OS-Level Game State Sync via Cloud Proximity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for synchronizing application states across multiple devices require user intervention and are limited to specific game applications, making it tedious and inefficient to continue progress on different devices without manual saving and uploading.

Innovation Solution

An automatic mechanism for synchronizing application states across multiple devices using cloud storage, where the operating system detects sync events and transmits application state data in the background, allowing seamless continuation of applications across devices without user intervention, regardless of the application's design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual saving and uploading mechanisms are used for game saves, then application state can be transferred between devices, but the process becomes tedious and requires multiple user interventions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of game save transferVSAvoidtime for manual save and upload operations

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically saving application state to cloud storage in the background before the user needs to switch devices. The operating system monitors sync events and uploads state data proactively, so when the user wants to continue on another device, the data is already prepared and available for automatic retrieval.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by implementing automatic synchronization where the operating system itself handles the saving, uploading, and retrieval of application state without requiring user intervention. The system monitors its own state changes, determines when synchronization is needed, and executes the transfer automatically between devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Extent of automation

If automatic background synchronization is implemented, then user convenience is enhanced and seamless continuation is enabled, but device complexity and operating system level integration requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of application state synchronizationVSAvoidcomplexity of operating system integration

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal synchronization mechanism at the operating system level that works across multiple applications and device types. The operating system provides a general-purpose framework that can synchronize state for any application, making the system versatile and applicable to various scenarios without requiring application-specific implementations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The operating system acts as an intermediary layer between applications and cloud storage services. It provides abstraction and mediation by handling the complexity of synchronization logic, event monitoring, and data transfer, while applications simply need to integrate with the operating system's synchronization API, reducing the overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If proximity-based device detection is used, then automatic state transfer between nearby devices is enabled, but additional detection mechanisms and network communication requirements are introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to transfer state across different devicesVSAvoidcomplexity of proximity detection system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Devices automatically perform proximity detection and state transfer without user intervention. The operating system monitors for nearby devices through sync events and automatically initiates the synchronization process when another device is detected, enabling seamless cross-device continuation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary proximity detection and prepares synchronization data in advance. When a device is detected in proximity, the operating system has already prepared the application state data for transfer, enabling rapid and seamless state synchronization between devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8764555B2Video game application state synchronization across multiple devices

Publication Date: 2014.07.01 RAZER ASIA PACIFIC

AI summary

Techniques for a method for automatically synchronizing application state of a video game across multiple devices are disclosed herein. The method includes running an instance of the video game application at a first electronic device, detecting a presence of a second electronic device based on a proximity of the second electronic device to the first electronic device, identifying an installation of another instance of the video game application on the second electronic device, saving a current state of play of the instance of the video game application running on the first electronic device and transmitting the application state data to the second electronic device. The application state data of the video game application enables another instance of the video game application to resume the current state of play of the video game application at the second electronic device.