Relay Server Offloads Game Image Distribution Processing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Recent gaming programs require advanced arithmetic processing, leading to high CPU usage, and existing image distribution systems burden the CPU with additional processing loads during game image distribution, which is undesirable.

Innovation Solution

A relay server is introduced to acquire and combine content images with camera images, generating a distribution image that is then transmitted to image sharing servers, thereby reducing the processing load on the information processing apparatus.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the information processing apparatus performs both game execution and image distribution processing, then the distribution function is integrated, but the CPU processing load increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem integrationVSAvoidCPU processing load

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into two separate functional components: the information processing apparatus dedicated to game execution and the relay server dedicated to image distribution processing. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its respective function, preventing the CPU of the information processing apparatus from being overloaded with both game execution and distribution processing tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The relay server acts as an intermediary component between the information processing apparatus and the image sharing server. It receives image data from the information processing apparatus, performs the distribution processing, and transmits it to the image sharing server, thereby offloading the distribution processing burden from the information processing apparatus.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the CPU is used for additional distribution processing, then the system can handle image sharing, but the performance of game arithmetic processing deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage sharing capabilityVSAvoidgame arithmetic processing performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The image distribution processing function is extracted from the information processing apparatus and transferred to the relay server. This extraction allows the information processing apparatus to focus its CPU resources entirely on game arithmetic processing, while the relay server handles the distribution processing independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The relay server serves as an intermediary that enables image sharing capability without requiring the information processing apparatus to dedicate additional CPU resources. It receives the necessary image data, performs distribution processing, and maintains the image sharing function independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20230239550A1Relay server and distribution image generation method

Publication Date: 2023.07.27 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC

AI summary

A first acquisition section acquires a content image from an information processing apparatus. A second acquisition section acquires a camera image from the information processing apparatus. A synthesis processing section generates a distribution image by combining the content image with the camera image. A transmission processing section transmits the generated distribution image to an image sharing server.