Server Latency Induction for Multiplayer Game Fairness

The patent creates a virtual copy of the software program state on the server side that mimics what would exist on a full client device. The server executes the game logic and maintains a complete software program state, while thin clients receive rendered video frames and send input commands. This copying approach allows latency compensation techniques to work on the server's virtual state without requiring actual client-side execution.

The server acts as an intermediary between thin clients and the software program execution. It receives inputs from clients, applies latency compensation to these inputs based on network conditions, executes the program state on the server side, and sends back rendered frames. This intermediary role enables thin clients to participate in latency-compensated multiplayer gameplay without executing the program locally.

The server performs preliminary actions by receiving all player inputs and applying latency compensation before executing the game logic. It calculates what each player's input would have been at the relevant game moment based on their network latency, then processes all inputs as if they arrived simultaneously at the correct game time. This preliminary processing ensures fairness by compensating for network delays before game state changes occur.

The patent creates equipotential conditions for all players by normalizing their input timing to a common reference frame. The server adjusts each player's inputs to account for their specific latency, effectively placing all players on equal footing regardless of their network connection quality. This ensures that no player gains or loses advantage based on their network latency.

The server performs preliminary latency compensation calculations as inputs arrive, rather than waiting for all inputs to be received. It pre-calculates the compensated timing for each input based on known latency values, then processes inputs in the correct chronological order. This preliminary action allows the server to maintain fairness while avoiding unnecessary delays from waiting for all inputs before any processing begins.

The patent implements dynamic input processing where the server adjusts its processing strategy based on which inputs have arrived and their latency characteristics. Rather than using a static wait-for-all-approach, it dynamically determines the optimal processing order and timing, allowing faster inputs to be processed sooner while still maintaining overall fairness through latency compensation adjustments.