U.S. Pat. No. 8,353,771

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This invention is hereinafter further described in details with reference to the accompanying drawings so as to further clarify the technical schemes.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a first mobile game terminal acquires the P2P communication address of a second mobile game terminal from a game platform, and creates a P2P connection with the second mobile game terminal according to the P2P communication address; the first mobile game terminal communicates with the second mobile game terminal via the P2P connection.

In the following descriptions, the originating mobile game terminal is equivalent to the first mobile game terminal, and the destination mobile game terminal is equivalent to the second mobile game terminal.

As shown inFIG. 1, which illustrates the structure of a mobile online game system; the system mainly includes a game platform and multiple mobile game terminals.

Each mobile game terminal includes a game application unit and a P2P application unit. The game application unit is used for sending a P2P connection creating request to an MPG, upon receiving a response from the MPG, sending a P2P connection creating instruction to the P2P application unit; and after the P2P connection is created, determining whether the data generated by a game operation needs to be transmitted via the P2P connection, if the data needs to be transmitted, sending the data to the P2P application unit, otherwise, sending the data to the MPG; in addition, the game application unit is still used for receiving data from the other mobile game terminals sent by the P2P application unit of the other mobile game terminal. The P2P application unit, upon receiving the P2P connection creating instruction from the game application unit, creating a P2P connection with the destination mobile game terminal, and performing the data interaction with the other mobile game terminals via the P2P connection.

The P2P connection creating request sent by the game application unit to the MPG includes identifier (ID) information of the destination mobile game terminal, and the response from the MPG to the originating mobile game terminal includes the communication address of the destination mobile game terminal. And the communication network protocol corresponding to the created P2P connection may be the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) etc, the corresponding P2P communication address of the mobile game terminal is based on the TCP/IP as well.

The game platform includes an MPG, a database, and a P2P management unit. The MPG is used for receiving the P2P connection creating request sent by an originating mobile game terminal, and sending the P2P connection creating request to a P2P management unit, and receiving a response returned from the P2P management unit, then forwarding the response returned from the P2P management unit to the originating mobile game terminal. The database is used for storing P2P registration information of mobile game terminals. The P2P management unit is used for reading the P2P registration information of the destination mobile game terminal stored in the database according to identifier in the P2P connection creating request from the MPG, and sending the response from the P2P management unit to the MPG. The P2P registration information mainly includes the communication address of the destination mobile game terminal. The allocation of the communication address of the mobile game terminal i.e. the IP address, is controlled by the wireless network communication system, and the communication address of the mobile game terminal loading each time on the MPG platform may be different. Thus the information of the communication address of the mobile game terminal stored in the database is updated each time when the mobile game terminal loads on the game platform.

A first optional proposal is that the P2P management unit may include a database query unit, which is used for, upon receiving the P2P connection creating request forwarded by the MPG, reading the P2P registration information of the destination mobile game terminal stored in the database, and returning to the MPG a response carrying the communication address of the destination mobile game terminal. In this proposal, the P2P registration information mainly includes the communication address of the destination mobile game terminal.

A second optional proposal is that the P2P management unit may include an authentication interface unit, which is used for, upon receiving the P2P connection creating request forwarded by the MPG, reading the P2P registration information of the destination mobile game terminal stored in the database, implementing authentication of the mobile game terminal, and when the authentication succeeds, returning to the MPG an authentication success response carrying the communication address of the destination mobile game terminal. In this proposal, the P2P registration information includes the communication address of the destination mobile game terminal, and authentication information such as the record information provided upon registering representing whether the destination mobile game terminal is willing to create a P2P connection with the originating mobile game terminal etc.

A third optional proposal is that the P2P management unit may include both an authentication interface unit and a database query unit. The authentication interface unit, upon receiving the P2P connection creating request forwarded by the MPG, sends a query instruction to the database query unit, and receives the P2P registration information of the mobile game terminal returned by the database query unit, implements authentication of an originating mobile game terminal, and returns a response to the MPG. The database query unit, receives the query instruction from the authentication interface unit, reads the P2P registration information of the destination mobile game terminal stored in the database according to the query instruction, and sends the P2P registration information read from the database to the authentication interface unit. In this proposal, the P2P registration information includes the communication address of the destination mobile game terminal, and authentication information such as the record information provided upon registering representing whether the destination mobile game terminal is willing to create a P2P connection with the originating mobile game terminal etc.

The structure of the mobile online game system is described hereinbefore according to an embodiment; and description of the method for communicating between the mobile game terminals will be given. The premise of the method in an embodiment of this invention is that: when the game service is running, a communication network port of the P2P application unit, such as TCP/IP port etc, is opened. The whole flow of the method is shown inFIG. 2, and the method specifically includes the following processes:

Process201: an originating mobile game terminal acquires the P2P communication address of a destination mobile game terminal from a game platform.

Process202: the originating mobile game terminal creates a P2P connection with the destination mobile game terminal according to the acquired P2P communication address.

Process203: the originating mobile game terminal communicates with the destination mobile game terminal via the P2P connection.

Specific exemplary embodiments are described hereinafter with reference to accompanying drawings.

In the first embodiment of the invention, the game platform is the game service platform of the mobile online game system which includes an MPG, a database, and a P2P management unit The P2P management unit includes a database query unit; and the mobile game terminal includes a game application unit and a P2P application unit. As shown inFIG. 3, the process of this embodiment specifically includes the following processes:

Process301: a game application unit in an originating mobile game terminal sends a P2P connection creating request to an MPG, and the P2P connection creating request contains the ID information of the originating mobile game terminal and the ID information of the destination mobile game terminal. The game application unit may, after receiving a P2P connection creating instruction from a user, send the P2P connection creating request to the MPG.

Process302: the MPG, forwards the P2P connection creating request to the database query unit of the P2P management unit.

Process303: the database query unit reads, according to the ID information of the destination mobile game terminal carried in the P2P connection creating request, the P2P registration information of the destination mobile game terminal stored in the database, and sends to the MPG the P2P registration information read from the database. The MGP, after receiving the P2P registration information, forwards the P2P registration information to the originating mobile game terminal. The P2P registration information mainly includes the P2P communication address of the destination mobile game terminal.

Process304: the game application unit of the originating mobile game terminal, after receiving the P2P registration information sent from the MGP, sends a P2P connection creating instruction to the P2P application unit. The P2P connection creating instruction includes the P2P communication address of the destination mobile game terminal.

Process305: the P2P application unit, after receiving the P2P connection creating instruction sent by the game application unit, creates a P2P connection with the destination mobile game terminal according to the P2P communication address of the destination mobile game terminal carried in the P2P connection creating instruction.

Process306: the originating mobile game terminal communicates with the destination mobile game terminal via the P2P connection, and the process ends.

The game application unit, after the P2P connection is created, determines whether the data generated by a game operation in the running of game needs to be transmitted via a P2P connection, if the data needs to be transmitted, sends the data to the P2P application unit which forwards the data to the destination mobile game terminal via a P2P connection; otherwise, sends the data to the MPG of the mobile game platform for corresponding processing.

The determining of whether the data generated by a game operation in the running of game needs to be transmitted via a P2P connection is the determining of whether the data generated by the game operation in the running of game is communication data, if the data is communication data, the data needs to be transmitted via a P2P connection; or the data is common game data. Alternatively, information representing the need of the transmission via the P2P connection may be carried by the communication data to be sent to the destination mobile game terminal, so that whether the data needs to be transmitted via a P2P connection may be determined by determining whether the information representing the need of the transmission via the P2P connection is carried by the data.

The foregoing description is the first embodiment of the invention, and a second embodiment of the invention will be described hereinafter. In the second embodiment of the invention, the game platform is a game service platform of the mobile online game system including: an MPG, a database, and a P2P management unit which includes an authentication interface unit; and the mobile game terminal includes a game application unit and a P2P application unit. Different to the first embodiment, in this embodiment, the authentication interface unit of the game platform receives a P2P connection creating request sent by the originating mobile game terminal, and queries in the database, acquires the P2P registration information according the request for creating a P2P connection from the MGP, and implements authentication of the originating mobile game terminal. As shown inFIG. 4, the process of this embodiment specifically includes the following processes:

Process401: a game application unit of an originating mobile game terminal sends a P2P connection creating request to an MGP, and ID information of an originating mobile game terminal and ID information of a destination mobile game terminal is carried in the request. The game application unit may, after receiving a P2P connection creating instruction from a user, send the P2P connection creating request to the MGP.

Process402: the MGP, after receiving the P2P connection creating request, sends the P2P connection creating request to an authentication interface unit of a P2P management unit.

Process403: the authentication interface unit of the P2P management unit, after receiving the P2P connection creating request, reads, according to the ID information of the originating mobile game terminal and ID information of the destination mobile game terminal carried in the P2P connection creating request, the P2P registration information of the originating mobile game terminal and the destination mobile game terminal stored in a database. The P2P registration information mainly includes right information of the originating mobile game terminal and right information of the destination mobile game terminal, and the P2P communication address of the destination mobile game terminal, etc.

Process404: the authentication interface unit determines whether the originating mobile game terminal has right to create a P2P connection with the destination mobile game terminal according to the P2P registration information read from the database, if the originating mobile game terminal has the right, the process continues to Process405; otherwise, the process jumps to Process409.

The determining of whether the originating mobile game terminal has right to create the P2P connection with the destination mobile game terminal may include: determining whether the P2P registration information of the destination mobile game terminal includes record information representing that the destination mobile game terminal is willing to create a P2P connection with the originating mobile game terminal, if the record information is included, determining that the originating mobile game terminal has right to create the P2P connection with the destination mobile game terminal; otherwise, determining that the originating mobile game terminal does not have the right.

Process405: the authentication interface unit returns to the MGP an authentication success response for creating a P2P connection, and the MGP forwards the authentication success response to the originating mobile game terminal, and the P2P communication address of the destination mobile game terminal is carried in the authentication success response.

Process406: the game application unit of the originating mobile game terminal, after receiving the authentication success response sent by the MGP, sends a P2P connection creating instruction to a P2P application unit. The P2P connection creating instruction contains the P2P communication address of the destination mobile game terminal.

Process407: the P2P application unit, after receiving the P2P connection creating instruction, creates a P2P connection with the destination mobile game terminal according to the P2P communication address of the destination mobile game terminal.

Process408: the originating mobile game terminal communicates with the destination mobile game terminal via the P2P connection, and the process ends.

Furthermore, after the P2P connection is created, the game application unit determines whether the data generated by a game operation in the running of game needs to be transmitted via the P2P connection, if the data needs to be transmitted, sends the data to the P2P application unit which forwards the data to the destination mobile game terminal via a P2P connection; otherwise, sends the data to the MPG of the mobile game platform. To determine whether the data generated by a game operation in the running of game needs to be transmitted to the destination mobile game terminal via the P2P connection is to determine whether the data generated by the game operation in the running of game is communication data, if the data is communication data, determines that the data needs to be transmitted via the P2P connection, otherwise, determines that the data is common game data. Alternatively, information representing the need of the transmission via the P2P connection may be carried by the communication data sent to the destination mobile game terminal, so that whether the data needs to be transmitted via a P2P connection may be determined by determining whether the data carries the information representing the need of the transmission via the P2P connection.

Process409: the authentication interface unit returns to the MGP an authentication failure response for creating a P2P connection, and the MGP forwards the authentication failure response to the originating mobile game terminal, and the process ends.

The foregoing description is the second embodiment of the invention, and a third embodiment of the invention will be given hereinafter. In the third embodiment of the method, the game platform is a game service platform of the mobile online game system including: an MPG, a database, and a P2P management unit which includes an authentication interface unit and a database query unit; and the mobile game terminal includes a game application unit and a P2P application unit. Different to the second embodiment, in this embodiment, after receiving a P2P connection creating request sent from the originating mobile game terminal, rather than querying the database directly, the authentication interface unit of the game platform sends a query instruction to a database query unit connected with the database; and the database query unit, after receiving the query instruction, reads the P2P registration information stored in the database, and sends the P2P registration information read from the database to the authentication interface unit; the authentication interface unit implements authentication of the originating mobile game terminal. As shown inFIG. 5, the process of the embodiment specifically includes the following processes:

Process501: a game application unit of an originating mobile game terminal sends a P2P connection creating request to an MGP, and ID information of an originating mobile game terminal and a destination mobile game terminal is carried in the P2P connection creating request. The game application unit may send the P2P connection creating request to the MGP after receiving a P2P connection creating instruction from a user.

Process502: the MGP, after receiving the P2P connection creating request, forwards the P2P connection creating request to an authentication interface unit of a P2P management unit.

Process503: the authentication interface unit of the P2P management unit, after receiving the P2P connection creating request, sends a query instruction to a database query unit of the P2P management unit, and the ID information of the originating mobile game terminal and the destination mobile game terminal is contained in the query instruction.

Process504: the database query unit, after receiving the query instruction, reads the P2P registration information stored in a database, and sends the P2P registration information read from the database to the authentication interface unit, the P2P registration information mainly includes right information of the originating mobile game terminal and right information of the destination mobile game terminal, and P2P communication address of the destination mobile game terminal.

Process505: the authentication interface unit, after receiving the P2P registration information sent by the database query unit, determines whether the originating mobile game terminal has right to create a P2P connection with the destination mobile game terminal, if the originating mobile game terminal has the right, the process continues to Process506; otherwise, the process jumps to Process510.

The determining of whether the originating mobile game terminal has right to create the P2P connection with the destination mobile game terminal may include: determining whether the P2P registration information includes record information representing that the destination mobile game terminal is willing to create a P2P connection with the originating mobile game terminal, if the record information is included, determining that the originating mobile game terminal has right to create the P2P connection with the destination mobile game terminal; otherwise, determining that the originating mobile game terminal does not have the right.

Process506: the authentication interface unit returns to the MGP an authentication success response, which includes the P2P communication address of the destination mobile game terminal, and the MGP forwards the authentication success response to the originating mobile game terminal.

Process507: the game application unit of the originating mobile game terminal, after receiving the authentication success response, sends a P2P connection creating instruction to a P2P application unit, which includes the P2P communication address of the destination mobile game terminal.

Process508: the P2P application unit, after receiving the P2P connection creating instruction sent by the game application unit, creates a P2P connection with the destination mobile game terminal according to the P2P communication address of the destination mobile game terminal contained in the P2P connection creating instruction.

Process509: the originating mobile game terminal communicates with the destination mobile game terminal via the P2P connection, and the process ends.

After the P2P connection is created, the game application unit determines whether the data generated by a game operation in the running of game needs to be transmitted via the P2P connection, if the data needs to be transmitted, sends the data to the P2P application unit which forwards the data to the destination mobile game terminal via the P2P connection; otherwise, sends the data to the MPG of the mobile game platform for corresponding processing. To determine whether the data generated by a game operation in the running of game needs to be transmitted to the destination mobile game terminal via the P2P connection is to determine whether the data generated by the game operation in the running of game is communication data, if the data is communication data, determines that the data needs to be transmitted via the P2P connection, otherwise, determines that the data is common game data. Alternatively, information representing the need of the transmission via the P2P connection may be carried by the communication data sent to the destination mobile game terminal, so that whether the data needs to be transmitted via a P2P connection may be determined by determining whether the data carries the information representing the need of the transmission via the P2P connection.

Process510: the authentication interface unit returns to the MGP an authentication failure response for creating a P2P connection, and the MGP forwards the authentication failure response to the originating mobile game terminal, and the process ends.

It should be appreciated that the foregoing is only preferred embodiments of the invention and is not for use in limiting the invention. Any modification, equivalent substitution, and improvement without departing from the spirit and principle of this invention should be covered in the protection scope of the invention.