Discovery and distribution of game session information

A method, implemented in a server device, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a computing device, an acceptance of an invitation to join a game session;
• and
• sending, to the computing device, a game session key to be used by the computing device to securely communicate data with one or more other computing devices in the game session.

A system comprising:

• an interface configured to receive requests regarding a plurality of game sessions each hosted by one or more of a plurality of computing devices, and to respond to the received requests with information regarding one or more of the plurality of game sessions;
• and
• a database configured to maintain the information for each of the plurality of game sessions, wherein the information for each of the plurality of game sessions comprises a game session identifier to uniquely identify the game session and further comprises a game session key to be used by computing devices that are part of the game session to securely communicate with one another.

One or more computer readable media having stored thereon a plurality of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:

• send, to a server device, a request to host a game session;
• and
• receive, from the server device, both a game session identifier that uniquely identifies the game session and a game session key to be used to securely communicate with other members of the game session.

One or more computer readable media having stored thereon a plurality of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to send, to a server device, a request to host a game session, wherein the request includes both a game session identifier that uniquely identifies the game session and a game session key to be used to securely communicate with other members of the game session.

A method comprising:

• receiving, from a requesting device, a request for information describing one or more of a plurality of game sessions currently available for play, wherein the plurality of game sessions are hosted by one or more other devices;
• and
• returning, to the requesting device, information allowing the requesting device to join the one or more game sessions, wherein the requesting device and the one or more other devices are each situated behind different network address translation (NAT) devices.