U.S. Pat. No. 9,216,356

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of an integrated gaming system for managing gameplay across multiple gaming platform describes a computer-implemented system thata. connects game players, also referenced as users or members, playing a multitude of different games on different external game platforms;b. awards rewards, also called incentives, for gameplay accomplishments on the external platforms, including incentive opportunities to play with notable persons, such as celebrities, well known athletes, and professional gamers.

In the following we describe the structure of such an embodiment in the form of a computer-implemented system with reference toFIG. 1, in such manner that like reference numerals refer to like components throughout; a convention that we shall employ for the remainder of this specification. An integrated gaming system100can includea. an integrated gaming server102;b. an external gaming domain104, comprised of one or more external gaming servers105; andc. an integrated gaming application106, which is executing on a local computing platform107; the local computing platform107including either a gaming device112, a web browser110, or a computing device108, or a combination of these.

In a further related embodiment of the integrated gaming system100, a plurality of integrated gaming applications106can be connected to the integrated gaming server102, each of the gaming applications executing on an instance of a local computing platform107comprising either a computer device108, a web browser110, or a gaming devices112, or a combination of these components108110112.

In an example embodiment, the external gaming domain104, could be configured to contain the Xbox Live external gaming server and the PlayStation Network external gaming server, and a large number of users can be using the system, each user employing a specific instance of the integrated gaming application106, each executing on a specific local computing platform107, for example either an Xbox or PlayStation game console, with attached game controller devices.

In an embodiment, the computing device108can be part of a general computer, such as a personal computer (PC), a tablet, a notebook, a laptop, a workstation, a server, a mainframe computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, a mobile device, a smart television, a similar device, or some combination of these. Such a device can include a memory, a processor, input/out components, and other components that are common for general computers, all of which are well known in the art and therefore will not be further elaborated or described herein.

In an embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 4, the integrated gaming server102, includes a processor420, a memory422, and an input/output424, an identity management component404, a gaming server control component412, a game management component406, a transaction management component408, a reward management component410, and a league management component414, all connected via a data bus440.

It shall be understood that the above mentioned components of the integrated gaming server102are to be interpreted in the most general manner, so that for example the processor420, can include a single physical microprocessor or microcontroller, a cluster of processors, a datacenter or a cluster of datacenters, a computing cloud service, and the like; the memory422, can includes random access memory and other forms of temporary storage, and hard disks, hard disk clusters, cloud storage services, and other forms of permanent storage; and the input/output424, can include a plurality of well known input/output devices, such as screens, keyboards, pointing devices, motion trackers, and so forth.

Furthermore it shall be understood that the the integrated gaming server102can include a number of other components that are well known in the art of general computer devices, and therefore shall not be further described herein. This can include system access to common functions and hardware, such as for example via operating system layers such as Windows Server, Linux Server, and similar operating system software, but can include configurations wherein application services are executing directly on server hardware or via a hardware abstraction layer other than a complete operating system.

The gaming device112can be part of a specialized gaming device, such as an Xbox, PlayStation or similar game console, including portable gaming consoles, such as the PlayStation Vita, and can furthermore include attached game controller devices, including hand held devices, and other components that are attached to the game console.

The gaming device112can communicate directly with a corresponding external gaming server105, via the particular manufacturer communication channel, which may be proprietary or part of an open application programming interface. An example of this could be an Xbox console gaming device, which communicates with the external gaming server of the Xbox Live gaming network. This communication120is not directly controlled by the integrated gaming server102.

The integrated gaming application106and the local computing platform107can include programming code, such as source code, object code or executable code, stored on a computer-readable medium that can be loaded into the memory and processed by the processor in order to perform the desired functions.

In another alternative embodiment, the integrated gaming application106, and the local computing platform107can be, respectively, a browser based application, and a standard web browser.

In another alternative embodiment, the integrated gaming application106and the local computing platform107, can be part of a native application executing on top of an operating system and computer execution environment, such as for example Windows or iOS, Apple O/S, operating within a computer device108.

In an embodiment, the integrated gaming server102communicates with the external gaming servers105, in the external gaming domain104, over a communication channel116, which can be the general Internet, a Wide Area Network or a Local Area Network, or another form of communication network, transmitted on wired or wireless connections.

In a related embodiment, the integrated gaming server102, communicates with instances of the integrated gaming application106, of which separate instances are used by users that are registered on the integrated gaming server102, communicating over a communication channel118, which can be the general internet, a Wide Area Network or a Local Area Network, or another form of communication network, transmitted on either wired or wireless connections.

In a related embodiment of the integrated gaming system100, an identity management component404of the integrated gaming server102is established, wherein players can enter a user profile, which is stored on the integrated gaming server102, such that the user profile also contains information on the user's associated user profile on each separate external gaming server. This associated external gaming server user profile can contain authentication information, such as passwords, allowing the user to authorize the integrated gaming server to log on to the external gaming server on behalf of the user. This relational structure thereby allows the integrated gaming system to store and process an aggregated status of accomplishments and results on the various external gaming platforms.

In a related embodiment of the integrated gaming system100, configured with a gaming server control component412, the integrated gaming server102can log on to a particular external gaming server105to perform a plurality of external gaming server functions, via an application programming interface of the external gaming server, including:a. Retrieve game history and results for user;b. Retrieve list of online users, filtered by various criteria, such as game type, user category, etc.c. Establish and start a single-player game session for a user.d. Establish a two-player game session for two users.e. Establish a multi-player game session for a list of users.

In such an embodiment of the integrated gaming system100, configured with a gaming server control component412, the initiation of a game session, can include that the external gaming server105, upon receipt of a request from the integrated gaming server102, can initiate communication with one or more corresponding gaming devices112, to start game sessions on these gaming devices112. This communication and game control functionality is part of the normal, proprietary technical capabilities of the external gaming server105and its corresponding gaming device112, which is controlled by the external gaming server102via an open application programming interface. In some embodiments, such an application programming interface may support indirect communication with the gaming device112, via a communication channel116with the external gaming server105, which then communicates with the gaming device112, via another communication channel120. In other embodiments, the application programming interface may support direct communication with the gaming device112, via another communication channel118.

In a related embodiment of the integrated gaming system100, configured with a transaction management component408, the integrated gaming server102stores and aggregates information in memory422on user game-play activities retrieved from connected external gaming servers105, and aggregates this information per user, so that users can win rewards or receive incentives based on their game play accomplishments. Such incentives can be in the form of internal status recognition, physical prizes, monetary rewards, and right to participate in specific gaming or meeting events.

In a related embodiment of the integrated gaming system100, configured with a reward management component410, players rewards are aggregated in the integrated gaming system, based on accomplishments in external gaming platforms, by translating the proprietary scores or reward levels in these platforms to an integrated score system, via lookup in an integrated scoring table300, shown inFIG. 3, which enables players to compare results achieved in different external games and platforms. As an example, the score calculation for a particular gameplay accomplishment on a specific external gaming system, System Y, represented by the column System_Y_External_Score304, can be done by finding the corresponding external score or reward, Sys_Y_Score_a308, and translating this to a corresponding integrated score, Reward_a306, in the same row of the Integrated_Score column302. The score matching on the external system can be an equality match, a match within a numeric range, a textual pattern match, a pattern match, or a mathematical function match. The reward translation can further include a numeric function transformation.

In a further related embodiment of the integrated gaming system100, the reward management component410can include a reward availability structure, stored in memory, which can identify available rewards, list the count for specific rewards available, the period of availability, status of award of a reward, completion of award, and other meta information related to an award. As an example the reward availability structure could record that 50 tablet devices would be available as a reward on a monthly basis. In this case awards could be issued during a given month until the 50 tablets had been issued to users of the integrated gaming system100, and in the beginning of the following month the reward availability structure, would be updated in the memory to reset the tablet rewards available to 50, and users would again be able to win this particular reward.

In a related embodiment of the integrated gaming system100, configured with a game management component406, players can enter managed games, including single player games, multi-player games, and tournaments that are setup, stored in memory, controlled and managed in the integrated gaming system100, with game play actually executing on gaming devices112, related to or managed via an external gaming server105.

In a related embodiment of the integrated gaming system100, where the integrated gaming server102further comprises a league management component414, players can be associated with a tournament league via their user profile, and thereby gain access to tournament leagues that offer a structured competitive environment for players of comparable ability. Players earn points and associated tournament league standing by competing in tournament league game sessions on the external gaming servers. Results of games sessions associated with the tournament league can be stored in memory.

The tournament league can be comprised of:a. a predetermined set of users, who are qualified for membership in the tournament league, wherein the qualification criteria can include a reward, andb. A predetermined schedule of game sessions, wherein results from any individual game session are stored in the memory422, and overall league rankings are processed by the processor420, and stored in the memory422.

Additionally, in an embodiment of the integrated gaming system100, the integrated gaming application106; executing on either the a external game device112, a web browser110, or a computing device108; can communicate information to the user and request user input by way of an interactive, menu-driven, visual display-based user interface, or graphical user interface (GUI). The user interface can be executed, for example, on a personal computer (PC) with a mouse and keyboard, with which the user may interactively input information using direct manipulation of the GUI. Direct manipulation can include the use of a pointing device, such as a mouse, a stylus, or a touch sensitive screen, to select from a variety of selectable fields, including selectable menus, drop-down menus, tabs, buttons, bullets, checkboxes, text boxes, and the like. Nevertheless, various embodiments of the integrated gaming system may incorporate any number of additional functional user interface schemes in place of this interface scheme, with or without the use of a mouse or buttons or keys, including for example, a trackball, a touch screen or a voice-activated system.

FIG. 1shows a depiction of an embodiment of the integrated gaming system100, an integrated gaming server102, and an external gaming domain104, comprised of one or a plurality of external gaming servers105. In this relation, a server shall be understood to represent a general computing capability that can be physically manifested as one, two, or a plurality of individual physical computing devices, located at one or several physical locations. A server can for example be manifested as a shared computational use of one single desktop computer, a dedicated server, a cluster of rack-mounted physical servers, a datacenter, or network of datacenters, each such datacenter containing a plurality of physical servers, or a computing cloud.

FIG. 2illustrates a computer-implemented method for integrated gaming. In an embodiment of the method for integrated gaming, the process can begin by proceeding to step204, “Review Reward Level”, in which the current reward level can be reviewed. The reward level is dependent on prior gameplay accomplishments. In this step the reward level is retrieved from memory and viewed via an input/output device, including a screen and a pointing device.

Next, in step206, “Review Available Games”, the games that are available to play can be retrieved from memory and viewed via an input/output device, including a screen and a pointing device. The available games reference available games across a plurality of external gaming platforms, and can be dependent on the level of rewards achieved.

Next, in step208, “Play Games”, a game can be selected and started up via an external gaming server. The game can be played on a game device, which is associated with the selected game. Information about the game and the associated game device is retrieved from memory. During this step, transaction information about gameplay accomplishment and associated reward information is stored in memory.

Finally, in step210, “Obtain Rewards”, a reward can be obtained based on gameplay accomplishments during the Play Games step. The reward status is registered in memory and a reward can be related to an event, such as a user status recognition, a physical prize, a monetary award, or the right to participate in specific gaming or meeting event. Upon completion of the reward event, memory is updated by the processor to reflect completion of the event.

Step210, “Obtain Rewards”, can in a related embodiment include a reward related to a meeting or activity with a notable person, who may or may not be a registered member, for example a celebrity or a high-ranking or professional game player. Such activity or meeting can include a scheduled game session, a physical meeting, a backstage pass at the notable user's event, a lunch, a dinner, or other activities with or concerning the notable person. The particular metadata concerning the event is updated in memory by the processor, and can include information about the type of event and the time at which the event will take place.

FIGS. 1,2,4, and5are block diagrams and flowcharts methods, devices, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. It shall be understood that each block or step of the block diagram, flowchart and control flow illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagram, flowchart and control flow illustrations, can be implemented by computer program instructions or other means. Although computer program instructions are discussed, an apparatus according to the present invention can include other means, such as hardware or some combination of hardware and software, including one or more processors or controllers, for performing the disclosed functions.

In this regard,FIG. 1depicts the computer device108of an embodiment, which contains several of the key components of a general-purpose computer by which an embodiment of the present invention may be implemented. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that a computer can include many components. However, it is not necessary that all of these generally conventional components be shown in order to disclose an illustrative embodiment for practicing the invention. The general-purpose computer can include a processing unit and a system memory, which may include random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). The computer also may include nonvolatile storage memory, such as a hard disk drive, where additional data can be stored/

An embodiment of the present invention can also include one or more input or output components, such as a mouse, keyboard, monitor, and the like. A display can be provided for viewing text and graphical data, as well as a user interface to allow a user to request specific operations. Furthermore, an embodiment of the present invention may be connected to one or more remote computers via a network interface. The connection may be over a local area network (LAN) wide area network (WAN), and can include all of the necessary circuitry for such a connection.

Typically, computer program instructions may be loaded onto the computer or other general-purpose programmable machine to produce a specialized machine, such that the instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable machine create means for implementing the functions specified in the block diagrams, schematic diagrams or flowcharts. Such computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable medium that when loaded into a computer or other programmable machine can direct the machine to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that implement the function specified in the block diagrams, schematic diagrams or flowcharts.

In addition, the computer program instructions may be loaded into a computer or other programmable machine to cause a series of operational steps to be performed by the computer or other programmable machine to produce a computer-implemented process, such that the instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable machine provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the block diagram, schematic diagram, flowchart block or step.

Accordingly, blocks or steps of the block diagram, flowchart or control flow illustrations support combinations of means for performing the specified functions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions and program instruction means for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that each block or step of the block diagrams, schematic diagrams or flowcharts, as well as combinations of blocks or steps, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based computer systems, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions, that perform the specified functions or steps.

As an example, provided for purposes of illustration only, a data input software tool of a search engine application can be a representative means for receiving a query including one or more search terms. Similar software tools of applications, or implementations of embodiments of the present invention, can be means for performing the specified functions. For example, an embodiment of the present invention may include computer software for interfacing a processing element with a user-controlled input device, such as a mouse, keyboard, touch screen display, scanner, or the like. Similarly, an output of an embodiment of the present invention may include, for example, a combination of display software, video card hardware, and display hardware. A processing element may include, for example, a controller or microprocessor, such as a central processing unit (CPU), arithmetic logic unit (ALU), or control unit.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention, which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. This can include alternative configurations, wherein for example the integrated gaming server102is executing as a service within an external gaming server105, or in another variation an integrated gaming server102can operate in a distributed manner in the local computing environment, which can include the integrated gaming server operating in a distributed manner on gaming devices112, such as gaming consoles owned by users of the integrated gaming systems.

FIG. 5shows an example of such an alternative embodiment500, in which the integrated gaming server102can be reconfigured to execute in a cloud based computing environment, shown as a compute cloud512. Well known examples of such cloud based computing environments are Amazon EC2 or Microsoft Azure. Furthermore, part of the memory422, can be allocated in a cloud based storage environment, shown as a storage cloud514, in which data can be stored in a database516. Examples of such cloud based storage environments are for example Amazon S3, Microsoft Azure SQL, and many others.FIG. 5for illustrative purposes shows a division of system components that are respectively server side502and client side504.

The integrated gaming server102communicates, via the internet or some other communication channel, with an external gaming server105, hosted within a first gaming network cloud520. The external gaming server can be connected to a plurality of gaming consoles522. The integrated gaming server102can communicate indirectly with the gaming consoles522, via the external gaming server105, or it can communicate directly with both the external gaming server105and the gaming consoles522.

The integrated gaming server can communicate with a plurality of such gaming networks.FIG. 5depicts a second gaming network cloud524.

In a related embodiment, the external gaming server105can be configured so that it can perform as a client-side504component.

The integrated gaming server102can communicate with a number of client components, includinga. a web application530, comprised of a variant of the integrated gaming application106and the web browser110;b. a mobile device532; comprised of a variant of the integrated gaming application106, and a mobile type of computer device108;c. a smart television534; comprised of a variant of the integrated gaming application106, and smart television type of computer device108;d. a computer536; comprised of a variant of the integrated gaming application106, and a type of computer device108; ande. a gaming console522; comprised of a variant of the integrated gaming application106, and a type of gaming device112;

Many such alternative configurations are readily apparent, and should be considered to be fully included in this specification and the claims appended hereto. Accordingly, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and thus, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.