US5894556A — Network match maker matching requesters based on …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 224 words

A method for a match maker to match an additional computer executing a first additional instance of a client computer program with a first existing computer executing a first existing instance of the client computer program, the first existing instance of the first existing computer having previously communicated to the match maker a desire to match with an instance of the client computer program, wherein the additional and first existing computers can be linked by a communication link, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving by said match maker a request from said first additional instance executing on said additional computer to match with an instance of the client computer program executing on another computer; (b) sending a signal from said match maker to said first additional instance executing on said additional computer in response to said request received in step (a); (c) measuring, by said first additional instance executing on said additional computer in response to said signal sent in step (b) and prior to matching said additional computer and said first existing computer, at least one communication attribute between said additional computer and said first existing computer; and (d) selecting said first existing computer as a match to said additional computer based on a comparison of said at least one communication attribute measured in said measuring step to a performance requirement.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 224 words

A method for a match maker to match an additional computer executing a first additional instance of a client computer program with a first existing computer executing a first existing instance of the client computer program, the first existing instance of the first existing computer having previously communicated to the match maker a desire to match with an instance of the client computer program, wherein the additional and first existing computers can be linked by a communication link, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving by said match maker a request from said first additional instance executing on said additional computer to match with an instance of the client computer program executing on another computer; (b) sending a signal from said match maker to said first additional instance executing on said additional computer in response to said request received in step (a); (c) measuring, by said first additional instance executing on said additional computer in response to said signal sent in step (b) and prior to matching said additional computer and said first existing computer, at least one communication attribute between said additional computer and said first existing computer; and (d) selecting said first existing computer as a match to said additional computer based on a comparison of said at least one communication attribute measured in said measuring step to a performance requirement.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the communication link comprises a network that uses an Internet Protocol.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of: creating a record containing at least one attribute and a unique network address for said first existing instance executing on said first existing computer.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of adding at least one attribute and a network address of said first additional instance executing on said additional computer to said record.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting step (d) includes the steps of determining said performance requirement from at least one predetermined default value and comparing said at least one communication attribute measured in step (c) to the at least one predetermined default value.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said instances executing on said additional and said first existing computer have at least one further attributes, and wherein said selecting step (d) further comprises the step of: selecting said first existing computer based on a further attribute.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: (e) waiting for a further request when said comparison of said step (d) indicates that said first existing computer is not to be selected as a match for said additional computer.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 84 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one communication attribute relates to at least one parameter selected from a list of parameters consisting of latency, packet loss rate, and bandwidth, and wherein said measuring step (c) comprises the steps of: sending a signal from said additional computer to said first existing computer over the communication link between said additional computer and said first existing computer; and evaluating the signal sent over the communication link to determine the at least one selected parameter.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting step (d) is performed by said match maker.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting step (d) is performed by said first existing computer.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting step (d) is performed by a user of said first existing computer.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 218 words

A match maker system to match an additional computer executing a first additional instance of a client computer program with a first existing computer executing a first existing instance of the client computer program, the first existing instance of the first existing computer having previously communicated to the match maker a desire to match with an instance of the client computer program, wherein the additional and first existing computers can be linked by a communication link, the system comprising: (a) means for receiving a request from said first additional instance executing on said additional computer to match with an instance of the client computer program executing on another computer; (b) means for sending a signal from the match maker to said first additional instance executing on said additional computer in response to said request received by said receiving means (a); (c) means for measuring in response to said signal sent by said sending means (b) and prior to matching said additional computer and said first existing computer, at least one communication attribute between said additional computer and said first existing computer; and (d) means for selecting said first existing computer as a match to said additional computer based on a comparison of said at least one communication attribute measured by said measuring means (c) to a performance requirement.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 218 words

A match maker system to match an additional computer executing a first additional instance of a client computer program with a first existing computer executing a first existing instance of the client computer program, the first existing instance of the first existing computer having previously communicated to the match maker a desire to match with an instance of the client computer program, wherein the additional and first existing computers can be linked by a communication link, the system comprising: (a) means for receiving a request from said first additional instance executing on said additional computer to match with an instance of the client computer program executing on another computer; (b) means for sending a signal from the match maker to said first additional instance executing on said additional computer in response to said request received by said receiving means (a); (c) means for measuring in response to said signal sent by said sending means (b) and prior to matching said additional computer and said first existing computer, at least one communication attribute between said additional computer and said first existing computer; and (d) means for selecting said first existing computer as a match to said additional computer based on a comparison of said at least one communication attribute measured by said measuring means (c) to a performance requirement.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 12, wherein said match maker comprises a match maker computer program executing on a server.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the client computer program includes a gaming application, and further comprising the step of: launching the gaming application on each computer matched in said selecting step (d) to initiate peer-to-peer game play.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 216 words

The method of claim 14, wherein the additional computer comprises a first additional computer, and further comprising, subsequent to said launching step, the steps of: (e) receiving by said match maker a request from a second additional instance executing on a second additional computer to match with an instance of the client computer program executing on another computer; (f) sending a signal from said match maker to said second additional instance executing oil said second additional computer in response to said request received in step (e); (g) measuring, by said second additional instance executing on said second additional computer in response to said signal sent in step (f) and prior to matching said second additional computer, said first additional computer, and said first existing computer, at least one communication attribute between said second additional computer and each of said first existing computer and said first additional computer; (h) selecting said second additional computer as a match to said first existing computer and said first additional computer based on a comparison of said at least one communication attribute measured in said measuring step (g) to a performance requirement; and (i) joining said second additional computer with said first existing and first additional computers in peer-to-peer game play in a running gaming application launched in said launching step.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 182 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the additional computer comprises a first additional computer and further comprising the steps of: (e) receiving by said match maker a request from a second additional instance executing on a second additional computer to match with an instance of the client computer program executing on another computer; (f) sending a signal from said match maker to said second additional instance executing on said second additional computer in response to said request received in step (e); (g) measuring, by said second additional instance executing on said second additional computer in response to said signal sent in step (f) and prior to matching said second additional computer, said first additional computer, and said first existing computer, at least one communication attribute between said second additional computer and each of said first existing computer and said first additional computer; and (h) selecting said second additional computer as match to said first existing computer and said first additional computer based on a comparison of said at least one communication attribute measured in said measuring step (g) to a performance requirement.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 16, wherein the client computer program comprises a gaming application, and further comprising the step of: launching the gaming application for each computer matched in said selecting steps (d) and (h) to initiate peer-to-peer game play.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 140 words

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: (e) receiving by said match maker requests from a plurality of additional instances executing on respective additional computers to match with an instance of the client computer program executing on another computer; (f) sending signals from said match maker to each additional instance executing on said additional computers in response to said requests received in step (e); (g) measuring, by each additional instance executing on said additional computers in response to said signals sent in step (f) and prior to matching said additional computers, at least one communication attribute between each respective additional computer and all other previously matched computers; and (h) selecting each additional computer as a match based on a comparison of said at least one communication attribute measured in said measuring step (g) to a performance requirement.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 18, wherein the client computer program comprises a gaming application, and further comprising the step of: (i) launching the gaming application for each computer matched in said selecting steps (d) and (h) to initiate peer-to-peer game play.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 187 words

The method of claim 19, further comprising, subsequent to said launching step, the steps of: (j) receiving by said match maker a request from a subsequent additional instance executing on a subsequent additional computer to match with an instance of the client computer program executing on another computer; (k) sending a signal from said match maker to said subsequent additional instance executing on said subsequent additional computer in response to said request received in step (j); (l) measuring, by said subsequent additional instance executing on said subsequent additional computer in response to said signal sent in step (k) and prior to matching said subsequent additional computer and any previously matched computer, at least one communication attribute between said subsequent additional computer and each previously matched computer; (m) selecting said subsequent additional computer as a match to said previously matched computers based on a comparison of said at least one communication attribute measured in said measuring step (l) to a performance requirement; and (n) joining said subsequent additional computer with said previously matched computers in peer-to-peer game play in the running gaming application launched in said launching step.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 142 words

The method of claim 18, wherein said at least one communication attribute is a value dependent upon the latency of the communication link; wherein said measuring step (c) comprises the steps of sending a signal from said first additional computer to said first existing computer over the communication link between said first additional computer and said first existing computer, and evaluating the signal sent over the communication link to determine the value dependent upon the latency of the communication link; and wherein said measuring step (g) comprises the steps of sending a respective signal from each respective additional computer and all other previously matched computers over respective communication links between each respective additional computer and all other previously matched computers, and evaluating each signal sent over each respective communication link to determine a vector dependent upon the latency of the communication links.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 79 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one communication attribute is a value dependent upon the latency of the communication link, and wherein said measuring step (c) comprises the steps of: sending a signal from said additional computer to said first existing computer over the communication link between said additional computer and said first existing computer; and evaluating the signal sent over the communication link to determine the value dependent upon the latency of the communication link.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-04-12	2002-10-12	2003-04-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-04-12	2006-10-12	2007-04-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-04-12	2010-10-12	2011-04-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Network match maker matching requesters based on communication attribute between the requesters

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