KR101105347B1 - Transportable character-centric gaming for wireless lan hotspots - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to gaming capabilities for use in wireless hotspots where users can save their gaming characters, and to play and develop in future games at other hot spots, independent of the original game in which the character was saved. It is about carrying a gaming character. The gaming server is provided in the WLANs 201 and 203, in which case the user logs on to the hotspot, accesses the gaming server to select and play the game, and the user is represented by a character in the game. At any desired point in the game, the user can save the character to a removable medium, such as a removable device, a floppy disk, a CD, or the like (217). The user can use the saved character to play the future game at different hotspots for different users (205).

Description

Portable character-oriented gaming for wireless LAN hotspot {TRANSPORTABLE CHARACTER-CENTRIC GAMING FOR WIRELESS LAN HOTSPOTS}

The present invention generally relates to gaming, especially multi-users in wireless hotspots where gaming users can save and carry gaming characters for use in future games and future gaming experiences. A system and method for allowing gaming.

Typical computer games allow a user to develop a character when playing a game. In current games, the term "character" as used herein throughout the user while playing the game in single-user mode refers to an in-game persona in the user's game. Refers to people, cars, robots, etc.} If a user wants to “save” a game, the game the user saves stores a “point” in the game (ie Most games have a linear storyline, and saving a game simply saves points in the story.) Typically, a user develops a character during the game, and by the time the game is resolved, the user usually develops a largely developed character. Unfortunately, once the game is resolved / completed, such a character cannot be used for any further play. The start of the game requires you to start with a new character.

Although there are multiple user modes, although the character can be developed during a given session (e.g., the user's game character can acquire more powerful weapons), the character's development can be performed in additional play, such as in a new game. It cannot be saved.

The present invention can be used at any desired point in the game, for example, for development and play in future games where the user may be identical or different from the original game in which such a character is saved, and may be played at the same or a different hot spot. It provides users with gaming capabilities in wireless hotspots that can save their gaming characters and carry them. Thus advantageously the development of the character can be saved, for example further developed over time, while the character plays with different users in different wireless hotspots independently of the original game saved.

According to one aspect, a method is provided for providing character-centric gaming that is portable to a user in a wireless local area network (WLAN) hotspot, wherein the method is provided in a first WLAN hotspot, the first gaming server. And providing such a gaming server is accessible from a WLAN hotspot. At least one first selectable game is provided at the first gaming server having at least one saveable character. To form the currently saved character, the portable medium is provided with the ability to save the saveable character at any point in the first game, in which case the currently saved character is loadable in future games.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for transportable character-centric gaming, wherein the method includes at least one saveable character having at least one saveable character capable of saving independently of the first game. Providing one first selectable game. In order to form the saved character, the ability to save the at least one saveable character to a portable medium at any point in the at least one first game is provided. Also provided is the ability to load a saved character for playing in at least one of the first selectable game or another game.

These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be described in detail or become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements throughout.

1 illustrates a typical example of a system for portable character-centric gaming for wireless hotspots in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a typical flow diagram of a method for portable character-centric gaming relating to wireless hotspots in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

3 is an exemplary flow diagram illustrating an example of a step 217 process in FIG. 2 for saving and updating a character in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

It is to be understood that the elements shown in the figures may be implemented in various forms of hardware, software or combinations thereof. Preferably, these elements are implemented in software on one or more suitably programmed general purpose devices, which may include a processor, memory, and an input / output interface.

The present invention provides access to multi-user gaming from the character's perspective and gives the user the ability to develop their character over time, for example when they play with other users in different hot spots. In one aspect of the invention, a wireless hotspot provides multi-user gaming in which a user can play a game against another user in the same hotspot. Thus, while in a hot spot, a user can play with other users who are physically close (ie, connected to the same hot spot).

Preferably, the present invention allows the user to save the character on a portable medium, eg, on the user's mobile device locally. Advantageously, the present invention should not be confused with "saving" or storing a character and its character independent of the game, and simply saving a point in the game.

Also, because the character is stored on a locally transportable medium (eg, the user's mobile device), the character can be carried with the user. This allows the user to play with the saved character in different gaming environments for different users in different wireless hotspots.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a typical example of a system setup 100 for portable character-centric gaming for wireless hotspots in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. System 100 includes a wireless local area network (WLAN) hotspot base station 101 for coordinating communications. The term "hotspot" refers to any company that provides, for example, an Internet connection, a local area network, and / or any company that provides virtual private network (VPN) access from a given location. It should be noted that.

Base station 101 preferably communicates with WLAN hotspot radio access server 105, for example, via a wired connection 102 to provide access to the Internet, a local area network, and / or a VPN. According to one aspect of the present invention, each hotspot includes a WLAN hotspot gaming server 103 for storing at least one game and / or gaming environment. Game (s) may include, for example, any of a variety of computer games (eg, car racing, arcade, combat games, role playing games, etc.), and may include game-provided characters. Gaming environment (s) include, for example, computer game settings without characters.

Base station 101 preferably communicates with gaming server 103 via, for example, a wired connection 104. The WLAN base station 101 coordinates communication between other users in the same hotspot and the gaming server and the radio access server 105 and the WLAN user 107. It should be noted that the WLAN user 107 is in wireless communication with the base station 101, which accesses the server 105, for example for communication with the Internet. Each WLAN user 107 also communicates wirelessly with the base station 101 for connection to the gaming server 103 and for communication with the gaming server 103.

For illustration of FIG. 1, each user 107 preferably uses, for example, a mobile device, for example, in wireless communication with a base station 101 via a transceiver. Such mobile devices may include, for example, laptop computers, PDAs, hand-held gaming devices, and the like. Each user 107 has the ability to save a game character locally, for example on a mobile device. As used herein, the term "character" refers to a person / thing controlled by a user in a game.

Advantageously, the game character can be saved and can be used independently of the actual game in which it is initially saved. Therefore, instead of saving the user's progress in a particular game, the user can save a character (a person, a car, a robot, etc.). Such characters are preferably stored on a portable medium (mobile device, laptop, floppy disk, CD, etc.). This allows the user to continue to use and develop the character, for example in new games with other users at different hotspots.

2 is an exemplary flow diagram 200 of a method for portable character-centric gaming relating to wireless hotspots in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In step 201, the user logs on to the wireless LAN hotspot. The user can access the hotspot gaming server and select a game for play (step 203). The gaming server preferably provides at least two types of games, games with characters (i.e. games with characters provided by the game), and gaming environments (i.e., characterless gaming settings).

If the user selects a game with a character (step 204), the user proceeds to decision step 205, where the user selects a previously saved character that is available and available for the selected game that the user wishes to play again. Is checked. Preferably, the saved character is saved on a portable medium such as a laptop, PDA, floppy disk, or the like. If no, the user starts playing the game (step 209). If a user does not have a previously saved character and / or does not want the user to use a previously saved character, the user will typically have a 'new' character (e.g., an existing game) to initiate play of the game. It should be noted that you should start with the character you provide).

If yes, a portable medium containing the saved character is loaded into the gaming server, the saved character is loaded / entered for use in the selected game, and then play of the game is started using the saved character. (Step 209).

If the user selects a gaming environment (step 206), the process proceeds to step 207. It should be noted that when the user uses a gaming environment for play it is essential that the user already has a previously stored character. In step 207, the user may then enter the saved character for play in the gaming environment (eg, from the user's mobile device, CD, floppy disk, etc.). The process therefore proceeds to step 209.

In decision step 211, it is checked whether the user wants to stop playing. If no, play continues (return to step 209). If yes, the decision box 213 confirms whether the user wishes to save the current character (ie, the character developed up to the point in the game where the user wishes to stop playing). If no, the game ends (step 215). If yes, the character is saved to a removable medium (eg, a mobile device such as a laptop, PDA, etc .; storage medium such as floppy disk, CD, etc.) (step 217). Thus, the user can save the character at any point in the game (ie, at any desired time while playing the game). After saving, the user logs off. The user can return to step 201 if he wishes to log on to the same or different hotspot to start a new game. It should be noted that the process of saving the character is further described in FIG. 3 below.

3 is an exemplary flow diagram 300 illustrating an example of the process of step 217 in FIG. 2 for saving and updating a character in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. In decision box 301, it is checked whether there are any previously saved character (s) for the selected game. If no, the current character is saved to form the currently saved character (step 303), the user is logged off and the process returns to step 201 of FIG. 2 (step 305).

If yes, then in decision box 307 it is checked if the user wishes to delete any of the previously saved character (s) and replace the saved character with the current character. If yes, the user chooses to delete the previously saved character (s) that he wishes to be replaced by the current character (step 309) and the user is logged off. If no, both the current character is saved and the user is logged off, keeping the previously saved character (s) (step 311). Following both steps 309 and 311, the process may return to step 201 if the user wishes to log on again.

It should be noted that the present invention may further provide a case where multiple instances of the same character (eg, different versions / levels of the same character) can be saved. For example, a user may wish to save a particular car, but according to one aspect of the invention, he may save multiple versions of the same car, e.g. one version of the same car provided for highway racing and off-road ( This is another case of a car ready for offroad racing.

In addition, the present invention provides the ability to allow a user to delete any saved character as desired and to update the saved character at any time, thereby allowing the user to save the character at the discretion of the user. It should be noted that this permits effective and convenient management.

To illustrate the typical use of the present invention, a user can log on to a wireless hotspot with a mobile device (eg, laptop, PDA) and access a hotspot gaming server, in which case the user can select various games to play. You have an option. Examples of games are car racing, martial arts / shooting games or role playing games. Examples of the user's character are, for example, a person, a robot or a car in a game.

To illustrate this idea, assume that the user plays the game for the first time (ie the user's character has not yet been developed). If such a game is a race game, the user's car will be slow; if it is a shooting game, the user will not have strong weapons or weapons. Will not have.

It is then assumed that the user plays several games while in the hot spot. In these games, a user can play against another user who is physically in the same hot spot or against a user who is in another hot spot. If it is a race game, the user can win some races that can make money in the game for the user. This money can be used to buy faster cars. In shooting games, the user can acquire extra weapons or more powerful weapons. In RPG games, users can earn more experience points and acquire new skills. Therefore, as the user plays the game, the user's character continues to develop.

The present invention then allows the user to save a "character" at any time, for example locally on a mobile device (ie, as opposed to a network). By doing so, the user does not save the "game" (ie, the points in the particular game being played) as in the prior art games that allow the user to do so. Instead, the user can save the user's character independently of the game. The present invention also permits the user to "carry" the character for use in playing future games. Such future games may include, for example, the same game or a different game than the original game in which the character was originally saved. It should be noted that these different games should preferably include games of the same type / genre / format as the original game for the most efficient use of the saved character. It should also be noted that the user can later use the saved developed character to go to the hotspot (same hotspot or completely different hotspot) and play something else at that location.

The present invention therefore introduces the concept of saved developed and portable characters. Such saved characters can be transported to and used in different gaming environments. For example, suppose a user goes to a given hot spot and races on a track available there. The user can save the car at any time during the game and take the saved character to another hot spot. Such new hotspots can provide different race tracks there, and the user can advantageously use the same car to race with users at the new hotspot.

Advantageously, the present invention provides a character's weapons, skills and other attributes that develop over time and will be used in a variety of different environments (e.g., one hotspot allows a user to fight in an urban environment, while another hotspot May allow the user to fight in a forested environment).

In addition, the present invention provides wireless hotspot providers with a means to attract users to visit their hotspots and stay logged on longer (and thus generate more airtime income). The present invention also provides the user with a game with more replay values, which instead of simply playing a linear game to solve and restart it, the user continues to develop the user's character over time. Because it provides the ability to do so. For example, when a user goes to a different hotspot, the user can continue to use and develop his character in the game against other users in that hotspot.

The present invention also provides a gaming server at a hotspot capable of providing a game that provides a variety of environments / settings without a character (ie gaming environments). The user can play with any of their saved characters in these various environments. Thus, users can choose from a number of different environments that will use their saved characters to play, and users can play with each other using their respective saved characters from different games.

It should also be noted that a user outside of a particular hotspot can access the gaming server for that hotspot, for example via the Internet, to play with the users at that hotspot.

2 또는 XBox

와 같은)의 사용자는 그 콘솔의 휴대 가능한 메모리 카드에 그들의 캐릭터를 세이브할 수 있고, 예컨대 새로 운 게임에서 다른 사용자와 플레이하기 위해 다른 사용자의 집으로 사용자의 캐릭터를 가져갈 수 있다. 본 발명의 또 다른 양상에 따르면, 게이밍 콘솔은 다양한 게이밍 환경/세팅을 제공하는 게임을 제공할 수 있고, 사용자는 이들 다양한 환경에서 플레이하기 위해 사용자의 세이브된 캐릭터를 입력할 수 있다. 그러므로 사용자는 사용자의 세이브된 캐릭터를 사용할 다수의 상이한 환경으로부터 선택할 수 있고 또한 상이한 세이브된 캐릭터를 가지는 다른 사용자와 플레이할 수 있다. 유리하게 잠재적으로 무한한 개수의 게이밍 환경/캐릭터 결합이 매번 고유한 게이밍 경험을 제공하기 위해 존재한다. 따라서 이러한 실시예에 관해서는 도 2의 단계(201, 203)가, 예컨대 게임이 액세스되고 게이밍 콘솔로부터 선택되는 단계(202)로 대체될 수 있다.Thinking about wireless hotspots, the concept of the present invention is equally applicable to conventional gaming consoles. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a gaming console (Sony Playstation)

2 or XBox

Users can save their characters to the console's portable memory card and take their characters to another user's home, for example, to play with the other user in a new game. According to another aspect of the present invention, a gaming console can provide a game that provides various gaming environments / settings, and a user can enter a user's saved character to play in these various environments. Therefore, the user can select from a number of different environments in which to use the user's saved character and also play with other users with different saved characters. Advantageously an infinite number of gaming environments / character combinations exist to provide a unique gaming experience each time. Thus, with respect to such an embodiment, steps 201 and 203 of FIG. 2 may be replaced by step 202, for example, where a game is accessed and selected from a gaming console.

Although embodiments herein incorporating the teachings of the present invention have been shown and described in detail, those skilled in the art can readily devise many other various embodiments that still incorporate these teachings. Preferred embodiments of systems and methods that allow gaming of multiple users in a wireless hotspot have been described, in which case gaming users are intended to illustrate, but are not intended to limit, future games and future gaming experiences. It is noted that gaming characters can be saved and carried for use in the art, and modifications and variations can be made by those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing teachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments of the invention disclosed as being within the scope and spirit of the invention as outlined by the appended claims. The invention has been described in detail and as specifically required by patent law, and what is claimed and protected by the Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

As noted above, the present invention is applicable to systems and methods for allowing multi-user gaming in wireless hotspots where gaming users can save and carry gaming characters for use in future games and future gaming experiences. Do.

Claims (20)

A method of providing transportable character-centric gaming to a user in wireless access, comprising: Providing, in a first wireless access, a first gaming server accessible from the first wireless access (201), Providing, at the first gaming server, at least one first selectable game having at least one saveable character (203), Providing 217 the ability to save the saveable character at any point in the first game to a transportable storage medium to maintain the currently saved character, The currently saved character is loadable for playing in a second game independent of the first game, Providing 217 the ability to save a saveable character at any point, Determining (301) whether a previously saved character exists for the first selectable game, If a previously saved character is present for the first selectable game, further comprising determining (307) whether the previously saved character is desired to be deleted and replaced with the currently saved character, If you want the previously saved character to be deleted and want to replace it with the currently saved character, determine to delete the previously saved character (309), and replace the previously saved character that was deleted with the currently saved character. More steps, If the previously saved character is not desired to be deleted and replaced by the currently saved character, further comprising the step 311 of allowing the currently saved character to be saved and maintaining the previously saved character, If a previously saved character does not exist with respect to the first selectable game, further including allowing a current character to be saved (303), Wherein the currently saved character and the previously saved character are different instances of the same character, How to provide character-oriented gaming. delete The method of claim 1, wherein the first game and the second game are different. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step 203 of providing a second game and a second radio access, wherein the second game is played in a second radio access, wherein the first radio access and the second radio access are different. , How to provide character-oriented gaming. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step 205 of determining whether a previously saved character exists with respect to the selectable game that it wishes to be used, If there is a previously saved character, further comprising a step 207 of entering a previously saved character for use in a selectable game, If the previously saved character does not exist, further comprising a step 209 of allowing a play of a selectable game with a game-provided character (209). delete The method of claim 1, wherein the removable storage medium comprises at least one of a laptop, a PDA, a floppy disk, and a compact disk. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing 206 at least one selectable gaming environment on a first gaming server; Step 207 is provided to provide the ability to input the saved character for playing in the selected gaming environment. Character-oriented gaming providing method further comprising. The method of claim 1, Providing, in a second wireless access, a second gaming server comprising at least one second game and at least one second gaming environment (201), Logging on with a second wireless access and providing the ability to access a second gaming server (201), Providing (203) the ability to select at least one of a second game or a second gaming environment on a second gaming server, Providing (207) the ability to load removable storage media on a second gaming server; Providing 207 the ability to load a saved character for play in at least one selected second game or second gaming environment. Character-oriented gaming providing method further comprising. 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing (217) the ability to carry a saveable character from a first gaming server to a second gaming server. As a method of providing movable character-oriented gaming, Providing (203) at least one first selectable game having at least one saveable character that can be saved independently of the first game, Providing (213, 217) the ability to save at least one saveable character to a removable storage medium at any point in the at least one first game to form a currently saved character; Providing 205 the ability to load a saved character for playing in at least one of the first selectable game or another game, The saved character is loadable for play independent of the first game, Providing (213, 217) the ability to save at least one saveable character at the random point, Determining (301) whether a previously saved character exists for the first selectable game, If a previously saved character is present for the first selectable game, further comprising determining (307) whether the previously saved character is desired to be deleted and replaced with the currently saved character, If you want the previously saved character to be deleted and want to replace it with the currently saved character, determine to delete the previously saved character (309), and replace the previously saved character that was deleted with the currently saved character. More steps, If the previously saved character is not desired to be deleted and replaced by the currently saved character, further comprising the step 311 of allowing the currently saved character to be saved and maintaining the previously saved character, If a previously saved character does not exist with respect to the first selectable game, further including allowing a current character to be saved (303), Wherein the currently saved character and the previously saved character are different instances of the same character, How to provide mobile character-oriented gaming. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing 203 a first gaming server and a first wireless local area network hotspot, wherein the first game on the first gaming server in the first wireless local area network hotspot is selected. Provided is a method of providing movable character-oriented gaming. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing 203 a second game, a second gaming server, and a second wireless local area network, wherein the second game is on a second gaming server in a second wireless local area network. Provided is a method of providing movable character-oriented gaming. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing (206) at least one first gaming environment on a first gaming server. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing (206) at least one second gaming environment on a second gaming server. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: providing (203) the ability to select at least one of a first game or a first gaming environment for play; Providing 207 the ability to load a saved character for play in at least one selected first game or gaming environment. And further comprising moveable character-oriented gaming. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: providing (203) the ability to select at least one of a second game or a second gaming environment for play; Providing 207 the ability to load a saved character for play in at least one selected second game or second gaming environment. And further comprising moveable character-oriented gaming. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the other game comprises a game independent of the first game. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step 205 of determining whether there is a previously saved character that one wishes to be used with respect to the selectable game. If there is a previously saved character that one wishes to be used with respect to the selectable game, the method further includes a step 207 of entering a previously saved character for use in the selectable game, If no previously saved character is desired to be used with respect to the selectable game, the moveable character further includes a step 209 of allowing a play of the selectable game with the game-provided character. How to provide central gaming. delete

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