Cross Platform Game Continuity via Cloud Rendering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face challenges in seamlessly transitioning and continuing interactive video game experiences across different platforms, such as from non-portable devices to portable devices, due to the need for separate software components and lack of cross-platform compatibility, which can result in fragmented gaming experiences and additional costs for game publishers.

Innovation Solution

A datacenter-based system that uses the same components for rendering and distributing video game content across various platforms, enabling continuity of gameplay and ensuring publishers receive royalties for expanded usage, by acting as a cloud save center and rendering engine, and providing rendered content to thin client platforms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate software components are used for different platforms, then each platform can have optimized performance, but cross-platform compatibility and seamless transition are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecross-platform compatibilityVSAvoidsoftware components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal product code that serves multiple platforms (first platform and second platform) instead of requiring separate platform-specific codes. This universal code enables the same gaming product to be accessed and rendered across different device types (e.g., desktop, mobile, tablet) through a cloud-based rendering system, achieving cross-platform compatibility without requiring separate software components for each platform.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a cloud-based rendering service as an intermediary between the universal product code and the various platform devices. This intermediary receives the universal code, renders the product content, and delivers it to different platforms, enabling seamless transitions and cross-platform compatibility while abstracting away the complexity of platform-specific optimizations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If users purchase separate games for different platforms, then each platform can provide full functionality, but users face additional costs and fragmented experiences

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegaming experience continuityVSAvoidnumber of game purchases

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The universal product code enables a single purchase to provide access to the same gaming product across multiple platforms. Users no longer need to purchase separate games for different devices, as the universal code serves all platforms through the cloud rendering service, reducing the quantity of purchases while maintaining full functionality and experience continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables continuity of gaming experience by allowing users to resume play on a different platform from where they previously stopped. The cloud-based system maintains the state and progress of the game, enabling seamless transitions between platforms and ensuring continuous useful action without interruption or loss of progress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Use of energy by moving object

If cloud-based rendering is used for cross-platform access, then device computational burdens are reduced, but network dependency and latency increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice computational burdenVSAvoidnetwork connection dependency

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical approach of downloading and executing heavy game software locally on each device with a cloud-based rendering system. Instead of relying on device hardware to process the game, the system substitutes the computational workload to a remote server, reducing device energy consumption and computational burden while abstracting network dependency through standardized communication protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9694280B2Systems and methods for providing cross platform access to interactive content

Publication Date: 2017.07.04 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC

AI summary

Systems, methods, and computer readable media for enabling cross platform access to a previously purchased product (PPP) are provided. Cross platform access to the PPP can be accomplished by using a datacenter capable of locally rendering content of the PPP and distributing the rendered content for consumption by a platform other than the platform for which the PPP was designed. This advantageously enables end users to use other platforms and experience the PPP in a manner that emulates or substantially replicates the same experience the user enjoys when interacting with the PPP on its designed platform.