IP Library Granted Patent US 12,728,359
Granted Patent B2
US 12,728,359 · App. 18/456,909 · Granted Sep 8, 2026

Systems and methods for detecting negative gameplay behavior and toxic gameplay control

Inventors: Michael Taylor (San Mateo, CA); Coimbatore Ravi Madhavan (Sunnyvale, CA); Richard Olabode (Foster City, CA)
Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
A63F13/75A63F13/79G06N20/00A63F13/35
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,728,359
App. No.
18/456,909
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

System, process and device configurations are provided for detecting negative gameplay behavior and gameplay control. A method can include receiving gameplay data for a plurality of players for a game, wherein the gameplay data includes player input controls for the plurality of players. The process may use player input controls to detect negative gameplay behavior, such as a toxic behavior, including but not limited to a team kill, item/equipment trade fraud. Player input controls may be identified and evaluated using a model. Processes can include warning players based on patterns observed by the model and blocking toxic player input controls meant to harm other players. Processes can include determining game function responses of the game to limit outcome of the at least one player input control for the game and controlling output of the game.

Claims (30)

1 . A method for detecting negative gameplay behavior and gameplay control, the method comprising:

receiving, by a device and during a gaming session, gameplay data for a plurality of players for a game, wherein the gameplay data includes player input controls for the plurality of players, wherein the player input controls comprise at least two of: game controller input, voice command, audio input, text input, player in-game movement, or player position in game;

detecting, by the device and during the gaming session and based on the gameplay data, at least one negative game behavior for at least one player of the plurality of players, wherein the at least one negative game behavior is detected based on at least two different player input controls for a first player;

determining, by the device and during the gaming session, at least one game function response of the game to limit an outcome of the at least two different player input controls for the first player; and

controlling, by the device and during the gaming session, output of the game using the at least one game function response contemporaneously with the detection to auto-block negative moves by modifying or replacing at least one of the at least two different player input controls before a corresponding in-game action is performed.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the negative game behavior is an in-game action of the first player for at least one of harming and disrupting a second player of the game.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the negative game behavior is a communication from the first player to at least one second player of the game.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the negative game behavior is detected using a model and model training on parameters for at least one of text, speech, player in-game movement, player position in-game, and game state.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining at least one game function response includes determining a warning message for output to the first player.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining at least one game function response includes determining at least one control for blocking in-game output of a player input control.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling output of the game includes at least one of blocking and limiting input controls of the first player for a period of time.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling output of the game includes at least one of slowing and modifying game player characteristics of the first player for a period of time.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling output of the game includes removing the first player from a game session for a period of time.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling output of the game comprises replacing a detected negative player input control with a non-harmful input control before execution of the corresponding in-game action.

11 . A device configured for detecting negative gameplay behavior and gameplay control, the device comprising:

an interface;

a memory storing executable instructions; and

a controller coupled to the interface and the memory, wherein the controller is configured to:

receive, during a gaming session, gameplay data for a plurality of players for a game, wherein the gameplay data includes player input controls for the plurality of players, wherein the player input controls comprise at least two of: game controller input, voice command, audio input, text input, player in-game movement, or player position in game;

detect, during the gaming session and based on the gameplay data, at least one negative game behavior for at least one player of the plurality of players, wherein the at least one negative game behavior is detected based on at least two different player input controls for a first player;

determine, during the gaming session, at least one game function response of the game to limit an outcome of the at least two different player input controls for the first player; and

control, during the gaming session, output of the game using the at least one game function response contemporaneously with the detection to auto-block negative moves by modifying or replacing at least one of the at least two different player input controls before a corresponding in-game action is performed.

12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the negative game behavior is an in-game action of the first player for at least one of harming and disrupting a second player of the game.

13 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the negative game behavior is a communication from the first player to at least one second player of the game.

14 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the negative game behavior is detected using a model and model training on parameters for at least one of text, speech, player in-game movement, player position in-game, and game state.

15 . The device of claim 11 , wherein determining at least one game function response includes determining a warning message for output to the first player.

16 . The device of claim 11 , wherein determining at least one game function response includes determining at least one control for blocking in-game output of a player input control.

17 . The device of claim 11 , wherein controlling output of the game includes at least one of blocking and limiting input controls of the first player for a period of time.

18 . The device of claim 11 , wherein controlling output of the game includes at least one of slowing and modifying game player characteristics of the first player for a period of time.

19 . The device of claim 11 , wherein controlling output of the game includes removing the first player from a game session for a period of time.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2023
From: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
To: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 065955/0461 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2023
From: TAYLOR, MICHAEL; MADHAVAN, COIMBATORE RAVI; OLABODE, RICHARD
To: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
Reel/Frame 064725/0172 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250073598A1 · Mar 6, 2025
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