Game Board Refill Control for Competitive Multiplayer Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Competitive games on multiple remote computer devices face significant latency issues due to the time it takes to communicate and update game progress, causing delays in player interactions and detracting from the gaming experience.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling user interfaces in computer devices that involves rendering a game board with selectable elements, detecting and removing matching groups, and executing a refill process using deterministic game element generating algorithms to maintain game board alignment across devices, allowing independent refilling and real-time play.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If game progress is continuously communicated between remote devices, then game board alignment is maintained, but latency increases due to communication time
Solution Approach 1:
The game board is divided into multiple independent tile sets, each capable of being refilled independently. This segmentation allows different regions of the game board to be updated simultaneously without waiting for complete synchronization across all devices, reducing overall latency while maintaining alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and preparing refill sequences for tile sets before they are actually needed. Deterministic algorithms generate refill orders in advance, allowing devices to anticipate and prepare updates, thereby reducing communication latency and maintaining synchronized game state.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a single centralized refill process is used, then game board alignment is maintained, but productivity decreases due to sequential updates
Solution Approach 1:
The refill process is segmented into independent tile set refills rather than a single centralized operation. Each tile set can be refilled in parallel using deterministic algorithms, significantly improving productivity and gameplay speed while maintaining board alignment through coordinated synchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts the refill process by determining which tile sets need refilling based on actual game state changes. This dynamic approach allows parallel processing of independent tile sets, improving productivity without compromising alignment, as the system adjusts the refill sequence based on real-time conditions.
3Stability of the object's composition
If updates are sent to all devices for every game element change, then game board alignment is maintained, but loss of information increases due to redundant transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of sending complete updates for all game elements, the system segments information transmission by only communicating changes in specific tile sets. This selective updates approach maintains alignment while reducing information redundancy and communication overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by tailoring update transmissions to the specific needs of individual tile sets. Rather than uniform broadcasting, each tile set receives updates only when and where necessary, optimizing information flow and reducing redundant transmissions while maintaining overall game board alignment.
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanism for refilling an electronic game board after game elements of different game types, for example those referred to as ‘clickers’ or ‘linkers,’ have been removed through play. In these games, a player must identify a group of matching game elements on a game board, select (or click on) a game element within the group. This causes the group of selecting matching game elements to be removed. A refill process is then executed to replenish the game board with new game elements. When competitors at remote devices are playing the same game board, there is a requirement to keep the game board aligned as play progresses. The present invention addresses the latency problem by enabling independent refill at respective computer devices which are engaged in a competitive game. The refill process may also be utilised on a single computer device where a single player is playing a game.