U.S. Pat. No. 9,409,089

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of various implementations of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof, and in which are shown by illustration various implementations in which the invention may be utilized. It is to be understood that other implementations may be utilized, and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1shows a schematic picture of a computing device, containing a Central Processing Unit and Random Access Memory. The CPU acts according to input given from input devices, such as a keyboard, mouse or touchscreen. Computer BUSes are used to communicate, both between input devices and the CPU, but also between different controllers within the computer device, such as the graphics controller and the network controller. These controllers in turn communicate with external devices, such as a monitor for video output with which the graphics controller communicates, and the network controller communicates with for instance the internet, through either wireless or wired connection.

FIG. 2portrays an exemplary overall environment in which the present invention can be utilized. A virtual game is stored on, for instance, a game server210. The virtual game is to be played on a client device, such as a computer240,250or a smartphone260. The client device communicates with the game server210and a social network230, for instance through the Internet220. It should be understood that the social network230and the game server210does not have to be located in different places, they could be on the same server. An environment where the invention may be implemented is described in PCT/EP2013/060641 which is hereby incorporated by reference. People skilled in the art will understand that devices other than the exemplary ones listed can also be used, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

FIG. 3shows one implementation of the invention, when there is no available reference data from other players. The first part of the meter305reflects the current score of a game in progress. Signs such as stars,315,320,325can be used to indicate when a certain level of score has been reached. In one implementation, there are three levels of scores that are represented by one, two and three stars respectively. When a player passes a certain score level during the play of a game, that can be visually represented by the indicator of that score level being lit up such as star315is in the figure. The second part of the score meter310shows the best previous result of the player in a particular level of the game. This can be accompanied by, for instance, an encouraging message340.

FIG. 4shows an implementation of the invention where there is reference data from other players available. The present invention has ways of displaying indications of other players' previous scores, score indications, for instance through the use of pictures330associated with those players. These pictures can be accompanied by additional information, such as the absolute score that those players scored. It should be understood that other data can also be shown in relation to the score indications of other players, such as how long ago that score was achieved or how many tries it took to achieve it.FIG. 5shows a similar implementation to the one depicted inFIG. 4, but here there is no additional information accompanying the pictures associated with other players.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited to using stored scores to show the performance of other players. In one implementation, players can see the scores of other players currently playing the same level while they are playing it, making it so that the indications of other players' scores can be moving in real time during the play of a game.

FIG. 6shows another implementation of the present invention where time is measured instead of score, and where no information related to other players is used to compare with. People skilled in the art will recognise that measurement of time and score are not mutually exclusive, in other implementations both could be shown at the same time. Other variables than time and score can also be measured, such as the amount of times a player has played a level.

As in the implementation showing sore, the meter can have one portion305indicating the current time and another portion indicating the player's previously best time310. This can also be represented by an absolute value405. An encouraging message410can be shown in relation to for instance the player's previously best result.

FIG. 7andFIG. 8show two implementations of the invention where time is a measured variable and in which reference data from other players is available. The two shown implementations have score indications of other players415, but unlikeFIG. 4andFIG. 5, the score indications is related to time instead of points.

FIG. 9shows another exemplary implementation of the invention. In this implementation, the player can compare himself with the average scores of players having played the same level previously. These average scores can for instance be shown in percentages505,510,515. In some implementations, the player can choose to compare himself to for instance the average score of all players having played the level, friends from a social network, or to a select list of friends from a social network.

The representation of different score levels can be done in other ways than stars. For instance, the numeral value of a score520,525,530can be used to represent the different levels of scores, as shown inFIG. 10.

In one implementation, a result will be displayed to the player upon finishing a level.FIG. 11depicts one type of message535indicating how the player performed compared to other players who have previously played the level. In other implementations, the type of indication can be something other than the relative performance, such as the absolute score or the number of stars achieved. The basis for comparison can also differ, for instance it can be the result of a certain player, the average results of all players previously having played the level, or the average result of all friends from a social network.

FIG. 12andFIG. 13show two other implementations where the players score is compared with the average scores of other players, but in these implementations time is used rather than points. The current time of a player605, or score or other variables in other implementations, can be displayed during the play of a game.FIG. 13shows another implementation of a message indicating the performance of a player610.

FIG. 14shows a typical implementation where the invention is used in a ‘Match3’-game. The score meter705is vertical, as opposed to horizontal in the previous figures. However, it should be understood that it can be implemented in any number of other ways as well, such as slightly tilted or diagonally. Indicators are showing the number of moves left710and the current score of a player715can be displayed together with the score meter.FIG. 15shows another typical implementation of the invention in a game environment.

FIG. 16shows an exemplary ‘Match3’-game in which the invention is implemented.FIG. 17is a magnified picture of the score meter from the in-game screenshot with a score indication of another player1005.FIG. 18shows one implementation in which the score and the name of a player1010is shown by hovering over the score indication related to that player. There can be other information shown, for instance a nickname instead of a real name and the number of moves that player used to complete the level instead of the score. It should also be understood that hovering over the indication is only one way of implementing the invention. Other mechanisms to trigger the display of information can for instance be after a set period of time or when the player has used a certain amount of moves.FIG. 19shows a similar implementation toFIG. 18, but where reference data from more players is available and subsequently more score indications1005for other players are shown.