US6699125B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Game server for use in connection with a messenger server
Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc
•
Filing: 2001-07-02
•
Granted: 2004-03-02
•
Expires: 2021-07-02
Abstract
Abstract A game and messenger client-server system is provided including a plurality of game clients, a game server, a plurality of messenger clients, and a messenger server. The game server includes logic to operate a multiplayer game using inputs from and outputs to an active game set of game clients, wherein game clients other than those in the active game set can join an active game by supplying the game server with a reference to the active game. Additionally, logic is included for coupling a game client to a messenger client to allow the game client to send the messenger client data used to initiate joining a game, whereby a message sent by the messenger client includes the data used to initiate joining a game. Also, logic is included for initiating a join of a game at an invitee client, using data received in a message to the invitee.
Inventors
- 👤 Chris Kirmse
- 👤 Brian Gottlieb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:18
CPC Classifications
A63F13/12; A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/85; A63F13/87; A63F13/30; A63F13/70; A63F13/79; A63F13/795; H; H04; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/04; A63F13/33; A63F13/335; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/40; A63F2300/407; A63F2300/408; A63F2300/50; A63F2300/55; A63F2300/5546; A63F2300/556; A63F2300/5566; A63F2300/57; A63F2300/572; A63F2300/60; A63F2300/6009; A63F2300/6018
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A game and messenger client server system, comprising: a plurality of game clients; a game server including logic to operate a multiplayer game using inputs from and outputs to an active game set of game clients including the plurality of game clients, wherein game clients other than those in the active game set can join an active game by supplying the game server with a reference to the active game; a plurality of messenger clients; a messenger server including logic to forward messages from a sender messenger client to a receiving messenger client; logic to couple a game client to a messenger client to allow the game client to send the messenger client data used to initiate joining a game, whereby a message sent by the messenger client includes the data used to initiate joining a game; and logic to initiate a join of a game at an invitee client, using data received in a message to the invitee, wherein the data used to initiate joining a game includes a reference to a game server, a reference to an active game on the referenced game server, and commands usable to invoke a game client at an invitee client and usable to connect the game client to the active game at the game server.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
A game and messenger client server system, comprising: a plurality of game clients; a game server including logic to operate a multiplayer game using inputs from and outputs to an active game set of game clients including the plurality of game clients, wherein game clients other than those in the active game set can join an active game by supplying the game server with a reference to the active game; a plurality of messenger clients; a messenger server including logic to forward messages from a sender messenger client to a receiving messenger client; logic to couple a game client to a messenger client to allow the game client to send the messenger client data used to initiate joining a game, whereby a message sent by the messenger client includes the data used to initiate joining a game; and logic to initiate a join of a game at an invitee client, using data received in a message to the invitee, wherein the data used to initiate joining a game includes a reference to a game server, a reference to an active game on the referenced game server, and commands usable to invoke a game client at an invitee client and usable to connect the game client to the active game at the game server.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The game and messenger client server system of claim 1 , wherein the reference to the active game comprises a game identifier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The game and messenger client server system of claim 1 , wherein the commands usable to invoke the game client at the invitee client and usable to connect the game client to the active game at the game server comprise a command line entry usable to connect to the active game.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The game and messenger client server system of claim 1 , wherein the commands usable to invoke the game client at the invitee client and usable to connect the game client to the active game at the game server comprise a registry entry that references a local reference to the game.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The game and messenger client server system of claim 1 , wherein the commands usable to invoke the game client at the invitee client and usable to connect the game client to the active game at the game server comprise a fallback entry that references a remote location used to invoke the game.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The game and messenger client server system of claim 5 , wherein the fallback entry is a URL.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
219 words
A game and messenger client server system, comprising: a plurality of game clients; a game server including logic to operate a multiplayer game using inputs from and outputs to an active game set of game clients including the plurality of game clients, wherein game clients other than those in the active game set can join an active game by supplying the game server with a reference to the active game; a plurality of messenger clients; a messenger server including logic to forward messages from a sender messenger client to a receiving messenger client; logic to couple a game client to a messenger client to allow the game client to send the messenger client data used to initiate joining a game, whereby a message sent by the messenger client includes the data used to initiate joining a game; logic to initiate a join of a game at an invitee client, using data received in a message to the invitee, further comprising logic to generate a data file sent in response to a request from the invitee client; and logic to generate a data file sent in response to a request from the invitee client, wherein the data file comprises a validity tag that indicates the game is valid and a command to invoke the game client at the invitee client.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
219 words
A game and messenger client server system, comprising: a plurality of game clients; a game server including logic to operate a multiplayer game using inputs from and outputs to an active game set of game clients including the plurality of game clients, wherein game clients other than those in the active game set can join an active game by supplying the game server with a reference to the active game; a plurality of messenger clients; a messenger server including logic to forward messages from a sender messenger client to a receiving messenger client; logic to couple a game client to a messenger client to allow the game client to send the messenger client data used to initiate joining a game, whereby a message sent by the messenger client includes the data used to initiate joining a game; logic to initiate a join of a game at an invitee client, using data received in a message to the invitee, further comprising logic to generate a data file sent in response to a request from the invitee client; and logic to generate a data file sent in response to a request from the invitee client, wherein the data file comprises a validity tag that indicates the game is valid and a command to invoke the game client at the invitee client.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
211 words
A game and messenger client server system, comprising: a plurality of game clients; a game server including logic to operate a multiplayer game using inputs from and outputs to an active game set of game clients including the plurality of game clients, wherein game clients other than those in the active game set can join an active game by supplying the game server with a reference to the active game; a plurality of messenger clients; a messenger server including logic to forward messages from a sender messenger client to a receiving messenger client; logic to couple a game client to a messenger client to allow the game client to send the messenger client data used to initiate joining a game, whereby a message sent by the messenger client includes the data used to initiate joining a game; logic to initiate a join of a game at an invitee client, using data received in a message to the invitee, further comprising logic to generate a data file sent in response to a request from the invitee client; and logic to generate a data file sent in response to a request from the invitee client, wherein the data file comprises a fallback location that indicates a remote location that launches a game client.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
211 words
A game and messenger client server system, comprising: a plurality of game clients; a game server including logic to operate a multiplayer game using inputs from and outputs to an active game set of game clients including the plurality of game clients, wherein game clients other than those in the active game set can join an active game by supplying the game server with a reference to the active game; a plurality of messenger clients; a messenger server including logic to forward messages from a sender messenger client to a receiving messenger client; logic to couple a game client to a messenger client to allow the game client to send the messenger client data used to initiate joining a game, whereby a message sent by the messenger client includes the data used to initiate joining a game; logic to initiate a join of a game at an invitee client, using data received in a message to the invitee, further comprising logic to generate a data file sent in response to a request from the invitee client; and logic to generate a data file sent in response to a request from the invitee client, wherein the data file comprises a fallback location that indicates a remote location that launches a game client.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
208 words
A game and messenger client server system, comprising: a plurality of game clients; a game server including logic to operate a multiplayer game using inputs from and outputs to an active game set of game clients including the plurality of game clients, wherein game clients other than those in the active game set can join an active game by supplying the game server with a reference to the active game; a plurality of messenger clients; a messenger server including logic to forward messages from a sender messenger client to a receiving messenger client; logic to couple a game client to a messenger client to allow the game client to send the messenger client data used to initiate joining a game, whereby a message sent by the messenger client includes the data used to initiate joining a game; logic to initiate a join of a game at an invitee client, using data received in a message to the invitee, further comprising logic to generate a data file sent in response to a request from the invitee client; and logic to generate a data file sent in response to a request from the invitee client, wherein the data file comprises a support tag that indicates the game is not supported.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
208 words
A game and messenger client server system, comprising: a plurality of game clients; a game server including logic to operate a multiplayer game using inputs from and outputs to an active game set of game clients including the plurality of game clients, wherein game clients other than those in the active game set can join an active game by supplying the game server with a reference to the active game; a plurality of messenger clients; a messenger server including logic to forward messages from a sender messenger client to a receiving messenger client; logic to couple a game client to a messenger client to allow the game client to send the messenger client data used to initiate joining a game, whereby a message sent by the messenger client includes the data used to initiate joining a game; logic to initiate a join of a game at an invitee client, using data received in a message to the invitee, further comprising logic to generate a data file sent in response to a request from the invitee client; and logic to generate a data file sent in response to a request from the invitee client, wherein the data file comprises a support tag that indicates the game is not supported.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
224 words
A game and messenger client server system, comprising: a plurality of game clients; a game server including logic to operate a multiplayer game using inputs from and outputs to an active game set of game clients including the plurality of game clients, wherein game clients other than those in the active game set can join an active game by supplying the game server with a reference to the active game; a plurality of messenger clients; a messenger server including logic to forward messages from a sender messenger client to a receiving messenger client; logic to couple a game client to a messenger client to allow the game client to send the messenger client data used to initiate joining a game, whereby a message sent by the messenger client includes the data used to initiate joining a game; logic to initiate a join of a game at an invitee client, using data received in a message to the invitee, further comprising logic to generate a data file sent in response to a request from the invitee client; and logic to generate a data file sent in response to a request from the invitee client, wherein the data file comprises a tag that indicates the game is located in a valid remote location and a location used to invoke the game client at the remote location.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
224 words
A game and messenger client server system, comprising: a plurality of game clients; a game server including logic to operate a multiplayer game using inputs from and outputs to an active game set of game clients including the plurality of game clients, wherein game clients other than those in the active game set can join an active game by supplying the game server with a reference to the active game; a plurality of messenger clients; a messenger server including logic to forward messages from a sender messenger client to a receiving messenger client; logic to couple a game client to a messenger client to allow the game client to send the messenger client data used to initiate joining a game, whereby a message sent by the messenger client includes the data used to initiate joining a game; logic to initiate a join of a game at an invitee client, using data received in a message to the invitee, further comprising logic to generate a data file sent in response to a request from the invitee client; and logic to generate a data file sent in response to a request from the invitee client, wherein the data file comprises a tag that indicates the game is located in a valid remote location and a location used to invoke the game client at the remote location.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The game and messenger client server system of claim 10 , wherein remote location comprises a URL.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
186 words
A game and messenger client server system, comprising: a plurality of game clients; a game server including logic to operate a multiplayer game using inputs from and outputs to an active game set of game clients including the plurality of game clients, wherein game clients other than those in the active game set can join an active game by supplying the game server with a reference to the active game; a plurality of messenger clients; a messenger server including logic to forward messages from a sender messenger client to a receiving messenger client; logic to couple a game client to a messenger client to allow the game client to send the messenger client data used to initiate joining a game, whereby a message sent by the messenger client includes the data used to initiate joining a game; and logic to initiate a join of a game at an invitee client, using data received in a message to the invitee, further comprising a census process, the census process counting a number of times the game client sends the messenger client data used to initiate joining a game.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
186 words
A game and messenger client server system, comprising: a plurality of game clients; a game server including logic to operate a multiplayer game using inputs from and outputs to an active game set of game clients including the plurality of game clients, wherein game clients other than those in the active game set can join an active game by supplying the game server with a reference to the active game; a plurality of messenger clients; a messenger server including logic to forward messages from a sender messenger client to a receiving messenger client; logic to couple a game client to a messenger client to allow the game client to send the messenger client data used to initiate joining a game, whereby a message sent by the messenger client includes the data used to initiate joining a game; and logic to initiate a join of a game at an invitee client, using data received in a message to the invitee, further comprising a census process, the census process counting a number of times the game client sends the messenger client data used to initiate joining a game.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of operating a multi-player game having a plurality of game clients and a plurality of messenger clients, the plurality of game clients and plurality of messenger clients in communication with a game server and a messenger server, the method comprising: joining the game by sending a reference to the game to the game server; sending, from an inviter game client to an inviter messenger client, data used to initiate joining the game; sending a message including the data used to initiate joining the game to the messenger server; routing the message to an invitee messenger client; and using the data in the routed message to invoke a game client and join the game, further comprising displaying a game-specific icon identifying the game.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of operating a multi-player game having a plurality of game clients and a plurality of messenger clients, the plurality of game clients and plurality of messenger clients in communication with a game server and a messenger server, the method comprising: joining the game by sending a reference to the game to the game server; sending, from an inviter game client to an inviter messenger client, data used to initiate joining the game; sending a message including the data used to initiate joining the game to the messenger server; routing the message to an invitee messenger client; and using the data in the routed message to invoke a game client and join the game, further comprising displaying a game-specific icon identifying the game.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising changing the game-specific icon when the state of the inviter changes.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of operating a multi-player game having a plurality of game clients and a plurality of messenger clients, the plurality of game clients and plurality of messenger clients in communication with a game server and a messenger server, the method comprising: joining the game by sending a reference to the game to the game server; sending, from an inviter game client to an inviter messenger client, data used to initiate joining the game; sending a message including the data used to initiate joining the game to the messenger server; routing the message to an invitee messenger client; using the data in the routed message to invoke a game client and join the game, further comprising sending a request for a game data file to the game server; and sending a request for a game data file to the game server, wherein the game data file includes a reference indicating the game is not supported.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of operating a multi-player game having a plurality of game clients and a plurality of messenger clients, the plurality of game clients and plurality of messenger clients in communication with a game server and a messenger server, the method comprising: joining the game by sending a reference to the game to the game server; sending, from an inviter game client to an inviter messenger client, data used to initiate joining the game; sending a message including the data used to initiate joining the game to the messenger server; routing the message to an invitee messenger client; using the data in the routed message to invoke a game client and join the game, further comprising sending a request for a game data file to the game server; and sending a request for a game data file to the game server, wherein the game data file includes a reference indicating the game is not supported.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of operating a multi-player game having a plurality of game clients and a plurality of messenger clients, the plurality of game clients and plurality of messenger clients in communication with a game server and a messenger server, the method comprising: joining the game by sending a reference to the game to the game server; sending, from an inviter game client to an inviter messenger client, data used to initiate joining the game; sending a message including the data used to initiate joining the game to the messenger server; routing the message to an invitee messenger client; using the data in the routed message to invoke a game client and join the game, further comprising sending a request for a game data file to the game server; and sending a request for a game data file to the game server, wherein the game data file includes a reference used for loading the game from a remote location.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of operating a multi-player game having a plurality of game clients and a plurality of messenger clients, the plurality of game clients and plurality of messenger clients in communication with a game server and a messenger server, the method comprising: joining the game by sending a reference to the game to the game server; sending, from an inviter game client to an inviter messenger client, data used to initiate joining the game; sending a message including the data used to initiate joining the game to the messenger server; routing the message to an invitee messenger client; using the data in the routed message to invoke a game client and join the game, further comprising sending a request for a game data file to the game server; and sending a request for a game data file to the game server, wherein the game data file includes a reference used for loading the game from a remote location.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of operating a multi-player game having a plurality of game clients and a plurality of messenger clients, the plurality of game clients and plurality of messenger clients in communication with a game server and a messenger server, the method comprising: joining the game by sending a reference to the game to the game server; sending, from an inviter game client to an inviter messenger client, data used to initiate joining the game; sending a message including the data used to initiate joining the game to the messenger server; routing the message to an invitee messenger client; using the data in the routed message to invoke a game client and join the game, further comprising sending a request for a game data file to the game server; and sending a request for a game data file to the game server, further comprising counting a number of times a game client sends to a messenger client data used to initiate joining a game.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of operating a multi-player game having a plurality of game clients and a plurality of messenger clients, the plurality of game clients and plurality of messenger clients in communication with a game server and a messenger server, the method comprising: joining the game by sending a reference to the game to the game server; sending, from an inviter game client to an inviter messenger client, data used to initiate joining the game; sending a message including the data used to initiate joining the game to the messenger server; routing the message to an invitee messenger client; using the data in the routed message to invoke a game client and join the game, further comprising sending a request for a game data file to the game server; and sending a request for a game data file to the game server, further comprising counting a number of times a game client sends to a messenger client data used to initiate joining a game.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
158 words
A game and messenger client server system, comprising: a plurality of game clients; a game server including logic to operate a multiplayer game using inputs from and outputs to an active game set of game clients of the plurality of game clients, wherein game clients other than those in the active game set can join an active game by supplying the game server with a reference to the active game; a plurality of messenger clients; a messenger server including logic to forward messages from a sender messenger client to a receiving messenger client; logic to couple the game server to the messenger server to allow the game server to send the messenger server data used to initiate joining a game, whereby a message sent by the messenger server includes the data used to initiate joining a game; and logic to initiate join of a game at an invitee client, using data received in a message to the invitee.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
158 words
A game and messenger client server system, comprising: a plurality of game clients; a game server including logic to operate a multiplayer game using inputs from and outputs to an active game set of game clients of the plurality of game clients, wherein game clients other than those in the active game set can join an active game by supplying the game server with a reference to the active game; a plurality of messenger clients; a messenger server including logic to forward messages from a sender messenger client to a receiving messenger client; logic to couple the game server to the messenger server to allow the game server to send the messenger server data used to initiate joining a game, whereby a message sent by the messenger server includes the data used to initiate joining a game; and logic to initiate join of a game at an invitee client, using data received in a message to the invitee.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US6179713B1
Cited
US6466969B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-03-02 | 2007-09-01 | 2008-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-03-02 | 2011-09-01 | 2012-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-03-02 | 2015-09-01 | 2016-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |