Mapping Game Aliases to Portal IDs for Automated Friend Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
In online multiplayer games and collaboration services, users face difficulties in discovering and confirming the presence of friends due to the lack of direct communication channels, leading to time-consuming out-of-band messaging and potential alias conflicts that affect reliability of rating information.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses client devices to detect the execution of game programs and notify other clients through instant messaging, with a data warehouse validating game service IDs against portal IDs to ensure accurate identification and notification of user participation in online games, enabling automated invitations and reliable identity verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If out-of-band messaging is used to invite friends to online games, then friend discovery is possible, but communication time increases and user focus is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of game probes and messenger clients that automatically detect game execution and transmit invitations through existing messenger infrastructure. This intermediary layer eliminates direct user-to-user communication for friend discovery, allowing automated background operations to handle invitations while users remain focused on their games.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by having game probes automatically detect when games are executed and autonomously send invitations through messenger clients without requiring user intervention. The automated detection and invitation process occurs in the background, freeing users from manual communication tasks while maintaining friend discovery functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual telephone or messaging is used to invite friends, then friend discovery is achieved, but user distraction from current game session occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs friend discovery operations automatically through game probes that detect game execution and trigger invitation processes without requiring user action. This self-service mechanism maintains ease of operation by keeping users undisturbed while still enabling comprehensive friend discovery through automated background processes.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary automation layer handles the distraction-prone manual tasks of friend discovery and invitation sending. The game probe and messenger client work together as intermediaries to manage communications in the background, preserving user focus on the current game session while maintaining full friend discovery functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If aliases are used in online game services, then player anonymity is maintained, but identity confirmation reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where messenger service user IDs are exchanged and verified between players. This feedback loop allows participants to confirm each other's identities through the more reliable messenger service while maintaining game aliases for actual gameplay, thus preserving anonymity without sacrificing identity confirmation reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are directed towards mapping a first user ID, such as an alias game ID, which may be used by multiple users, to a second user ID, such as a portal messenger ID. A user registers with an intermediary service, such as a game data aggregation service, and provides both the first user ID and the second user ID. The aggregation service detects when the first user ID is being used by one or more users in a first service, such as an online game service. The aggregation service also detects when a client probe reports to a second service, such as a portal messenger service, that the second user ID is participating in the same service. The aggregation service determines whether one instance of the first user ID from the first service corresponds to the second user ID from the second service.