Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
TITLE
[0001] Cloud based Gaming System Displaying Video Content and a method
FIELD
[0002] There is described a cloud based gaming system that displays video
content and a
method of incorporating video content in the cloud based gaming system.
BACKGROUND
[0003] U.S. Patent 10,610,779 (Hunter) titled "Methods and Systems for
Scheduling
Game Play of a Video Game" owned by Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC is an
example
of a cloud based gaming system. Players go online to interact with an
application hosted on
the cloud based gaming system. Video does not normally play a role in such an
interactive
gaming system, because the content of a video cannot be manipulated.
SUMMARY
[0004] According to one aspect there is provided a cloud based gaming
system displaying
video content. The cloud based gaming system includes a game application
server on the
World Wide Web defining a virtual game environment with graphic images. The
game
application server accesses a source data video library of video content. The
video content is
segmented into video segments, with a game object being to get the video
segments to run as
an uninterrupted video sequence through interactive gameplay. Members of the
public
access the game application server using an internet enabled digital device on
which a game
application has been loaded. Each digital device has a display screen, an
input device
through which the graphic images from the game application server are
manipulated on the
display screen, and a video player for playing video content from the game
application
server. The game application server is programmed to selectively supply video
content from
the video library to the game application and to interrupt the playing of the
video content
after each video segment. The game application server is programmed to play an
uninterrupted video sequence only when a predetermined level of achievement is
attained
through interactive gameplay.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-03-17
[0005]
According to another aspect, there is provided a method of incorporating video
content in a cloud based gaming system. The method involves segmenting each
video into a
series of video segments. The method then involves requiring players to engage
in
interactive gameplay with an object of the game play being to cause the video
segments to
play an uninterrupted video sequence.
[0006]
Although beneficial results were obtained through the cloud based gaming
system
and the method described above, consideration was given as to how one could
increase the
degree of difficulty of the game. It was determined that even more beneficial
results were
obtained when another object of the game play imposed was to have multiple
uninterrupted
video sequences playing simultaneously and to keep them playing. It was
determined that
three or four video sequences could be displayed simultaneously and that by
adding a
scrolling feature many more video sequences could be added. With the scrolling
feature,
you may have eight or more video sequences playing simultaneously, but only
three or four
of the video sequences would be visible at any one time.
[0007]
Although beneficial results were obtained through the cloud based gaming
system
and the method described above, consideration was then given as to how one
could
incorporate strategy into the game. It was determined that even more
beneficial results could
be obtained when interactive gameplay accumulated rewards and those rewards
could be
strategically spent to speed up the rate at which rewards accumulate. The
strategy is in not
overspending, with the rewards accumulating being less than the rewards spent.
[0008]
Although beneficial results were obtained through the cloud based gaming
system
and the method described above, consideration was given as to how to get the
public further
involved and invested in the game. It was determined that even more beneficial
results were
obtained when a mechanism was provided to enable members of the public to
upload video
content. This enabled members of the public to play the game using videos of
their own
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-03-17
choosing or making.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] These
and other features will become more apparent from the following
description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings
are for the
purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting,
wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cloud based gaming system.
[0011] FIG.
2 is a simple logic diagram for the game application server of the cloud
based gaming system of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing preparation and segmentation
of
individual videos for use in the cloud based gaming system of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG.
4 is a schematic diagram of the source data video library of video data
content for the cloud based gaming system of FIG. 1,
[0014] FIG.
5 is a schematic diagram of the relationship between game play and the
unlocking and playing of video content by the game application server of the
cloud based
gaming system of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG.
6 is a schematic diagram of the relationship between the display screen of the
user and the unlocking and playing of video content by the game application
server of the
cloud based gaming system of FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram for the game application server of the
cloud based
gaming system of FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG.
8 is a schematic diagram of the use of accumulated rewards to speed up the
rate of earnings of the unified video segments on the display screen.
[0018] FIG.
9 is a front elevation view of a display screen on which multiple unified
video segments are playing simultaneously.
[0019] FIG.
10 is a schematic diagram of the cloud based gaming system of FIG. 1, with
added portals through which video content may be uploaded.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] A cloud based gaming system generally identified by reference
numeral 10, will
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now be described with reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 10.
Structure and Relationship of Parts:
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, cloud based gaming system 10 includes a game
application
.. server 12 on the World Wide Web 14 defining a virtual game environment with
graphic
images. Game application server 12 accesses a source data video library 16 of
video content.
Referring to FIG. 3, the video content, such as Video A, is segmented into
video segments
Al, A2, A3, and A4. Referring to FIG. 4, it will be noted that Video A, Video
B, Video C
and Video D has all been segment. It is preferred that the resolution, format
and length of
the video content be adjusted to be consistent. It will be understood why this
is important
when the more advanced features of the game are described with multiple videos
playing
simultaneously. As will hereinafter be described in more detail, a game object
is to get the
video segments (such as Al, A2, A3, and A4) to run as an uninterrupted video
sequence
(video A) through interactive gameplay.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 1, members of the public access game application
server 12
using an internet enabled digital device 20 on which a game application 22 has
been loaded.
Each digital device 20 has a display screen 24, an input device 26 through
which the graphic
images from game application server 12 are manipulated on display screen 24,
and a video
player 28 for playing video content from game application server 12.
[0023] As will be hereinafter further described with reference to FIG. 7,
game application
server is programmed to selectively supply video content from the video
library to the game
application and to interrupt the playing of the video content after each video
segment. The
game application server is programmed to play an uninterrupted video sequence
only when a
predetermined level of achievement is attained through interactive gameplay.
Referring to
FIG. 2, there is illustrated an early version of the game. It will be noted
that Video Al would
play and then stop. The player was unable to move on to video A2 until
sufficient reward
points were earned through interactive gameplay. Video A2 would then play and
then stop.
The player was unable to move on to video A3 until sufficient reward points
were earned
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-03-17
through interactive gameplay. Video A3 would then play and then stop. The
player was
unable to move on to video A4 until sufficient reward points were earned
through interactive
gameplay. However, once the player reached video A4, the player had earned the
right to see
the uninterrupted video sequence of Video A, comprised of Al, A2, A3 and A4.
There can
be any form of interactive gameplay to earn the reward points. They can be as
simple as
popping balloons, ring toss or bowling. However, they can also be more complex
game
scenarios.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 5, a preferred object of the game play is to
cause the video
segments Al, A2, A3, and A4 to play an uninterrupted video sequence
representing the
entirety of video A. FIG. 6, this is done through interactive gameplay, so
that the barriers
between the video segments are "unlocked" by game application server 12
resulting in video
segments Al through A4 running sequentially without interruption. The player
is given an
opportunity to earn points through interactive gameplay. The display screen on
FIG. 6
shows that 50 reward points have been accumulated.
[0025] Lessons were learned that resulted in the evolution of the game
beyond that
illustrated in FIG. 2. One lesson was that the interactive gameplay had to be
kept relatively
simple or the player would get discouraged and quit. Another lesson was that
requiring a
player to repeatedly view the same video was boring and the player would get
bored and quit.
Another thought was that it should also be possible to accumulate points as
the video
segments played. The public likes to view video content and the public likes
to play games.
There needs to be a mix of video content and gameplay that will keep the
public entertained.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 7, there is a flow chart showing the best
version of the game that
has been developed to date. A player tries to accumulate enough points to get
Video A
playing as an uninterrupted video sequence. Video segment Al plays then stops.
The player
earns points through interactive gameplay as video segment Al is playing and
for a limited
time after video segment Al stops. In order to prevent the player from getting
bored, the
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-03-17
player is allowed to move on to video segment A2. Video segment A2 plays then
stops. The
player earns points through interactive gameplay as video segment A2 is
playing and for a
limited time after video segment A2 stops. In order to prevent the player from
getting bored,
the player is allowed to move on to video segment A3. Video segment A2 plays
then stops.
The player earns points through interactive gameplay as video segment A2 is
playing and for
a limited time after video segment A3 stops. At this point, if the player has
still not
accumulated enough reward points, he or she is forced to start over with the
viewing of video
segment Al. However, if the player has earned enough reward points, the player
goes on to
an automated uninterrupted playing of the video sequence of Video A. Video A
is now
playing. The player then goes through the same process playing video segment B
1, B2, B3
in an effort to earn points to get an automated uninterrupted playing of the
video sequence of
Video B. The player then goes through the same process playing video segment
Cl, C2, C3
in an effort to earn points to get an automated uninterrupted playing of the
video sequence of
Video C.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 8, the uninterrupted playing of the video
sequences accumulates
reward points as the videos play. However, reward points are also required to
keep the
videos playing. In FIG. 8, reward points display 30 on display screen 20 show
a total of 17
reward points accumulated. Those rewards points can be strategically spent to
cause reward
points to accumulate more rapidly upon the playing of the videos. There is
strategy involved
as a player must be careful that the pace that reward points are being "spent"
to speed up
reward points accumulation does not outstrip the pace at which reward points
are being
earned. An error in judgement can exhaust the reward points and result in the
videos
stopping.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 7, the reward points can also be used to
"upgrade" the video
content giving the player access to new video content from the video library
of the game
application server.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-03-17
[0029]
Referring to FIG. 9, there is shown multiple uninterrupted video sequences
playing simultaneously. The players challenge is to locked the videos, get
them playing
without interruption and to keep them playing. FIG. 9 illustrates four
uninterrupted video
segments playing simultaneously. It will be noted that using a scroll feature
there can be
more videos playing simultaneously that are not currently viewable on the
screen, but can be
viewed by scrolling.
[0009]
Referring to FIG. 10, players who like cloud based game system 10 may wish to
contribute videos. A mechanism was provided to enable members of the public to
upload
.. video content either of their own choosing from a social media site or
video content that they
have created.
[0030] In
this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-limiting sense
.. to mean that items following the word are included, but items not
specifically mentioned are
not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not
exclude the
possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context
clearly requires
that there be one and only one of the elements.
[0031] The scope of the claims should not be limited by the illustrated
embodiments set
forth as examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent
with a purposive
construction of the claims in view of the description as a whole.
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