Multiplayer Gaming Platform for Mobile Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

The electronic gaming industry faces challenges in enabling multiple players on multiple handheld devices to play interactive games across various platforms due to restricted memory capacity, network latency, limited power, processing limitations, proprietary operating systems, and different wireless network protocols.

Innovation Solution

A wireless terminal and server system that enables users to play interactive games across multiple platforms through a wireless connection, utilizing a processor and transceiver to interface with a server, supporting multiplayer games with login, lobby, game, and event services, and using a protocol-agnostic approach for real-time communications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiplayer gaming is implemented across multiple handheld devices with proprietary operating systems and different wireless network protocols, then platform compatibility and user base are improved, but system complexity and difficulty of implementation increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplatform compatibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a server as an intermediary component that mediates communication between multiple wireless terminals with different operating systems and protocols. The server acts as a central coordination point that handles platform-specific variations, allowing clients to interact through a standardized interface while maintaining their native platform characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The gaming platform is designed with universal components that can function across multiple platforms. The system uses a common game logic layer and standardized communication protocols at the application level, allowing the same game to run on different wireless terminals with proprietary operating systems without requiring platform-specific implementations.

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

2Ease of operation

If real-time multiplayer gaming is implemented over wireless networks, then interactivity and user engagement are improved, but network latency and synchronization issues worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time interactivityVSAvoidnetwork latency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing communication channels and loading game data before actual gameplay begins. The server pre-processes game states and prepares synchronization data in advance, reducing the latency experienced during real-time interactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The gaming system uses periodic updates and synchronized time intervals for state synchronization between clients and server. By implementing periodic communication cycles and using time-stamped events, the system manages network latency through structured, periodic data exchanges rather than continuous real-time communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Manufacturing precision

If high-resolution graphics and sophisticated game features are implemented, then game quality and entertainment value are improved, but memory capacity and processing power requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegraphics qualityVSAvoidmemory capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The game system segments graphics processing and data storage between the server and client devices. The server handles complex game logic, asset management, and high-resolution graphics generation, while client devices receive processed graphical data and handle only local rendering and input processing. This segmentation allows sophisticated graphics features without requiring full processing power on resource-constrained handheld devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8162757B2Multiplayer platform for mobile applications
Publication Date: 2012.04.24 ELECTRONIC ARTS INC
  • US8162757B2 patent drawing
  • US8162757B2 patent drawing
  • US8162757B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A wireless terminal comprising a transmitter configured to support a wireless connection with a server and a processor configured to enable a user to play an interactive game through the server with a plurality of other users on wireless terminals across a plurality of platforms.