U.S. Pat. No. 8,425,327

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an online game method and system providing position information of a game character by interworking with a messenger server, according to the present invention are described with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 2is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an online game system providing position information of a game character by interworking with a messenger server, according to the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 2, the online game system according to the present invention includes a game server220, a messenger server230, and a map database240, and at least one user terminal210is connected via a predetermined communication network.

The user terminal210indicates a terminal of an Internet user that receives online game service by receiving game data or game patch for implementing a game from the game server220in a contract with the user to provide predetermined game service via a communication network. The user terminal210is a device which maintains an access state with the game server220via a communication network such as Internet and telephone line to embody the online game, for example, a terminal with predetermined operation ability by including a predetermined memory means and equipping with a predetermined microprocessor, such as personal computers, handheld computers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA), mobile phones, and smart phones.

In the map database240, static data required in implementing online game service according to the present invention is recorded. Information for implementing the online game service according to the present invention may include static data and dynamic data. The static data indicates data which is not changed after beginning the online game service, such as map data, the name of places, names, numerical information for distinguishing districts, which are required in the online game. Also, dynamic data indicates data continuously changed, such as castles, guild information of a district generated in performing MMORPG. In the online game system according to the present invention, the static data is recorded in the map database240, and the game server220and messenger server230may access the map database240and obtain the static data required in implementing the online game or providing character position information.

The game server220provides the online game service via the at least one user terminal210and may include at least one zone server controlling user access management and game implementing with respect to at least one zone. The game server220is connected to the user terminal210via a communication network and may indicate a game server providing game service online to users in a predetermined contract, such as Multiple User Dialogue (MUD) game servers and Multiple User Graphic (MUG) game servers. In the game service provided by the game server220, in case that a game module installing a program associated with the game accesses the game server220according to the present invention, predetermined game implementing data or game patch data is transmitted to a terminal means and the game implementing is supported to be performed by using a user character controlled by the game module. The detailed description of the game server220will be described later with reference toFIG. 3.

The messenger server230performs communication between messenger clients of at least one user and may be a messenger server designed similar to a conventional messenger server such as MSN of Microsoft or a messenger server particularly designed for providing the character position information according to the present invention. The messenger server230according to the present invention fetches static data required in providing the character position information and obtains dynamic data required in providing more accurate character position information via communication with the game server220, thereby providing the character position information in an online game via the messenger clients of the at least one user. The detailed description of the messenger server230will be described later with reference toFIG. 3.

FIG. 3is a block diagram of the configuration of the game server and the messenger server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 3, the game server300according to the present invention may include a login server301, at least one zone server302to304, a character information database305, a zone information database306, a database management unit307, and a messenger server communication unit308. The messenger server320may include a login server321, a user information database322, and a game server communication unit323.

The login server301of the game server according to the present invention manages an access of a game user. A game user is authenticated via login ID and password inputted by the game user, and the login record of the game user is managed. According to embodiments, the login server301may perform billing with respect to the game service provided to the game user by interworking a predetermined billing server (not shown).

The zone servers302to304are configuration modules which divide game map data “world” required in progressing game in the game server into the size of a predetermined area, define at least one zone, and control performing the online game. The zone may be subdivided into at least one cell.

InFIG. 3, the game map data is divided into three zones and three zone servers302to304allocated to each zone are illustrated. As described above, the zone may set up by a manager of the online game system according to the present invention in the size and number. A command process is limited in per zone and distributed data processing is performed. In this case, the command processing indicates signal processing to perform the game implementing via handling a certain user character according to a command signal of the user. For example, as the command process which may be generated in the zone, there are a process associated with controlling user character handling such as moving the user character and attacking a certain monster according to the control handling received from a user game module and a process in which background things such as trees, buildings, and goods or other characters such as monsters, other user characters, and NPC are shown as changed according to movement of the user character.

In the character information database305, information on a character performing the online game according to the present invention is recorded. An example of the configuration of a table of the character information database305is illustrated inFIG. 4.

FIG. 4is a diagram illustrating an example of a character information database table included in the game server according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 4, in the character information database305of the game server300of the online game system according to the present invention, user IDs, character names, login information, information on the zone server implementing the command process with respect to a present character, and position coordinate information of the present character may be recorded.

Login information480indicates whether a user logs in the online game system according to the present invention in case that the online game system provides character position information of a certain user. In case that the login information is ON481, it is indicated that the character of the user logs in the online game system. In the online game system according to the present invention, the user may possess at least one character corresponding to one user ID, which is embodied by selecting a character played by the user via communicating with the login server301in case that the user logs in the online game system300according to the present invention.

In the zone information database306, information on at least one zone divided by the design of a system manager in an online game is recorded. The zone information database306manages information on a user character positioned in the zone and an item and monster generated or disappeared from the zone via communicating with the at least one zone server302to304.

The database management unit307manages the character information database305and the zone information database306of the game server300according to the present invention. The database management unit307may be embodied by using relational database management system RDBMS such as Oracle, Infomix, Sybase, and DB2 or object-oriented database management system such as Gemston, Orion, and O2.

The messenger server communication unit308is in charge of interfacing in order to communicate with the messenger server320according to the present invention. In case that static data is updated in the game server300, the messenger server communication unit308not only records the updated static data in the map database310but also periodically or aperiodically transmits dynamic data required in performing a game, thereby performing data synchronization between the game server300and the messenger server320.

The login server321of the messenger server320receives an access request from a messenger client installed the at least one user terminal and manages the access of the user. A messenger user is authenticated via a login ID and password transmitted from the messenger client and manages login record of the messenger user. According to embodiments, the login server321may operate to provide various contents such as music and decorating an avatar to the messenger user by interworking with a predetermined contents providing sever (not shown).

In the user information database322, information on a user trying to provide or receive character position information in the online game according to the present invention is recorded. An example of the configuration of a table of the user information database322is illustrated inFIG. 5.

FIG. 5is a diagram illustrating an example of a user information database table included in the messenger server according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 5, a user information database of the messenger server320according to the present invention includes a position information providing permit field570in addition to user basic information such as a user ID. In the position information providing permit field570, a flag may be set up or cleared according to selection of the user. The position information providing permit field570shows whether the user provides position information of the user to another user in case that the another user requests providing position information of the user. For example, in case of user ID ‘pencee’, a permit flag571is set up in a position information providing permit field with respect to at least character.

FIGS. 6 and 7are flow charts illustrating an online game method providing position information of a game character by interworking with the messenger server, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 6, the online game method providing position information of a game character by interworking with the messenger server, according to an embodiment of the present invention, may include following steps.

The online game system according to the present invention includes a map database (Step601). As described above, in the map database, static data required in performing the online game service according to the present invention is recorded. For example, the static data is data that is not changed after beginning the online game service, such as map data required in the online game, place names, names, numerical information for distinguishing districts.

A messenger server and game server of the online game system according to the present invention performs synchronization of dynamic data that is continuously changed, such as castles and guilds generated in performing the online game (Step602). The synchronization may be performed by fetching the dynamic data stored in a record means of the game server.

The static data or the dynamic data of Steps601and602may be recorded in a record means of a user terminal when the user accesses the game server or messenger server.

A first user that tries to search character position information of a predetermined second user transmits a second user position information request to the messenger server via a messenger client (Step603). The messenger server receiving the request checks whether the second user logs in the messenger server (Steps604and605) and checks whether the second user logs in the online game in case that the second user logs in the messenger server (Steps607and608). Steps604and605may be embodied to determine whether the user logs in via a login server. Also, Steps607and608may be embodied to determine whether the user logs in by searching a login information field of a character information database of the game server.

In case that the second user is determined not to log in the messenger server in Step605, a message in which the position information of the second user is impossible to be searched due to a block of the second user is transmitted to the messenger client of the first user (Step606).

Also, in case that the second user is determined not to log in the game server in Step608, a message in which the second user does not access the game server is transmitted to the messenger client of the first user (Step609).

In case that the second user is determined to access the game server according to the present invention in Step608, the position information request received from the first user is transmitted to a messenger client of the second user (Step610).

Referring toFIG. 7followingFIG. 6, the online game method providing position information of a game character by interworking with a messenger server, according to the present invention may include following steps.

The messenger client of the second user receives the position information request transmitted in Step610ofFIG. 6(Step701) and transmits a position information query of a game character of the second user to a game module installed in a terminal of the second user (Step702). The game module of the second user searches present position information of the second user (Step703) and transmits an acknowledgement ACK including the searched present position information of the second user to the messenger client (Step704). The messenger client of the second user transmits a position information response including the position information to the messenger server (Step705). The messenger server receiving the response transmits the position information response to the messenger client of the first user (Step706). The messenger client of the first user receives the transmitted position information response (Step707) and transmits the position information to a game module of the first user. The game module of the first user processes the transmitted position information (Step708) and may show the present position information of the second user to the first user in various forms (Step709).

In Step709, a method of indicating the position information may be largely divided into (1) indication based on text and (2) indication using graphic user interface GUI. The indication method may be subdivided into indication based on static data and indication based on dynamic data.

The indication based on text processes the position information of the second user with predetermined geographical information to as text format and provides to the first user. For example, the position information may be provided as ‘fly on the wind is at 28, 83, in rain town’

The indication using graphic user interface GUI processes the position information of the second user with predetermined map data as graphic user interface and provides to the first user. The position information may be provided by a method of showing the present position of the character of the second user to be distinguished in the map data by using the map data stored in a storage means of the user terminal of the first user and the position information, such as coordinate information, transmitted from the messenger client of the second user.

The indication based on static data may indicate a method of providing position information based on place names and coordinate information which are not changed in performing the online game. The indication based on dynamic data may indicate a method of providing position information including castles or guilds which are continuously changed data. For an example of the indication based on dynamic data, there may be ‘fly on the wind is at 28, 83, manda town in a dominion of rainbow guild.’

Geographical information such as zone information, cell information, name information of the cell, and coordinate information of base point of the cell or map data for providing to the first user by processing the position information are previously recorded in the storage means of the user terminal. The first and second users transmit and receive position information via the messenger client. The position information is processed based on the geographical information or map data and shown in the user terminal. Therefore, the load of the game server for providing character position information can be reduced.

FIG. 8is a flow chart illustrating an example of a position information processing method in which position information provided to a user terminal is processed and indicates to the user.

Referring toFIG. 8, the method of processing position information provided to a user terminal and indicating to the user may include following steps.

The messenger client of the first user receives the position information response transmitted from the messenger client of the second user (Step801). The received position information is transmitted to the game module (Step802). The game module determines whether geographical information is stored in the storage means of the user terminal (Step803). In case that the geographical information is determined not to be stored in the storage means of the user terminal in Step803, the game module requests the geographical information to the messenger client (Step804). The messenger client transmits an acknowledgement including the geographical information to the game module (Step805). In Step805, the messenger client may receive the geographical information from the messenger server and forward the transmitted geographical information to the game module.

In case that the geographical information is determined to be stored in the storage means of the user terminal in Step803or the geographical information is received from the messenger client in Step805, the game module processes the position information by using the geographical information (Step806). The procedure of processing the position information may be divided into (1) indication based on text or (2) indication based on GUI, as described above.

In Step807, it is determined whether the position information is going to be indicated on GUI map. In case that the position information is not indicated on GUI map, the position information is provided in text form to the user via the messenger client (Step808). In case that the position information is determined to be indicated on GUI map, it is determined whether map data for indicating on GUI map data is stored in the storage means of the user terminal (Step809). In case that the map data is stored, the position information is indicated in a GUI form by using the map data (Step811). In case that the map data is determined not to be stored in the storage means of the user terminal in Step809, it is requested to the messenger client to transmit the map data and the map data may be received from the messenger server, similar to described Steps804and805(Step810).

The whether the position information is indicated on GUI map in Step807is performed by setting up of the user or setting up system default according to embodiment of the position information providing method according to the present invention. That is, in case that the user wants the indication based on text, position information based on text may be indicated, and in case that the user wants indication on GUI map, position information based on GUI map may be indicated.

FIG. 9is a flow chart illustrating an example of a position information processing method for processing position information of a character accessing an online game, according to the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 9, name information of a certain cell, base points of the cell B1to B3, radius information of the cell R1to R3are stored as geographical information in the user terminal of the first user. The position information transmitted from the messenger client of the second user is processed by using the geographical information and may provide the character position information in various forms to the first user.

For example, in case that position information formed of predetermined coordinate information is transmitted from the messenger client, the game module of the first user may operate a following operation by using the geographical information stored in the storage means of the user terminal. That is, distance information D1to D3between the coordinate information and at least one base points B1to B3are computed. The computed distance information D1to D3are compared with the radius information R1to R3of the cell to select a cell in which Dx<Rx. Referring toFIG. 9, in coordinate information900transmitted from the messenger client of the second user, a distance from the base point B1is D1. Since the computed D1is D1<R1, a cell1may be selected. In case of the indication based on text, character position information may be indicated as “fly on the wind is at 28, 83 in kuwoo town”, based on name information of the selected cell1.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, in case that the cell in which Dx<Rx is at least one, the character of the second user is located around the boundary of at least one cell, the character position information may be indicated as the meaning in which the character is located around the boundary of the cells. In case that the cell in which Dx<Rx does not exist, the character of the second user is located outside an area divided into cells, the character position information may be indicated by using the name information of a cell with the shortest Dx.

FIG. 10is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface providing position information of a game character, according to the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 10, the user interface providing position information of a game character, according to the present invention may be formed of map data1001, a character position information indication area1002, map indication type selection buttons1003and1004, a blank for providing position information in text form1005, and a button for viewing detailed information1006.

The map data1001and the character position information indication area1002may be shown in case that the user wants position information indication in GUI map data form or due to setting up system default, as described above. Also, map indication type selection buttons1003and1004may be a button with a function to enlarge or reduce a map. That is, in case that ‘world map view’ button1003is clicked, the map data may be macroscopically shown, and in case that ‘mini map view’ button1004is clicked, the map data may be microscopically shown.

Also, in the blank for providing position information in text form1005, present position information of a certain game character may be indicated in text form. In case that the button for viewing detailed information1006is clicked, detailed position information including dynamic data, for example, ‘fly on the wind is at 28, 83, rain town in a dominion of rainbow guild.’, may be indicated.

Also, the embodiments of the present invention include a computer readable medium including a program instruction for executing various operations realized by a computer. The computer readable medium may include a program instruction, a data file, and a data structure, separately or cooperatively. The program instructions and the media may be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or they may be of the kind well known and available to those skilled in the art of computer software arts. Examples of the computer readable media include magnetic media (e.g., hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes), optical media (e.g., CD-ROMs or DVD), magneto-optical media (e.g., floptical disks), and hardware devices (e.g., ROMs, RAMs, or flash memories, etc.) that are specially configured to store and perform program instructions. The media may also be transmission media such as optical or metallic lines, wave guides, etc. including a carrier wave transmitting signals specifying the program instructions, data structures, etc. Examples of the program instructions include both machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containing high-level languages codes that may be executed by the computer using an interpreter.

FIG. 11is a block diagram of the inside of a general use computer apparatus which can be employed to the online game system providing position information of a game character by interworking a messenger server, according to the present invention.

A computer apparatus1100includes at least one processor1110connected to a main memory device including a RAM (Random Access Memory)1120and a ROM (Read Only Memory)1130. The processor1110is also called as a central processing unit CPU. As well-known to the field of the art, the ROM1130unidirectionally transmits data and instructions to the CPU, and the RAM1120is generally used for bidirectionally transmitting data and instructions. The RAM1120and the ROM1130may include a certain proper form of a computer readable recording medium. A mass storage device1140is bidirectionally connected to the processor1110to provide additional data storage capacity and may be one of the computer readable recording medium. The mass storage device1140is used for storing programs and data and is an auxiliary memory. A particular mass storage device such as a CD ROM1160may be used. The processor1110is connected to at least one input/output interface1150such as a video monitor, a track ball, a mouse, a keyboard, a microphone, a touch-screen type display, a card reader, a magnetic or paper tape reader, a voice or hand-writing recognizer, a joy stick, and other known computer input/output unit. The processor1110may be connected to a wired or wireless communication network via a network interface1170. The procedure of the described method can be performed via the network connection. The described devices and tools are well-known to those skilled in the art of computer hardware and software.

The described hardware devices may be formed to be operated by at least one software module in order to perform the operations of the present invention.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by the detailed description of the invention but by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present invention, there is an effect of providing a method and online game system which can search position information of a certain character in an online game.

Also, according to an online game method and system providing position information of a game character by interworking with a messenger server, according to the present invention, the position information is provided by using P2P method, thereby reducing the load of a game server providing online game service and a communication network.

Also, according to an online game method and system providing position information of a game character by interworking with a messenger server, according to the present invention, the position information of the character is provided by storing map data of an online game in a terminal of a user and transmitting present position information of a user via the messenger server, thereby providing more accurate character position information to the user.

Also, according to an online game method and system providing position information of a game character by interworking with a messenger server, according to the present invention, it to be possible that a user obtains position information of a certain character of an online game via the messenger server without login a game server, thereby providing the convenience of the user.