Method of providing player status and ability to join games

<u>BACKGROUND</u>

0001Gaming systems have evolved from those which provided an isolated gaming experience to networked systems providing a rich, interactive experience which may be shared in real time between friends and other gamers. With Microsoft's Xbox^® video game system and Xbox Live^® online game service, users can now easily communicate with each other while playing to share the gaming experience. Moreover, when not playing in tandem, current gaming systems allow friends to track others' gaming experiences and accomplishments.

0002One way in which users track their and their friends' progress through different games is through the concept of game scores and achievements. As gamers progress through a game and complete game-specific challenges, such as getting to a new level or amassing a specified number of wins against other players, the Xbox Live service keeps track of scores and achievements for Xbox Live service subscribers. Where once a gamer's scores and achievements were only seen by him or her, gamers are now able to see the real time progress of others, either while logged on to the Xbox Live service via an Xbox game console or online. Game progress has become a highly visible measure associated with users, and the keeping and posting of scores and achievement data has evolved into a strong selling point for the Xbox platform and games. Friends and users now compete with each other for the highest scores and most achievements.

0003Another innovation in current gaming systems is the ability to quickly and easily download games. For example, Microsoft introduced a gaming disc known as Microsoft Arcade which is able to connect to a server through the Internet when the gaming console is connected to the Internet. From the server site, the Arcade gaming disc is able to enumerate full version games which are available for download to the user's hard disc drive on the XBox console. In the past, when a user learned of a game through a friend or otherwise, the user either had to go to a store to purchase the game media, or have the media delivered after an online purchase. With the passage of time and difficulty involved in the purchase, users often lost interest and did not follow through with the purchase. However, platforms such as Microsoft Arcade allow users to obtain games as soon as they learn about them.

0004Moreover, in some instances, once friends share the same game, a user is able to "join" the game of one of their friends so that they are able to play the game together, in tandem, from their respective remote locations. It has evolved as a recurring tendency that users want to quickly learn what games other people are playing online and join the game if possible. In the past, this has involved multiple steps. The steps included starting a game, entering the multiplayer menu, and searching for a game. Often times there are no multiplayer games available to join, but a user would not know this until they go through the above steps. This can be frustrating and time consuming.

0005< <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US20050070359A1"><text>US 2005/0070359 A1</text></patcit> discloses that the user who has signed onto an online gaming service can be immediately joined in playing an instance of a game with a friend appearing in the user's friends list. After signing onto the online service, the user has the option to select "Quick Join," causing the online service to immediately join the user in an instance of the game having an opening for the user and also being played by the first player found in the friends list. Alternatively, the user may selectively display the friends list and select a specific friend who is online, before activating the Quick Join option to immediately join in playing within the friend's game.> <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US2006287099A"><text>US 2006/287099</text></patcit>, discloses a game hosting service manages game sessions and groups of players. The service creates, starts, and ends a game session. The service also manages the joining and deleting of players and groups of players both prior to and during game play. The service collects, stores, and optionally arbitrates statistics for each player such a game score and relative ranking with other players. The service assigns a group ID to a group of players to allow the group to migrate across game sessions. The game hosting service utilizes session management APIs to nest multiple sessions, thus enabling groups of players to remain intact across multiple sessions.

0006<patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US2002086732A1"><text>US 2002/086732 A1</text></patcit>, discloses 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.

0007Features such as real time game progress, the ability to join friends' games and the ability to instantly download games have increased interest and sales in gaming platforms. However, there is room for greater synergy between these features.

<u>SUMMARY</u>

0008The invention is defined by the independent claims. The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments. Embodiments described herein that are outside of the claims are to be considered comparative examples. Embodiments of the present system relate to a system for quickly and efficiently showing all friends gaming at a given time, what they are playing, and for providing the ability to download and/or join their friend's game. In embodiments of the present system, information relating to which friends are gaming online, what games they are playing and whether their games are joinable are consolidated onto a single GUI. That same GUI, referred to herein as a Friends Playing Now GUI, also provides the user with the ability to join games which are indicated to be joinable.

0009A user may access the Friends Playing Now GUI from a system menu. Once accessed, embodiments of the Friends Playing Now GUI display all of the user's friends that are then currently gaming online. The GUI displays the friends' names in the form of an avatar and/or a friend's online identity. The GUI also displays the games the friends are playing, and the friends' status within the respective games. The Friends Playing Now GUI further includes an indication of which of the listed games are joinable.

0010A user may indicate one of the friend's games to launch and/or join. Once an indication is received, the system checks whether the indicated game is local on the user's system. If not, the game is downloaded from a network service. Once downloaded, if the game is not joinable, the game is launched. If the game is joinable, the game is launched and the user joins his or her friend in the game.

<u>BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS</u>

0011<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref> is an isometric view of an exemplary gaming and media system.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> is an exemplary functional block diagram of components of the gaming and media system shown in <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>.</li><li><figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref> is a block diagram of an exemplary operating environment for rendering achievement information.</li><li><figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref> is a flow diagram of a method for showing friends gaming online and the ability to download, launch and/or join their friend's game.</li><li><figref idref="f0005">FIG. 5</figref> is an exemplary user interface providing a menu including an option to find out which friends are then currently gaming online.</li><li><figref idref="f0006">FIG. 6</figref> is an exemplary user interface providing information about which friends are then currently gaming online, which games they are playing and providing the ability to download, join and/or launch a game.</li></ul>

<u>DETAILED DESCRIPTION</u>

0012<figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref> shows an exemplary gaming and media system 100. The following discussion of <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref> is intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitable environment in which concepts presented herein may be implemented. As shown in <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>, gaming and media system 100 includes a game and media console (hereinafter "console") 102. In general, console 102 is one type of computing system, as will be further described below. Console 102 is configured to accommodate one or more wireless controllers, as represented by controllers 104(1) and 104(2). Console 102 is equipped with an internal hard disk drive (not shown) and a portable media drive 106 that support various forms of portable storage media, as represented by optical storage disc 108. Examples of suitable portable storage media include DVD, CD-ROM, game discs, and so forth. Console 102 also includes two memory unit card receptacles 125(1) and 125(2), for receiving removable flash-type memory units 140. A command button 135 on console 102 enables and disables wireless peripheral support.

0013As depicted in <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>, console 102 also includes an optical port 130 for communicating wirelessly with one or more devices and two USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports 110(1) and 110(2) to support a wired connection for additional controllers, or other peripherals. In some implementations, the number and arrangement of additional ports may be modified. A power button 112 and an eject button 114 are also positioned on the front face of game console 102. Power button 112 is selected to apply power to the game console, and can also provide access to other features and controls, and eject button 114 alternately opens and closes the tray of a portable media drive 106 to enable insertion and extraction of a storage disc 108.

0014Console 102 connects to a television or other display (such as monitor 150) via A/V interfacing cables 120. In one implementation, console 102 is equipped with a dedicated A/V port (not shown) configured for content-secured digital communication using A/V cables 120 (e.g., A/V cables suitable for coupling to a High Definition Multimedia Interface "HDMI" port on a high definition monitor 150 or other display device). A power cable 122 provides power to the game console. Console 102 may be further configured with broadband capabilities, as represented by a cable or modem connector 124 to facilitate access to a network, such as the Internet. The broadband capabilities can also be provided wirelessly, through a broadband network such as a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network.

0015Each controller 104 is coupled to console 102 via a wired or wireless interface. In the illustrated implementation, the controllers 104 are USB-compatible and are coupled to console 102 via a wireless or USB port 110. Console 102 may be equipped with any of a wide variety of user interaction mechanisms. In an example illustrated in <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>, each controller 104 is equipped with two thumbsticks 132(1) and 132(2), a D-pad 134, buttons 136, and two triggers 138. These controllers are merely representative, and other known gaming controllers may be substituted for, or added to, those shown in <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>.

0016In one implementation, a memory unit (MU) 140 may also be inserted into controller 104 to provide additional and portable storage. Portable MUs enable users to store game parameters for use when playing on other consoles. In this implementation, each controller is configured to accommodate two MUs 140, although more or less than two MUs may also be employed.

0017Gaming and media system 100 is generally configured for playing games stored on a memory medium, as well as for downloading and playing games, and reproducing pre-recorded music and videos, from both electronic and hard media sources. With the different storage offerings, titles can be played from the hard disk drive, from an optical disk media (e.g., 108), from an online source, or from MU 140. Samples of the types of media that gaming and media system 100 is capable of playing include: <ul id="ul0002" list-style="bullet"><li>Game titles played from CD and DVD discs, from the hard disk drive, or from an online source.</li><li>Digital music played from a CD in portable media drive 106, from a file on the hard disk drive (e.g., music in the Windows Media Audio (WMA) format), or from online streaming sources.</li><li>Digital audio/video played from a DVD disc in portable media drive 106, from a file on the hard disk drive (e.g., Active Streaming Format), or from online streaming sources.</li></ul>

0018During operation, console 102 is configured to receive input from controllers 104 and display information on display 150. For example, console 102 can display a user interface on display 150 to allow a user to select a game using controller 104 and display achievement information as discussed below.

0019<figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> is a functional block diagram of gaming and media system 100 and shows functional components of gaming and media system 100 in more detail. Console 102 has a central processing unit (CPU) 200, and a memory controller 202 that facilitates processor access to various types of memory, including a flash Read Only Memory (ROM) 204, a Random Access Memory (RAM) 206, a hard disk drive 208, and portable media drive 106. In one implementation, CPU 200 includes a level 1 cache 210 and a level 2 cache 212, to temporarily store data and hence reduce the number of memory access cycles made to the hard drive 208, thereby improving processing speed and throughput.

0020CPU 200, memory controller 202, and various memory devices are interconnected via one or more buses (not shown). The details of the bus that is used in this implementation are not particularly relevant to understanding the subject matter of interest being discussed herein. However, it will be understood that such a bus might include one or more of serial and parallel buses, a memory bus, a peripheral bus, and a processor or local bus, using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, such architectures can include an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, a Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, an Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, a Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and a Peripheral Component Interconnects (PCI) bus also known as a Mezzanine bus.

0021In one implementation, CPU 200, memory controller 202, ROM 204, and RAM 206 are integrated onto a common module 214. In this implementation, ROM 204 is configured as a flash ROM that is connected to memory controller 202 via a PCI bus and a ROM bus (neither of which are shown). RAM 206 is configured as multiple Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM (DDR SDRAM) modules that are independently controlled by memory controller 202 via separate buses (not shown). Hard disk drive 208 and portable media drive 106 are shown connected to the memory controller 202 via the PCI bus and an AT Attachment (ATA) bus 216. However, in other implementations, dedicated data bus structures of different types can also be applied in the alternative.

0022A three-dimensional graphics processing unit 220 and a video encoder 222 form a video processing pipeline for high speed and high resolution (e.g., High Definition) graphics processing. Data are carried from graphics processing unit 220 to video encoder 222 via a digital video bus (not shown). An audio processing unit 224 and an audio codec (coder/decoder) 226 form a corresponding audio processing pipeline for multi-channel audio processing of various digital audio formats. Audio data are carried between audio processing unit 224 and audio codec 226 via a communication link (not shown). The video and audio processing pipelines output data to an A/V (audio/video) port 228 for transmission to a television or other display. In the illustrated implementation, video and audio processing components 220-228 are mounted on module 214.

0023<figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> shows module 214 including a USB host controller 230 and a network interface 232. USB host controller 230 is shown in communication with CPU 200 and memory controller 202 via a bus (e.g., PCI bus) and serves as host for peripheral controllers 104(1)-104(4). Network interface 232 provides access to a network (e.g., Internet, home network, etc.) and may be any of a wide variety of various wire or wireless interface components including an Ethernet card, a modem, a wireless access card, a Bluetooth module, a cable modem, and the like.

0024In the implementation depicted in <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref>, console 102 includes a controller support subassembly 240 for supporting four controllers 104(1)-104(4). The controller support subassembly 240 includes any hardware and software components needed to support wired and wireless operation with an external control device, such as for example, a media and game controller. A front panel I/O subassembly 242 supports the multiple functionalities of power button 112, the eject button 114, as well as any LEDs (light emitting diodes) or other indicators exposed on the outer surface of console 102. Subassemblies 240 and 242 are in communication with module 214 via one or more cable assemblies 244. In other implementations, console 102 can include additional controller subassemblies. The illustrated implementation also shows an optical I/O interface 235 that is configured to send and receive signals that can be communicated to module 214.

0025MUs 140(1) and 140(2) are illustrated as being connectable to MU ports "A" 130(1) and "B" 130(2) respectively. Additional MUs (e.g., MUs 140(3)-140(6)) are illustrated as being connectable to controllers 104(1) and 104(3), i.e., two MUs for each controller. Controllers 104(2) and 104(4) can also be configured to receive MUs (not shown). Each MU 140 offers additional storage on which games, game parameters, and other data may be stored. In some implementations, the other data can include any of a digital game component, an executable gaming application, an instruction set for expanding a gaming application, and a media file. When inserted into console 102 or a controller, MU 140 can be accessed by memory controller 202.

0026A system power supply module 250 provides power to the components of gaming system 100. A fan 252 cools the circuitry within console 102.

0027An application 260 comprising machine instructions is stored on hard disk drive 208. When console 102 is powered on, various portions of application 260 are loaded into RAM 206, and/or caches 210 and 212, for execution on CPU 200, wherein application 260 is one such example. Various applications can be stored on hard disk drive 208 for execution on CPU 200.

0028Gaming and media system 100 may be operated as a standalone system by simply connecting the system to monitor 150 (<figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>), a television, a video projector, or other display device. In this standalone mode, gaming and media system 100 enables one or more players to play games, or enjoy digital media, e.g., by watching movies, or listening to music. However, with the integration of broadband connectivity made available through network interface 232, gaming and media system 100 may further be operated as a participant in a larger network gaming community, as discussed below in connection with <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref>.

0029<figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref> provides a block diagram of multiple consoles 300A-300N networked with a console service 302 having one or more servers 304 through a network 306. In one embodiment, network 306 comprises the Internet, though other networks such as LAN or WAN are contemplated. Server(s) 304 include a communication component capable of receiving information from and transmitting information to consoles 300A-N and provide a collection of services that applications running on consoles 300A-N may invoke and utilize.

0030For example, consoles 300A-N may invoke user login service 308, which is used to authenticate a user on consoles 300A-N. During login, login service 308 obtains a gamer tag (a unique identifier associated with the user) and a password from the user as well as a console identifier that uniquely identifies the console that the user is using and a network path to the console. The gamer tag and password are authenticated by comparing them to user records 310 in a database 312, which may be located on the same server as user login service 308 or may be distributed on a different server or a collection of different servers. Once authenticated, user login service 308 stores the console identifier and the network path in user records 310 so that messages and information may be sent to the console.

0031User records 310 can include additional information about the user such as game records 314 and friends list 316. Game records 314 include information for a user identified by a gamer tag and can include statistics for a particular game, achievements acquired for a particular game and/or other game specific information as desired.

0032Friends list 316 includes an indication of friends of a user that are also connected to or otherwise have user account records with console service 302. The term "friend" as used herein can broadly refer to a relationship between a user and another gamer, where the user has requested that the other gamer consent to be added to the user's friends list, and the other gamer has accepted. This may be referred to as a two-way acceptance. A two-way friend acceptance may also be created where another gamer requests the user be added to the other gamer's friends list and the user accepts. At this point, the other gamer may also be added to the user's friends list. While friends will typically result from a two-way acceptance, it is conceivable that another gamer be added to a user's friends list, and be considered a "friend," where the user has designated another gamer as a friend regardless of whether the other gamer accepts. It is also conceivable that another gamer will be added to a user's friends list, and be considered a "friend," where the other user has requested to be added to the user's friends list, or where the user has requested to be added to the other gamer's friends list, regardless of whether the user or other gamer accepts in either case.

0033Friends list 316 can be used to create a sense of community of users of console service 302. Users can select other users to be added to their friends list 316 and view information about their friends such as game performance, current online status, friends list, etc. Friends list 316 can be used to assemble and display a "friends playing now" GUI as explained hereinafter.

0034User records 310 also include additional information about the user including games that have been downloaded by the user and licensing packages that have been issued for those downloaded games, including the permissions associated with each licensing package. Portions of user records 310 can be stored on an individual console, in database 312 or on both. If an individual console retains game records 314 and/or friends list 316, this information can be provided to console service 302 through network 306. Additionally, the console has the ability to display information associated with game records 314 and/or friends list 316 without having a connection to console service 302.

0035Server(s) 304 also include message service 320 which permits one console, such as console 300A, to send a message to another console, such as console 300B. Such messages can include text messages, voice messages, and specialized in text messages known as invites, in which a user playing the game on one console invites a user on another console to play in the same game while using network 306 to pass gaming data between the two consoles so that the two users are playing from the same session of the game. Friends list 316 can also be used in conjunction with message service 320.

0036<figref idref="f0004">FIG. 4</figref> is a flow diagram of a method 400 for displaying information relating to which user's friends are then currently gaming online, and for providing the ability to download, launch and/or join a friend's game. In step 402, the user's console may periodically query the console service 302 to determine which of the user's friends are then gaming online through service 302, and what they are playing, and return that information to the user's console. This may all be done invisibly to the user in the background. Instead of periodically obtaining this information as shown in step 402, this information may be obtained only upon the user selecting the Friends Playing Now option as explained below.

0037Referring now to step 404 and <figref idref="f0005">FIG. 5</figref>, a GUI 500 may display a system menu including high level gaming information on the user's display 150. The high level gaming information may include menu item 502 showing the games currently stored locally on the user's system, menu item 504 showing the last played game, menu item 506 providing a link to download games from service 302 or elsewhere and menu item 508 which, when enabled, automatically downloads newly released trial versions of games to the user's system. It is understood that these menu items are not critical to the present system, and that one or more of these menu items may be omitted and/or others added.

0038System level GUI 500 further includes a menu item 510 for displaying high level information regarding which friends of the user are then currently playing online games through console service 302, referred to herein as "Friends Playing Now." The menu item 510 may further include a number, shown at reference 512, indicating the number of friends of the user that are then currently playing online games. As indicated above, this information may be obtained by the user's console 300 periodically querying the console service 302.

0039A user may place focus on menu item 510, by positioning the graphical screen cursor over menu item 510. This may result in a graphic 516 such as that shown to the right of menu item 510, "Friends Playing Now - You have 5 friends online playing Xbox Live Arcade games." Other graphics are possible, and the graphic 516 may be omitted in alternative embodiments.

0040If the system receives an indication in step 406 that the user has selected the Friends Playing Now option from system level GUI 500, the system may then generate a Friends Playing Now GUI 600 such as shown in <figref idref="f0006">FIG. 6</figref>. In particular, upon receiving an indication that the user has selected the Friends Playing Now option, for example by selecting the menu item 510, the system may load friend and game data into a memory buffer in step 408. This information may include which friends are then currently gaming online through service 302, their avatar (an icon or graphic the friend has selected as their online identity), what they are then playing, and information about the game, such as whether it is joinable and where the friend currently is within that game. As indicated above, this information may be periodically pulled from service 302 by the user's console 300 and stored locally within the user's system, or it may be obtained when the user selects the Friends Playing Now menu item 510.

0041This information may be displayed on Friends Playing Now GUI 600 in step 410. As shown in <figref idref="f0006">FIG. 6</figref>, GUI 600 may include a plurality of rows, each including a friend's avatar 606 and name 608 for each friend then gaming online. GUI 600 may further include a written and/or graphical indication 610 of whether the game the friend is playing is joinable. For example, in the friends listing shown in GUI 600, all games are joinable except for the game then being played by "Wingman04000." Each row may further include the name 612 of the game the friend is then playing, a graphic 616 associated with the game, and a status 618 of what the friend is then doing in the game.

0042A user may review the list shown in GUI 600 and select a friend's game to play by double selecting one of the rows. For example, in <figref idref="f0006">FIG. 6</figref>, the user has selected "Assault Heroes," being played by "Amaj001AUS." The system receives this selection in step 412. In step 414, the system determines whether the selected game is local on the user's system. If not, the system may download this game in step 418 from service 302. The system may display a confirmation message requiring user confirmation before downloading the selected game.

0043In step 420, the system then determines whether the selected game is joinable. If the system determines a selected game is not joinable, the system launches the game in step 424. If the system determines a selected game is joinable, the system launches the game in step 426 and joins the friend. Some games may require an invitation to join a friend. In this instance, upon selection of a friend's game to join in step 412, an invitation may be sent to the friend requiring a response from the friend before the user can join the friend's game. If no acceptance is received, then the game may be launched but not joined by the user.

0044In parallel with steps 410 through 426, the user may send a text or other message to the friend via the message service 320 to let the friend know that the user has seen them online and/or to let the friend know the user would like to join the friend in his/her game.