US 8,789,055 B1Granted

Maintaining time fidelity for an instance of a virtual space placed in a background state

AssigneeKabam, Inc.

InventorMichael R. Pearce

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Abstract

Time fidelity may be maintained for an instance of a virtual space placed in a background state. The background state may be a state in which user intervention with the instance of the virtual space is disallowed. In contrast, a foreground state may be a state in which user intervention with the instance of the virtual space is allowed. Individual timers may be associated with corresponding events configured to occur within the virtual space. An elapsed time while the instance of the virtual space is in a background state may be determined. Individual timers may be adjusted based on the elapsed time responsive to the instance of the virtual space resuming from the background state to the foreground state in order to maintain time fidelity.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A system configured to maintain time fidelity for an instance of a virtual space placed in a background state, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising:
a space module configured to implement the instance of the virtual space to determine views of the virtual space, the instance being associated with one or more events including a first event, the first event being configured to (1) occur at a first occurrence time within the virtual space, (2) occur over a first period of time within the virtual space, or (3) be completed at a first completion time within the virtual space;
a timer module configured to manage one or more timers including a first timer, individual ones of the one or more timers being associated with individual ones of the one or more events, the first timer being associated with the first event, the first timer being configured to effectively (1) count down to the first occurrence time, (2) count down the first period of time, or (3) count down to the first completion time;
a lapse determination module configured to determine an elapsed time while the instance of the virtual space is in a background state, the background state being a state in which user intervention with the instance of the virtual space is disallowed, a foreground state being a state in which user intervention with the instance of the virtual space is allowed;
and
a global timer module configured to adjust individual ones of the one or more timers based on the elapsed time responsive to the instance of the virtual space resuming from the background state to the foreground state, wherein the first timer is adjusted such that the first event (1) occurs at the first occurrence time within the virtual space, (2) occurs over the first period of time within the virtual space, or (3) is completed at the first completion time within the virtual space.

3 more elements

A computer-implemented method for maintaining time fidelity for an instance of a virtual space placed in a background state, the method being performed by one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the method comprising:

implementing the instance of the virtual space to determine views of the virtual space, the instance being associated with one or more events including a first event, the first event being configured to (1) occur at a first occurrence time within the virtual space, (2) occur over a first period of time within the virtual space, or (3) be completed at a first completion time within the virtual space;
managing one or more timers including a first timer, individual ones of the one or more timers being associated with individual ones of the one or more events, the first timer being associated with the first event, the first timer being configured to effectively (1) count down to the first occurrence time, (2) count down the first period of time, or (3) count down to the first completion time;
determining an elapsed time while the instance of the virtual space is in a background state, the background state being a state in which user intervention with the instance of the virtual space is disallowed, a foreground state being a state in which user intervention with the instance of the virtual space is allowed;
and
adjusting individual ones of the one or more timers based on the elapsed time responsive to the instance of the virtual space resuming from the background state to the foreground state, wherein the first timer is adjusted such that the first event (1) occurs at the first occurrence time within the virtual space, (2) occurs over the first period of time within the virtual space, or (3) is completed at the first completion time within the virtual space.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/564,654Filed 1 Aug 2012
Granted: 22 Jul 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G06F 9/542
Interprogram communication: event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
A63F 13/00
Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or
G06F 9/4843
Task transfer initiation or dispatching: by program, e.g. task dispatcher, supervisor, operating system
G06F
Computing and data processing

Family

No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.

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