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 method and apparatus to efficiently and effectively ensure that the quality of the data communications links are adequate for digital electronic game playing is provided. A number of servers are connected to the Internet. The servers periodically perform communications link quality measurements among themselves. At least one of the servers is designated as a matchmaker. When a game is requested by clients, the matchmaker acts as a game coordinator and compiles the results of the measurements. Based on the compilation and other information from its database, the matchmaker selects a few servers as candidate servers. These candidates perform data communications link quality measurements with the requesting clients. Based on these measurements, the matchmaker selects a server as the server for the requested game.

Abstract: A method and apparatus related to grouping (or matching) network users and computers associated with multi-user applications is disclosed. Each user is associated with a client computer that is connected to a network. A match maker application resides on one or more server computer(s). The match maker application controls the process of collecting Clients into matched sets, called client groups, based upon a wide range of attributes of the users, their client computers, the server computers, software application titles, application instances and/or data communication links of the network, for example. Each time the match maker application creates a client group, it creates a group data set that represents the client group. Network match making information is presented to users in an understandable manner using icons, other graphical images or collections of icons and/or images, for example, displayed on a display screen.

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 method for detecting and recovering from call waiting during an interactive two-way remote gaming session. Gaming information is exchanged in real time during a gaming session between two players using a telecommunications link, such as the internet or modem. When a call waiting tone is detected by one of the players, the game is suspended. The incoming call is answered and the other player is notified that the first player is in the process of answering the incoming call. When the incoming call is finished, communications is automatically re-established between the two players, and the game continues at the point just before it was interrupted.

Abstract: A network match making method and system matches an additional computer executing an instance of a client computer program with one or more other computers executing instances of client computer programs. The computers are linked by one or more communication links. A match maker computer program receives a request from the instance executing on the additional computer to match with an instance executing on another computer. A measurement request is sent to the instance executing on the additional computer. Communication attributes between the additional computer and each existing computer are measured and an existing computer is selected as a match for the additional computer if one of the communication attributes exceeds a minimum performance requirement. Existing computers can be further selected based on further attributes. If none of the communication attributes meets the minimum performance requirement, a match maker program waits for a further request.

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 late server binding method, a set of computer objects is created. The set of computer objects has a plurality of client instances of client computer programs together with a server instance of a server computer program selected from a set of server instances. A match maker receives from a first client instance a first request to be joined into the set of computer objects. The first request has first client attributes associated with the first client instance.

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: The present invention is a means and method for synchronizing the execution of multiple video game systems in a networked environment with no external synchronization signals required. Video games and most computer display controllers are closed free-running systems. Because most such systems have the means to switch between an interlaced and non-interlaced operation, and because interlaced and non-interlaced modes have a relative timing variation, the timing between two or more such closed free-running systems can be synchronized. This method allows synchronization with an imprecise timing reference. The vertical display timing is the free-running oscillator and the interlaced/non-interlaced mode transition is used as the timing adjustment means. The actual arrival time of data in a communication medium connecting two systems being synchronized is used in relation to an expected arrival time to provide the clock reference.