Networked Pinball Machine Server Mediation for Multiplayer Persistence

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional pinball machines operate as discrete events, limiting simultaneous multi-player experiences and persistence in gameplay, as they are typically standalone and lack network connectivity for shared play or continuous gaming.

Innovation Solution

A networked pinball machine system that connects pinball machines to a remote server via a network, enabling communication through a messaging protocol, allowing for simultaneous play across multiple machines, data collection, authentication, and updates, and providing features like leaderboards, tournaments, and downloadable content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If pinball machines operate as standalone discrete events, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but multi-player simultaneous experience and gameplay persistence are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-player simultaneous experienceVSAvoidnetwork connectivity infrastructure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A server acts as an intermediary between multiple pinball machines, managing game states, player data, and communication. The server handles authentication, stores player profiles, coordinates multi-player games, and maintains game persistence, allowing machines to remain relatively simple while enabling complex networked gameplay experiences

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Duration of action of moving object

If pinball machines are connected to a remote server via network, then simultaneous multi-player experiences and gameplay persistence are enabled, but device complexity and infrastructure requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegameplay persistenceVSAvoidnetwork communication system

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Player profiles, authentication credentials, and game configuration data are pre-stored on the server. When a player connects to a pinball machine, the authentication and data retrieval happen automatically in the background, enabling persistent gameplay without requiring complex local storage or processing on the machine itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional standalone pinball machines are used, then manufacturing and deployment are simpler, but player engagement and data collection capabilities are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayer engagement featuresVSAvoidmanufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The server provides universal services to all pinball machines including authentication, data storage, game coordination, and content delivery. This allows individual machines to remain relatively simple to manufacture while the shared server infrastructure enables advanced features like leaderboards, tournaments, and cross-machine gameplay

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11458384B1Networked pinball machine

Publication Date: 2022.10.04 STERN SRL

AI summary

A pinball machine includes a cabinet, an inclined playfield, and a ball operable across an upperside of the playfield to conduct a gameplay. A plurality of playfield accessories are mounted to the playfield and configured to interact with the ball during gameplay. A controller operates to control gameplay. The pinball machine includes a network connection operably coupling the controller to a network and a remote server. An access device is configured to identify a user and receive authorization from the controller and the remote server to allow the user to conduct a gameplay.