Abstract: A network match making system and method is used to match users of a multi-users networked application. Each user is associated with a client computer connected to the network. Clients are selected based on attributes of their users, the clients, servers, and/or communication links. The network match maker works with three different forms of network applications: peer-to-peer, multiple clients to a single server, and multiple clients to multiple servers. In one match maker method, a client computer and one multi-user application server are matched. A list of multi-user application servers connected to the computer network that are available for a match is received. At least one communication attribute of respective data communication links between the client computer and a plurality of multi-application servers in the received list is measured. An additional attribute, such as a server attribute, is received from at least one of the plurality of multi-user application servers.

Abstract: A method for deploying interactive applications over a network containing host computers and group messaging servers is disclosed. The method operates in a conventional unicast network architecture comprised of conventional network links and unicast gateways and routers. The hosts send messages containing destination group addresses by unicast to the group messaging servers. The group addresses select message groups maintained by the group messaging servers. For each message group, the group messaging servers also maintain a list of all of the hosts that are members of the particular group. In its most simple implementation, the method consists of the group server receiving a message from a host containing a destination group address. Using the group address, the group messaging server then selects a message group which lists all of the host members of the group which are the targets of messages to the group. The group messaging server then forwards the message to each of the target hosts.

Abstract: A networked computer online gaming system and process arranged in a client/server online gaming architecture and utilized to run gaming programs. The client computers are configured to run a gaming client program. The server computers are coupled to the client computers via a network. The server computers run server programs including a master control program (MCP) that governs access of the server programs to the online gaming architecture, a servorum program (SV) for creating instances of a server program, a matchmaker program (MM) that supports rendezvous services, a game instances class server program (GICS) that enables games and provides user to user communication, and game upper level protocol server program (GULP) that supports the user to user communication provided by said GICS.

Abstract: A network match making system and method is used to match users of a multi-user networked application. Each user is associated with a client computer connected to the network. Clients are selected based on attributes of their users, the clients, servers, and/or communication links. The network match maker works with three different forms of network applications: peer-to-peer, multiple clients to a single server, and multiple clients to multiple servers. In one match maker method, remote server computers and client computers are matched. A match maker receives a plurality of client requests and a plurality of server requests. At least two instances of client programs and at least one instance of server programs are selected based on client and server attributes.

Abstract: A method for deploying interactive applications over a network containing host computers and group messaging servers is disclosed. The method operates in a conventional unicast network architecture comprised of conventional network links and unicast gateways and routers. The hosts send messages containing destination group addresses by unicast to the group messaging servers. The group addresses select message groups maintained by the group messaging servers. For each message group, the group messaging servers also maintain a list of all of the hosts that are members of the particular group. In its most simple implementation, the method consists of the group server receiving a message from a host containing a destination group address. Using the group address, the group messaging server then selects a message group which lists all of the host members of the group which are the targets of messages to the group. The group messaging server then forwards the message to each of the target hosts.