U.S. Pat. No. 8,376,859

* DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS OF PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS IN THE DRAWINGS *

50:storage medium100:client PC110:storage medium interface unit120:communication unit130:control unit140:input unit150:output unit160:storage unit200:game provider-database server

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of an online game provision system using a storage medium and a method thereof according to the above-described present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings below.

FIG. 1is an entire system diagram showing the overall configuration of an online game provision system using a storage medium according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 1, the present invention includes a storage medium50, a PC100, and a game service provider database server200.

The storage medium50stores a video and image file, a sound file, a game program executable file, the latest patch executable file, and an account authority processing executable file in order to execute a specific online game.

The latest patch executable file is programmed to download the latest patch file from the game service provider database server200and to be driven with the game program executable file.

The game program executable file is a file in which a series of procedures and operations are programmed in order to play and move a game forward, and is configured to express and move the game forward by loading the video and image file and the sound file.

The account authority processing executable file performs the function of making an inquiry to a user about administration account information when the user does not have execution authority for the hard disk, and performs the function of requesting from an Operation System (OS) execution authority for the hard disk using the administration account information.

Meanwhile, the storage medium50may be a storage medium which is read only memory, such as SD memory or a DVD, or may be a storage medium which is writable memory, such as USB memory.

The PC100is a user terminal used to play the online games by accessing the video and image file, the sound file, the game program executable file, the latest patch executable file, and the account authority processing executable file which are stored on the storage medium50. Further, the PC100is connected via a wired/wireless internet network to the game service provider database server200which will be described later.

The game service provider database server200provides one or more patch files in order to improve a program or to change and add one or more functions to the game after the online game stored on the storage medium50is released. The database server200receives a connection through the communication via the Internet from the latest patch executable file, and gives support for the user to effectively receive patch information and run the game by transmitting the patch information and the patch files.

FIG. 2is an inner block diagram showing the inner configuration of the PC according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 2, the PC100of the present invention includes a storage medium interface unit110, a communication unit120, a control unit130, an input unit140, an output unit150, and a storage unit160.

When the storage medium50is input from the outside, the storage medium interface unit110detects the input. That is, the OS can detect the input of a new device as an event, and automatically execute the executable file included on the storage medium. At this time, an automatic executable file (auto run) item may be used. If an autorun.inf file is stored in the root directory of the storage medium and information about the latest patch executable file to be executed is written in the autorun.inf file, the latest patch executable file is executed at the same time that the storage medium is input, information about the version of a patch file which has been updated recently is received from the game provider database server200, and information about the version of the game file of the game that is stored on the storage medium50is compared with the information about the version of the received patch file. When the information about the version of the game file is lower than the information about the version of the patch file and an update is required, the corresponding patch file is received from the database server200and stored in a “My document” directory in which one or more files can be stored regardless of the account authority of a current user.

The following procedure proceeds depending on the account authority of the current user. The OS, which manages user accounts, can be inquired about the account authority of the current user. First, it is determined whether the current user has execution authority for the hard disk and execution authority for the storage medium.

When the current user has execution authority for the hard disk, the game is played in such a way that the user is allowed to select whether to copy the game file onto the hard disk, when the user wants to do the copying, an arbitrary directory to which execution authority is given is generated in the hard disk, the game file stored on the storage medium and each patch file stored in the “My document” directory are copied into the generated directory, and the game program executable file from among the copied game files is executed.

Meanwhile, when a response providing notification that the user does not want the game file to be copied onto the hard disk is received from the user, the game may be played by combining the game file with the patch files in memory. That is, the game is played in such a way that the game program executable file is executed so that one or more executable file images are moved from the storage medium50to a main memory area, the “My document” directory in which one or more patch files are stored is searched, and, if a new version of the game program executable file exists therein, the new version of the game program executable file is read into memory and the executable file images thereof replaces the executable file images which had previously been moved into the main memory area (hereinafter, referred to as self modification). Further, the video and image file and the sound file which are necessary to move the game forward are executed in the same manner as described above. The game is played in such a way that, when there is a need for the corresponding file, the corresponding file is loaded from the storage medium into memory; and, when a newer version of the file exists in the “My document” directory, the newer version of the file is read into memory and replaces the corresponding file; and, when there is a need for the corresponding file, a newer version of the file is read into memory by simultaneously searching the storage medium and the “My document” directory.

Here, execution authority means the operational authority capable of performing read, write, and execute operations.

When a specific game is played on the PC100, the PC100requires one of the above-described execution authorities. The reason for this is that, when the game is played, the characters and environment of the game change continuously, and this changed data should be written to a specific space in order to move the game forward while applying the changed contents.

Meanwhile, if it is determined that the current user does not have execution authority for the hard disk, it is determined whether the current user has execution authority for the storage medium50. If it is determined that the current user has execution authority for the storage medium50, the game program executable file stored on the storage medium50is executed, and, if a patch file exists for each game file, the game is played using the above-described self modification method.

Meanwhile, if the current user does not have execution authority for the storage medium50, a process is performed so that the game is played in such a way that the account authority processing executable file is executed to receive administration account information used to obtain administration authority for the PC from the user, administration account authority is approved by the OS using the administration account information, a specific directory to which execution authority is given is generated in the “My document” directory, and a game file is copied into the generated directory. Here, the game may be played in such a way that a newer version of the patch file replaces the existing game file in memory using the above-described self modification process, or each of the game files stored on the storage medium and each of the more patch files stored in the “My document” directory are copied into the generated directory so that all the game files are configured with the latest version of the game files.

According to the above-description, when a user plays the online game using the storage medium50according to the present invention, the game can be played regardless of the account policies of the PC100or central data maintenance environments such as Network Attached Storage (NAS).

Further, according to the above-described present invention, the present invention enables a game user to play the game in such a way that the game is not installed using an installer but game information which is necessary to play the game is written on a portable disk, such as SD memory, and the game information written on the portable disk is used. Therefore, there are advantages in that the user can easily play the game on another PC (the user can easily play the game on anther PC using the game information written on the portable disk without installing the game on that PC), and in that the present invention can be easily used when the game is introduced to another user, when a beginner at the game plays the game, and when the user does not want to save the game on his/her PC.

The control unit130controls the entire operations so that the PC100executes a game by loading the video and image file, the sound file, the game program executable file, the latest patch executable file, and the account authority processing executable file stored on the storage medium50.

Further, the control unit130may be programmed to perform various kinds of signal processing functions (for example, character generation, audio file decoding, volume adjustment, and sample conversion) while a selected game file is executed. The control unit130may be implemented in the form of a microprocessor or a Digital Signal Processor (DSP).

The input unit140receives a user request from the user. The input unit140includes one or more icons or buttons so that various kinds of operations and menu settings can be received in order to perform the functions. The input unit140may be configured in the form of an input device having a keypad or a general display device such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).

The output unit150outputs results processed by the control unit130and results of the game execution. Generally, an LCD is used as the output unit150.

Games and user option information (for example, information about game settings and individual play) may be selectively stored in the storage unit160at the request of the user.

The operational process of the online game provision system using a storage medium according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings below.

FIG. 3is a flowchart showing a game provision method performed by the game provision system using a storage medium according to a first embodiment of the present invention andFIG. 4is a flowchart showing a game provision method performed by the game provision system using a storage medium according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the case in which the storage medium50is read only memory, such as SD memory and a DVD, will be described as an example with reference toFIG. 3.

First, the storage medium interface unit110detects that a specific storage medium50was input at step S100. Here, the latest patch executable file from among the executable files stored on the storage medium50is automatically executed by the OS using the above-described autorun process at step S101.

Thereafter, the control unit130to which the latest patch executable file is loaded receives information about the version of a patch file from the game provider DB server200by controlling the communication unit120at step S102.

Thereafter, the control unit130to which the latest patch executable file is loaded compares the information about the version of the patch file provided from the game service provider with information about the version of a game file stored in the storage medium50at step S103.

The information about the version of a patch file is information given in order to distinguish a patch from previous versions of the patch files whenever a revised patch is released in order to correct one or more game errors, and to change and add to functions thereof. For example, “patch 1.1, patch 1.2, and patch 1.3” may be recorded as the information about the versions of the patch files stored for the user.

If, as a result of the determination at step S103, the information about the version of the game file is lower than the information about the version of the patch file, the control unit130requests the patch file from the service provider DB server200and receives the patch file at step S104. Here, the received patch file is stored in the “My document” directory at step S105. Thereafter, the control unit130to which the latest patch executable file is loaded makes an inquiry to the OS which manages information about user accounts, and determines whether the current user has execution authority for the hard disk of the PC100at step S106.

If, as a result of the determination at step S106, the current user has execution authority for the hard disk of the PC100, the user is inquired about whether to copy the game file stored on the storage medium50onto the hard disk at step S107.

If, as a result of the inquiry at step S107, a response providing notification that the game should be played after copying the game file onto the hard disk is received from the user, the game file and the patch file are copied onto the hard disk and then the game program executable file is executed at step S108.

According to the above description, although the startup of the game is slow and a large capacity of the hard disk is required, there is an advantage in that the running speed of the game is fast.

Meanwhile, if, as the result of the inquiry at step S107, a response providing notification that the game file won't be copied onto the hard disk is received, the game is played in such a way that the game file is combined with the patch file in the memory of the PC100using the above-described self modification method at step S109. Here, since the process of copying the game file is not performed, there is an advantage in that the startup of the game may be fast.

Meanwhile, if, as the result of the determination at step S106, the current user does not have execution authority for the hard disk of the PC100, it is determined whether the user has execution authority for the storage medium50at step S110. If, as a result of the determination at step S110, the user has execution authority for the storage medium50, the game is played in such a way that the game file is combined with the patch file in the memory of the PC100using the above-described self modification method at step S111.

Meanwhile, if, as the result of the determination at step S110, the current user does not have execution authority for the storage medium50, the account authority processing executable file is executed, and a pop-up window requesting administration account information from the user is output on the output unit150at step S112, as shown inFIG. 5.

In the state in which the pop-up window has been output, the administration account information is received from the user, the received administration account information is transmitted to the OS, and then an administration account authority is set up.

Thereafter, the latest patch executable file generates an arbitrary folder (hereinafter, referred to as the “My document” directory) to which write authority is given, and gives execution authority on the folder at step S110. Thereafter, the latest patch executable file copies the game file into the folder, and then plays the game. Thereafter, the control unit130plays the game by overwriting the downloaded patch file on the game file which is being executed or replacing the game file with a newer version of the patch file in memory using the above-described self modification at step S113.

Hereinafter, the case in which the storage medium50is writable memory, such as USB memory, will be described as an example with reference toFIG. 4.

Since the operations at steps S100to S113are the same as described above, the description thereof will be omitted. The difference between the first and second embodiments is that the storage medium is read only memory in the first embodiment but the storage medium is writable memory in the second embodiment.

The latest patch executable file makes an inquiry about whether to update a game file stored on the storage medium50to the latest file at step S114. Here, the control unit130controls the output unit150so that a pop-up window is output as shown inFIG. 6, and receives a response to the inquiry.

If, as a result of the inquiry at step S116, the response ‘1. Overwrite now’ was received from the user, the patch file stored in “My document” is overwritten on the previous version of the file stored on the storage medium50at step S115. This is possible since the storage medium50is writable memory such as USB memory.

Meanwhile, if, as the result of the inquiry at step S114, the response ‘2. Do not overwrite’ was received from the user, the game is played instantly. Of course, here, the game should be run by loading the patch file stored in the “My document” directory to memory in order to play the game using the new version of the game file (patch file) from among the game files.

Further, if, as the result of the inquiry at step S114, the response ‘3. Overwrite while playing the game’ was received from the user, the game is started by executing the game program executable file using a separate process, and the latest patch executable file causes the patch file stored in the “My document” directory to overwrite the game file stored on the storage medium50.

Thereafter, the game program executable file outputs a pop-up window on the output unit150as shown inFIG. 7. That is, the game program executable file makes an inquiry about whether to store user option information (for example, information about game settings and individual play) on the storage medium50or to store the user option information in the hard disk of the PC100at step S116. Meanwhile, it is preferable that the pop-up window be displayed with the effect (for example, “You may watch your records when you play the game on another PC”) appearing when the user option information is stored on the storage medium50or in the hard disk.

When the user requests that option information be stored, variables generated when the game is moved forward, or game information are stored in the hard disk or on the storage medium50at steps S118and S119.

The scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and defined as disclosed in the accompanying claims. It is apparent that those skilled in the art can perform various modifications and adaptations without departing from the scope of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.