment device810may communicate via a Wi-Fi ad-hoc connection, whilst the microphone headset814may communicate via a Bluetooth link.

The provision of these interfaces means that the Playstation 3 device is also potentially compatible with other peripheral devices such as digital video recorders (DVRs), set-top boxes, digital cameras, portable media players, Voice over IP telephones, mobile telephones, printers and scanners.

In addition, a legacy memory card reader816may be connected to the system unit via a USB port824, enabling the reading of memory cards848of the kind used by the Playstation® or Playstation 2® devices.

In the present embodiment, the game controller802is operable to communicate wirelessly with the system unit800via the Bluetooth link. However, the game controller802can instead be connected to a USB port, thereby also providing power by which to charge the battery of the game controller802. In addition to one or more analog joysticks and conventional control buttons, the game controller is sensitive to motion in six degrees of freedom, corresponding to translation and rotation in each axis. Consequently gestures and movements by the user of the game controller may be translated as inputs to a game in addition to or instead of conventional button or joystick commands. Optionally, other wirelessly enabled peripheral devices such as the Playstation™ Portable device may be used as a controller. In the case of the Playstation™ Portable device, additional game or control information (for example, control instructions or number of lives) may be provided on the screen of the device. Other alternative or supplementary control devices may also be used, such as a dance mat (not shown), a light gun (not shown), a steering wheel and pedals (not shown) or bespoke controllers, such as a single or several large buttons for a rapid-response quiz game (also not shown).

The remote control804is also operable to communicate wirelessly with the system unit800via a Bluetooth link. The remote control804comprises controls suitable for the operation of the Blu Ray™ Disk BD-ROM reader840and for the navigation of disk content.

The Blu Ray™ Disk BD-ROM reader840is operable to read CD-ROMs compatible with the Playstation and PlayStation 2 devices, in addition to conventional pre-recorded and recordable CDs, and so-called Super Audio CDs. The reader840is also operable to read DVD-ROMs compatible with the Playstation 2 and PlayStation 3 devices, in addition to conventional pre-recorded and recordable DVDs. The reader840is further operable to read BD-ROMs compatible with the Playstation 3 device, as well as conventional pre-recorded and recordable Blu-Ray Disks.

The system unit800is operable to supply audio and video, either generated or decoded by the Playstation 3 device via the Reality Synthesizer graphics unit830, through audio and video connectors to a display and sound output device842such as a monitor or television set having a display844and one or more loudspeakers846. The audio connectors850may include conventional analogue and digital outputs whilst the video connectors852may variously include component video, S-video, composite video and one or more High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) outputs. Consequently, video output may be in formats such as PAL or NTSC, or in 720p, 1080i or 1080p high definition.

Audio processing (generation, decoding and so on) is performed by the Cell processor828. The Playstation 3 device's operating system supports Dolby® 5.1 surround sound, Dolby® Theatre Surround (DTS), and the decoding of 7.1 surround sound from Blu-Ray® disks.

In the present embodiment, the video camera812comprises a single charge coupled device (CCD), an LED indicator, and hardware-based real-time data compression and encoding apparatus so that compressed video data may be transmitted in an appropriate format such as an intra-image based MPEG (motion picture expert group) standard for decoding by the system unit800. The camera LED indicator is arranged to illuminate in response to appropriate control data from the system unit800, for example to signify adverse lighting conditions. Embodiments of the video camera812may variously connect to the system unit800via a USB, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi communication port. Embodiments of the video camera may include one or more associated microphones and also be capable of transmitting audio data. In embodiments of the video camera, the CCD may have a resolution suitable for high-definition video capture. In use, images captured by the video camera may for example be incorporated within a game or interpreted as game control inputs.

In general, in order for successful data communication to occur with a peripheral device such as a video camera or remote control via one of the communication ports of the system unit800, an appropriate piece of software such as a device driver should be provided. Device driver technology is well-known and will not be described in detail here, except to say that the skilled man will be aware that a device driver or similar software interface may be required in the present embodiment described.

FIG. 9is a block diagram of a Game System900, in accordance with implementations of the disclosure. Game System900is configured to provide a video stream to one or more Clients910via a Network915. Game System900typically includes a Video Server System920and an optional game server925. Video Server System920is configured to provide the video stream to the one or more Clients910with a minimal quality of service. For example, Video Server System920may receive a game command that changes the state of or a point of view within a video game, and provide Clients910with an updated video stream reflecting this change in state with minimal lag time. The Video Server System920may be configured to provide the video stream in a wide variety of alternative video formats, including formats yet to be defined. Further, the video stream may include video frames configured for presentation to a user at a wide variety of frame rates. Typical frame rates are 30 frames per second, 60 frames per second, and 920 frames per second. Although higher or lower frame rates are included in alternative embodiments of the disclosure.

Clients910, referred to herein individually as910A,910B, etc., may include head mounted displays, terminals, personal computers, game consoles, tablet computers, telephones, set top boxes, kiosks, wireless devices, digital pads, stand-alone devices, handheld game playing devices, and/or the like. Typically, Clients910are configured to receive encoded video streams, decode the video streams, and present the resulting video to a user, e.g., a player of a game. The processes of receiving encoded video streams and/or decoding the video streams typically includes storing individual video frames in a receive buffer of the client. The video streams may be presented to the user on a display integral to Client910or on a separate device such as a monitor or television. Clients910are optionally configured to support more than one game player. For example, a game console may be configured to support two, three, four or more simultaneous players. Each of these players may receive a separate video stream, or a single video stream may include regions of a frame generated specifically for each player, e.g., generated based on each player's point of view. Clients910are optionally geographically dispersed. The number of clients included in Game System900may vary widely from one or two to thousands, tens of thousands, or more. As used herein, the term “game player” is used to refer to a person that plays a game and the term “game playing device” is used to refer to a device used to play a game. In some embodiments, the game playing device may refer to a plurality of computing devices that cooperate to deliver a game experience to the user. For example, a game console and an HMD may cooperate with the video server system920to deliver a game viewed through the HMD. In one embodiment, the game console receives the video stream from the video server system920, and the game console forwards the video stream, or updates to the video stream, to the HMD for rendering.

Clients910are configured to receive video streams via Network915. Network915may be any type of communication network including, a telephone network, the Internet, wireless networks, powerline networks, local area networks, wide area networks, private networks, and/or the like. In typical embodiments, the video streams are communicated via standard protocols, such as TCP/IP or UDP/IP. Alternatively, the video streams are communicated via proprietary standards.

A typical example of Clients910is a personal computer comprising a processor, non-volatile memory, a display, decoding logic, network communication capabilities, and input devices. The decoding logic may include hardware, firmware, and/or software stored on a computer readable medium. Systems for decoding (and encoding) video streams are well known in the art and vary depending on the particular encoding scheme used.

Clients910may, but are not required to, further include systems configured for modifying received video. For example, a client may be configured to perform further rendering, to overlay one video image on another video image, to crop a video image, and/or the like. For example, Clients910may be configured to receive various types of video frames, such as I-frames, P-frames and B-frames, and to process these frames into images for display to a user. In some embodiments, a member of Clients910is configured to perform further rendering, shading, conversion to 3-D, or like operations on the video stream. A member of Clients910is optionally configured to receive more than one audio or video stream. Input devices of Clients910may include, for example, a one-hand game controller, a two-hand game controller, a gesture recognition system, a gaze recognition system, a voice recognition system, a keyboard, a joystick, a pointing device, a force feedback device, a motion and/or location sensing device, a mouse, a touch screen, a neural interface, a camera, input devices yet to be developed, and/or the like.

The video stream (and optionally audio stream) received by Clients910is generated and provided by Video Server System920. As is described further elsewhere herein, this video stream includes video frames (and the audio stream includes audio frames). The video frames are configured (e.g., they include pixel information in an appropriate data structure) to contribute meaningfully to the images displayed to the user. As used herein, the term “video frames” is used to refer to frames including predominantly information that is configured to contribute to, e.g. to effect, the images shown to the user. Most of the teachings herein with regard to “video frames” can also be applied to “audio frames.”

Clients910are typically configured to receive inputs from a user. These inputs may include game commands configured to change the state of the video game or otherwise affect game play. The game commands can be received using input devices and/or may be automatically generated by computing instructions executing on Clients910. The received game commands are communicated from Clients910via Network915to Video Server System920and/or Game Server925. For example, in some embodiments, the game commands are communicated to Game Server925via Video Server System920. In some embodiments, separate copies of the game commands are communicated from Clients910to Game Server925and Video Server System920. The communication of game commands is optionally dependent on the identity of the command. Game commands are optionally communicated from Client910A through a different route or communication channel that that used to provide audio or video streams to Client910A.

Game Server925is optionally operated by a different entity than Video Server System920. For example, Game Server925may be operated by the publisher of a multiplayer game. In this example, Video Server System920is optionally viewed as a client by Game Server925and optionally configured to appear from the point of view of Game Server925to be a prior art client executing a prior art game engine. Communication between Video Server System920and Game Server925optionally occurs via Network915. As such, Game Server925can be a prior art multiplayer game server that sends game state information to multiple clients, one of which is game server system920. Video Server System920may be configured to communicate with multiple instances of Game Server925at the same time. For example, Video Server System920can be configured to provide a plurality of different video games to different users. Each of these different video games may be supported by a different Game Server925and/or published by different entities. In some embodiments, several geographically distributed instances of Video Server System920are configured to provide game video to a plurality of different users. Each of these instances of Video Server System920may be in communication with the same instance of Game Server925. Communication between Video Server System920and one or more Game Server925optionally occurs via a dedicated communication channel. For example, Video Server System920may be connected to Game Server925via a high bandwidth channel that is dedicated to communication between these two systems.

Video Server System920comprises at least a Video Source930, an I/O Device945, a Processor950, and non-transitory Storage955. Video Server System920may include one computing device or be distributed among a plurality of computing devices. These computing devices are optionally connected via a communications system such as a local area network.

Video Source930is configured to provide a video stream, e.g., streaming video or a series of video frames that form a moving picture. In some embodiments, Video Source930includes a video game engine and rendering logic. The video game engine is configured to receive game commands from a player and to maintain a copy of the state of the video game based on the received commands. This game state includes the position of objects in a game environment, as well as typically a point of view. The game state may also include properties, images, colors and/or textures of objects. The game state is typically maintained based on game rules, as well as game commands such as move, turn, attack, set focus to, interact, use, and/or the like. Part of the game engine is optionally disposed within Game Server925. Game Server925may maintain a copy of the state of the game based on game commands received from multiple players using geographically disperse clients. In these cases, the game state is provided by Game Server925to Video Source930, wherein a copy of the game state is stored and rendering is performed. Game Server925may receive game commands directly from Clients910via Network915, and/or may receive game commands via Video Server System920.

Video Source930typically includes rendering logic, e.g., hardware, firmware, and/or software stored on a computer readable medium such as Storage955. This rendering logic is configured to create video frames of the video stream based on the game state. All or part of the rendering logic is optionally disposed within a graphics processing unit (GPU). Rendering logic typically includes processing stages configured for determining the three-dimensional spatial relationships between objects and/or for applying appropriate textures, etc., based on the game state and viewpoint. The rendering logic produces raw video that is then usually encoded prior to communication to Clients910. For example, the raw video may be encoded according to an Adobe Flash® standard, .wav, H.265, H.264, H.263, On2, VP6, VC-1, WMA, Huffyuv, Lagarith, MPG-x. Xvid. FFmpeg, x264, VP6-8, realvideo, mp3, or the like. The encoding process produces a video stream that is optionally packaged for delivery to a decoder on a remote device. The video stream is characterized by a frame size and a frame rate. Typical frame sizes include 800×600, 1280×720 (e.g., 720p), 1024×768, although any other frame sizes may be used. The frame rate is the number of video frames per second. A video stream may include different types of video frames. For example, the H.264 standard includes a “P” frame and a “I” frame. I-frames include information to refresh all macro blocks/pixels on a display device, while P-frames include information to refresh a subset thereof. P-frames are typically smaller in data size than are I-frames. As used herein the term “frame size” is meant to refer to a number of pixels within a frame. The term “frame data size” is used to refer to a number of bytes required to store the frame.

In alternative embodiments Video Source930includes a video recording device such as a camera. This camera may be used to generate delayed or live video that can be included in the video stream of a computer game. The resulting video stream, optionally includes both rendered images and images recorded using a still or video camera. Video Source930may also include storage devices configured to store previously recorded video to be included in a video stream. Video Source930may also include motion or positioning sensing devices configured to detect motion or position of an object, e.g., person, and logic configured to determine a game state or produce video-based on the detected motion and/or position.

Video Source930is optionally configured to provide overlays configured to be placed on other video. For example, these overlays may include a command interface, log in instructions, messages to a game player, images of other game players, video feeds of other game players (e.g., webcam video). In embodiments of Client910A including a touch screen interface or a gaze detection interface, the overlay may include a virtual keyboard, joystick, touch pad, and/or the like. In one example of an overlay a player's voice is overlaid on an audio stream. Video Source930optionally further includes one or more audio sources.

In embodiments wherein Video Server System920is configured to maintain the game state based on input from more than one player, each player may have a different point of view comprising a position and direction of view. Video Source930is optionally configured to provide a separate video stream for each player based on their point of view. Further, Video Source930may be configured to provide a different frame size, frame data size, and/or encoding to each of Client910. Video Source930is optionally configured to provide 3-D video.

I/O Device945is configured for Video Server System920to send and/or receive information such as video, commands, requests for information, a game state, gaze information, device motion, device location, user motion, client identities, player identities, game commands, security information, audio, and/or the like. I/O Device945typically includes communication hardware such as a network card or modem. I/O Device945is configured to communicate with Game Server925, Network915, and/or Clients910.

Processor950is configured to execute logic, e.g. software, included within the various components of Video Server System920discussed herein. For example, Processor950may be programmed with software instructions in order to perform the functions of Video Source930, Game Server925, and/or a Client Qualifier960. Video Server System920optionally includes more than one instance of Processor950. Processor950may also be programmed with software instructions in order to execute commands received by Video Server System920, or to coordinate the operation of the various elements of Game System900discussed herein. Processor950may include one or more hardware device. Processor950is an electronic processor.

Storage955includes non-transitory analog and/or digital storage devices. For example, Storage955may include an analog storage device configured to store video frames. Storage955may include a computer readable digital storage, e.g. a hard drive, an optical drive, or solid state storage. Storage915is configured (e.g. by way of an appropriate data structure or file system) to store video frames, artificial frames, a video stream including both video frames and artificial frames, audio frame, an audio stream, and/or the like. Storage955is optionally distributed among a plurality of devices. In some embodiments, Storage955is configured to store the software components of Video Source930discussed elsewhere herein. These components may be stored in a format ready to be provisioned when needed.

Video Server System920optionally further comprises Client Qualifier960. Client Qualifier960is configured for remotely determining the capabilities of a client, such as Clients910A or910B. These capabilities can include both the capabilities of Client910A itself as well as the capabilities of one or more communication channels between Client910A and Video Server System920. For example, Client Qualifier960may be configured to test a communication channel through Network915.

Client Qualifier960can determine (e.g., discover) the capabilities of Client910A manually or automatically. Manual determination includes communicating with a user of Client910A and asking the user to provide capabilities. For example, in some embodiments, Client Qualifier960is configured to display images, text, and/or the like within a browser of Client910A. In one embodiment, Client910A is an HMD that includes a browser. In another embodiment, client910A is a game console having a browser, which may be displayed on the HMD. The displayed objects request that the user enter information such as operating system, processor, video decoder type, type of network connection, display resolution, etc. of Client910A. The information entered by the user is communicated back to Client Qualifier960.

Automatic determination may occur, for example, by execution of an agent on Client910A and/or by sending test video to Client910A. The agent may comprise computing instructions, such as java script, embedded in a web page or installed as an add-on. The agent is optionally provided by Client Qualifier960. In various embodiments, the agent can find out processing power of Client910A, decoding and display capabilities of Client910A, lag time reliability and bandwidth of communication channels between Client910A and Video Server System920, a display type of Client910A, firewalls present on Client910A, hardware of Client910A, software executing on Client910A, registry entries within Client910A, and/or the like.

Client Qualifier960includes hardware, firmware, and/or software stored on a computer readable medium. Client Qualifier960is optionally disposed on a computing device separate from one or more other elements of Video Server System920. For example, in some embodiments, Client Qualifier960is configured to determine the characteristics of communication channels between Clients910and more than one instance of Video Server System920. In these embodiments the information discovered by Client Qualifier can be used to determine which instance of Video Server System920is best suited for delivery of streaming video to one of Clients910.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced with various computer system configurations including hand-held devices, microprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers and the like. The disclosure can also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a wire-based or wireless network.

With the above embodiments in mind, it should be understood that the disclosure can employ various computer-implemented operations involving data stored in computer systems. These operations are those requiring physical manipulation of physical quantities. Any of the operations described herein that form part of the disclosure are useful machine operations. The disclosure also relates to a device or an apparatus for performing these operations. The apparatus can be specially constructed for the required purpose, or the apparatus can be a general-purpose computer selectively activated or configured by a computer program stored in the computer. In particular, various general-purpose machines can be used with computer programs written in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may be more convenient to construct a more specialized apparatus to perform the required operations.

The disclosure can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium is any data storage device that can store data, which can be thereafter be read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable medium include hard drives, network attached storage (NAS), read-only memory, random-access memory, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, magnetic tapes and other optical and non-optical data storage devices. The computer readable medium can include computer readable tangible medium distributed over a network-coupled computer system so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

Although the method operations were described in a specific order, it should be understood that other housekeeping operations may be performed in between operations, or operations may be adjusted so that they occur at slightly different times, or may be distributed in a system which allows the occurrence of the processing operations at various intervals associated with the processing, as long as the processing of the overlay operations are performed in the desired way.

Although the foregoing disclosure has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications can be practiced within the scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, the present embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the disclosure is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalents of the present disclosure.