Shekhar V. Dhupelia - San Diego CA, US Glen Van Datta - San Diego CA, US Brian Fernandes - San Diego CA, US Eiko Erika Kato - San Diego CA, US William McCarroll - San Diego CA, US
Assignee:
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. - Foster City CA
A multi-user online application network computing configuration maintains application level information at a portal or lobby server, rather than at each individual application server or host machine. Users can therefore learn about and select a desired application, such as an online game, through communication with the lobby server. After appropriate authorization processing, users can contact the associated application server, such as a game host, to begin their participation. The lobby server can therefore reduce the bandwidth requirements and other operating demands on the application server. In addition, cross-application communications in real-time are facilitated through the lobby server concept. The multi-user application environment also provides a common data model for maintaining user information, such as for establishing a ladder ranking system in the online gaming context in which user achievements are recorded and shared among users and among the different game applications.
Shekhar V. Dhupelia - San Diego CA, US Glen Van Datta - San Diego CA, US Brian Fernandes - San Diego CA, US Eiko Erika Kato - San Diego CA, US William McCarroll - San Diego CA, US
Assignee:
Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC - Foster City CA
Methods for creating an interactive gaming environment are provided. In various embodiments, methods of the present invention may include initializing an interactive game application at a game server which is then characterized as having an active status, notifying a lobby server concerning the active status of the game server, registering the application with a universe management server via the lobby server, and allowing users to join the interactive gaming environment. The users joining the interactive gaming environment may be identified by a server key obtained from the game server.
Method For Authenticating A User In An Interactive Gaming Environment
Shekhar V. Dhupelia - San Diego CA, US Glen Van Datta - San Diego CA, US Brian Fernandes - San Diego CA, US Eiko Erika Kato - San Diego CA, US William McCarroll - San Diego CA, US
Assignee:
Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC - Foster City CA
Methods for creating an interactive gaming environment are provided. In various embodiments, methods of the present invention may include initializing an interactive game application at a game server which is then characterized as having an active status, notifying a lobby server concerning the active status of the game server, registering the application with a universe management server via the lobby server, and allowing users to join the interactive gaming environment. The users joining the interactive gaming environment may be identified by a server key obtained from the game server.
Shekhar V. Dhupelia - San Diego CA, US Glen Van Datta - San Diego CA, US Brian Fernandes - San Diego CA, US Eiko Erika Kato - San Diego CA, US William McCarroll - San Diego CA, US
Assignee:
Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC - Foster City CA
Methods for creating an interactive gaming environment are provided. In various embodiments, methods of the present invention may include initializing an interactive game application at a game server which is then characterized as having an active status, notifying a lobby server concerning the active status of the game server, registering the application with a universe management server via the lobby server, and allowing users to join the interactive gaming environment. The users joining the interactive gaming environment may be identified by a server key obtained from the game server.
Shekhar V. Dhupelia - San Diego CA, US Glen Van Datta - San Diego CA, US Brian Fernandes - San Diego CA, US Eiko Erika Kato - San Diego CA, US William McCarroll - San Diego CA, US
International Classification:
G06F 15/173
US Classification:
709223
Abstract:
Systems for communication across multiple game applications are provided. In various embodiments, systems of the present invention may include a first application server hosting a first game application, a second application server hosting a second game application that is different from the first game application, a first client device for interaction with the first game application, a second client device for interaction with the second game application, and a universe management server for maintaining information about the first client device and the second client device. The information maintained in the universe management server may include game application interaction information, which allows the universe management server to facilitate real-time communication between a user of the first client device and a user of the second client device. The universe management system may further receive communications from both client devices via the first and second application server.