Game Stream Metadata for Seamless Player Joining

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems face significant barriers and friction when transitioning from passively viewing a live or pre-recorded game stream to actively participating in the game, requiring users to navigate complex processes involving platform identification, game purchase, and account setup, which can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.

Innovation Solution

The system utilizes metadata from game streams to enable seamless transitions by providing a 'join now' or 'play now' button within the streaming application, allowing users to access and join live or pre-recorded game instances directly, including necessary game purchases and platform authentication, thereby streamlining the process of becoming an active player.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional systems are used to transition from viewing a stream to playing the game, then users can access game platforms and purchase games, but the process becomes complex, time-consuming, and resource-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of transition from viewing to playingVSAvoidcomplexity of joining process

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the streaming application and game platform into a unified system where the streaming interface directly integrates with the game launcher. Metadata from the stream (game title, platform, version) is automatically retrieved and used to launch the correct game instance, eliminating the need for separate manual navigation between different applications and platforms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-fetching game metadata (title, platform, version information) from the stream before the user decides to join. This metadata is stored and ready, so when the user clicks 'Join', the system already has all the information needed to launch the game without requiring the user to manually search or configure settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If users manually locate and purchase games through digital stores, then they can access the game, but significant time and network resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime required to locate and download gameVSAvoidspeed of game access

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary retrieval of game metadata (title, platform, version, store location) automatically from the stream before the user needs to join. This pre-fetched data eliminates the need for manual searching and allows the system to directly launch the game with a single action, dramatically reducing access time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary metadata layer that bridges the stream and the game platform. This metadata acts as a mediator, carrying all necessary game information (platform ID, version, store reference) from the stream to the game launcher, enabling automatic and direct access without manual intervention or resource-intensive downloads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If users set up accounts and log in to game platforms manually, then they can participate in the game, but the process is tedious and creates friction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of account setup and loginVSAvoidtime for account setup and login

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service by automatically handling account authentication and login processes. When a user clicks 'Join', the system uses pre-fetched metadata to automatically locate the correct game instance and initiate login or account creation without requiring manual user input, thereby eliminating friction and saving time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Adaptability or versatility

If the system provides detailed metadata about game instances, then users can access specific versions and configurations, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to access specific game versionsVSAvoidcomplexity of metadata management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential metadata fields needed for game identification and launch (title, platform, version, store reference) from the complex stream data. By taking out just these critical elements and storing them in a simplified format, the system achieves versatile game access without the overhead of managing comprehensive metadata about every possible game configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12059628B2Joining or replaying a game instance from a game broadcast

Publication Date: 2024.08.13 NVIDIA CORP

AI summary

In various examples, metadata of either a live stream game instance or a pre-recorded game instance may be included in a stream data from a game stream and used to enable access to play an instance of a game. A viewer of the stream may desire to participate in an instance of the game, and the system may use the metadata to determine authentication for the viewer with respect to a game platform hosting the game, access restrictions for the viewer with respect to the game, identification information for the streamer of the instance of the game, and/or game modification information for the particular instance of the game within the stream. This information may be used to seamlessly transition the viewer from a passive role in viewing the stream of the instance of the game on a streaming platform to actively participating in the instance of the game or another instance of the game on a gaming platform.