Abstract: Load testing an online game server environment using a web-based interface includes: configuring a load test with configuration parameters including client behavior parameters and server parameters, wherein the client behavior parameters provide settings for various behaviors such as cheating and aggressiveness, and wherein the server parameters provide a setup for server states and messages; building and deploying simulation client and game server binaries; scheduling and running the load test; and collecting test data output from the load test. Keywords include load test automation, load test service, load test resource management.

Abstract: A signal processor to produce a simulated reverberation effect based on an input signal and conveying the impression of multiple interconnected resonating spaces. A feedback delay network produces a reverberation tail signal, which is delayed by varying amounts in a delay module. A panning module produces a multi-channel signal based on the reverberation tail signal and its echoes.

Abstract: Handling of input or output (I/O) to or from a media device may be implemented in a system having a memory, a processor unit with a main processor and an auxiliary processor having an associated local memory, and the media device. An incoming I/O request received from an application running on the processor unit may be serviced according to the schedule. A set of processor executable instructions configured to implement I/O handling may include media filter layers. I/O handling may alternatively comprise: receiving an incoming I/O request from an application running on a main processor; inserting the request into a schedule embodied in the main memory; and implementing the request according to the schedule and one or more filters, at least one of which is implemented by an auxiliary processor.

Abstract: Methods and systems for adapting a display screen output based on a display user's attention. Gaze direction tracking is employed to determine a sub-region of a display screen area to which a user is attending. Display of the attended sub-region is modified relative to the remainder of the display screen, for example, by changing the quantity of data representing an object displayed within the attended sub-region relative to an object displayed in an unattended sub-region of the display screen.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating with a virtual world are disclosed. The virtual world may comprise a simulated public space configured to facilitate interaction among a plurality of users and one or more private spaces. Each private space may be associated with a particular user of the plurality of users. A particular user's interactions with the virtual world may be represented by one or more corresponding actions of an avatar. A communication device may be simulated in the virtual world. Communication may take place between the simulated communication device and a real communication device. The virtual world may be generated by one or more processors configured to simulate a communication device in the virtual world and communicate between the simulated communication device and a real communication device.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods for interacting with a virtual world being displayed on a video display are described. The virtual world includes user selectable tagged images. The tagged images are related to an asset and can include a redemption feature that can be used when acquiring the asset. A user interacting with a game console can select the tagged images. Upon selection of the tagged image the game console can communicate information related to the tagged image, the related asset and/or the redemption feature to a mobile device. The tagged images can also be associated with distribution rules that can be evaluated to determine when and to whom to distribute digital coupons associated with the tagged images.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing peer-to-peer relay. In one implementation, a peer-to-peer relay network includes: a plurality of N peer systems; wherein each peer system is connected to a number of other peer systems that is less than or equal to a connection limit, said connection limit is greater than or equal to 2, said connection limit is less than or equal to N-2, and each peer system is configured to relay data to peer systems connected to that peer system according to a set of one or more relay rules.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting piracy of a software product that is distributed on a particular media type is described. Embodiments of the invention track a title load time of a software product that is distributed on a particular media type, and compare it against a benchmark load time for that media type. This comparison is used to detect if the title may have been illegally transferred or pirated to another, unauthorized media type.

Abstract: Minimizing bandwidth cost for a participant in an online game, the method including: querying the game participant to determine a network service charge model; selecting a role for the game participant based on the determined network service charge model and a position of the participant in a network topology; and positioning the game participant into the selected role within the network topology of the online game.

Abstract: A digital audio signal processor uses a matrix transform to produce a multi-channel synthetic reverberation signal based on variably-delayed versions of an input signal. The matrix transform outputs are mixed with the inputs to the signal delaying mechanisms, and some of the outputs are further processed to create the reverberation signal.

Abstract: A method for controlling an artificial-intelligence (AI) character includes entering a command mode which enables control of the AI character, and occurs while substantially maintaining an existing display of the game, thereby preserving the immersive experience of the video game for the player. A plurality of locations are sequentially specified within a virtual space of the game, the plurality of locations defining a path for the AI character. The AI character is moved along the path to the plurality of locations in the order they were specified. The plurality of locations may be specified by maneuvering a reticle, and selecting each of the locations. A node can be displayed in the existing display of the game at each of the plurality of locations. A series of lines connecting the nodes can also be displayed in the existing display of the game.

Abstract: Graphics processing in a computer graphics apparatus having architecturally dissimilar first and second graphics processing units (GPU) is disclosed. Graphics input is produced in a format having an architecture-neutral display list. One or more instructions in the architecture neutral display list are translated into GPU instructions in an architecture specific format for an active GPU of the first and second GPU.

Abstract: Ancillary information associated with one or more images embedded in a digital broadcast data stream may be accessed by a digital broadcast receiving device. The device may include a receiver unit, a processor, and a memory. The processor may execute program instructions to access the ancillary information. Control data may be associated with one or more visual components of one or more video images. The control data and images may be combined into a digital broadcast data stream. The device may receive the images and control data. The images may be presented on a display device. The receiving device may use the control data to present or store a perceptible indication that ancillary information is associated with the visual components in conjunction with presenting the images. The device may use the control data to present or store the ancillary information in response to an input signal.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for a multiplayer video game on a peer-to-peer network in which a player's or players' missions are tracked individually as mission lines, each mission line being composed of a series of ordered objectives. Each objective generally must be completed in order of the sequence with no forking of objective paths. Each objective can include one or more conditions that can be completed in any order within the objective. Players can go off on different missions and then come back to synchronize their mission progress so that they benefit from the other player's gameplay. Players can also synchronize the conditions achieved within the missions during long missions with many difficult conditions to achieve in order to advance their combined progress.

Abstract: Adjusting the duration of first content having a plurality of segments including: identifying at least one segment of the first content; deleting the at least one identified segment from the first content to form modified content; and inserting transition periods between segments remaining in the modified content, wherein the transition periods are inserted to adjust the duration of the modified content to a desired duration.

Abstract: Automatic player profile generation may be implemented for an interactive online game in which one or more players interact via one or more client devices connected to a server device via a network. Information relating to game activity may be collected for the one or more players during one or more game sessions with the server device. One or more player statistics relevant to the game activity may be calculated for each of the one or more players during the game session based on the information relating to game activity with the server device. A player profile may be generated for each of the one or more players with the server. Each player profile may include the one or more player statistics for a corresponding one of the one or more players.

Abstract: Ancillary information associated with one or more images embedded in a digital broadcast data stream may be accessed by a digital broadcast receiving device. The device may include a receiver unit, a processor, and a memory. The processor may execute program instructions to access the ancillary information. Control data may be associated with one or more visual components of one or more video images. The control data and images may be combined into a digital broadcast data stream. The device may receive the images and control data. The images may be presented on a display device. The receiving device may use the control data to present or store a perceptible indication that ancillary information is associated with the visual components in conjunction with presenting the images. The device may use the control data to present or store the ancillary information in response to an input signal.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and techniques for adjusting a level of monitoring of the activity of users in an online community are described. Aspects include a triggering mechanism being activated by a community member in response to inappropriate activity by another community member. Receiving a time based history of community members activity around a time of the triggering mechanism being activated. Recreating the community activity from the time based history. Evaluating activities of the community members to determine if there was inappropriate activity and if there is inappropriate activity by an offending community member applying online resources to track the activities of the offending community member.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and techniques for authenticating users of a network are described. Once a user has been authenticated on a first network, authentication information from the first network can be used by the user to gain access to the user's accounts on other networks using the same or different network enabled devices or consoles.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and techniques for replacing players in an online game are described. Replacing players in an online game includes associating a first player with a first online identity and associating a second player with a second online identity. Then replacing the first player and associating the first online identity with a third player that is registered with the first online identity. Replacing players in an online game can also include associating a first player with a first online identity and associating a second player with a second online identity. Then replacing the first player and the second play so that the second player is associated with the first online identity and the first player is associated with the second online identity.