Game Log-Based Video Game Playback Distribution

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for live streaming and replaying video game sessions face challenges due to large storage and network demands, limited user interaction, and restricted annotation and sharing capabilities, particularly in high-definition, graphics-intensive games.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that generates a game log specifying game events during gameplay, allowing for efficient distribution and annotation of video game playback, using a game log and metadata tracks to create customizable video game streams that can be shared and replayed with additional content such as commentary, graphical overlays, and loadout information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If gameplay is recorded as media files for live streaming and replay, then playback quality is maintained, but storage and network loads become very large

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayback qualityVSAvoidstorage and network load

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a simplified copy of gameplay data called a 'game log' that captures essential game events and state changes without recording complete video frames. This game log serves as a compact representation that can be stored and transmitted efficiently while still enabling accurate playback recreation through the game engine.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts only the critical elements needed for playback - game events, state changes, and metadata - from the complete gameplay data stream. By taking out only the essential information rather than preserving all visual and audio data, the system dramatically reduces storage and network requirements while maintaining playback fidelity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If conventional media file recording is used for gameplay sharing, then playback is achieved, but user interaction and annotation capabilities are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayback capabilityVSAvoiduser interaction and annotation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments gameplay information into distinct components: game logs for playback, separate metadata tracks for annotations, and modular content elements. This segmentation allows users to independently interact with, annotate, and manipulate different aspects of the gameplay experience without affecting the core playback functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The game log format serves multiple functions: it enables accurate playback recreation, supports user annotations and commentary, facilitates search and filtering capabilities, and allows for various playback configurations. This multi-functionality enhances user interaction while maintaining efficient storage and transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Illumination intensity

If high-definition video games are streamed, then visual quality is improved, but network bandwidth requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual qualityVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of transmitting actual high-definition video data, the system transmits a compact game log copy that contains structured event data and state information. The visual quality is reconstructed at the client side using the game engine, which renders graphics based on the game log data, thereby avoiding the need to transmit large amounts of visual data over the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Reliability

If complete gameplay data is stored for later replay, then playback accuracy is maintained, but storage requirements become prohibitive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayback accuracyVSAvoidstorage space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a simplified data copy called a game log that captures the essential sequence of game events and state changes. This copy is sufficient for accurate playback recreation because it contains all the information needed to reconstruct the game state through the engine, without requiring storage of complete video, audio, and input data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the data representation parameters from continuous video/audio streams to discrete game events and state snapshots. This parameter transformation enables efficient compression and storage while preserving the ability to accurately replay gameplay by reconstructing the game state from the event sequence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12161940B2Methods and systems for enabling users to experience previously hidden information during a playable recreation of a video game session

Publication Date: 2024.12.10 ACTIVISION PUBLISHING INC

AI summary

A system and method is provided that generates a game log that specifies game events during gameplay to enable efficient distribution of video game playback, facilitates the annotation of gameplay through content from users and others, and generates a video game stream that includes the game log and content. The system facilitates the efficient sharing of video game playback, as well as annotations from users and others. For example, e-sportscasters may use the system to broadcast video game playback with their commentary and/or graphical overlays. Video game players may use the system to share video game playback efficiently with other users. The system may also facilitate the sharing of loadout conditions and micro-transactions relevant to video game playback.