VR Content Access Control in Online Games

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users interacting with non-virtual reality platforms in online games have limited interactive potential compared to those using virtual reality platforms, making it difficult to match and enhance participation among users across different platforms.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that determines user platform capabilities to provide access to virtual reality content only for users joining via virtual reality platforms, while denying access to non-virtual reality platforms and offering alternative game instances or objectives tailored to each platform type.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If virtual reality content is made accessible to all users regardless of platform, then user participation is maximized, but interactive potential and immersion are reduced for non-VR users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser participationVSAvoidinteractive potential

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments users into different groups based on their platform capability (VR vs. non-VR) and assigns different game instances or objectives to each group. This allows VR users to access immersive virtual reality content while non-VR users receive alternative experiences, resolving the contradiction by enabling both high participation and appropriate interactive potential for each segment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies local quality by providing different quality levels of interaction based on user platform. VR users receive full immersive 3D spatial interaction capabilities, while non-VR users receive standard 2D interface interactions. This ensures each user group experiences the appropriate level of interactive potential for their platform while maintaining overall system participation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If virtual reality content is restricted to VR platform users only, then interactive potential is maximized for VR users, but user participation decreases due to platform limitations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteractive potentialVSAvoiduser participation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements universality by creating multiple game instances or objective sets that serve different platform types. VR-specific content and standard content both coexist within the same online game ecosystem, allowing the system to accommodate multiple user groups with different platform capabilities while maintaining universal access to the game service.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses an intermediary mechanism (the server system) that detects user platform type and automatically directs users to appropriate game instances or objectives. This intermediary layer resolves the platform compatibility issue by mediating between user capabilities and content requirements, ensuring both VR and non-VR users can participate appropriately.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If a single game instance is provided for all users, then system complexity is minimized, but user experience quality deteriorates due to platform mismatches

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoiduser experience quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies dynamics by making game instance assignment flexible and adaptive based on user platform detection. Rather than a fixed single instance, the system dynamically selects or creates appropriate game instances based on real-time user capability information, ensuring optimal user experience quality while managing complexity through automated detection and assignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If multiple game instances are created for different platforms, then user experience quality is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser experience qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service by automatically detecting user platform type and autonomously assigning appropriate game instances without requiring manual user selection or complex administrative configuration. This self-service mechanism reduces the operational complexity of managing multiple game instances while maintaining high user experience quality through automated platform-appropriate content delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10183223B2Systems and methods for providing virtual reality content in an online game

Publication Date: 2019.01.22 ELECTRONIC ARTS INC

AI summary

Virtual reality content in an online game may be provided by providing access to users attempting to join a game instance via virtual reality platforms and denying access to users attempting to join the game instance via non-virtual reality platforms. Virtual reality content in an online game may be provided by requiring users playing the online game via virtual reality platforms during a time period to achieve a first objective, and requiring users playing the online game via non-reality platforms during the time period to achieve a second objective. The first objective may require interaction with the virtual reality content and the second object may not require interaction with the virtual reality content. Virtual reality content in an online game may be provided by requiring all users to achieve an objective during a time period. The objective may require interaction with the virtual reality content.