US 6,152,824 A · Online gaming architecture

Abstract

A networked computer online gaming system and process arranged in a client/server online gaming architecture and utilized to run gaming programs. The client computers are configured to run a gaming client program. The server computers are coupled to the client computers via a network. The server computers run server programs including a master control program (MCP) that governs access of the server programs to the online gaming architecture, a servorum program (SV) for creating instances of a server program, a matchmaker program (MM) that supports rendezvous services, a game instances class server program (GICS) that enables games and provides user to user communication, and game upper level protocol server program (GULP) that supports the user to user communication provided by said GICS.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A networked computer online gaming system, comprising:

a network comprising at least one server computer in communication with a client computer adapted to run a client program, said network adapted to run server programs including a first server program that governs access of said server programs in said online gaming architecture, a second server program for creating instances of a server program, a third server program that supports rendezvous services, and a forth server program that enables data communication for at least one of said server programs, wherein said second server program:
accepts commands to create servers only from said first server program;
causes said third server program to start executing on a physical server that executes an instance of said second server program in response to a control message from said first server program and to configure said third server program to support the type or class of game sought by said client program;
and
create said fourth server program as a result of commands sent to said second server program from said first server program.

2 more elements

A networked computer online gaming system, comprising;

a network comprising at least one server computer in communication with a client computer adapted to run a client program, said server computer adapted to run server programs including a plurality of first server type programs that govern access of said server programs in said online gaming architecture, a plurality of second server type programs for creating instances of said server programs, a plurality of third server type programs that support rendezvous services, a plurality of fourth server type programs that enables data communications for at least one of said server programs, wherein said plurality of first server type programs comprises:
an initial first server type program that maintains a list of net addresses of said plurality of first server type programs, said list is updated based upon frequent communications between each of said plurality of first server type programs;
and
a replacement first server type program that is selected from said list said initial first server type program maintains, said replacement first server type program being based upon communication links between said replacement first server type program and said client program.

1 more element

In a networked computer online gaming system including a server computer in communication with a client computer adapted to run a client program, said server computer adapted to run server programs including a first server program that governs access of said server programs in said online gaming architecture, a second server program for creating instances of a server program, a third server program that supports rendezvous services, a forth server program that enables data communications for at least one of said server programs, an online gaming process comprising the steps of:

a) establishing a link between said client program and said first server program;
b) determining communication latency characteristics between said client program and said first server program;
and
c) engaging said third server program in a configuration that supports rendezvous services, wherein step c) further includes the steps of:
c1) requesting third server program addresses;
c2) determining if enough third server program instances are executing;
c3) attempting to start an instance of third server program;
c4) establishing third server program started successfully;
and
c5) transmitting success response to third server program.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Online gaming architecture

Life of this patent

Online gaming architecture

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23