Cloud Gaming Save Data Synchronization Architecture

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Solution Overview

Problem

In cloud gaming systems, users face challenges in efficiently starting and operating games across both local and cloud environments, with existing solutions lacking a seamless management of save data and convenient access to applications.

Innovation Solution

A cloud gaming system architecture that includes a client terminal, a server system, and storage systems for efficient save data management, allowing users to play games on either the client terminal or the cloud server, with save data synchronized across local and cloud storage systems for uninterrupted access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users execute game programs on both client terminal and cloud server, then user flexibility and access convenience are improved, but save data management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser flexibilityVSAvoidsave data management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges local storage (client terminal) and cloud storage (server system) into a unified save data management system. The management unit on the client terminal coordinates with the server system to automatically handle save data synchronization, merging operations, and access control, thereby providing users with flexible access to games across different devices while abstracting away the complexity of dual-environment data management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The save data management system is designed with multi-functionality to handle various operations universally: creating save data locally, uploading to cloud, downloading from cloud, merging duplicate save data, and managing access rights. This universal management approach supports both local and cloud game execution environments through a single integrated system that adapts to different usage scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If save data is synchronized across local and cloud storage systems, then uninterrupted game access is improved, but data transmission time and network dependency increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuninterrupted game accessVSAvoiddata transmission time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically uploading save data from the client terminal to the server system in advance, before the user needs to access the game on a different device. This proactive synchronization ensures that save data is already available in the cloud when needed, reducing wait time and enabling uninterrupted game access across devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by allowing save data to exist in different states and locations simultaneously: local save data on the client terminal for immediate access, and cloud save data on the server system for remote access. The system intelligently determines which copy to use based on the current access scenario, optimizing both speed and reliability for each specific situation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Power

If cloud server performs arithmetic processing of game programs, then high-performance gaming is improved, but network latency and dependency increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegaming performanceVSAvoidnetwork latency
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the gaming system into two distinct modes: cloud gaming mode where the server performs arithmetic processing of game programs, and local gaming mode where the client terminal executes games locally. This segmentation allows users to choose the appropriate mode based on network conditions and performance needs, mitigating the impact of network latency while still providing access to high-performance cloud gaming when conditions permit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts between cloud-based and local-based game execution based on real-time conditions such as network availability, latency, and user preferences. The client terminal can switch between downloading and executing game programs from the server and executing locally stored programs, providing a dynamic response to changing network conditions and minimizing the impact of latency on gaming experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4030304B1Information processing device and information processing system
Publication Date: 2024.12.18 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP4030304B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4030304B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP4030304B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An information processing device comprising a receiving section adapted to receive a request to execute an application, an obtaining section adapted to obtain information on a wait for processing of the application from a server system when there is no assignable processing unit in the server system on which to execute the application, where the server system includes a store server providing an entrance for a user to play a cloud game via the application, and the server system includes a cloud server facilitating the cloud game to the user, a notifying section displaying an inquiry screen inquiring whether to start the processing of the application, while in a state of waiting for a start of the processing of the application on the server system and when the obtaining section obtains information indicating that the processing of the application can be started from the server system, and a monitoring section adapted to monitor user input from an input device, wherein the state of waiting is cancelled when the monitoring section determines that over a predetermined period of time there has been no user input from the input device in response to the inquiry screen, and wherein the predetermined period of time is displayed to the user on the inquiry screen via a countdown timer.