Method and system for mediating interactive services over a wireless communications network
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed to a method and system for controlling the state of an interactive application and controlling delivery of the interactive application to one or more users. The system of the present invention is a system for delivering an interactive application to one or more users of a communications network and may comprise an interactive application adapted to the communications network; a user access device adapted to receive said interactive application; control means for establishing parameters under which said interactive application is rendered on said user access device; and mediation means for establishing terms for the interaction between the at least one user and other users and the communications network.
1. A method of controlling delivery of an interactive application to one or more access devices over a wireless communications network, further comprising a game server, the method comprising:
locating a plurality of potential players, wherein an access device corresponding to each of the plurality of potential players comprises a wireless access device;
retrieving access device information corresponding to the plurality of potential players;
resolving any differences between the access devices corresponding to the plurality of potential players;
determining common capability and connection parameters and enabling the common capability and connection parameters that are determined;
determining a skill level associated with each of the plurality of potential players;
notifying each of the plurality of potential players of the skill level associated with the other potential players;
querying each of the plurality of potential players to determine whether they will join the interactive application as a player; and
initiating the interactive application for each of the joining players.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a common capability set based on at least one factor selected from the group consisting of:
processor capabilities, signal strength, video capabilities, and latency of the access devices.
3. A method of mediating the delivery of an interactive application to one or more access devices over a wireless communications network, further comprising a game server, the method comprising:
initiating an interactive session;
locating one or more access devices corresponding to one or more potential players, the one or more access devices comprising wireless devices;
querying the one or more access devices to determine access device capabilities;
resolving any differences between the one or more access devices based on the determined access device capabilities;
determining a geographic location for each of the one or more access devices based on global positioning system (GPS) coordinates; and
facilitating play of the interactive application.
4. A method of controlling the delivery of an interactive game application to one or more access devices over a wireless communications network, further comprising a game server, the method comprising:
locating one or more potential players, wherein an access device corresponding to each of the one or more potential players comprises a wireless access device;
retrieving access device location information corresponding to the one or more potential players, including global positioning system (GPS) coordinates corresponding to one or more of the access devices;
determining that the access devices corresponding to the one or more potential players are capable of peer-to-peer play;
initializing peer-to-peer communications between the access devices; and
enabling game play.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising uploading game and player details to the game server.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein locating a plurality of potential players further comprises:
determining a geographic location for each of the plurality of potential players based on global positioning system (GPS) coordinates.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
billing one or more of the plurality of potential players based on a flat-rate, unlimited use plan.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
mediating the interactive application based at least in part on the skill level associated with one or more of the players.
9. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
restricting execution of the interactive application to the determined common capability set.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
adjusting communication parameters corresponding to a server executing the interactive application in accordance with the determined common capability and connection parameters.
11. The method of claim 4 , wherein determining that the access devices are capable of peer-to-peer play further comprises:
determining that the access devices corresponding to two or more potential players are located within a predetermined distance of each other.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising mediating game play based on one or more of an access device capability, a player skill value, and a communications network connection parameter.
13. A system comprising:
a wireless communications network communicatively coupling one or more wireless access devices with a game server; and
an interactive game application hosted on the game server, the interactive game application causing processor electronics to perform operations comprising:
locating one or more potential players, each potential player being associated with a wireless access device;
retrieving wireless access device location information corresponding to the one or more potential players, including global positioning system (GPS) coordinates;
determining that the wireless access devices corresponding to the one or more potential players are capable of peer-to-peer play;
initializing peer-to-peer communications between the wireless access devices; and
enabling game play.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the interactive game application further causes processor electronics to perform operations comprising:
uploading game and player details to the game server.
15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the interactive game application further causes processor electronics to perform operations comprising:
determining that the wireless access devices corresponding to two or more potential players are located within a predetermined distance of each other.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the interactive game application further causes processor electronics to perform operations comprising:
mediating game play based on one or more of a wireless access device capability, a skill value, and a wireless communications network connection parameter.
17. A system comprising:
a wireless communications network communicatively coupling one or more wireless access devices with a game server; and
an interactive application hosted on the game server, the interactive application causing processor electronics to perform operations comprising:
locating potential players, each potential player being associated with a wireless access device;
retrieving wireless access device information corresponding to the potential players;
resolving any differences between the wireless access devices corresponding to the potential players;
determining common capability and connection parameters and enabling the common capability and connection parameters that are determined;
determining a skill level associated with each of the potential players;
notifying each of the potential players of the skill level associated with the other potential players;
querying each of the potential players to determine whether they will join the interactive application as a player; and
initiating the interactive application for each of the joining players.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the interactive application further causes processor electronics to perform operations comprising:
determining a geographic location for each of the potential players based on global positioning system (GPS) coordinates.
19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the interactive application further causes processor electronics to perform operations comprising:
mediating the interactive application based at least in part on skill level.
20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the interactive application further causes processor electronics to perform operations comprising:
adjusting communication parameters corresponding to the game server in accordance with the determined common capability and connection parameters.