Cross-Platform Game Synchronization via Intermediary Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interactive game systems do not allow players to engage in a common game across different computing platforms, such as Facebook and iOS or Android environments, and also fail to enable continuous gameplay when network connectivity is lost.
Innovation Solution
A system where servers communicate with computing devices using platform-specific APIs, allowing data structures to be synchronized across multiple platforms, enabling gameplay across different platforms and allowing players to continue playing even without network connectivity by using local applications to update data structures until connectivity is regained.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If players use the same platform to engage in interactive games, then the game system can maintain simple architecture and consistent communication protocols, but players cannot engage in games across different computing platforms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a platform-agnostic server as an intermediary between players on different platforms (Facebook, iOS, Android). This server communicates with each platform through their specific APIs but maintains a unified game state and data structure, enabling cross-platform gameplay without requiring direct communication between different platform systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The game server is designed to handle multiple platform protocols simultaneously, serving as a universal interface that adapts to different platform requirements while maintaining consistent game logic and state management across all platforms.
2Reliability
If the system requires continuous network connectivity for synchronization, then data consistency can be maintained across platforms, but players cannot continue gameplay when network connectivity is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary synchronization of game state data to each player's device before connectivity is lost. The local device stores this synchronized data locally, allowing players to continue gameplay offline. When connectivity is restored, the system performs catch-up synchronization to update any changes made during the offline period.
Solution Approach 2:
The synchronization mechanism dynamically adapts based on connectivity status. During online periods, real-time synchronization occurs; during offline periods, the system switches to local-only operation with queued updates. Upon reconnection, the system automatically initiates synchronization to reconcile any divergent states.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system uses platform-specific APIs for communication, then each platform can be accessed independently, but a unified communication protocol across all platforms cannot be established
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is segmented into two distinct layers: a platform-specific communication layer that handles interactions with Facebook, iOS, and Android through their respective APIs, and a unified game logic layer that processes game state and rules independently of the underlying platform. This segmentation allows each platform to communicate using its native protocol while the game logic remains consistent across all platforms.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus is disclosed for enabling interactive gameplay across multiple platforms.