Game Image Distribution System for Privacy Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current game image sharing systems do not allow viewing users without the same game to participate in the game, and they expose personal or privacy information when broadcasting game images, which is a concern for user privacy.

Innovation Solution

The system enables streaming distribution of game images and sounds, allowing viewing users to participate in games by temporarily transferring control and managing privacy settings to prevent exposure of personal information during live streaming.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the game image is broadcasted through the sharing site, then the viewing users can watch the game being played, but personal information or privacy information is displayed on the game image and made public

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegame image distribution capabilityVSAvoidprivacy exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes personal information and privacy elements from the game image before broadcasting it to viewing users. The system identifies and eliminates harmful information components while preserving the core gaming content, thereby preventing privacy exposure during live streaming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary processing system between the game source and the broadcasting channel. This intermediary component processes the game image to filter out personal information before transmission, acting as a mediator that protects user privacy while enabling game distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the viewing user does not have the game, then the viewing user cannot participate in the game, but requiring game ownership limits the usability of the sharing system

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser participation capabilityVSAvoidsystem accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the sharing system universal by enabling viewing users to participate in games regardless of whether they own the game. The system allows multiple user types (game owners and non-owners) to access and interact with the same gaming content through different interfaces and permission levels.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic participation mechanisms where the system adapts its behavior based on the viewer's game ownership status. Non-owners can participate in specific ways (watching, commenting, limited interaction) while owners have full participation rights, creating a flexible and adaptable sharing ecosystem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3718614B1Information processing device and game image distribution method
Publication Date: 2023.09.13 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP3718614B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3718614B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3718614B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An image processing unit 118 generates a distribution image including a game image. A distribution processing unit 126 distributes the distribution image to one or more of information processing terminals through a shared server. A participation processing unit 128 accepts play requests of viewing users operating the information processing terminals and approves a game play of one of the viewing users who has made a request for a play. An application execution unit 110 processes a game using operation information transmitted from the information processing terminal operated by the viewing user the game play of which has been approved.