U.S. Pat. No. 7,288,028

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Exemplary System for Implementing Present Invention

With reference toFIG. 1, an exemplary system suitable for providing the functionality of a server on a gaming service such as Microsoft Corporation's XBOX LIVE™. The system includes a general purpose computing device in the form of a conventional PC20, provided with a processing unit21, a system memory22, and a system bus23. The system bus couples various system components including the system memory to processing unit21and may be any of several types of bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. The system memory includes read only memory (ROM)24and random access memory (RAM)25. A basic input/output system26(BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the PC20, such as during start up, is stored in ROM24. The PC20further includes a hard disk drive27for reading from and writing to a hard disk (not shown), a magnetic disk drive28for reading from or writing to a removable magnetic disk29, and an optical disk drive30for reading from or writing to a removable optical disk31, such as a compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical media. Hard disk drive27, magnetic disk drive28, and optical disk drive30are connected to system bus23by a hard disk drive interface32, a magnetic disk drive interface33, and an optical disk drive interface34, respectively. The drives and their associated computer readable media provide nonvolatile storage of computer readable machine instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data for PC20. Although the exemplary environment described herein employs a hard disk, removable magnetic disk29, and removable optical disk31, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of computer readable media, which can store data and machine instructions that are accessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks DVDs), Bernoulli cartridges, RAMs, ROMs, and the like, may also be used in the exemplary operating environment.

A number of program modules may be stored on the hard disk, magnetic disk29, optical disk31, ROM24, or RAM25, including an operating system35, one or more application programs36, other program modules37, and program data38. A user may enter commands and information into PC20, and provide control input through input devices such as a keyboard40and a pointing device42. Pointing device42may include a mouse, stylus, wireless remote control, or other pointer. As used hereinafter, the term “mouse” is intended to encompass virtually any pointing device that is useful for controlling the position of a cursor on the screen. Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, haptic joystick, yoke, foot pedals, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input/output (I/O) devices are often connected to processing unit21through an I/O interface46that is coupled to the system bus23. The term I/O interface is intended to encompass each interface specifically used for a serial port, a parallel port, a game port, a keyboard port, and/or a universal serial bus (USB). A monitor47or other type of display device is also connected to system bus23via an appropriate interface, such as a video adapter48. In addition to the monitor, PCs are often coupled to other peripheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers (through a sound card or other audio interface—not shown) and printers.

PC20can operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer49. Remote computer49may be another PC, another server (which is typically generally configured much like PC20), a router, a network PC, a peer device, or a satellite or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above in connection with PC20, although only an external memory storage device50has been illustrated inFIG. 1. The logical connections depicted inFIG. 1include a local area network (LAN)51and a wide area network (WAN)52. Such network environments are common in offices, enterprise wide computer networks, intranets, and the Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, PC20is connected to LAN51through a network interface or adapter53. When used in a WAN networking environment, PC20typically is coupled to a modem54, or other means, such as a cable modem, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) interface, or an Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN) interface for establishing communications over WAN52, such as the Internet. Modem54, which may be internal or external, is connected to the system bus23or coupled to the bus via I/O device interface46, i.e., through a serial port. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to PC20, or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers may be used, such as wireless communication and wide band network links. The servers employed to provide the gaming service functions will thus typically comprise computing devices much like that described above, and will likely access relatively large hard drives or other non-volatile memory systems for storing data about subscribing users and for other elements of the gaming service.

Exemplary Game Console

As shown inFIG. 2, an exemplary electronic gaming system100includes a game console102and support for up to four user input devices, such as controllers104aand104b. Game console102is equipped with an internal hard disk drive (not shown in this Figure) and a portable media drive106that support various forms of portable optical storage media, as represented by an optical storage disk108. Examples of suitable portable storage media include DVD disks and CD-ROM disks. In this gaming system, game programs are preferably distributed for use with the game console on DVD disks, but it is also contemplated that other storage media might instead be used, or that games and other programs can be downloaded from a gaming site over the Internet (or other network).

On a front face of game console102are four connectors110that are provided for electrically connecting to the controllers. It is contemplated that other types of connectors or wireless connections might alternatively be employed. A power button112and a disk tray eject button114are also positioned on the front face of game console102. Power button112controls application of electrical power to the game console, and eject button114alternately opens and closes a tray (not shown) of portable media drive106to enable insertion and extraction of storage disk108so that the digital data on it can be read and loaded into memory or stored on the hard drive for use by the game console.

Game console102connects to a television or other display monitor or screen (not shown) via audio/visual (A/V) interface cables120. A power cable plug122conveys electrical power to the game console when connected to a conventional alternating current line source (not shown). Game console102may be further provided with a data connector124to transfer data through an Ethernet connection to a network, or through a wireless connections, and/or through a broadband connection to the Internet. Alternatively, it is contemplated that a modem (not shown) may be employed to transfer data to a network and/or the Internet. As yet a further alternative, the game console can be directly linked to another game console via an Ethernet cross-over cable (not shown).

Each controller104aand104bis coupled to game console102via a lead (or in another contemplated embodiment, alternatively, through a wireless interface). In the illustrated implementation, the controllers are Universal Serial Bus (USB) compatible and are connected to game console102via USB cables130. Game console102may be equipped with any of a wide variety of user devices for interacting with and controlling the game software. As illustrated inFIG. 2, each controller104aand104bis equipped with two thumb sticks132aand132b, a D-pad134, buttons136, and two triggers138. These controllers are merely representative, and other gaming input and control mechanisms may be substituted for or used in addition to those shown inFIG. 2, for controlling game console102.

Removable function units or modules can optionally be inserted into controllers104to provide additional functionality. For example, a portable memory unit (not shown) enables users to store game parameters and port them for play on another game console by inserting the portable memory unit into a controller on the other console. Other removable function units are available for use with the controller. In connection with the present invention, a removable function unit comprising a voice communicator module140is employed to enable a user to verbally communicate with other users locally and/or over a network. Connected to voice communicator module140is a headset142, which preferably includes a boom microphone144or other type of audio sensor that produces an input signal in response to incident sound, and a headphone146or other type of audio transducer for producing audible sound in response to an output signal from the game console. The voice communicator capability might alternatively be included as an integral part of a controller (not shown) that is generally like controllers104aand104bin other respects. The controllers illustrated inFIG. 2are configured to accommodate two removable function units or modules, although more or fewer than two modules may instead be employed.

Gaming system100is of course capable of playing games, but can also play music, and videos on CDs and DVDs. It is contemplated that other functions can be implemented by the game controller using digital data stored on the hard disk drive or read from optical storage disk108in drive106, or from an online source, or from a function unit or module.

It must be emphasized that as supplied, game console102is incapable of browsing the Internet or connecting to Web addresses that display Web pages defined by any form of hypertext markup language (HTML). Instead, it can only connect to a dedicated gaming service that has been setup to communicate with the game console over the Internet and to facilitate multiplayer games by subscribers to the service who connect through game consoles that are registered with the gaming service. Each connection over the Internet is through a VPN tunnel, so that the communications between the game console and the gaming service are secure. The game console is not currently provided with a conventional keyboard, an entry of text messages or other text input is possible only by selecting alphanumeric characters from a display using one of the controllers. The game consoles do not have direct communication with parties outside of the environment for playing multiplayer games that is provided by the gaming service. Similarly, anyone who is not connected with a game console in the gaming environment cannot have direct communication with those who are connected to the gaming service.

Functional Components of the Game Console

Turning now toFIG. 3, a functional block diagram illustrates, in an exemplary manner, components of the game console and the components that are provided to facilitate voice or verbal communication between players during the play of electronic games on the multiplayer game console. As noted above, this embodiment of game console100can have up to four players on each console, and each player can be provided with a controller and voice communicator. Details of a voice communicator module140′ are illustrated in connection with its associated controller104a. It will be understood that controllers104b,104c, and104d(if coupled to game console100) can optionally each include a corresponding voice communication module140′ like that coupled to controller104a. In a current preferred embodiment, voice communication module140′ includes a digital signal processor (DSP)156, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC)158, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC)161, and a universal serial bus (USB) interface163. In response to sound in the environment that is incident upon it, microphone144produces an analog output signal that is input to ADC158, which converts the analog signal into a corresponding digital signal. The digital signal from ADC158is input to DSP156for further processing, and the output of the DSP is applied to USB interface163for connection into controller104a. In this embodiment, voice communication module140′ connects into the functional unit or module port on controller104athrough a USB connection (not separately shown). Similarly, digital sound data coming from game console100are conveyed through controller104aand applied to USB interface163, which conveys the digital signal to DSP156and onto DAC161. DAC161converts the digital signal into a corresponding analog signal that is used to drive headphone146.

With reference to multiplayer game console100, several key functional components are shown, although it should be understood that other functional components are also included, but not shown. Specifically, game console100includes a central processing unit (CPU)150, a memory152that includes both read only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM). Also provided is a DSP154. The digital signal produced by ADC158in response to the analog signal from microphone144is conveyed through controller104ato CPU150, which handles encoding of the voice stream signal for transmission to other local voice communication modules and to other game consoles over a broadband connection through an Ethernet port (not shown inFIG. 3) on the game console.

Alternatively, DSP156in voice communication module140′ can be employed to encode the digital signal produced by ADC158in response to the analog signal from microphone144. The encoded data are then conveyed through controller104ato CPU150, which again handles transmission of the encoded data to other local voice communication modules and other game consoles over the broadband connection on the game console.

Digital signals conveyed as packets over a direct or network connection are input to CPU150through the Ethernet port on game console100(or from other voice communication modules and controllers connected to the same game console), and are processed by the CPU to decode data packets to recover digital sound data that is applied to DSP154for output mixing. The signal from DSP154is conveyed to the intended voice communication module for the player who is the recipient of the voice communication for input through USB interface163. Data and verbal communications over the Internet between players participating in a multiplayer game through the gaming service are not accessible by others who are simply connected to the Internet via a PC or other type of general computing device, because these communications are conducted through the VPN tunnels that are relatively secure.

Gaming Environment

FIGS. 4A and 4Billustrate different aspects of the gaming environment. InFIG. 4A, a schematic diagram280shows that the gaming environment comprises a plurality of game consoles284a-284h, which are connected to a gaming server282a.Data packets are conveyed between the gaming server and the game consoles through VPN tunnels, over Internet285. Each game console284a-284his thus connected in secure communication with gaming server282, which as shown inFIG. 4Bmay comprise a single server282a, or alternatively and more likely, will include a plurality of servers283that are coupled together to carry out specific functions required for the gaming service. Use of the VPN tunnel insures a secure communication link between each game console and the gaming service. The secure gaming environment ofFIG. 4Adoes not provide any option for connecting a game console over the Internet to any other device and only permits communication between game consoles that are connected to the gaming service, to enable the game consoles to participate in multiplayer games. Although a game console can conduct certain administrative functions such as subscribing, selecting passwords, and indicating other players with whom a person using the game console wants to participate in a multiplayer game, the game consoles are unable to communicate over the Internet outside the gaming environment defined byFIG. 4A. Thus, a game console of this type cannot connect with a Web page using an HTML Web browser, as is possible on a PC or other general computing device that has an Internet connection.

Automated Quick Join to a Game Being Played by any Friend

In order to use Microsoft Corporation's XBOX LIVE™ online gaming service, the user must own a XBOX™ game console, like that described above, and must have subscribed to the online gaming service. However, it is not intended that the present invention in any way be limited to the specific gaming service provided by Microsoft Corporation, or to use of the XBOX™ game console for playing online games. Instead, it is contemplated that the present invention is generally applicable to any gaming device that connects through a network in communication with other players to engage in the play of a multiplayer online game. However, since a first commercial embodiment of the present invention will be used in the XBOX LIVE™ gaming service, an exemplary use of the present invention in that connection is described below.

Typically, to initiate a connection to XBOX LIVE™ to play an online game, a user will insert a game software DVD disc into the DVD drive on the game console. As shown in a flowchart290inFIG. 5, when the online software initially boots up on the user's game console, the user will have the option to sign into the online gaming service to play the game with other players online. Assuming that the user wants to do so, the user will then sign into the online gaming service which will cause a main user interface292to be displayed to the user, giving several different options from which the user by select enjoining an instance of an existing instance of the game being played on the online gaming service. If the user simply wants to join any instance of the game and doesn't care about the people who are currently playing it, the level being played, or other preferences, the user can select a QuickMatch option294. Alternatively, if the user prefers to set options for selecting an instance of the game in which the user will play, an OptiMatch296can be selected. The present invention adds yet a third option from which the user may selectively choose to implement the present invention. The third option is a Quick Join option298, which if selectively activated by the user at this point will find the first instance of the game being played by any friend on user's friends list.

The friends list includes Gamertags for other online game players that the user wants to be on the friends list. These friends are thus identified on the friends list by their Gamertags, which are unique and are selected by each online subscriber when initially subscribing to the online gaming service. The user may know a Gamertag of a friend through social contact with the friend in the “real world” (i.e., outside of the online gaming service). Alternatively, the user may identify another player believed to be compatible, who the user would like to add to the user's friends list. Friends are also added user's friends list if another player sends a request to the user to add the user to the other player's friends list and the user agrees. Thus, each player appearing on the user's friends list also includes the user on that player's friends list.

While the user may be satisfied in simply being quickly joined to any instance of the online game being played by any friend who is included in the user's friends list, the user may instead prefer to select a specific friend who is currently online and playing the game to quickly join in playing the game. If so, the user can select an option300, which displays the friends list of the user. Further details regarding the use of that option are explained below. A final option available to the user is to selectively display Scoreboards for the game by selecting an option302. Selecting this option will cause the online gaming service to send the Scoreboards to the user for display so that the user can see the Gamertags of the players who are currently in the lead in the Kudos accumulated in playing the game (this option is game specific).

As indicated in a step304, if the user selects Quick Join option298, the game console automatically searches the user's friends list to identify the first friend who is playing an instance of the online game, as indicated in a step306. A decision step308determines if any friend has thus been identified as currently playing an instance of the game. If so, the user is immediately joined to that game. Depending upon the game, the user may be immediately joined in playing the game that was being played by the first friend identified in the friends list. In some games, such as Microsoft Corporation's Project Gotham Racing 2™ auto racing game in which the present invention will first be included, the user will be joined to a lobby of the friend's game, and a lobby screen will be displayed to the user to enable the user to select game options so that the user is prepared to play the game at the next available opportunity, i.e., to participate in the next race that is run. Following step310, the user is automatically involved in playing the game, or will be able to play the game with the user's friend when the next round starts. Assuming that the user has made the necessary choices in the lobby, the user will be a participant in the next auto race that is run. Clearly, it would not be practical for a user to be immediately joined in playing some types of games, such as the Project Gotham Racing 2™ auto racing game. However, in other types of games, it will be practical to immediately join the user in playing the game, and the user must be prepared, with game control in hand, to take any appropriate action as required by the game to which the user has been quickly joined.

If no friend has been identified as playing the game, a user interface screen312is displayed to the user. On this screen, a line314indicates that no games being played by a friend on the friends list were found, thereby advising the user that Quick Join cannot currently be implemented. The user is also then provided the option of selecting a QuickMatch316, or of displaying the friends list by selecting an option318. (please be aware that what you just listed is not in our game at this moment and will probably not be there at ship)

FIG. 7illustrates an initial screen340that the user sees after signing on to the gaming service and pressing Y to select “Xbox Live Options.” As noted in this Figure, the user can selectively choose to display the user's friends list by selecting an option342, or can display the players currently playing the game as well as the last ten players who have played the game by selecting an option344. (Also this option is displayed to enable a user to select a player and ask the player to become a friend who will be added to the user's friends list, submit feedback about a selected player, or mute a selected player during a game). Furthermore, the user can select an option346to display a further list of parameters that can be set with regard to online game play. This screen also identifies the control buttons on the game console controller that the user can select to go back or to select an item.

FIG. 6illustrates steps employed when a user decides to choose a particular friend from the user's friends list and employ the Quick Join feature of the present invention to begin playing an instance of the online game with the selected friend. A friends list322is displayed when the user selects option342inFIG. 7. Friends list322identifies the friends of the user who have been added to that user's list as explained above. These users are each referenced by the Gamertag that they selected when subscribing to the online gaming service. In the drawing Figure, actual Gamertags are not listed. Instead, Gamertag1through Gamertag7are listed. In a step324the user selects a specific friend from the user's friends list. In this example, the user has selected Gamertag3, identifying the friend associated with Gamertag3. Once a specific friend has been selected, the Gamertag of the selected friend is highlighted, as shown in a friends list326. Next, in a step328, the user activates Quick Join by selecting a control on the game console controller (which as identified in this example, is done by pressing control button “Y” on the hand held game console control).

Once the user has selectively activated the Quick Join feature, the user is immediately joined to the instance of the online game being played by the selected friend, i.e., the friend identified by Gamertag3in this example. The game designer will determine at which point a new player joining the game will be placed within the game.

FIG. 8illustrates further detail showing how the user can select a specific friend from the user's friend list, and determine further information about the friend before deciding to selectively activate Quick Join. As shown in a user interface screen350, a list of friends352is presented to the user that displays the Gamertags for the friends included in the list. In this example, the user has selected the friend referenced by Gamertag354. Adjacent the Gamertag of the selected friend is disposed an icon356, which indicates that the friend who has been selected has the ability to hear and to speak to other players using the voice module option. Furthermore, the status of this symbol indicates that the voice option is currently activated. Also, an icon358indicates that the player is online.

Upon selecting a friend referenced by a Gamertag, additional information about the status of the friend is obtained from the online gaming service and displayed to the user. For example, information concerning the player referenced by Gamertag354that has been selected is displayed in a friend status box362. A line364in this box indicates that the selected player is playing the game Project Gotham Racing 2™. A line366confirms that the selected player can verbally communicate using the voice module, and a line368indicates that the user is able to join in the selected friend's game. Furthermore, a line370indicates the time that the selected friend has been playing the online game.

Having reviewed the status of the friend, the user can immediately be joined in playing the instance of the game in which the selected friend is playing simply by activating Quick Join as indicated in a line360on this screen. The user will then immediately be joined in that instance of the game being played by the selected friend, as discussed above.

As explained in regard to this example, since the selected friend is playing in the online game entitled Project Gotham Racing 2™, it is not practical to immediately join the user in an auto race that is currently in progress. Accordingly, the user is joined to the lobby of Project Gotham Racing 2™ as indicated in a screen380shown inFIG. 9. Screen380includes a list382identifying the players who are currently participating in this instance of the game, referenced by their Gamertags. This list includes additional information such as an icon386indicating that the player associated with a Gamertag N does not have a voice peripheral active. That player can hear the voices of other players through the system speakers, but cannot speak to the other players. As already explained, an icon388indicates that the selected player identified by Gamertag G has a voice peripheral and that the voice option is turned on. Also, this player is identified as the host of this instance of the game. Furthermore, the open slots remaining in the game390are also indicated. In Project Gotham Racing 2™, players can earn kudos (i.e., points related to the style and panache with which a player drives a car during a race). Accordingly, the lobby includes a listing394of the kudos rank achieved by each of the currently participating players. The vehicles that each player has chosen to drive in the online game are identified in a list396. A location398for the current auto race indicates that the race is being run in Barcelona and there are 25 laps in the race.

Further game options that have been selected by the host are listed under race information400. For example, the host has chosen to run the race as an exhibition, which allows the players to enable or disable collisions between cars. In this example, a race has not yet been started and the race information indicates that the players are waiting for the host to start. The player who has just been joined to this instance of the game can choose a car to race and can select other options, as indicated in a section402of the lobby screen. To select a car, the new player would activate control button404labeled “A” on the game console control. Other selections that can be made include an option406to invite other friends to join the game, an option408to quit the game. By selecting control button410labeled “B,” the player can go back to the previous screen and can call up XBOX LIVE options by selecting a control button412labeled “Y.”

Since use of the Quick Join function in accord with the present invention provides the opportunity for a player to immediately be joined into the game being played by a friend, or alternatively by a specific selected friend appearing on the user's friends list, the present invention provides a much more efficient technique to join a friend in playing an online game. By providing the option to activate the Quick Join feature at two different points within the game, it is possible for the user to be automatically joined in playing the game with the first person who is playing the game identified on the user's friends list, or alternatively, to select a specific friend with whom the user wishes to play the game.

While not implemented in a current preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is contemplated that a user might be enabled to selectively sort the user's friends list based upon skill level or some other parameter, which would bias the selection of the friend with whom the user is quickly joined, if the user chooses to be joined in playing the game with the first friend within the friends list who is found playing the game. Although this option has not yet been implemented, it will be apparent that this and other modifications to a preferred embodiment disclosed above are readily achievable with the present invention.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred form of practicing it and modifications thereto, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that many other modifications can be made to the present invention within the scope of the claims that follow. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the invention in any way be limited by the above description, but instead be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.