U.S. Pat. No. 9,468,845

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following embodiments describe methods and apparatus for controlling user input in a gameplay of a video game. It will be apparent, that the present embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process operations have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present embodiments.

The embodiments provide ways to control and move a game object based on user input in a gameplay of a video game so as to provide a more realistic rendition of the game to a user. The game object is defined and rendered as a two-dimensional object and is attached to a three-dimensional collider component and a rigid body component. The three-dimensional collider component is used to define a three-dimensional shape to the game object. The rigid body component associates one or more physics attributes/properties to the game object and defines physical behavior of the game object. The three-dimensional collider component together with the rigid body component allow physical interactions between the game object and other objects provided in a game scene of the game in accordance to laws of physics and control movement of the game object based on the forces defined by the rigid body component or based on forces applied to it during interactions with other objects to provide more realistic gameplay.

The various embodiments described herein define game object manipulation in accordance to user input and interactions with other objects of a game that follow various laws of physics enabling users to have a more realistic gameplay experience. In these embodiments, one of the dimensions of the three-dimensional collider component used to define the game object and the game cursor is fixed to enable interaction in two-dimensional rendition. The realistic nature of the gameplay will keep the user more engaged and satisfied, ultimately leading to more game revenue for the developer of the game. With the brief overview of the invention, various embodiments for controlling user input for a video game will now be described with reference to the enclosed drawings.

It should be noted that the various embodiments are described herein with reference to one type of interactive game, to provide a general understanding. It should, however, be noted that the principles may be extended to other online games that benefit from keeping a player engaged for a longer period of time. The embodiments described herein should therefore not be interpreted to be exclusive or limiting, but rather exemplary or illustrative.

FIG. 1is an illustrative embodiment of a system used for controlling user input in a gameplay of a video game. The system includes a server200executing the interactive video game. In one embodiment, the server200may be a game console executing the video game. In another embodiment, the server200may be a game server hosting the online video game and executing an instance of the video game. In one embodiment, the server200may be part of a game cloud system. The server200hosting/executing the online video game includes a game manager210having a plurality of modules to control movement of a game object within a game scene of a game. Some exemplary modules within the game manager210include a game object selector module212, a component selector module214, a physical attribute assignor module216, an input detector module218, and an object manipulator module220. The object manipulator module220, in turn, may include one or more sub-modules, such as a frame identifier sub-module222, an input analyzer sub-module224, an angle computation sub-module226and an output determinator sub-module228. The one or more modules/sub-modules within the game manager210interacts with one or more data stores, such as an object datastore230, a collider datastore232, to name a few, to retrieve appropriate game related data. For example, the game object selector212may interact with the object datastore230to retrieve one or more game objects for a player to choose from, and with the collider datastore232to retrieve the appropriate three-dimensional collider component and rigid body component (if needed) that is to be applied to the selected game object. In one embodiment, in addition to selecting a three-dimensional collider component and the rigid body component for associating with the game object of the player, the collider datastore232may also be used to select a rigid body component and/or a three-dimensional collider component to associate with other objects included in a game scene of the game, including game objects of other players. The various modules/sub-modules of the game manager may interact with additional datastores, such as player history datastore (not shown) to store and retrieve player related information including previously selected game object, etc., game datastore (not shown) to view and select the video game available for game play on the server, etc.

A player (i.e., a user), in one embodiment, initiates access to the video game executing on the server using a game interface110on a client device100that is executing a computer program, such as a web browser. In another embodiment, the client may execute other computer programs other than the web browser to initiate interaction with the game executing on the server200through the game interface110. The game interface110facilitates transmission of command and data between the client100and the various modules/sub-modules of the game manager210executing on the server200. In one embodiment, the client device100is used to access the video game executing on a game cloud server over a network300, such as the Internet.

In another embodiment, a portion210aof the game manager210is available on the client device100. In this embodiment, when a player initially accesses the video game on the server200from the client device100, such as a mobile device, the portion210aof the game manager210is downloaded onto the client device100. The game manager portion210aon the client device may include client version of at least some of the modules that are available on the server200. For example, the game manager portion210aon the client device100may include game object selector module212a(not shown), a component selector module214a(not shown), an input detector module218a(not shown) and an object manipulator module220a(not shown). Each of the aforementioned modules in the game manager210aprovides the same processing functionality locally as the corresponding server side modules and may include all or some of the sub-modules that are available on the server side modules. In addition, the client device may also include client-version of the datastores to allow selection and storage of data related to the gameplay of the video game locally. The client-version of the datastores may be a subset of the datastores that are available on the server and may only include data related to the user's gameplay. The client side game manager210aallows the user to play the video game locally on the client device and update the gameplay of the video game rendering on the client device based on the user input provided by the user during gameplay. The modules of the client side game manager210ainteract with the corresponding server side modules to exchange interaction data stored in the respective datastores to influence the outcome of the video game as well as to synchronize the video game. For example, the user input and the game state of the video game from the client device may be updated to the video game executing on the server and such updates may be through the backend either synchronously or asynchronously. The ability to execute the game locally on the client side allows for faster updates to the game as it avoids the network latency between the client and the server devices, thereby allowing the user to have a rich game playing experience. The server side modules, in these embodiments, may provide the initial data to populate the user interface on the client device, including data for user selection, such as a list of the video games available on/accessed by the server device, the different game objects, different game cursors, etc. The server side modules may also provide at least a minimal level of data processing. The functionality of the various modules will now be described with reference to the server-side modules, but it should be noted that these module functionalities can be extended to the corresponding client-side modules, as well.

In one embodiment, the game manager210provides access to the online video game and manages the game operations for the player. The various modules within the game manager210are configured to interact with each other to process the various input data provided by the player and to perform the various game operations of the online video game, such as manipulation of the game object, adjusting attributes of the game object, game cursor, and other objects in the game scene (such as increasing or decreasing circular contour, increasing or reducing friction between objects, etc.), etc. In addition, the various modules within the game manager access and manage game related data stored in the various databases (i.e., datastores) during the execution of the online game. The game object selector212is used to identify one or more game objects that are defined and available for gameplay of the video game and present the identified game objects for player selection at the user interface110on the client device100. User selection of the game object is detected and the selected game object is assigned and made available to the player during gameplay. The game objects available for user selection and gameplay are defined in two dimensions. In some embodiments, the game object selected for gameplay has a circular contour. In other embodiments, the game object may have other shapes including some portions of the game object being circular and other portions of the game object being non-circular.

The component selector module214receives the game object selected by the player as input from the game selector module212and determines the geometry of the selected game object. Based on the geometry of the game object, the component selector module214selects either a simple or a compound three-dimensional collider to associate with the game object. The simple collider component, otherwise termed a “primitive” collider component, includes a single collider that correlates with the shape of the game object selected for gameplay. On the other hand, a compound collider component includes a combination of simple or primitive collider components with each simple collider component correlating with shape and size of a particular portion of the game object. The simple collider component for associating with the game object is selected from a group including a box collider for wrapping around a square game object or square portion of the game object, a spherical collider for wrapping around a circular game object or a circular portion of the game object, a capsule collider with radius and height that can be adjusted for wrapping around a cylindrical game object or a cylindrical portion of the game object, a wheel collider, a conical collider, a pyramid shaped collider, and the compound collider includes a combination of one or more simple collider components selected from the box, sphere, cone, pyramid, capsule or a wheel collider. In some embodiments, the component selector module214selects one of the dimensions of the three-dimensional collider component and fixes it during gameplay. As a result, when a simple or compound collider component is used to associate with the game object, based on the geometry of the objects, one of the dimensions (for example, the ‘z’ dimension of an x, y, z dimensions) in each of the primitive component is fixed. For example, each of the collider components is defined by (x, y, z) dimensions, the component selector module may fix the z dimension of the collider component. When a compound collider component is defined for the game object, the z dimension of each of the primitive component of the collider component that is used to define the game object, is fixed. The collider component provides the three-dimensional shape to the two-dimensional game object while allowing two-dimensional input to be used to control and move the game object.

In addition to selecting and associating appropriate one or more collider components, the component selector module214associates a rigid body component to the selected game object. The rigid body component together with the collider component are used to define physical interactions between the game object and other objects, including other game objects, within a game scene of the game. As more than one game object may be provided in the game, especially in a multi-player video game where distinct game objects are selected by different players, the component selector module214is used to assign appropriate collider components to the respective game objects that correlate with the geometrical shape and size of the respective game objects as well as rigid body components. Each game object may be of different shape and size. As a result, each game object may be defined by either a simple or compound collider components.

In addition to the game objects, other objects that are part of a game scene of the video game may also be defined by one or more collider components. The other objects may be associated with just the collider component or may be associated with both the collider component and the rigid body component depending on the type of object being defined and the functional role played by the object within the game scene. Some of the objects in the game scene may be defined as stationary objects while some others may be defined as moveable objects. In some embodiments, some of the objects defined in the game may not have a defined shape. As a result, in addition to the above list of collider components, a mesh collider component may be used to provide a three-dimensional shape to such objects. For example, a stationary object, such as a rock, a tree, a coral-reef, etc., in a game scene may be associated with a mesh collider component.

Once the collider and rigid body components are selected, the information related to the different collider components associated with the selected game object(s) are provided to the physical attribute assignor module216. The physical attribute assignor module216assigns one or more physical attributes to the game object in accordance to the rigid body component associated with the game object(s), wherein the physical attributes are used to define physical behavior of the selected game object. In some embodiments, the physical attributes defined by the physical attribute assignor module include one or more of mass, linear drag, angular drag, gravity, kinematic attributes, collision detection, motion constraints, etc. The rigid body component enables the game object to which it is associated, to respond to the various pull and push forces that are applied to the game object as part of gameplay interactions. In some embodiments, the pull and push forces provided by a user on the user interface are interpreted in two dimension format. The rigid body component and the three-dimensional collider component together define the physical behavior of the game object to make the interaction between the game object and other objects of the game follow various laws of physics, making the interaction more realistic and convincing to the players.

Once the components and physical attributes are assigned to the selected game object(s) and each of the other objects within the game, the game manager proceeds to monitor game activity within the game including detecting user input at the game interface, interpret the user input and control the movement of the game object across the game scene in accordance to the detected user input and laws of physics. Toward this end, the input detector module218detects the user input provided at a user interface of the client device and transmitted to the game manager, analyzes the user input to determine the various input attributes, computes one or more game related parameters and use the computed parameters to control the movement of the game object, in response to the user input. In one embodiment, the game related parameters that are computed include a force or velocity associated with the user input based on the user input attributes and physical attributes associated with the game object and applies the computed force or velocity to the game object. In one embodiment, the input attributes detected from the user input include direction of the user input, distance traveled within the game scene and time taken to travel the distance.

In one embodiment, the user input provided at the user interface of the client device is used to direct a game cursor to move the game object provided in the game scene of the game. At least a portion of the game cursor includes a circular contour and the user input is provided at the circular contour of the game cursor to enable the game cursor to interact with the game object. In one embodiment, the game object has a circular contour (for e.g., a ball) and the user input applied at the circular contour portion of the game cursor is used to balance the ball over the game cursor's circular contour. For example, the game cursor provided at the user interface may be in the form of an image of a finger and the circular contour portion is defined by the finger tip of the finger. In this example, the game object is associated with a spherical collider and at least the circular contour portion of the game cursor is associated with a spherical collider. The user input interpreted in two dimensions is used to balance the ball object on the rounded tip of the finger while the ball is acted on by gravitational forces defined by the rigid body component associated with the ball. In other words, the user input provided in two dimensions is used to simulate the interaction between the ball and the finger tip in three dimensions. To balance the ball on the fingertip, the computed force provided by the user input at the three-dimensional ball object is sufficient to overcome the force of gravity acting on the rigid body component of the game object.

FIG. 2Aillustrates an example of a game cursor provided at the game interface for manipulating the game object, such as the ball, in one embodiment. In this embodiment, the game cursor is shown as an image of a finger and the user input is applied at the finger tip. The user input acts to balance the ball in accordance to the three-dimensional form associated with the ball and the finger.

FIG. 2Billustrates an example of a game cursor provided at the game interface for manipulating the ball game object, in an alternate embodiment. In this embodiment, game cursor is in the form of a seal with the tip of the nose of the seal having a circular contour. User input at the seal is used to balance the ball, while the force of gravity acts on the ball due to its association with the rigid body component. In this embodiment, portion of the game cursor (i.e., tip of the nose of the seal) has a circular contour while the remaining portions are non-circular (i.e., rest of the body of the seal).

In some embodiments, the user input provided at the user interface of the client device is used to control movement of the game cursor to not only balance the game object at the circular contour of the fingertip but is also used to move the game object across the game scene and to flick the game object across the game scene of the gameplay. The game object may be moved around moveable and immoveable objects provided in the game scene, toward a goal, or may be moved to interact with the moveable/immoveable objects.FIG. 2Cillustrates user input provided at the finger image that is used to control movement of the ball game object to the right of the game scene, in one embodiment.FIG. 2Dillustrates, in one embodiment, moving the game object using the game cursor to capture objects provided in the game scene to score points, move toward a goal, or to advance in the game. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 2D, the game cursor (i.e., the seal) is used to move the game object (i.e., the ball) to collect dots to score points. A leaderboard may be provided by the game manager at the user interface to provide game status to a user during gameplay.FIG. 2Eillustrates the game object being balanced and moved around an immoveable object, such as a coral, provided in the game scene using the user input provided at the circular contour of the game cursor, as illustrated by line205. In the embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 2A-2E, the user input is provided using finger-touch on a touch-screen interface.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2A-2E, in addition to the game object(s) of the player(s) and the game cursor, other objects are presented in the game scene to provide sufficient challenges during gameplay. The other objects may include a combination of stationary objects and moveable objects. The other objects may be associated with simple or compound collider components to associate a three-dimensional form and, where applicable, with a rigid body component, as well. In some embodiments, some of the moveable objects may be configured to move in predictable paths or patterns across the game scene while some other moveable objects are configured to move toward other objects, such as the game objects. In addition to moving toward game objects, the moveable objects may move toward other moveable objects and stationary objects. In the embodiment where the moveable object moves toward the game object, the game manager dynamically determines the location of the game object in the game scene by checking every video frame during gameplay, determining the coordinates of the game object as the game object is being moved across the game scene, and moving the moveable object toward the game object.

FIG. 2Fillustrates an example of a moveable object (i.e., octopus, in accordance to an ocean theme defined in the game) that is configured to move toward the game object (i.e., ball). The octopus is one example and other objects, such as a shark, whale, etc., in keeping with the ocean theme of the game, for example, may also be defined. The game manager controls movement of the octopus toward the ball by checking every video frame of a game scene that has registered the movement of the ball to determine the current coordinates of the ball and then controls movement of the octopus to move toward the ball's coordinates. The octopus is designed to continue to move toward the ball till it hits the ball's collider. In this embodiment, as part of gameplay, the user input provided at the game cursor is used by an output determinator sub-module228to control the ball to move away from the octopus in order to achieve the gameplay goal.

In some embodiments, some of the stationary objects may be configured to exhibit a force of attraction that acts on the moveable objects, including the game object, as the moveable object(s) enter the attraction zone of the stationary objects and causes the moveable object(s) to be pulled toward the stationary object. The user input at the game interface of a touch-screen device is used to overcome the force of attraction and/or move the game object away from the attraction zone of the stationary object.FIG. 2Gillustrates, in one embodiment, a stationary object, such as a black hole, provided in the game scene that is designed to have a suction force (i.e., force of attraction) to attract the ball (i.e., game object) or other moveable objects toward it. In this embodiment, user input may be provided at the game interface to prevent the ball from being sucked into the black hole. Accordingly, the user input is provided accordingly to the game cursor so as to cause the game cursor to move between the ball and the black hole causing the ball to deflect away from the black hole. The user input is used to determine the direction of deflection and amount of force to be applied to the ball. In this embodiment, the force applied to the ball should be equal to or greater than the force of attraction provided by the black hole.

In some embodiments, the user input provided through the game cursor is used to balance the game object with spherical contours on top of the circular contour of the game cursor. In other embodiments, the user input is used to balance the spherical form of the game object over the circular contour of the game cursor and to flick the game object across the game scene. The game manager is configured to take the curve of the game cursor into consideration and apply the laws of physics when trying to balance the spherical contour of the game object on the circular contour of the game cursor while force, such as gravity, in accordance to the laws of physics act on the game object. In one embodiment, the user input is used by the input analyzer sub-module224to identify a plurality of input parameters. The user input is provided in the form of a finger gesture and the game manager interprets the finger gesture to identify the input parameters of the user input. Some of the input parameters determined by the input analyzer sub-module224include direction of the user input, linear drag of the user input, angular drag of the user input, etc. The input parameters from the input analyzer sub-module224and the user input are provided to a frame identifier sub-module222to compute the distance traveled and the time taken to travel the distance. In one embodiment, input from the accelerometers, gyroscopes, etc., may be used by the frame identifier sub-module222to compute the distance and the time. The frame identifier sub-module222identifies video frames of the user interface on which the user input was registered, computes the distance traveled within each video frame, in pixels, and aggregates the distance D across all the identified video frames. In one embodiment, the linear drag and angular drag defined in the user input may influence the distance traveled. The time T taken is computed similarly by the frame identifier sub-module222by determining time taken to travel the distance in each identified video frame and aggregating the time across all identified video frames. The computed time T and the distance D will determine how fast or slow the game object is moved across the screen. In other words, the speed of the finger gesture across the user interface provided in the user input is simulated by the momentum provided to the game object during the game object manipulation.

The input parameters and the user input from the input analyzer sub-module224acts as input to the angle computation module226to determine the direction for imparting a force or velocity to the game object. The direction for imparting the velocity or the force is determined by first identifying a point of contact between the game object and the game cursor as the game cursor is manipulated to enter a collision zone of the game object. It should be noted that the game cursor as used in this application refers to a cursor provided within the game scene of a video game during gameplay, through which user input may be received for controlling movement of the game object. In one embodiment, the collision zone of the game object is defined as the region or area that immediately surrounds the game object. In another embodiment, the collision zone is defined along the outer boundary of the game object. The point of contact between the game object and the game cursor is used by the angle computation module226to determine a normal angle of the user input. A normal angle of interaction is defined at the point of contact by drawing a line that extends from the point of contact through the center of the game object.FIG. 2Hillustrates the normal angle, illustrated by line213, defined by the contact point ‘X’ between the game object (i.e., ball object) and the game cursor (i.e., seal or finger). Additionally, the time taken T to travel distance D (in pixels) across the input interface provided by the last input (i.e., last drag) at the game object is also computed. The normal angle determined by the angle computation sub-module226identifies the direction for imparting the force or the velocity to the game object, wherein the velocity or force is computed as a function of T, D.

In some embodiments, the input parameters, such as the direction, distance and time, as well as the physical attributes, such as mass, etc., of the game object are used, in accordance to laws of physics, to compute the velocity and/or the force imparted to the game object along the normal angle. An output determinator sub-module228computes a velocity and/or force that is to be imparted to the game object during game play using the input parameters identified by the various sub-modules222,224,226. In some embodiments, the object manipulator220determines if the computed velocity/force is greater than a pre-defined threshold value maintained by the object manipulator. If the velocity/force is greater than the pre-defined threshold value, the object manipulator manipulates the game object in the direction of the normal angle.

In one embodiment, to provide challenges to the player, the angle of curvature of the circular portion of the game cursor may be increased or decreased dynamically based on level of the game achieved by the player. When the player is at the beginning levels of the game, the angle of curvature may be decreased to allow the player to easily balance the game object on the curvature of the game cursor and manipulate the game object across the scene toward a goal. As the player reaches higher levels and becomes adept in the game, the angle of curvature may be dynamically increased by programmatically adjusting the parameters related to the angle of curvature of the game cursor to provide sufficient challenges to the player. The input parameters of the user input takes into consideration the angle of curvature in controlling movement of the game object. In an alternate embodiment, the value of the force of gravity may be increased programmatically to provide challenge to the player. In yet another embodiment, the friction between the game object and the game cursor may be reduced programmatically. In this embodiment, the reduced friction would cause the game object to slide off the game cursor faster and would pose greater challenge to the player to balance the curved contour portion of the game object on the curved contour portion of the game cursor. The list of challenges that may be provided to the player is exemplary and that additional challenges or combination of the aforementioned challenges may also be provided to the player to make the gameplay more interesting and challenging.

As mentioned earlier, user input, in the form of finger gesture at a touch-screen user interface, is used to balance the game object on a spherical portion of the game cursor. When the finger is removed from the touch-screen, the game object begins to fall downward toward a bottom of the screen simulating the pull of gravity on the game object. The game object may be prevented from falling down by using user input in the form of the finger gesture at the game cursor re-establish contact with the game object. The finger gesture acts to “catch” the falling game object and balance it on the circular contour of the game cursor thereby preventing the downward progress of the game object. In one embodiment, the act of catching using the circular contour of the game cursor may by simulated by the game object bouncing back upward in the game scene. In this embodiment, as the game object hits the apex of the curve on the game cursor, the game object bounces back. Sliding the game cursor to the side of the game object may help in arresting the downward progress of the game object, aid in balancing the game object on the apex and assist in re-directing the game object.

With the various detailed embodiments, a method for controlling user input in a gameplay of a video game will now be described with reference toFIG. 3. The method begins at operation310wherein a three-dimensional collider component and a rigid body component are associated with a game object that is used in the gameplay of the video game. The game object is defined as a two-dimensional object. The rigid body component is used to assign a plurality of physics attributes to the game object that are used to control the physical behavior of the game object. The collider component is used to provide a three-dimensional form to the game object. A game cursor used to provide user input to the game play is associated with a second three-dimensional collider, as illustrated in operation320. At least a portion of the game cursor has a circular contour. User input is detected at a touch-screen interface of a computing device that is rendering the gameplay of the video game, as illustrated in operation330. The user input is applied at the circular contour portion of the game cursor causing the circular contour portion of the game cursor to control movement of the game object within a game scene of the game play. The controlling of the game object is based on one or more of the plurality of physics attributes associated with the game object.

FIG. 4illustrates an alternate embodiment of a method for using touchscreen interface to provide user input to a game during gameplay. The method includes detecting selection of a game object for the gameplay, as illustrated in operation410. The game object is rendered in two dimensions and is associated with a rigid body component and a three-dimensional collider component. The rigid body component and the collider component are used to associate one or more physics attributes to the game object to enable control of the physical behavior of the game object during game play. User input is detected at the touchscreen interface of a computing device rendering the gameplay, as illustrated in operation420. The user input is used to move and control a game cursor provided in a game scene of the game. The game cursor is associated with a second three-dimensional collider component. A portion of the game cursor has a circular contour and the user input is applied at the circular contour portion of the game cursor. The game object of the video game is controlled to move within a game scene, in accordance to the user input applied at the spherical contour portion of the game cursor, as illustrated in operation430. The control includes balancing the game object on the spherical contour portion of the game cursor and/or moving the game object in the game scene of the game.

The various embodiments of the invention provide ways to control movement of a game object using input provided at a touchscreen interface. The game object has a circular contour and is manipulated by a game cursor that receives user input from a finger gesture provided at the touchscreen interface. The game cursor includes at least a portion that has circular contour and the user input applied to the circular contour portion is used to control movement of the game object while one or more forces act on the game object during gameplay. The forces acting on the game object may include force of attraction exhibited by one or more objects defined in the game scene of the video game, deflective forces caused by user input, gravitational forces acting on the game object due, in part, by the rigid body component associated with the game object. The game object manipulation is in accordance to two dimensional user input and the laws of physics and provides a more realistic depiction of interaction between the game object and other objects during gameplay of the video game, thereby enhancing the player's gameplay experience. Further, the various embodiments describe how the two-dimensional user input is used to provide a three-dimensional game play experience by using the two dimensional user input at the game cursor to provide a three-dimensional interaction at the game object.

FIG. 5shows a block diagram illustrating exemplary social-gaming network architecture, according to one embodiment. In some implementations, a plurality of players (e.g.,251a-251f) may be utilizing a social gaming network250. Each player interacts with the social gaming network via one or more client devices (e.g., client devices252a-252f). The clients may communicate with each other and with other entities affiliated with the gaming platform via communications network255. Further, the players may be utilizing a social networking service provided by a social networking server (e.g., social networking servers253) to interact with each other.

When a player provides an input into the player's client device, the client device may in response send a message via the communications network to the social networking server. The social networking server may update the player profile, save the message to a database, send messages to other players, etc. The social gaming network may include a social graph database254, which stores player relationships, social player profiles, player messages, and player social data.

The gaming servers261host one or more gaming applications, and perform the computations necessary to provide the gaming features to the players and clients. One or more gaming databases262store data related to the gaming services, such as the gaming applications and modules, virtual gaming environment data, player gaming session data, player scores, player virtual gaming profiles, game stage levels, etc. The gaming servers may utilize the data from the gaming databases to perform the computations related to providing gaming services for the players.

Room Servers272manage the slot rooms system in the game, including the creation, tracking, expiration, abandonment, and deletion of rooms. In addition, a room database270holds room information, and design db268holds information data.

FIG. 6illustrates an implementation of an online game infrastructure, according to one embodiment. The online game infrastructure476includes one or more game servers458, web servers (not shown), one or more social network management servers462, and databases to store game related information. In one embodiment, game server458provides a user interface460for players452to play the online game. In one embodiment, game server458includes a Web server for players452to access the game via web browser454, but the Web server may also be hosted in a server different from game server458. Network456interconnects players452with the one or more game servers458.

Each game server458has access to one or more game databases466for keeping game data. In addition, a single database can store game data for one or more online games. Each game server458may also include one or more levels of caching. Game data cache464is a game data cache for the game data stored in game databases466. For increased performance, caching may be performed in several levels of caching. For instance, data more frequently used is stored in a high priority cache, while data requiring less access during a session will be cached and updated less frequently.

The number of game servers458changes over time, as the gaming platform is an extensible platform that changes the number of game servers according to the load on the gaming infrastructure. As a result, the number of game servers will be higher during peak playing times, and the number of game servers will be lower during off-peak hours. In one embodiment, the increase or decrease of bandwidth is executed automatically, based on current line usage or based on historical data.

One or more social network management servers462provide support for the social features incorporated into the online games. The social network management servers462access social data478from one or more social networks474via Application Programming Interfaces (API)472made available by the social network providers. An example of a social network is Facebook®, but it is possible to have other embodiments implemented in other social networks. Each social network474includes social data478, and this social data478, or a fraction of the social data, is made available via API472. As in the case of the game servers, the number of social network management servers462that are active at a point in time changes according to the load on the infrastructure. As the demand for social data increases, the number of social network management servers462increases. Social network management servers462cache user data in database468, and social data in database470. The social data may include the social networks where a player is present, the social relationships for the player, the frequency of interaction of the player with the social network and with other players, etc. Additionally, the user data kept in database468may include the player's name, demographics, e-mail, games played, frequency of access to the game infrastructure, etc.

It is noted that the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 7is an exemplary online gaming infrastructure. Other embodiments may utilize different types of servers, databases, APIs, etc., and the functionality of several servers can be provided by a single server, or the functionality can be spread across a plurality of distributed servers. The embodiment illustrated inFIG. 8should therefore not be interpreted to be exclusive or limiting, but rather exemplary or illustrative.

FIG. 7illustrates an example network environment550suitable for implementing embodiments. Network environment550includes a network560coupling one or more servers570and one or more clients580to each other. In particular embodiments, network560is an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a portion of the Internet, another network, or a combination of two or more such networks560.

One or more links552couple a server570or a client580to network560. In particular embodiments, one or more links552each includes one or more wired, wireless, or optical links552. In particular embodiments, one or more links552each includes an intranet, an extranet, a VPN, a LAN, a WLAN, a WAN, a MAN, a portion of the Internet, or another link552or a combination of two or more such links552.

Each server570may be a stand-alone server or may be a distributed server spanning multiple computers or multiple datacenters. Servers570may be of various types, such as, for example and without limitation, slots server, jackpot server, gambling server, web server, news server, mail server, message server, advertising server, file server, application server, exchange server, database server, or proxy server. Each server570may include hardware, software, embedded logic components, or a combination of two or more such components for carrying out the appropriate functionalities implemented or supported by server570. For example, a web server is generally capable of hosting websites containing web pages or particular elements of web pages. More specifically, a web server may host HyperText Markup Language (HTML) files or other file types, or may dynamically create or constitute files upon a request, and communicate them to clients580in response to Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) or other requests from clients580. A mail server is generally capable of providing electronic mail services to various clients580. A database server is generally capable of providing an interface for managing data stored in one or more data stores.

In particular embodiments, one or more data storages590may be communicatively linked to one or more servers570via one or more links552. Data storages590may be used to store various types of information. The information stored in data storages590may be organized according to specific data structures. In particular embodiments, each data storage590may be a relational database. Particular embodiments may provide interfaces that enable servers570or clients580to manage, e.g., retrieve, modify, add, or delete, the information stored in data storage590.

In particular embodiments, each client580may be an electronic device including hardware, software, or embedded logic components or a combination of two or more such components and capable of carrying out the appropriate functionalities implemented or supported by client580. For example and without limitation, a client580may be a desktop computer system, a notebook computer system, a notebook computer system, a handheld electronic device, or a mobile telephone. A client580may enable a network player at client580to access network580. A client580may enable its player to communicate with other players at other clients580. Further, each client580may be a computing device, such as a desktop computer or a work station, or a mobile device, such as a notebook computer, a network computer, or a smart telephone.

In particular embodiments, a client580may have a web browser582, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Or Mozilla Firefox, and may have one or more add-ons, plug-ins, or other extensions. A player at client580may enter a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or other address directing the web browser582to a server570, and the web browser582may generate a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request and communicate the HTTP request to server570. Server570may accept the HTTP request and communicate to client580one or more Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) files responsive to the HTTP request. Client580may render a web page based on the HTML files from server570for presentation to the user. The present disclosure contemplates any suitable web page files. As an example and not by way of limitation, web pages may render from HTML files, Extensible Hyper Text Markup Language (XHTML) files, or Extensible Markup Language (XML) files, according to particular needs. Such pages may also execute scripts such as, for example and without limitation, those written in Javascript, Java, Microsoft Silverlight, combinations of markup language and scripts such as AJAX (Asynchronous Javascript and XML), and the like. Herein, reference to a web page encompasses one or more corresponding web page files (which a browser may use to render the web page) and vice versa, where appropriate.

Web browser582may be adapted for the type of client580where the web browser executes. For example, a web browser residing on a desktop computer may differ (e.g., in functionalities) from a web browser residing on a mobile device. A user of a social networking system may access the website via web browser582.

FIG. 8illustrates an example computer system650for implementing embodiments. In particular embodiments, software running on one or more computer systems650performs one or more operations of one or more methods described or illustrated herein or provides functionality described or illustrated herein. Although methods for implementing embodiments were described with a particular sequence of operations, it is noted that the method operations may be performed in different order, or the timing for the execution of operations may be adjusted, or the operations may be performed in a distributed system by several entities, as long as the processing of the operations are performed in the desired way.

As example and not by way of limitation, computer system650may be an embedded computer system, a system-on-chip (SOC), a single-board computer system (SBC) (such as, for example, a computer-on-module (COM) or system-on-module (SOM)), a desktop computer system, a laptop or notebook computer system, an interactive kiosk, a mainframe, a mesh of computer systems, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a server, or a combination of two or more of these. Where appropriate, computer system650may include one or more computer systems650; be stand-alone or distributed; span multiple locations; span multiple machines; or reside in a cloud, which may include one or more cloud components in one or more networks. The one or more computer systems650may perform in real time or in batch mode one or more operations of one or more methods described or illustrated herein.

In particular embodiments, computer system650includes a processor652, memory654, storage656, an input/output (I/O) interface658, a communication interface660, and a bus662. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a particular computer system having a particular number of particular components in a particular arrangement, embodiments may be implemented with any suitable computer system having any suitable number of any suitable components in any suitable arrangement.

In particular embodiments, processor652includes hardware for executing instructions, such as those making up a computer program. As an example and not by way of limitation, to execute instructions, processor652may retrieve (or fetch) the instructions from an internal register, an internal cache, memory654, or storage656; decode and execute them; and then write one or more results to an internal register, an internal cache, memory654, or storage656. The present disclosure contemplates processor652including any suitable number of any suitable internal registers, where appropriate. Where appropriate, processor652may include one or more arithmetic logic units (ALUs); be a multi-core processor; or include one or more processors652. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a particular processor, this disclosure contemplates any suitable processor.

In particular embodiments, memory654includes main memory for storing instructions for processor652to execute, or data that can be manipulated by processor652. As an example and not by way of limitation, computer system650may load instructions from storage656or another source (such as, for example, another computer system650) to memory654. Processor652may then load the instructions from memory654to an internal register or internal cache. During or after execution of the instructions, processor652may write one or more results (which may be intermediate or final results) to the internal register or internal cache. Processor652may then write one or more of those results to memory654. One or more memory buses (which may each include an address bus and a data bus) may couple processor652to memory654. Bus662may include one or more memory buses, as described below. One or more memory management units (MMUs) reside between processor652and memory654and facilitate accesses to memory654requested by processor652. Memory654includes random access memory (RAM).

As an example and not by way of limitation, storage656may include a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), a floppy disk drive, flash memory, an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc, magnetic tape, or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive or a combination of two or more of these. Storage656may include removable or non-removable (or fixed) media, where appropriate. In particular embodiments, storage656includes read-only memory (ROM). Where appropriate, this ROM may be mask-programmed ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), electrically alterable ROM (EAROM), or flash memory or a combination of two or more of these.

In particular embodiments, I/O interface658includes hardware, software, or both providing one or more interfaces for communication between computer system650and one or more I/O devices. One or more of these I/O devices may enable communication between a person and computer system650. As an example and not by way of limitation, an I/O device may include a keyboard, keypad, microphone, monitor, mouse, printer, scanner, speaker, still camera, stylus, tablet, touch screen, trackball, video camera, another suitable I/O device or a combination of two or more of these.

Communication interface660includes hardware, software, or both providing one or more interfaces for communication between computer system650and one or more other computer systems650on one or more networks. As an example and not by way of limitation, communication interface660may include a network interface controller (NIC) or network adapter for communicating with an Ethernet or other wire-based network or a wireless NIC (WNIC) or wireless adapter for communicating with a wireless network, such as a WI-FI network. As an example, computer system650may communicate with a wireless PAN (WPAN) (such as, for example, a BLUETOOTH WPAN), a WI-FI network, a WI-MAX network, a cellular telephone network (such as, for example, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network), or other suitable wireless network or a combination of two or more of these.

In particular embodiments, bus662includes hardware, software, or both coupling components of computer system650to each other. As an example and not by way of limitation, bus662may include an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) or other graphics bus, an Enhanced Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, a front-side bus (FSB), a HYPERTRANSPORT (HT) interconnect, an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, an INFINIBAND interconnect, a low-pin-count (LPC) bus, a memory bus, a Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, a PCI-Express (PCI-X) bus, a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) bus, a Video Electronics Standards Association local (VLB) bus, or another suitable bus or a combination of two or more of these. Bus662may include one or more buses662, where appropriate. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a particular bus, this disclosure contemplates any suitable bus or interconnects.

Herein, reference to a computer-readable storage medium encompasses one or more non-transitory, tangible computer-readable storage media possessing structure that may store a computer program or data. As an example and not by way of limitation, a computer-readable storage medium may include a semiconductor-based or other integrated circuit (IC) (such, as for example, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application-specific IC (ASIC)), a hard disk, an HDD, a hybrid hard drive (HHD), an optical disc, an optical disc drive (ODD), a magneto-optical disc, a magneto-optical drive, a floppy disk, a floppy disk drive (FDD), magnetic tape, a holographic storage medium, a solid-state drive (SSD), a RAM-drive, a Secure Digital card, a Secure Digital drive, or another suitable computer-readable storage medium or a combination of two or more of these, where appropriate. Herein, reference to a computer-readable storage medium excludes any medium that is not eligible for patent protection under 35 U.S.C. §101.

One or more embodiments can also be fabricated as computer readable code on a non-transitory computer readable medium. Herein, reference to software may encompass one or more applications, bytecode, one or more computer programs, one or more executables, one or more instructions, logic, machine code, one or more scripts, or source code, and vice versa, where appropriate.

The present disclosure encompasses all changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications to the example embodiments herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend.