Abstract: A method includes detecting a first group seeking members, detecting one or more users seeking to join a group, retrieving group parameters corresponding to the first group, and retrieving user parameters corresponding to each of the one or more users. The group parameters may include group characteristic data and group requirements. For each user of the one or more users, the group parameters corresponding to the first group are compared against the user parameters corresponding to the user. A score is determined for each of the one or more users based on the comparing. One or more selected users of the one or more users is recommended to the first group at least in part based on the score. One or more computer programs may be adapted to execute the above steps, and a processor may be configured to perform the above steps.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a first group seeking members, detecting one or more users seeking to join a group, retrieving group parameters corresponding to the first group, and retrieving user parameters corresponding to each of the one or more users. The group parameters may include group characteristic data and group requirements. For each user of the one or more users, the group parameters corresponding to the first group are compared against the user parameters corresponding to the user. A score is determined for each of the one or more users based on the comparing. One or more selected users of the one or more users is recommended to the first group at least in part based on the score. One or more computer programs may be adapted to execute the above steps, and a processor may be configured to perform the above steps.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a first group seeking members, detecting one or more users seeking to join a group, retrieving group parameters corresponding to the first group, and retrieving user parameters corresponding to each of the one or more users. The group parameters may include group characteristic data and group requirements. For each user of the one or more users, the group parameters corresponding to the first group are compared against the user parameters corresponding to the user. A score is determined for each of the one or more users based on the comparing. One or more selected users of the one or more users is recommended to the first group at least in part based on the score. One or more computer programs may be adapted to execute the above steps, and a processor may be configured to perform the above steps.

Abstract: The generation and customization of personalized avatars is based on matching a user's image to computer game avatars by identifying which game avatar the user is closest to resembling. A database of avatar images from various games is established and updated as game publishers upload new avatars to it, refreshing the database as new games are released. Users upload their own picture following preset guidelines and image fingerprinting is used, e.g., using perceptual hashing techniques, to detect the closest avatar in similarity to the user. Alternatively, an image of the user can be combined with an image of an avatar to render a morphed avatar image.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a first group seeking members, detecting one or more users seeking to join a group, retrieving group parameters corresponding to the first group, and retrieving user parameters corresponding to each of the one or more users. The group parameters may include group characteristic data and group requirements. For each user of the one or more users, the group parameters corresponding to the first group are compared against the user parameters corresponding to the user. A score is determined for each of the one or more users based on the comparing. One or more selected users of the one or more users is recommended to the first group at least in part based on the score. One or more computer programs may be adapted to execute the above steps, and a processor may be configured to perform the above steps.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a first user seeking to join a group, detecting one or more groups recruiting members, retrieving user parameters corresponding to the first user, and retrieving group parameters corresponding to each of the one or more groups. The group parameters may comprise group characteristic data and group requirements. For each group of the one or more groups, the group parameters corresponding to the group are compared against the user parameters corresponding to the first user. A score is determined for each of the one or more groups based on the comparing. One or more selected groups of the one or more groups is recommended to the first user at least in part based on the score. One or more computer programs may be adapted to execute the above steps, and a processor may be configured to perform the above steps.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a first group seeking members, detecting one or more users seeking to join a group, retrieving group parameters corresponding to the first group, and retrieving user parameters corresponding to each of the one or more users. The group parameters may include group characteristic data and group requirements. For each user of the one or more users, the group parameters corresponding to the first group are compared against the user parameters corresponding to the user. A score is determined for each of the one or more users based on the comparing. One or more selected users of the one or more users is recommended to the first group at least in part based on the score. One or more computer programs may be adapted to execute the above steps, and a processor may be configured to perform the above steps.

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: User information can be encoded into a machine-readable image for use in display on the surface of a tangible and portable apparatus. The machine-readable image may then be optically read by an offline or online processor-based apparatus to decode the information of the machine readable image including the user's identity and/or profile information and any of the user's: (i) preferred setting information (ii) game history information and (iii) previous game performance information. By swiping a personalized machine-readable image pertaining to the individual user, a user (or gamer) may cause the processor based system (i.e. game console system) to perform a number of functions. Updated user information may be re-encoded into an updated machine-readable image that may be easily printed or outputted to the user. The portable machine-readable image may thus be used for the convenient storage of information items to be used in either online or offline gaming environments.

Abstract: A method includes retrieving one or more characteristics for each of a plurality of items, and generating a first cloud on a display. The first cloud corresponds to a first characteristic of the one or more characteristics. The cloud includes a plurality of visual identifiers each corresponding to one of the plurality of items. Each visual identifier includes a first visual attribute and a second visual attribute. The first visual attribute includes a visual indicia of a ranking of the item represented by the visual identifier compared to the other items of the plurality of items according to the first characteristic. One or more computer programs may be adapted to execute the above steps, and a processor may be configured to perform the above steps.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a first group seeking members, detecting one or more users seeking to join a group, retrieving group parameters corresponding to the first group, and retrieving user parameters corresponding to each of the one or more users. The group parameters may include group characteristic data and group requirements. For each user of the one or more users, the group parameters corresponding to the first group are compared against the user parameters corresponding to the user. A score is determined for each of the one or more users based on the comparing. One or more selected users of the one or more users is recommended to the first group at least in part based on the score. One or more computer programs may be adapted to execute the above steps, and a processor may be configured to perform the above steps.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a first user seeking to join a group, detecting one or more groups recruiting members, retrieving user parameters corresponding to the first user, and retrieving group parameters corresponding to each of the one or more groups. The group parameters may comprise group characteristic data and group requirements. For each group of the one or more groups, the group parameters corresponding to the group are compared against the user parameters corresponding to the first user. A score is determined for each of the one or more groups based on the comparing. One or more selected groups of the one or more groups is recommended to the first user at least in part based on the score. One or more computer programs may be adapted to execute the above steps, and a processor may be configured to perform the above steps.

Abstract: User information can be encoded into a machine-readable image for use in display on the surface of a tangible and portable apparatus. The machine-readable image may then be optically read by an offline or online processor-based apparatus to decode the information of the machine readable image including the user's identity and/or profile information and any of the user's: (i) preferred setting information (ii) game history information and (iii) previous game performance information. By swiping a personalized machine-readable image pertaining to the individual user, a user (or gamer) may cause the processor based system (i.e. game console system) to perform a number of functions. Updated user information may be re-encoded into an updated machine-readable image that may be easily printed or outputted to the user. The portable machine-readable image may thus be used for the convenient storage of information items to be used in either online or offline gaming environments.

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.