Data Model for a Uniform Data Platform

Abstract

To provide a computer execution method and system for providing a uniform data platform for at least one application from among multiple applications.SOLUTION: An exemplary method receives application data from at least one of a device and a server, the device executes and receives on portion of an application from among multiple applications, and stores application data in a data platform, a data model includes at least one piece of meta data and at least one event, the one piece of meta data corresponds to at least one object shown by the data model, the one event corresponds to a trigger condition related to one meta data entry, and the value of one piece of meta data and the value of one event are related to and store a user profile.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 748,902, filed Oct. 22, 2018.

[0002] This technology generally relates to remote networked game services, and more particularly, to systems and methods for providing a data model for a uniform data platform.

Background Art

[0003] Although approaches described in this section are pursued, they are not necessarily approaches that have been previously recognized or pursued. Thus, unless otherwise indicated, any of the approaches described in this section should not be presumed to be prior art merely by inclusion in this section.

[0004] Video games are becoming more complex, and the time allotted to play them is more restricted than before. Players desire to be involved in and engaged with the video games they play from start to finish. However, those players often have questions about the games they are playing, and to get answers to those questions, players have to leave the game and interact with third - party sites. This is because in - game states and video game activities are not aggregated and analyzed across video games and video game players. It is a significant amount of work for game developers to provide help to players within the context of a single game and implement all the features necessary to reduce player frustration. Thus, a data model and developer - friendly APIs are needed to support multiple players and gaming environments across a uniform data platform.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that will be further described in the detailed description below. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0006] According to an embodiment of one implementation of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented system is provided that provides a data model for a uniform data platform. The system may include at least one device configured to execute at least one of a plurality of applications, the applications having an application data structure and a uniform data platform that executes on one or more servers, the uniform data platform having a uniform data model across a plurality of application data structures. The data model may include at least one metadata corresponding to at least one object shown in the data model, the data model may also include at least one event corresponding to a trigger condition associated with at least one metadata entry, and the values of the at least one metadata and the values of the at least one event are associated with a user profile, and the uniform data platform is configured to receive application data from at least one device and store the application data within the data model. The system may also include a plurality of remote networked services configured to access application data from the uniform data platform using the data model.

[0007] At least one object shown in the data model may include activities, actions, results, locations, character attributes, and progress. Application data may be organized according to a logical data structure common to multiple applications. An application developer can develop at least one of the multiple applications according to the logical data structure. Application data may include game data. The multiple applications may include multiple games running on multiple user devices. The logical structure may include a state, location data, character statistics, and at least one option. The state may be unlockable, unavailable, in progress, completed, and can provide an indication of the player's progress or activity. A uniform data platform, at least one of the multiple applications, a server, and a device may be connected via multiple network services.

[0008] According to an embodiment of another example of the disclosure, a computer-implemented method is provided for providing a data model for a uniform data platform. The method may include receiving application data from at least one of a device and a server, where the device executes at least a portion of an application of a plurality of applications, and the application has an application data structure; and storing the application data in the data platform, where the data platform has a uniform data model across a plurality of application data structures. The data model may include at least one metadata and at least one event, where the at least one metadata corresponds to at least one object represented in the data model, and the at least one event corresponds to a trigger condition associated with at least one metadata entry. The values of the at least one metadata and the values of the at least one event may be associated with a user profile. The method may also include accessing the application data stored in the data platform via a plurality of remote networked services. The plurality of remote network services may be able to access the application data using the data model.

[0009] At least one object shown in the data model may include activities, actions, results, locations, character attributes, and progress. Application data may be organized according to a logical data structure common to multiple applications. An application developer can develop at least one of the multiple applications according to the logical data structure. Application data may include game data. The multiple applications may include multiple games running on multiple user devices. The logical structure may include a state, location data, character statistics, and at least one option. The state may be unlockable, unavailable, in progress, completed, and the state may further provide an indication of the player's progress or activity. A uniform data platform, at least one of the multiple applications, a server, and a device may be connected via multiple network services.

[0010] According to an embodiment of another example of the present disclosure, the steps of a method for providing a data model for a uniform data platform are stored in a non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions to perform the described steps when executed by one or more processors.

[0011] Embodiments and aspects of other examples of the disclosure will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the following drawings.

[0012] Embodiments are shown by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

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[0014] The following detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings illustrate examples according to embodiments of the examples. Embodiments of those examples, also referred to herein as "examples," are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the subject matter. Embodiments may be combined, other embodiments may be utilized, or structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Accordingly, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0015] In one embodiment of one example, the data model disclosed herein describes the logical structure of a uniform data system that the platform may need game developers to comply with in order for the platform to understand the data and enable players to re-engage with features and services related to gameplay on the platform. This approach may enable a uniform data platform to implement features that require game data without the game having to be patched separately to support each feature.

[0016] The data model described herein provides a logical structure for a uniform data platform that can be applied to features and services related to a wide range of gameplay on a platform. The data model can obtain data from a game and can ensure that the game state is understood across the uniform data platform while the game is being played. This provides a logical structure on top of the game structure (e.g., events). The data model can enable the assignment of meaning to events (e.g., quests, activities, progression, actions, and enemies) within an appropriate context. Such a set of game data may be a unifying factor across multiple games and players.

[0017] Figure 1 is an exemplary system architecture 100 that provides context information regarding available game activities to a user, according to one embodiment. In some embodiments, the exemplary system architecture 100 includes a game client 105, a uniform data system (UDS) software development kit (SDK) 110, console system software 115, a local rules engine 120, a UDS server 125, a game server 130, processed data 135, and one or more other remote networked services including a help service 140, a game plan 145, user-generated content (UGC) tagging 150, and other services (s) 155. The help service 140 may also receive information from other data source (s) 160.

[0018] The game client 105 and the game server 130 provide context information regarding at least one of a plurality of applications to the UDS server 125 via a UDS data model that describes the logical structure of UDS data used by a uniform data system (UDS) SDK 110. The UDS data model enables the platform to implement remote networked services such as help service 140, game plan 145, UGC tagging 150, and other service(s) 155 that require game data without the need for each game to be patched separately to support each service. The UDS data model assigns context information to each part of the information in a unified manner across games. Context information from the game client 105 and the UDS SDK 110 is provided to the UDS server 125 via the console system software 115. It will be understood that the game client 105, the UDS SDK 110, the console system software 115, and the local rule engine 120 may operate on a computer or other suitable hardware for executing a plurality of applications.

[0019] The UDS server 125 receives and stores context information from the game client 105 and the game server 130 from at least one of a plurality of applications. Indeed, the UDS server 125 may receive context information from multiple game clients and game servers for multiple users. The information may be processed uniformly (135) and then received by the plurality of remote networked services 140, 145, 150, and 155.

[0020] Figure 2 shows another exemplary embodiment of a system architecture according to the present disclosure. The game client 205 transmits context information to the UDS server 210, and the UDS server 210 provides the context information in a unified data model to a plurality of remote networked services including profile statistics 215, game plans 220, sessions 225, tournaments 230, presence 235, and help systems 240.

[0021] Figure 3 provides an exemplary system for a uniform data platform 3 1 0 according to an embodiment of an example of the disclosure. 300 is shown. In an embodiment of one example, the system 300 may include at least one device 330 configured to execute at least one of a plurality of applications 332, and each application has an application data structure. The uniform data platform 310 may be executed on one or more servers. The uniform data platform 310 may include a data model that is uniform across a plurality of application data structures. The data model may include metadata 312 corresponding to at least one object shown in the data model, and events 314 corresponding to trigger conditions associated with at least one metadata entry. The values of the metadata 312 and the events 314 may be associated with a user profile. The uniform data platform 310 may be configured to receive application data from at least one device 330 and store the application data in the data model. The system 300 may also include a plurality of remote networked services 320 configured to access application data from the uniform data platform 310 using the data model.

[0022] In various embodiments, the metadata 312 may include a list of all activities that a user can perform in the application, the activity name, a description of the activity, the state of the activity (whether it is available, started, or completed), whether the activity is required to complete a goal or campaign, the completion reward for the activity, an intro cutscene or outro cutscene, in-game location, one or more conditions that must be satisfied before the activity becomes available, and a parent activity that includes the activity as a sub-activity. The metadata 312 may further include a list of abilities that can be exercised by the user, the effects of each action, telemetry indicating when the action and effects occur, including the corresponding timestamp and location, an in-game coordinate system, a list of in-game branching states, and telemetry indicating when the branching state is encountered and which option is selected by the user. In-game statistics, items, lore, in-game zones, and a corresponding list of attributes for each statistic, item, lore, or zone may likewise be included in the metadata 312. Additionally, the metadata 312 can indicate whether a particular activity, entity (character, item, ability, etc.), setting, result, action, effect, location, or attribute should be marked as hidden.

[0023] Event 314 may occur in response to several different trigger conditions. For example, such trigger conditions may include an activity becoming available that was not previously available, the user starting an activity, the user ending an activity, the opening cutscene or ending cutscene for an activity starting or ending, the user's in-game location or zone changing, in-game statistics changing, an item or inheritance being acquired, an action being performed, an effect occurring, the user interacting with a character, item, or other in-game entity, and an activity, entity, setting, result, action, effect, location, or attribute being discovered. Event 314 may further include information regarding the state of the application when Event 314 was triggered, such as a timestamp when the user started or ended an activity, a difficulty setting, and character statistics, the success or failure of an activity, or a score or period associated with the completed activity.

[0024] Figure 4 is a process flow diagram showing a method 400 for providing a data model for a uniform data platform. Method 400 may be executed by processing logic that includes hardware (e.g., decision logic, dedicated logic, programmable logic, application specific integrated circuit), software (such as software running on a general purpose computer system or a dedicated machine), or a combination of both. In an exemplary embodiment, the processing logic refers to one or more elements of the system architectures 100 and 200 of FIGS. 1 and 2. The operations of method 400 described below may be implemented in an order different from the order illustrated and shown in the figures. Moreover, method 400 may have additional operations that are not shown herein but may be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure. Method 400 may also have fewer operations than those shown in and described below with reference to FIG. 4.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, a method for providing a data model for a uniform data platform may begin at operation 410 by receiving application data from at least one of a device and a server. The device may execute at least a portion of at least one of a plurality of applications, and at least one application has an application data structure. At operation 420, method 400 may continue to store the application data in the data platform. The data platform may have a uniform data model across a plurality of application data structures. The data model may include at least one metadata and at least one event, where at least one metadata corresponds to at least one object shown in the data model, and at least one event corresponds to a trigger condition associated with at least one metadata entry. The values of at least one metadata and the values of at least one event may be associated with a user profile. At operation 430, method 400 may continue to access the application data stored in the data platform via a plurality of remote networked services. The plurality of remote network services may then use the data model to access the application data.

[0026] FIG. 5 shows a diagrammatic representation of a computing device in a machine of an example electronic form computer system 500 that can execute a set of instructions for causing a machine to execute any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. In an example embodiment, the machine may operate as a stand-alone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked arrangement, the machine may operate as a server in a server-client network environment, as a client machine, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine may be a personal computer (PC), tablet PC, game console, gaming device, set-top box (STB), television device, cellular phone, portable music player (e.g., portable hard drive audio device), web appliance, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while only a single machine is shown, the term "machine" shall also be construed to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set of instructions (or multiple sets) for executing any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. The computer system 500 may be, for example, at least an instance of a console (e.g., see FIG. 1), game server 130, or UDS server 125.

[0027] The computer system 500 of the embodiment includes a processor or a plurality of processors 505 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both) that communicate with each other via a bus 520, as well as a main memory 510 and a static memory 515. The computer system 500 may further include a video display unit 525 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD)). The computer system 500 also includes at least one input device, such as an alphanumeric input device (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device (e.g., a mouse), a microphone, a digital camera, and a video camera. 5 30. The computer system 500 also includes a disk drive unit 535, a signal generation device 540 (e.g., a speaker), and a network interface device 545.

[0028] The drive unit 535 (also referred to as the disk drive unit 535) includes a machine-readable medium 550 (also referred to as a computer-readable medium 550) that stores one or more sets of instructions and data structures (e.g., instructions 555) that implement or are utilized by any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. The instructions 555 may also reside, in whole or in part, within the main memory 510 and / or within the processor(s) 505 during their execution by the computer system 500. The main memory 510 and the processor(s) 505 also constitute a machine-readable medium.

[0029] Command 555 may further be transmitted or received through communication network 560 via a network interface device 545 that utilizes one of several known transfer protocols (e.g., Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), CAN, Serial, and Modbus). Communication network 560 includes the Internet, a local intranet, a personal area network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a virtual private network (VPN), a storage area network (SAN), a frame relay connection, an advanced intelligent network (AIN) connection, a synchronous optical network (SONET) connection, a digital T1, T3, E1, or E3 line, a digital data service (DDS) connection, a digital subscriber line (DSL) connection, an Ethernet connection, an integrated services digital network (ISDN) line, a cable modem, an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) connection, or a fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) or copper distributed data interface (CDDI) connection. Further, communication network 560 may also include a link to any of a variety of wireless networks including a wireless application protocol (WAP), a general packet radio service (GPRS), a global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA) or time division multiple access (TDMA), a cellular telephone network, a global positioning system (GPS), a cellular digital packet data (CDPD), a Research In Motion Limited (RIM) dual paging network, a Bluetooth radio, or a radio frequency network based on IEEE802.11.

[0030] The embodiment of the example is shown assuming that the machine-readable medium 550 is a single medium, and the term "computer-readable medium" should be interpreted to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized database or a distributed database, and / or an associated cache and server) storing a set of one or more instructions. The term "computer-readable medium" should also be interpreted to include any medium that can store, encode, or carry a set of instructions for execution by a machine, cause one or more of the methodologies of the present application to be executed by the machine, or be utilized by or associated with such a set of instructions, and can store, encode, or carry a data structure associated with such a set of instructions. Thus, the term "computer-readable medium" should be interpreted to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memory, optical and magnetic media. Such media may also include, but are not limited to, hard disks, floppy disks, flash memory cards, digital video disks, random access memory (RAM), and read-only memory (ROM).

[0031] The embodiments of the examples described in this specification may be implemented in an operating environment that includes computer-executable instructions (e.g., software) installed on a computer, in hardware, or in a combination of software and hardware. The computer-executable instructions may be described in a computer programming language or may be embodied in firmware logic. When described in a programming language that conforms to recognized standards, such instructions may be executed on various hardware platforms and may be executed against interfaces to various operating systems. Without limitation, computer software programs for implementing the methods may be described in, for example, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Dynamic HTML, XML, Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL), Document Style Semantic Specification Language (DSSSL), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL), Wireless Markup Language (WML), Java®, Jini®, C, C++, C#, .NET, Adobe Flash, Perl, UNIX® Shell, Visual Basic or Visual Basic Script, Virtual Reality Markup Language (VRML), ColdFusion®, or any number of other suitable programming languages such as other compilers, assemblers, interpreters, or other computer languages or platforms.

[0032] Thus, techniques for providing a data model for a uniform data platform are disclosed. Although embodiments have been described with reference to embodiments of specific examples, it will be apparent that various modifications and changes may be made to those embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the present application. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense.

Claims

1. 1. A computer-implemented system for providing a uniform data platform for multiple applications, comprising: at least one game server communicatively coupled to at least one user device, the game server configured to execute at least one application of a plurality of applications having an application data structure; a uniform data platform running on one or more servers, having a uniform data model across data structures of the plurality of applications and the plurality of remote networked services, the data model being required to be conformed to by game developers when developing the at least one application, and serving as a unifying factor between the plurality of applications and the plurality of remote networked services, the data model comprising: at least one metadata corresponding to at least one object represented in the data model; and at least one in-game event corresponding to an in-game trigger condition associated with the at least one metadata entry; With a uniform data platform, the uniform data platform is configured to receive application data from at least one of the at least one user device and the at least one game server and store the application data within the data model; The data model can assign meaning and in-game context information to each piece of application data; the plurality of remote networked services are configured to access the application data from the uniform data platform using the data model, and provide the in-game context information to the user device in response to the triggered in-game event. Computer-implemented systems.

2. The computer-implemented system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one object represented in the data model includes at least one of an activity, an action, an achievement, a location, a character attribute, and a progression.

3. The computer-implemented system of claim 1 , wherein the application data is organized according to a data structure common to the at least one application of a plurality of applications.

4. The computer-implemented system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one application of a plurality of applications is developed according to the data structure.

5. 4. The computer-implemented system of claim 3, wherein the application data includes game data and the at least one application of a plurality of applications is at least one game of a plurality of games running on at least one user device of a plurality of user devices.

6. The computer-implemented system of claim 5 , wherein the data structure includes one of a state, a position data, a character statistic, and a selection option.

7. 7. The computer-implemented system of claim 6, wherein the state includes one of unlockable, unavailable, in progress, and completed, the state indicating a player's progress or activity.

8. The computer-implemented system of claim 1 , wherein the uniform data platform, the at least one application of a plurality of applications, the server, and the user devices are connected via the plurality of remote networked services.

9. 2. The computer-implemented system of claim 1 , wherein the data model is required to be conformed to by game developers when developing the at least one application and serves as a unifying factor between the plurality of applications and the plurality of remote networked services.

10. 1. A computer-implemented method for providing a uniform data platform for multiple applications, comprising: receiving application data from at least one game server communicatively coupled to at least one user device executing at least a portion of at least one application of the plurality of applications having an application data structure; storing the application data in a data platform having a uniform data model across data structures of the plurality of applications and the plurality of remote networked services, the data model being required to be conformed to by game developers when developing the at least one application and serving as a unifying factor between the plurality of applications and the plurality of remote networked services, the data model comprising: at least one metadata corresponding to at least one object represented in the data model; and at least one in-game event; To remember and assigning in-game context information to one or more portions of application data via the data model; accessing the application data stored in the data platform via the plurality of remote networked services that access the application data using the data model, and providing the in-game context information to the user device in response to the triggered in-game event; 23. A computer-implemented method comprising:

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one object represented in the data model includes at least one of an activity, an action, an achievement, a location, a character attribute, a progression, a quest, and an enemy.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the application data is organized according to a data structure common to the at least one application of a plurality of applications.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one application of a plurality of applications is developed according to the data structure.

14. 13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the application data includes game data and the at least one application of a plurality of applications is at least one game of a plurality of games running on at least one user device of a plurality of user devices.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the uniform data platform, the at least one application of a plurality of applications, the server, and the user device are connected via the plurality of remote networked services.

16. 11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the data model is required to be conformed to by game developers when developing the at least one application and serves as a unifying factor between the multiple applications and the multiple remote networked services.

17. the at least one in-game event corresponds to an in-game trigger condition associated with at least one metadata entry; the at least one metadata value and the at least one in-game event value are associated with a user profile.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions embodied thereon which, when executed by a processor, perform steps of a method, the method comprising: receiving application data from at least one game server communicatively coupled to at least one user device executing at least a portion of at least one application of the plurality of applications having an application data structure; storing the application data in a data platform having a uniform data model across data structures of the plurality of applications and the plurality of remote networked services, the data model being required to be conformed to by game developers when developing the at least one application and serving as a unifying factor between the plurality of applications and the plurality of remote networked services, the data model comprising: at least one metadata corresponding to at least one object represented in the data model; and at least one in-game event; To remember and assigning in-game context information to one or more portions of application data via the data model; accessing the application data stored in the data platform via the plurality of remote networked services that access the application data using the data model, and providing the in-game context information to the user device in response to the triggered in-game event; 1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising:

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