Delegating video game tasks via a sharing service

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9731206-B2
Application number	US-201313770299-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2013
Priority date	Feb 19, 2013
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

Video game tasks are delegated using a sharing service. A first computing device is configured to execute a game application. The first computing device can receive a request from a first user to delegate play of the game application to a second user so that the second user can attempt to complete a game task on behalf of the first user by controlling the game application from a second computing device that is associated with the second user. Control of the game application can be made available from the second computing device to the first computing device via a sharing session that is created and managed by a sharing service to which the first computing device and the second computing device are connected.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
executing, by a first computing device, a game application to provide audio or visual content;
receiving, by the first computing device, a delegation request from a first user to delegate play of the game application to complete a game task;
at least partly in response to the delegation request, generating, by the first computing device, an invitation to complete the game task on behalf of the first user;
receiving, by the first computing device, a notification of acceptance indicating that the invitation has been accepted;
transferring, by the first computing device, control of the game application from the first computing device to a second computing device by launching the game application on the second computing device and transferring a game state of the game application from the first computing device to the second computing device;
receiving, by the first computing device, streamed screen data from the second computing device, wherein the screen data is generated by the second computing device at least partly in response to the second computing device receiving control input from a second user and utilizing the control input to execute the game application launched on the second computing device;
displaying the streamed screen data on the first computing device; and
receiving, by the first computing device, an interruption from the first user, wherein at least partly in response to receiving the interruption, the transmission of the streamed screen data from the second computing device to the first computing device is terminated.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising initiating transfer of compensation from the first user to the second user.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the compensation comprises currency, virtual currency, one or more in-game items for the game application, one or more in-game items for another game application, or credit for purchase of real or virtual products from an online merchant.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing, by the first computing device, the invitation to be made available for acceptance by sending the invitation to the second computing device for acceptance by the second user.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first user and the second user are in a friendship facilitated by a gaming service.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing, by the first computing device, the invitation to be made available for acceptance by sending the invitation to a gaming service that is configured to present the invitation on behalf of the first user in solicitation of assistance from the second user with completing the game task, the second user being one of a plurality of users associated with the gaming service.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising initiating, by the first computing device, establishment of a sharing session between the first computing device and the second computing device.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein initiating, by the first computing device, establishment of the sharing session comprises the game application calling a sharing service application programming interface configured to initiate establishment of the sharing session with a sharing service.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
receiving, by the first computing device, a request to transfer the control of the game application back to the first computing device;
sending, by the first computing device, the request to transfer the control of the game application back to the first computing device to the sharing service; and
at least partly in response to sending the request to transfer the control of the game application back to the first computing device, receiving, by the first computing device, the control of the game application from the second computing device during the sharing session.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the game task comprises:
a developer-defined task defined by a developer of the game application;
a user-defined task defined by the first user;
completion of at least one level of the game application;
unlocking an achievement of the game application; or
attaining a position on a leaderboard associated with the game application.

11. A method comprising:
executing, by a first computing device, a game application;
receiving, by the first computing device, a delegation request from a first user to delegate play of the game application to complete a game task;
at least partly in response to the delegation request, generating, by the first computing device, an invitation to complete the game task on behalf of the first user;
sending the invitation to a gaming service configured to present the invitation on behalf of the first user in solicitation of assistance from a second user with completing the game task, the second user being one of a plurality of users associated with the gaming service, wherein the invitation is associated with an auction configured to be used by at least a portion of the plurality of users to bid on helping the first user to complete the game task, the bidding comprising indicating a deadline by which the game task is to be completed;

receiving, by the first computing device, a notification of acceptance indicating that the invitation has been accepted;
transferring, by the first computing device, control of the game application from the first computing device to a second computing device by launching an instance of the game application on the second computing device and transferring a game state of the game application from the first computing device to the second computing device; and
receiving, by the first computing device, streamed application data generated by the second computing device.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising receiving, by the first computing device, a selection of a winning bid from the auction, the winning bid being associated with the second user, and sending, by the first computing device, notification of the selection of the winning bid to the second user; and wherein receiving, by the first computing device, the notification of acceptance comprises receiving, by the first computing device, the notification of acceptance in response to sending the notification of the selection of the winning bid to the second user.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium to store computer-executable instructions which, in response to being performed by a first computing device, cause the first computing device to perform operations comprising:
receiving game control data at the first computing device for controlling an action within a game application executing on the first computing device, the game control data being associated with game control input received by a second computing device for completion of a game task that is delegated by a first user associated with the first computing device to a second user associated with the second computing device, wherein the game control data includes a game state of the game application saved by the second computing device before completion of the action within the game application executing on the second computing device;
utilizing the game control data to perform the action within the game application executing on the first computing device;
receiving a request of the first user to interrupt the completion of the game task; and
sending a command to stop receiving game control data for controlling the action within the game application executing on the first computing device from the second computing device before the completion of the game task by the second user.

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Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Paracha Salman Aftab
• Stephens Christopher Andrew
• Kuo Calvin Yue-Ren
• Yoo Won Suk

Classifications

• A63F13/69

  by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions · CPC title

• A63F13/847 Primary

  Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal · CPC title

• A63F13/795

  for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list · CPC title

• G06Q10/101

  Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services · CPC title