IP Library Granted Patent US 7,627,680
Granted Patent B2
US 7,627,680 · App. 11/032,303 · Granted Dec 1, 2009

Method and system for mediating interactive services over a wireless communications network

Assignee: Cricket Communications, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,627,680
App. No.
11/032,303
Granted
Dec 1, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

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.

Claims (69)

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.

Assignments (7)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 29, 2013
From: CRICKET COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: INTEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 030508/0146 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2013
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, N.A.
To: CRICKET COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 030340/0924 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2009
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: CRICKET LICENSEE XIV, INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE XV, INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE XVI, INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE XVII, INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE XVIII, INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE XIX, INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE XX, INC.; CRICKET HOLDINGS DAYTON, INC.; CRICKET COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; LEAP WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TELEPHONE ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK, INC.; CHASETEL LICENSEE CORP.; CRICKET LICESNSEE (ALBANY), INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE (COLUMBUS), INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE (DENVER) INC.; CRICKET LICENSSE (LAKELAND) INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE (MACON), INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE (NORTH CAROLINA) INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE (PITTSBURGH) INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE (REAUCTION), INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE I, INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE II, INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE III, INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE IV, INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE V, INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE VI, INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE VII, INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE VIII, INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE IX, INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE X, INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE XI, INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE XII, INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE XIII, INC.; CRICKET FLORIDA PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET GEORGIA PROPERTY COMPANY, INC.; CRICKET IDAHO PROPERTY COMPANY; MCG PCS LICENSEE CORPORATION, INC.; CHASETEL REAL ESTATE HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; BACKWIRE.COM, INC.; CRICKET ALABAMA PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET ARIZONA PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET ARKANSAS PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET CALIFORNIA PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET COLORADO PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET INDIANA PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET KANSAS PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET KENTUCKY PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET MICHIGAN PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET MINNESOTA PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET MISSISSIPPI PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET NEBRASKA PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET NEVADA PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET NEW MEXICO PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET NEW YORK PROPERTY COMPANY, INC.; CRICKET NORTH CAROLINA PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET OHIO PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET OKLAHOMA PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET OREGON PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET PENNSYLVANIA PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET TEXAS PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET UTAH PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET WASHINGTON PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET ILLINOIS PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET WISCONSIN PROPERTY COMPANY; LEAP PCS MEXICO, INC.
Reel/Frame 022804/0745 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 9, 2009
From: CRICKET COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; LEAP WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE (REAUCTION), LLC; CRICKET LICENSEE I, LLC; CRICKET LICENSEE 2007, LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST FSB
Reel/Frame 022793/0850 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2008
From: LEAP WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: CRICKET COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 021324/0917 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 14, 2008
From: HUTCHESON, DOUG; ROBINSON, RICHARD; CALIGURI, STEVEN JOHN
To: LEAP WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 020534/0924 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Feb 13, 2007
From: CRICKET COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; LEAP WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BACKWIRE.COM, INC.; TELEPHONE ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK, INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE (REAUCTION), INC.; CRICKET LICENSEE I, INC.; CHASETEL REAL ESTATE HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; CRICKET ALABAMA PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET ARIZONA PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET ARKANSAS PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET CALIFORNIA PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET COLORADO PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET FLORIDA PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET IDAHO PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET ILLINOIS PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET INDIANA PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET KANSAS PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET KENTUCKY PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET MICHIGAN PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET MINNESOTA PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET MISSISSIPPI PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET NEBRASKA PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET NEVADA PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET NEW MEXICO PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET NEW YORK PROPERTY COMPANY, INC.; CRICKET NORTH CAROLINA PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET OHIO PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET OKLAHOMA PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET OREGON PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET PENNSYLVANIA PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET TEXAS PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET UTAH PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET WASHINGTON PROPERTY COMPANY; CRICKET WISCONSIN PROPERTY COMPANY; LEAP PCS MEXICO, INC.; CRICKET GEORGIA PROPERTY COMPANY, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 018890/0394 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 0988596400 · Jun 22, 2001
Provisional Application 6025246800 · Nov 22, 2000
Provisional Application 6028337700 · Apr 13, 2001
Related Publication 20050169235A1 · Aug 4, 2005