Value-Based Game Session Placement on VM Fleets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Service providers face challenges in efficiently placing game sessions on fleets of virtual machine instances across a service provider network, as existing methods often prioritize lowest latency without considering player and game attributes, leading to suboptimal resource allocation and increased costs for game developers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a value-based approach that determines placement values based on player and game attributes, allowing for strategic allocation of game sessions across different fleets, optimizing between performance and cost by selecting appropriate VM instances for each session.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If game sessions are placed on lowest-latency fleets, then player experience is improved, but resource allocation efficiency deteriorates and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different placement strategies to different game sessions based on their specific requirements. High-value sessions (e.g., competitive games, premium players) receive preferential placement on low-latency fleets, while lower-value sessions are placed on cost-effective fleets. This differentiated approach optimizes resource allocation by matching fleet quality to session value rather than uniformly placing all sessions on the fastest fleets.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the placement parameter from a single latency-based metric to a composite value-based metric that incorporates session value, player importance, and fleet characteristics. This parameter transformation enables the system to balance between player experience and resource efficiency by selecting fleets that provide optimal value rather than always selecting the lowest-latency option.
2Reliability
If game sessions are placed on lowest-latency fleets, then player experience is improved, but cost for game developers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by tailoring fleet selection to the specific value and requirements of each game session. Premium sessions receive enhanced placement on high-performance fleets, while standard sessions are placed on more economical fleets. This differentiated strategy improves player experience for critical sessions while reducing overall costs by avoiding unnecessary deployment of premium resources for all sessions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes a hierarchy of fleet options, employing cheaper fleets for sessions that do not require high-performance resources. By matching fleet quality to session value, the system replaces expensive premium fleet usage with more economical alternatives for appropriate sessions, thereby reducing overall operational costs while maintaining adequate service quality.
3Ease of operation
If uniform placement strategy is used, then operational simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different game requirements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamics by implementing an adaptive placement system that automatically adjusts fleet selection based on real-time session characteristics, player profiles, and game requirements. The value-based placement algorithm dynamically evaluates each session and selects appropriate fleets, providing adaptability to diverse game requirements while maintaining operational simplicity through automated decision-making rather than manual configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs self-service by enabling game sessions to effectively select their own optimal fleet placement through the value-based algorithm. The system automatically evaluates session attributes, player importance, and fleet characteristics to determine placement, eliminating the need for manual intervention while achieving adaptive optimization for different game requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A game-hosting service of a service provider network is configured to place game sessions on fleets of virtual machine (VM) instances using a value-based approach. In order to place a game session on a fleet, the game-hosting service may determine one or more attributes of the game session request, such as player attributes and/or game attributes. The game-hosting service may also determine available fleets of VM instances allocated to a subscriber associated with the game session request, which may be located across disparate geographical regions. A value(s) may be determined based on the attributes of the game session request, and the value(s) may be used to select a fleet of the available fleets for hosting the game session.