Creating an interactive gaming environment
View Patent ↗Methods for creating an interactive gaming environment are provided. In various embodiments, methods of the present invention may include initializing an interactive game application at a game server which is then characterized as having an active status, notifying a lobby server concerning the active status of the game server, registering the application with a universe management server via the lobby server, and allowing users to join the interactive gaming environment. The users joining the interactive gaming environment may be identified by a server key obtained from the game server.
1. A method for creating an interactive gaming environment, the method comprising:
initializing an application at a game server such that the game server is characterized as having an active status, the application corresponding to the interactive gaming environment;
notifying a lobby server as to the active status of the game server;
executing an authentication process at an authentication server, wherein a user is assigned to the lobby server upon successful user authentication;
registering the application with a universe management server, wherein registration occurs via the lobby server; and
allowing users to join the interactive gaming environment, wherein the users joining the interactive gaming environment are identified by a server key obtained from the game server.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the authentication process includes assigning a session key to a user, the session key associated with a privilege level for determining the level of access granted to the user.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein successful user authentication comprises sending periodic server reports to a proxy application server, the proxy application server located within an application server.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the periodic server reports confirm the operation of a hosted application.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the periodic server reports include status information.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the proxy application server is configured to communicate with the universe management server regarding application status information received from the user.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein registration of the application permits the user to participate in a system-wide function.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the system-wide function is a ladder ranking engine.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the system-wide function is a clan engine.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the system-wide function is chat.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the system-wide function is group or community management.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the system-wide function is messaging.
13. The method of claim 7 , wherein participation in the system-wide function occurs during connection to the lobby server.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein participation in the system-wide function occurs during game play.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the successfully authenticated user sends periodic reports to a proxy application server.