Abstract: Methods for playing a video game executed by a game cloud system are provided. One method includes generating a user interface for displaying game interactivity for playing the video game. The user interface includes controls for selecting a mode of play that includes a shadow mode. The method further includes detecting game play of the video game by a current user and identifying one or more previous plays of the video game by other users. After one of the other users is selected to be used in the shadow mode, for a set period of time, the shadow mode is enabled for the selected other user such that an image of the object controlled by the other user along a game sequence that is to be played by the current user of the video game is displayed.

Abstract: A system and method for actively validating a network device is provided. Nodes in a network game community are prompted to engage in interrogation and response to facilitate the identification of nodes operating with hacked, modified and non-typical game configurations. In one embodiment, a query is presented to a user's machine which triggers a response, and where the response indicates whether certain data at the user is valid and wherein invalid data is suggestive of illegal community behavior. Functions are triggered and data is queried to determine whether the state of game environment is operating according to known metrics or constraints.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for providing inputs to a game executing on a game server, is disclosed. A controller includes a circuit, a plurality of input controls interfaced with the circuit of the controller for producing controller data, and a communication circuit for connecting the controller with an internet access device. The communication circuit is configured to exchange controller data with a game server. The exchange of the controller data occurs without a communication link between the controller and a local game console. The game server is configured to execute a game play of a video game and drive interactivity of the video game using the controller data. The game server is remote from the local game console. The game server transmits a video feed of the game play to the game console.

Abstract: Matching advertising information to media content/user combinations in which information and content are delivered to a user over a network is disclosed. Content providers and advertisers may find out about the offerings of one another as well as user profiles and preferences thereby facilitating agreement of ads with content and users. Viral syndication is also facilitated by allowing the user to share downloaded media with friends and associates. Users may bookmark, share, and/or request/find more content with similarities to the downloaded content with various analytics being reported with respect to the same.

Abstract: A system for implementing a failover policy includes a cluster infrastructure for managing a plurality of nodes, a high availability infrastructure for providing group and cluster membership services, and a high availability script execution component operative to receive a failover script and at least one failover attribute and operative to produce a failover domain. In addition, a method for determining a target node for a failover comprises executing a failover script that produces a failover domain, the failover domain having an ordered list of nodes, receiving a failover attribute and based on the failover attribute and failover domain, selecting a node upon which to locate a resource.

Abstract: A method for generating a playable limited version of a video game is provided. A user's gameplay of a full version of the video game is recorded. A plurality of user-defined portions of the user's recorded gameplay is determined. For each user-defined portion, boundaries within a gameplay context of the video game based on the user-defined portion, and a playable portion of the video game is generated based on the defined boundaries. Each of the playable portions of the video game is arranged in a series to define the limited version of the video game; wherein the method is executed by a processor.

Abstract: Methods for tagging content in a video game title during game play executed on a game cloud system, and social sharing methods. One method includes receiving a pause indication during the game play and suspending the game play to hold the video game title in a current frame image, storing the game state, and receiving the tag data that is associated to a location in the current frame image and to a user identifier for the current frame image. The method further includes generating a video recording of the game play having the tag data and generating a mini-game from a portion of the video game title. The mini-game includes a playable portion to enable view of a portion of the video recording for the mini-game and an executable portion to enable the play of game code for the mini-game that is a portion of the video game title.

Abstract: A method for generating a playable limited version of a video game is provided. A user's gameplay of a full version of the video game is recorded. The user's recorded gameplay is analyzed to determine a region of interest. Boundaries are defined within a gameplay context of the video game based on the determined region of interest. The limited version of the video game is generated based on the defined boundaries.

Abstract: A method for providing remote control of a user's gameplay is provided. A live video feed of a first user's gameplay is presented to a remote second user. A request to transition control of the first user's gameplay to the second user is processed. Control of the first user's gameplay by the second user is initiated.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address delivery of content, including advertising, in an online or networked digital environment. Undesirable content or content that needs to be removed from the digital environment may be eliminated through invocation of a ‘kill switch’ that terminates further delivery of the aforementioned content. The ‘kill switch’ may also eliminate certain instantiations of that content already delivered to end-user client devices. In order to lessen the need for termination of content following delivery to the digital environment, content developers and content providers may view content scheduled for delivery in digital environment ‘mock ups’ prior to actual delivery. Content developers and content providers, too, may control certain attributes related to content scheduled for delivery to further obviate post-delivery termination or modification.

Abstract: A method includes capturing data that is representative of actions performed by each of a plurality of human user operated clients as they interact with an online software application, loading at least one or more portions of the captured data into one or more automated simulation clients, and using the one or more automated simulation clients to perform load testing of an online server system. A system includes a data capturing stage, one or more automated simulation clients, and a configuration stage.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for, e.g., providing a statutory audio content service on a portable device that complies with the provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The user can select a playlist subject to DMCA restrictions but cannot access individual items. Content playback, including skipping of content, is restricted to enforce relevant DMCA provisions. Encryption used to implement digital rights management (DRM) may be modified to enforce such content play rules or, alternatively, an additional layer of encryption may be imposed. Limitations on playback are stored along with the playlist structure in a form that is protected against modification. Information logging content playback is maintained in protected form to be uploaded and relayed to the service provider for the purpose of calculating royalty payments.

Abstract: A method for use with a computer simulation includes generating metadata that corresponds to replay data, and storing the generated metadata in a searchable text file. The replay data is generated in response to an execution of the computer simulation, and the metadata includes textual descriptions of one or more events that occurred during the execution of the computer simulation. A computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program for use with a computer simulation, and an apparatus includes a processor based system.

Abstract: A targeted in-game advertising system is provided where advertising content may be delivered to a video game network environment. Advertisements may be delivered through the tagging of advertising assets in the video game environment according to one or more characteristics including user geographical location, personal preferences, a personal profile, video game preferences or video game genre. Methodologies for tracking advertising impressions are also provided based on monitoring the video game environment to determine the quality of impression to which the user is exposed in the video game environment.

Abstract: Information regarding a redemption code may include at least one parameter associated with certain redeemable content. Requests may be received from a user. The request may concern access to redeemable content associated with a redemption code. The applicability of parameters is determined as is the redeemable content associated with the identified parameter. The user may then be granted access to the identified redeemable content. The determination of applicable parameters may include identifying an associated modification and applying the modification to the redemption code in order to identify the redeemable content.

Abstract: Bodies of media may be summarized in various ways depending on numerous factors, thus resulting in summaries that are tailored to particular desires of consumers. An instruction may be received to provide a summary of at least a portion of the body of media. Software stored in memory may then be executed by a processor to determine one or more factors for providing the summary. The summary may be selected, based on the one or more factors, from a plurality of available summaries stored in memory. The plurality of available summaries corresponds to the at least a portion of the body of media. Finally, the selected summary may be provided to a consumer via an output device.

Abstract: Client position in a multi-client game is determined using dead reckoning. Clients send information to a server over a network. The server distributes this information to other clients. A client uses this information and dead reckoning to determine a character's position. The server may calculate the client's position using dead reckoning and send updates to clients when errors between actual and calculated positions exceed a threshold. Clients may calculate their position according to dead reckoning, and when an error between actual and calculated position exceeds a threshold, send updated information to other clients. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Exemplary systems and methods for server management are provided. An exemplary system comprises a plurality of servers, with each server having the ability to access a database or, in some embodiments, be configured to perform a calculation, computation or make a determination of a particular value, values or other information. A communications network delivers queries to each server whereby a look-up table directs query processing by the servers. Further embodiments of the system feature a program logic controller for rebalancing the workload of the network servers. Exemplary methods of processing queries on the system comprise submitting a query to the network, communicating the query to each server in the network and each server looking-up on a look-up table the processing responsibilities of the servers in the network. The query is processed by the server having primary responsibility for processing the query while other the servers monitor query processing.

Abstract: Ways for controlling a virtual-scene view in a portable device are presented. In one method, a signal is received and the device is synchronized to make the location of the device a reference point in a three-dimensional (3D) space. A virtual scene with virtual reality elements is generated around the reference point. The current position of the device in the 3D space, with respect to the reference point, is determined and a view of the virtual scene created. The view represents the virtual scene as seen from the current position of the device with a viewing angle based on the position of the device. The created view is displayed in the device, and the view of the virtual scene is changed as the device is moved within the 3D space. In another method, multiple players shared the virtual reality and interact with each other in the virtual reality.

Abstract: Methods and systems for emotion-based game character manipulation are provided. Each character is associated with a table of quantified attributes including emotional attributes and non-emotional attributes. An adjustment to an emotional attribute of a game character is determined based on an interaction with another game character. The emotional attribute of the first game character is adjusted, which further results in an adjustment to a non-emotional attribute of the first game character. The behavior of the first game character is then determined based on the adjusted non-emotional attribute.