# US 7,610,402 B2 · Spectators in a peer-to-peer relay network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,610,402 B2 - Document ID: US7610402B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/700,777 - Filed: 2003-11-03 - Published: 2005-04-21 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2003-10-20 - Assignees: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC - Inventors: Glen Van Datta - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610402B2 ## CPC - H04L 67/104: Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks - A63F 13/12 - A63F 13/30: Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers - A63F 13/34: using peer-to-peer connections - H04L 67/1046: {Joining mechanisms} - H04L 67/1059: {Inter-group management mechanisms, e.g. splitting, merging or interconnection of groups} - A63F 2300/407: Data transfer via internet - A63F 2300/408: Peer to peer connection - A63F 2300/577: for watching a game played by other players - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Methods and apparatus for implementing peer-to-peer relay. In one implementation, a peer-to-peer relay network includes: a plurality of N peer systems; wherein each peer system in said peer-to-peer relay network is connected to a number of other peer systems in said peer-to-peer relay network that is less than or equal to a connection limit, said connection limit is greater than or equal to 2, said connection limit is less than or equal to N−2, each peer system in said peer-to-peer relay network is configured to relay data to peer systems connected to that peer system according to a set of one or more relay rules, each peer system is a participant or a spectator, at least one peer system is a participant, at least one peer system is a spectator, a participant is configured to generate data to be relayed in said peer-to-peer relay network, and a spectator is configured to relay data generated by a participant. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A peer-to-peer relay network, comprising: a plurality of N peer systems, wherein each peer system is either a participant or a spectator and the peer-to-peer network includes at least one participant and at least one spectator; wherein each peer system in said peer-to-peer relay network is connected to a number of other peer systems in said peer-to-peer relay network that is less than or equal to a connection limit, said connection limit is greater than or equal to 2, said connection limit is less than or equal to N−2, each peer system in said peer-to-peer relay network is configured to relay data to peer systems connected to that peer system according to a set of one or more relay rules, wherein a participant is configured to generate data to be relayed in said peer-to-peer relay network, and a spectator is configured to relay data generated by a participant, and wherein the spectator is not authorized to generate new data to be relayed in the peer-to-peer network and the spectator is not authorized to send the new data to be relayed throughout the peer-to-peer network. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The peer-to-peer relay network of claim 1, further comprising: a server connected to each peer system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The peer-to-peer relay network of claim 1, wherein: said at least one participant is playing an online game. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The peer-to-peer relay network of claim 1, wherein: said at least one participant is performing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The peer-to-peer relay network of claim 4, wherein: said performing is playing music. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The peer-to-peer relay network of claim 1, wherein: said at least one participant is teaching. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The peer-to-peer relay network of claim 1, wherein: at least two peer systems are participants, and each participant has a connection to at least one other participant. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The peer-to-peer relay network of claim 1, wherein: each peer system is configured not to relay data generated by a spectator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The peer-to-peer relay network of claim 1, wherein: at least one spectator is a conditional spectator, a conditional spectator is configured to request permission to send data generated by the conditional spectator to other peer systems to be relayed throughout said peer-to-peer relay network, each peer system is configured to relay data generated by a conditional spectator if that conditional spectator has received permission to send that data. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The peer-to-peer relay network of claim 1, wherein: at least one peer system is a network-enabled game console. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The peer-to-peer relay network of claim 1, wherein: at least two peer systems are connected through the Internet. ### Claim 12 A method of relaying data in a peer-to-peer relay network, comprising: receiving data at a relaying peer system from a sending peer system connected to the relaying peer system in a peer-to-peer relay network, wherein said data has associated information identifying the origin peer system that generated said data; confirming said origin peer system is permitted to send data to be relayed through said peer-to-peer relay network; applying a set of one or more relay rules to select zero or more peer systems indicated by said set of one or more relay rules to which to relay said data; and relaying said data to any peer systems selected by applying said set of one or more relay rules; wherein each peer system in said peer-to-peer relay network is a participant or a spectator, and wherein the spectator is not authorized to generate new data to be relayed in the peer-to-peer network and the spectator is not authorized to send the new data to be relayed throughout the peer-to-peer network. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein: each peer system stores a connection limit defining a number of other peer systems up to which a peer system is permitted to connect in that peer-to-peer relay network, and each peer system stores a set of one or more relay rules defining how a peer system is to relay data to other peer systems connected to that peer system in that peer-to-peer relay network. ### Claim 14 A peer system in a peer-to-peer relay network, comprising: means for receiving data at a relaying peer system from a sending peer system connected to the relaying peer system in a peer-to-peer relay network, wherein said data has associated information identifying the origin peer system that generated said data; means for confirming said origin peer system is permitted to send data to be relayed through said peer-to-peer relay network; means for applying a set of one or more relay rules to select zero or more peer systems indicated by said set of one or more relay rules to which to relay said data; and means for relaying said data to any peer systems selected by applying said set of one or more relay rules; wherein each peer system in said peer-to-peer relay network is a participant or a spectator, and wherein the spectator is not authorized to generate new data to be relayed in the peer-to-peer network and the spectator is not authorized to send the new data to be relayed throughout the peer-to-peer network. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The peer system of claim 14, wherein: said peer system stores a connection limit defining a number of other peer systems up to which said peer system is permitted to connect in that peer-to-peer relay network, and said peer system stores a set of one or more relay rules defining how said peer system is to relay data to other peer systems connected to that peer system in that peer-to-peer relay network. ### Claim 16 A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a peer system in a peer-to-peer relay network, said method comprising step to: process received data at a relaying peer system from a sending peer system connected to the relaying peer system in a peer-to-peer relay network, wherein said data has associated information identifying the origin peer system that generated said data; confirm said origin peer system is permitted to send data to be relayed through said peer-to-peer relay network; apply a set of one or more relay rules to select zero or more peer systems indicated by said set of one or more relay rules to which to relay said data; and relay said data to any peer systems selected by applying said set of one or more relay rules; wherein each peer system in said peer-to-peer relay network is a participant or a spectator, and wherein the spectator is not authorized to generate new data to be relayed in the peer-to-peer network and the spectator is not authorized to send the new data to be relayed throughout the peer-to-peer network. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The computer program of claim 16, wherein: said peer system stores a connection limit defining a number of other peer systems up to which said peer system is permitted to connect in that peer-to-peer relay network, and said peer system stores a set of one or more relay rules defining how said peer system is to relay data to other peer systems connected to that peer system in that peer-to-peer relay network.