Method and system for sharing video game content

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11065539-B2
Application number	US-202016835901-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2020
Priority date	Jun 30, 2016
Publication date	Jul 20, 2021
Grant date	Jul 20, 2021

Abstract

A video game sharing method and system enables users to share playable video game segments with users so that the users are able to view the video game segments or interactively play the video game segments. When shared, state information for the video game segments is included such that the users begin in the same position with the same relevant statistics. By enabling video game sharing, user enjoyment and video game popularity are increased.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A server comprising:
a non-transitory memory for storing program code, the program code for:
receiving state information of a shared segment of a video game shared by a first user;
receiving a selection by the second user of any point of the shared segment of the video game with a second device; and
enabling the second user to begin playing of the shared segment based on the state information corresponding to a point selected by the second user with the second device; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor component configured for processing the program code.

2. The server of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving, at the server, the shared segment of the video game with a first device by the first user;
sharing the shared segment of the video game by the server to the second device.

3. The server of claim 2 wherein the sharing of the shared segment includes sharing a recorded video or a live streaming a video from the server to the second device.

4. The server of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving, at a second server, the shared segment of the video game with a first device by the first user;
sharing the shared segment of the video game by the second server to the second device.

5. The server of claim 4 wherein the sharing of the shared segment includes sharing a recorded video or a live streaming a video from the second server to the second device.

6. The server of claim 1 wherein the state information is related to the video game based on the first user playing the video game.

7. The server of claim 1 wherein the state information is captured at a beginning of the segment of the video game.

8. The server of claim 1 wherein the state information is captured periodically throughout the segment of the video game.

9. The server of claim 1 wherein the program code is further configured for receiving a recorded video of the first user playing the video game.

10. The server of claim 1 wherein the second device limits the playing to only the segment of the video game, wherein the segment of the video game is the segment the first user played and shared.

11. The server of claim 1 wherein enabling the playing of the segment of the video game includes determining if the second device has the video game locally accessible and if the second device has the video game locally accessible starting playing the segment using the locally accessible video game.

12. The server of claim 1 wherein enabling the playing of the segment of the video game includes streaming the video game from the server.

13. The server of claim 1 wherein receiving the state information includes the first device sending a message input by the first user with the first device to the second device via the server and displaying the message on the second device.

14. The server of claim 1 wherein the second user plays the video game with the second device that is a different type of device than the first device of the first user, and enabling cross-platform gameplay by converting, at the server, the state information from a first platform to a second platform, wherein converting the state information utilizes a relational database indicating corresponding fields based on platform.

15. The server of claim 1 wherein the sharing of the shared segment includes sharing a recorded video or a live streaming a video from the server to the second device.

16. The server of claim 1 wherein the sharing of the shared segment includes sharing a recorded video or a live streaming a video from a second server to the second device.

17. The server of claim 1 wherein the program code is further configured for:
enabling adjustment of one or more parameters of the state information by the second device based on user input; and
enabling playing of the segment of the video game with the second device based on the state information as adjusted.

18. The server of claim 1 wherein the state information is captured dynamically throughout processing of the video game including during the segment with the first device.

19. The server of claim 1 wherein capturing the state information includes determining a scene identifier for each scene encountered in processing of the video game, wherein the scene identifier identifies an environment of the scene in the video game.

20. The server of claim 1 wherein the enabled playing includes playing portions of the video game beyond an end of the segment.

21. The server of claim 1 wherein the state information comprises at least one of a current character level, a current position, current character attribute values, a current environment and current environment object states.

22. The server of claim 1 wherein the second user plays the shared segment of the video game with their own identification and has ability to share a second shared segment of the video game associated with the second user.

23. The server of claim 1 wherein the second user is only able to play within the shared segment of the video game.

24. The server of claim 1 wherein the second user is only able to play a mission or quest associated with the shared segment of the video game.

25. The server of claim 1 wherein the second user is able to switch between the shared segment of the video game and a playable game at a nearest point in the shared segment or one of other shared segments.

26. The server of claim 1 wherein state information is captured when a user starts an event.

27. The server of claim 26 wherein the state information comprises at least one of a scene start, a scene update and a scene end.

28. The server of claim 27 wherein the scene end comprises an outcome or a result.

29. A game sharing method for enabling sharing and playing of portions of video games, the method comprising:
receiving, at a server, state information of a shared segment of a video game shared by a first user;
receiving, at the server, a selection by the second user of any point of the shared segment of the video game with a second device; and
enabling the second user to begin playing of the shared segment based on the state information corresponding to a point selected by the second user with the second device.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising:
receiving, at the server, the shared segment of the video game with a first device by the first user;
sharing the shared segment of the video game by the server to the second device.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the sharing of the shared segment includes sharing a recorded video or a live streaming a video from the server to the second device.

32. The method of claim 29 further comprising:
receiving, at a second server, the shared segment of the video game with a first device by the first user;
sharing the shared segment of the video game by the second server to the second device.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the sharing of the shared segment includes sharing a recorded video or a live streaming a video from the second server to the second device.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein the state information is related to the video game based on the first user playing the video game.

35. The method of claim 29 wherein the state information is captur

Assignees

• Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC

Inventors

• Sherwani Adil
• Webb Jonathan
• Hume Murray James

Classifications

• A63F13/497 Primary

  Partially or entirely replaying previous game actions · CPC title

• A63F13/87

  Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat · CPC title

• A63F13/35

  Details of game servers · CPC title

• A63F13/79

  involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories · CPC title

• A63F13/355 Primary

  Performing operations on behalf of clients with restricted processing capabilities, e.g. servers transform changing game scene into an encoded video stream for transmitting to a mobile phone or a thin client · CPC title