US 10,300,386 B1Granted

Content item instance scaling based on wait time

AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.

InventorsHok Peng Leung, Zane Grey Reynolds, Christopher David Byskal, Geoffrey Scott Pare, Christopher Paul Dury

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Abstract

Techniques for wait time based scaling of content item instances are described herein. In some examples, a customer of a computing service provider may select a wait time threshold for joining one or more of the customer's content items that are hosted by the computing service provider. When a joining user logs-in and requests to join a content item, a calculation may be made regarding an estimated wait time for the user to join one or more existing content item instances. The estimated wait time may then be compared to the wait time threshold. A determination may then be made regarding whether or not to launch a new content item instance in response to the user's join request. In some examples, this determination may be based, at least in part, on the comparison of the estimated wait time to the wait time threshold.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A computing system for wait time based scaling of video game instances comprising:

one or more processors;
and
one or more memories having stored therein instructions that, upon execution by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:
receiving a selection of a wait time threshold associated with joining of the video game instances;
receiving a request for a user to join a video game;
calculating an estimated wait time for joining one or more existing video game instances, wherein the estimated wait time is calculated based at least in part on data that includes a first average historical quantity of users of the video game at a first elapsed duration of the video game and a second average historical quantity of users of the video game at a second elapsed duration of the video game, wherein the data indicates an increase or a decrease in user quantity from the first elapsed duration to the second elapsed duration;
performing a comparison of the estimated wait time to the wait time threshold;
determining, based at least in part on the comparison, whether to launch a new video game instance in response to the request, wherein the determining comprises:
determining to launch the new video game instance when the estimated wait time meets or exceeds the wait time threshold;
and
determining not to launch the new video game instance when the estimated wait time does not meet or exceed the wait time threshold;
and
assigning the user to an available video game instance.

10 more elements

A method for wait time based scaling of content item instances comprising:

receiving a selection of a wait time threshold associated with joining of the content item instances;
receiving a request for a user to join a content item;
calculating an estimated wait time for joining one or more existing content item instances, wherein the estimated wait time is calculated based at least in part on data that includes a first average historical quantity of users of the content item at a first elapsed duration of the content item and a second average historical quantity of users of the content item at a second elapsed duration of the content item, wherein the data indicates an increase or a decrease in user quantity form the first elapsed duration to the second elapsed duration;
performing a comparison of the estimated wait time to the wait time threshold;
determining, based at least in part on the comparison, whether to launch a new content item instance in response to the request;
and
assigning the user to an available content item instance.

4 more elements

One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having stored thereon instructions that, upon execution by one or more compute nodes, cause the one or more compute nodes to perform operations comprising:

receiving a selection of a wait time threshold associated with joining of content item instances;
receiving a request for a user to join a content item;
calculating an estimated wait time for joining one or more existing content item instances, wherein the estimated wait time is calculated based at least in part on data that includes a first average historical quantity of users of the content item at a first elapsed duration of the content item and a second average historical quantity of users of the content item at a second elapsed duration of the content item, wherein the data indicates an increase or a decrease in user quantity form the first elapsed duration to the second elapsed duration;
performing a comparison of the estimated wait time to the wait time threshold;
determining, based at least in part on the comparison, whether to launch a new content item instance in response to the request;
and
assigning the user to an available content item instance.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/190,611Filed 23 Jun 2016
Granted: 28 May 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

A63F 13/60
Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions: generating or modifying game content before or…
A63F 13/35
Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection…: details…
A63F 13/48
Controlling the progress of the video game: starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
A63F
Card, board, or roulette games