Wireless Game Session Discovery via Low-Power Broker Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

The inefficiency in power consumption and opportunistic mobile game session discovery due to multiple wireless interfaces on mobile devices, particularly the high power consumption of WiFi interfaces during idle mode and the need for constant scanning to locate nearby game sessions, leading to inefficient power usage.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a session broker and wireless units with low and high power consumption interfaces, where the low power interface (cellular) is used for initial discovery and the high power interface (WLAN) is powered off until a matching session is found, using GPS or signal strength measurements for location determination and maintaining session profiles for efficient matching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the WiFi interface is kept powered up for opportunistic game session discovery, then the ability to discover and engage with nearby players is improved, but the power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopportunistic game session discovery capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by having players register their location and game session availability with a central server beforehand. This allows the server to proactively match players before they need to actively scan for each other, eliminating the need for continuous WiFi scanning while maintaining discovery capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A central server acts as an intermediary between players, receiving location and availability information from players and performing the matching function centrally. This mediator approach eliminates the need for players to continuously scan for each other directly, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining opportunistic discovery capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the WiFi interface scans constantly or frequently to locate nearby game sessions, then the session discovery capability is improved, but the power consumption becomes inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesession discovery efficiencyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Players perform preliminary registration of their location and game availability with the server before needing to discover sessions. The server then uses this pre-collected information to efficiently match players without requiring constant scanning, improving discovery efficiency while minimizing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The central server serves as an intermediary that maintains player location and availability information, performing the discovery function centrally rather than requiring each player to scan constantly. This mediator approach achieves efficient session discovery with minimal power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple wireless interfaces are used for game play, then the communication options and game opportunities are increased, but the power consumption reaches 70% of total power

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication channel availabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses preliminary registration with the server to establish communication pathways before active gaming. Players register their availability and location in advance, allowing the server to set up matches without requiring continuous activation of high-power WiFi interfaces, thus maintaining communication versatility while reducing energy loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The central server acts as an intermediary that manages multiple communication channels and player matching. This allows the system to maintain multiple communication options and game opportunities while the server efficiently manages connections, reducing the need for continuous high-power interface operation and thereby reducing energy loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9162146B2Method and system for virtual mobile game session discovery and player matching

Publication Date: 2015.10.20 GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

A system for establishing multi-party wireless game sessions includes a game session broker and at least two wireless units. Each wireless unit includes a first wireless device having relatively low power consumption and a second wireless device having relatively high power consumption. The game session broker receives a session ready message that includes location information for a first player and search for a second player having location information matching the location information for the first player. Finding a matching player, the game session broker sends session available messages to wireless units associated with the first and second players. Session ready messages are sent and session available message are received via first wireless devices. Upon receiving the session available message, the first and second players can establish a wireless game session using their respective second wireless devices.