Split-Screen Multiplayer via Remote Game Stream Compositing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern multiplayer games often lack support for local split-screen multiplayer experiences due to insufficient processing and memory resources, leading game developers to focus solely on remote multiplayer support.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that utilizes remote multiplayer support to create a local split-screen experience by executing multiple instances of a multiplayer game, either locally or remotely, and streaming them to a single display for co-located players, while routing inputs and outputs to each instance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple instances of a game are executed simultaneously to support local split-screen multiplayer, then local split-screen multiplayer experience is enabled, but processing and memory resources are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the execution of multiple game instances across different computing devices. Instead of running all game instances locally on one device, each instance can execute on a separate device, dividing the computational burden. The local computing device then composites the output from these segmented instances to create the split-screen display, enabling local multiplayer without overwhelming single-device resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimension approach (all game processing on one local device) to a multi-dimensional distributed architecture. Game instances are distributed across multiple computing devices in the network, adding the dimension of spatial distribution. The local device composites these distributed instances, effectively using network space as an additional resource dimension to overcome local hardware limitations.
2Quantity of substance
If remote multiplayer support is used instead of local split-screen support, then processing resource requirements are reduced, but local multiplayer experience is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges remote multiplayer technology with local display capabilities. Multiple game instances that would normally be experienced remotely are instead composited locally on the display device. This combines the resource efficiency of remote execution with the local interaction benefits of split-screen, creating a hybrid approach that achieves both goals simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The local computing device performs multiple functions: it acts as a display controller, an input router, and a video compositor. By making the local device multi-functional, the system enables local split-screen capability without requiring each device to be a full game execution platform, thus maintaining resource efficiency while adding versatility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a single computing device supports multiple game perspectives simultaneously, then local split-screen is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heavy computational workload of game execution from the local computing device and places it on remote game servers. The local device retains only the lighter functions of input processing, video compositing, and display management. This extraction dramatically reduces device complexity while preserving multi-perspective support capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Presenting a local multiplayer experience for a multiplayer game that includes remote multiplayer support. A computer system establishes a plurality of game streams, each corresponding to a different instance of the multiplayer game. Each game stream corresponds to a different user identifier of a plurality of user identifiers that are joined to a single multiplayer session using the remote multiplayer support of the multiplayer game. The computer system associates each of a plurality of gaming interface devices with a different game stream. The computer system outputs a composite stream of the plurality of game streams, which simultaneously presents each game stream in a split-screen display format for display at a single display device. While outputting the composite stream of the plurality of game streams, the computer system causes input signals received from each gaming interface device to be routed to its associated game stream.