US 9,002,992 B2Granted

Location based game state synchronization

AssigneeNexbit Systems, Inc.

InventorsMichael A. Chan, Justin Quan, Daniel R. Bornstein, Tom Moss, Linda Tong

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Abstract

A technique and apparatus for backing up and restoring game application state across multiple devices are disclosed herein. The method includes running an instance of a game application at a first device. Based on any of various criteria, such as the proximity between the first device and a second device, a computer makes a determination to synchronize the application state between the two devices. The computer causes the application state data, which represents an application state of the game application running on the first device, to be saved and made available to the second device, such as by saving the application state data to cloud storage. The second device receives the application state data and restores the game application state.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for synchronizing state between devices based on location comprising:

receiving an indication that a first instance of a mobile game application is being run at a first mobile device;
receiving, by the first mobile device, first device location information indicative of a location of the first mobile device;
receiving, by the first mobile device, an indication that a second mobile device is within range of direct short range wireless communication with the first mobile device;
receiving, by the first mobile device, an indication that the mobile game application is installed at the second mobile device;
receiving, by the first mobile device, second device location information indicative of a location of the second mobile device;
determining, by the first mobile device, a proximity between the first mobile device and the second mobile device based on a relationship between the first device location information and the second device location information;
in response to the determined proximity, saving, by the first mobile device, an application state data of the mobile game application being executed at the first mobile device;
determining, by the first mobile device, whether the second mobile device has adequate resources to execute an instance of the mobile game application that is to be initiated with a state based on the application state data;
determining, by the first mobile device, a likelihood that a user associated with both the first mobile device and second mobile device will begin to run the mobile game application at the second mobile device based on a past history of usage of the first mobile device and the second mobile device by the user;
determining, by the first mobile device, to synchronize the application state data between the first mobile device and the second mobile device, based on the determination of the likelihood, and a determination that the second mobile device has the adequate resources;
in response to the determination to synchronize the application state data, sending the application state data, by the first mobile device and via short range wireless communication, to the second mobile device to enable the instance of the mobile game application to be initiated, based on the application state data, at the second mobile device;
and
receiving, by the first mobile device, an indication that the instance of the mobile game application was initiated at the second mobile device.

10 more elements

A method comprising:

receiving, by a computer system, an indication that a first instance of a mobile game application is being run at a first mobile device, the first mobile device being associated with a user;
receiving, by the computer system, first device location information indicative of a location of the first mobile device;
receiving, by the computer system, an indication that a second mobile device is within range of direct short range wireless communication with the first mobile device, the second mobile device also being associated with the user;
receiving, by the computer system, an indication that the mobile game application is installed at the second mobile device;
receiving, by the computer system, second device location information indicative of a location of the second mobile device;
determining, by the computer system, a proximity between the first mobile device and the second mobile device based on a relationship between the first device location information and the second device location information;
causing, by the computer system, application state data of the mobile game application being executed at the first mobile device to be saved;
determining, by the computer system, whether the second mobile device has adequate resources to execute an instance of the mobile game application that is to be initiated with a state based on the application state data;
accessing, by the computer system, sync information associated with a synchronization scheme defined by the user, the synchronization scheme being one or more rules that indicate when to synchronize a current state of execution of a given application between a plurality of devices;
determining, by the computer system, to synchronize the application state data between the first mobile device and the second mobile device, based on a determination that the second mobile device has the adequate resources, and based on the sync information indicating that the application state data should be synchronized between the first mobile device and the second mobile device;
in response to the determination to synchronize the application state data, causing, by the computer system, the application state data to be sent to the second mobile device to enable the instance of the mobile game application to be initiated, based on the application state data, at the second mobile device;
and
receiving, by the computer system, an indication that the instance of the mobile game application was initiated at the second mobile device.

10 more elements

A first mobile device comprising:

a processor;
a communication interface coupled to the processor, through which to communicate with remote devices;
and
a storage device coupled to the processor, the storage device storing instructions which when executed by the processor cause the system to perform operations including:
receiving an indication that a first instance of a mobile game application is being run at the first mobile device;
receiving first device location information indicative of a location of the first mobile device;
receiving, via the communication interface, an indication that a second mobile device is within range of direct short range wireless communication with the first mobile device;
receiving, via the communication interface, an indication that the mobile game application is installed at the second mobile device;
receiving, via the communication interface, second device location information indicative of a location of the second mobile device;
determining a proximity between the first mobile device and the second mobile device based on a relationship between the first device location information and the second device location information;
saving an application state data of the mobile game application being executed at the first mobile device;
determining whether the second mobile device has adequate resources to execute an instance of the mobile game application that is to be initiated with a state based on the application state data;
determining to synchronize the application state data between the first mobile device and the second mobile device, based on the proximity and a determination that the second mobile device has the adequate resources;
in response to the determination to synchronize the application state data, sending the application state data, via the communication interface, to the second mobile device to enable the instance of the mobile game application to be initiated, based on the application state data, at the second mobile device;
and
receiving, via the communication interface, an indication that the instance of the mobile game application was initiated at the second mobile device.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/252,555Filed 14 Apr 2014 · continuation in part
Priority: 21 Mar 2013
Published: US 2014/0287836 A125 Sep 2014
Granted: 7 Apr 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

A63F 13/216
Characterised by their sensors, purposes or types: using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
A63F 13/49
Controlling the progress of the video game: saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
A63F 13/79
Game security or game management aspects: involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
H04L 67/1095
In which an application is distributed across nodes in the network: replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data…

Family

Application61/804,134Us provisional application · filed 21 Mar 2013
Application14/221,161Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Mar 2014
US 2014/0287836 A1Pre-grant publication · published 25 Sep 2014
US 2014/0289194 A1Published application
US 9,606,782 B2Related patent
US 9,002,992 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.