Interactive gaming utilizing a dispersed storage network
View Patent ↗Game data is received at a dispersed storage processing unit, the game data associated with at least one of a plurality of user devices. The game data is stored in a cache memory associated with the dispersed storage processing unit. Dispersed storage metadata associated with the cached game data is generated. A data block is generated based on the cached game data and further based on the dispersed storage metadata. The data block is stored in a dispersed storage network.
1. A method for use in conjunction with a dispersed storage processing unit coupled to a data network, the method comprising:
receiving a request for a player to enter a game at the dispersed storage processing unit, the request associated with at least one of a plurality of user devices;
determine at the dispersed storage processing unit when the game requested is an existing game and, when the existing game is requested:
retrieving, via slices, from a plurality of storage devices at a corresponding plurality of different locations of a dispersed storage network, a game state associated with the existing game;
modifying the game state at the dispersed storage processing unit to include the player; and
storing the modified game state in the dispersed storage network.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
sending the modified game state to the player via the data network.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
sending the modified game state to at least one other player associated with the existing game, via the data network.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
determine at the dispersed storage processing unit when the game requested is not an existing game and when the game requested is not an existing game:
generating a new game state to include the player;
storing the new game state in the dispersed storage network.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:
sending the new game state to the player via the data network.
6. The method of claim 4 further comprising:
determining a plurality of dispersed storage units for use in storing the new game state;
wherein storing the new game state in the dispersed storage network includes storing slices formed from the new game state in the plurality of dispersed storage units.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the determination of the plurality of dispersed storage units includes:
determining a location associated with the at least one of the plurality of user devices; and
identifying at least one of the plurality of dispersed storage units based on proximity to the at least one of the plurality of user devices.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein the determination of the plurality of dispersed storage units includes:
associating at least one of the plurality of dispersed storage units to the player; and
identifying at least one of the plurality of dispersed storage units based on its association to the player.
9. The method of claim 6 wherein the determination of the plurality of dispersed storage units includes:
associating at least one of the plurality of dispersed storage units to a new game; and
identifying at least one of the plurality of dispersed storage units based on its association to the new game.
10. The method of claim 6 wherein at least one of the plurality of dispersed storage units includes a memory associated with the at least one of the plurality of user devices.