Virtual Lobby Game Image Streaming for Multi-Account Display

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need to improve the sharing of game experiences among multiple users in a virtual lobby environment.

Innovation Solution

A game device configured to stream and receive game images, generate display images including multiple user accounts, and manage streaming based on account associations and conditions to optimize display and image quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple users stream game images simultaneously in a virtual lobby, then the sharing of game experiences is improved, but the network bandwidth and device performance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesharing capabilityVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple streaming sessions by allowing users to join a virtual lobby where game images are shared among multiple participants. Instead of each user independently streaming to others, the system consolidates the streaming infrastructure so that one user's game image can be viewed by multiple users simultaneously, reducing redundant transmissions and optimizing network resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Loss of information

If the system displays game images from multiple accounts simultaneously, then the information completeness is improved, but the image quality and processing complexity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidimage processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the display area into multiple regions, with each region dedicated to displaying game images from different user accounts. This segmentation allows the system to present multiple streams of information simultaneously without requiring complex overlay or compositing operations, thereby reducing processing complexity while maintaining information completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the system manages streaming for all group members, then the user experience consistency is improved, but the system complexity and resource management burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experience consistencyVSAvoidstreaming management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal virtual lobby mechanism that serves all group members with the same core functionality. Instead of creating individualized streaming management systems for each user pair, the system provides a common platform where all users can participate in the same virtual space, share game images, and interact uniformly. This multi-functional approach reduces overall system complexity while ensuring consistent user experience across all participants.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4674493A1Game device, method, program, and information processing system
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 NINTENDO CO LTD
  • EP4674493A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4674493A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4674493A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A game device (30) configured to communicate with another game device (30) includes a stream transmitter configured to stream an image of a game app being executed by a first account to another game device (30), a receiver configured to receive data indicating an image of a game app being executed by a second account, and an image generator. The image generator is configured to generate a first display image (Sd) including a first image (Ma1) and a plurality of second images (Ds1 to Ds4), the first image (Ma1) being based on an image (GMA) of a game application running in a game device with which the first account is associated. The plurality of second images (Ds1 to Ds4) are associated with respective different accounts. While a game device with which an account associated with one of the second images is streaming a streaming game image, when the account associated with the one of the second images is the first account, the one of the second images (Ds1 to Ds4) includes an image based on the image of the running game application, and when it is another account, the one of the second images (Ds1 to Ds4) includes the received streaming game image. While the game device with which the account associated with the one of the second images is not streaming the streaming game image, the one of the second images (Ds1 to Ds4) includes an image that represents the account associated with the one of the second images.