Abstract: Systems and methods are described for enhancing the channel spatial diversity in a multiple antenna system (MAS) with multi-user (MU) transmissions (“MU-MAS”), by exploiting channel selectivity indicators. The proposed methods are: i) antenna selection; ii) user selection; iii) transmit power balancing. All three methods, or any combination of those, are shown to provide significant performance gains in DIDO systems in practical propagation scenarios.

Abstract: A system and method are described for adjusting communication with a first distributed-input-distributed-output (DIDO) client as the first DIDO client moves from a first DIDO cluster to a second DIDO cluster: For example, in one embodiment of the system and method, different signal strength thresholds are specified and either conventional DIDO precoding and/or DIDO precoding with inter-DIDO-cluster interference (IDCI) cancellation to avoid RF interference at the DIDO client are employed based on measured signal strengths from a main DIDO cluster and an interfering DIDO cluster.

Abstract: A system and method are described for adjusting communication with a first distributed-input-distributed-output (DIDO) client. For example, a method according to one embodiment comprises: sending RF energy to the DIDO client from one or more antennas of a DIDO network; estimating a current velocity of the DIDO client; and assigning the client to a particular DIDO network based on the estimated velocity of the client.

Abstract: An apparatus includes one or more servers of a hosting service center operable to execute a twitch video game or real-time application for one or more users remotely located from the hosting service center. The execution of the twitch video game or real-time application on the one or more servers produces uncompressed video of 3D animation. The one or more servers are operable to integrate live video with the twitch video game or real-time application such that the live video appears within the uncompressed video of 3D animation. The live video is received at a hosting service center from one or more client devices correspondingly associated with the one or more users. The uncompressed video 3D animation is generated, at least partially, using data streamed from a high-speed storage unit of the hosting service center coupled to the one or more servers. The high-speed storage unit is configured to load geometry for efficient loading and rendering of objects of the 3D animations.

Abstract: A server center for hosting low-latency streaming interactive audio/video (A/V) includes a plurality of servers that run one or more applications and an inbound routing network that receives packet streams from users via a first network interface and routes the packets to one or more of the servers. The packet streams include user control input. One or more of the servers are operable to compute A/V data responsive to the user control input. A compression unit is coupled to receive the A/V data from the one or more of the servers and output compressed A/V data therefrom. An output routing network that routes the compressed A/V data to each of the users over a corresponding communication channel via a second interface, the compression unit is operable to modify a compression rate responsive to current characteristics of the corresponding communication channel for each user so as to optimize performance of the one or more applications.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for retaining system state of an online application such as a video game. For example, a method according to one embodiment comprises: executing a application on a server in response to user input from a client; transmitting video generated by the application over a network connection from the server to the client; detecting that the network connection has become unusable or impaired; responsively pausing the execution of the application from a current point of execution; and resuming the execution of the application from the current point of execution upon detecting that the network connection has become usable or unimpaired.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing instructions by an online video game hosting system are provided. One example method includes receiving a control signal for a video game. The control signal is received by a server of the online video game hosting system, and the control signal is transmitted from a client device to the server over a network. Then, executing the online video game by the server while receiving the control signal. The executing causes generation of a sequence of video frames and encoding the sequence of video frames to generate a first compressed sequence of video frames and generate a second compressed sequence of video frames. Transmitting the first compressed sequence of video frames to the client device over the network for decoding by the client device to produce a first decoded sequence of video frames for displaying on a display of the client device.

Abstract: A system and method of playing a video game in a streaming mode includes executing a selected video game on an assigned game server, receiving execution control signals corresponding to user inputs to a client device to generate multiple video frames. Encoding the video frames in a shared hardware compression. Some of the encoded video frames depend on a preceding frame. A first and a second encoded video frame are transmitted to the client device. A first feedback signal from a decoder in the client device identifies that the second encoded video frame was not received the decoder. A third encoded video frame dependency is adjusted to produce an adjusted third encoded video frame that depends from the first encoded video frame and the adjusted third encoded video frame is transmitted to the client device.

Abstract: A system and method are described for managing the state of an online video game. A method includes initiating a new online video game in response to user input from a client device, the online video game being in a first state on a first server when initiated; executing the online video game on the server, thereby causing the online video game to enter a second state; pausing or terminating the online video game; determining differences between the first state and the second state and generating difference data containing the differences; transmitting the difference data over a network to a second server; and recreating the second state from the difference data and the first state in response to user input indicating that the user wishes to resume the online video game and in response to the second server being selected as the server on which to execute the video game.

Abstract: A system and method for entering text within a video game application are described.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method are described for managing audio chat for an online video game or application. For example, a system according to one embodiment comprises: an online video game or application execution engine to execute an online video game or application in response to input from one or more users of the video game or application and to responsively generate audio and video of the video game or application; and a chat subsystem to establish audio chat sessions with the one or more users and one or more spectators to the video game or application, the chat subsystem establishing a plurality of audio chat channels including a spectator channel over which the spectators participate in audio chat and a user channel over which the users participate in audio chat.

Abstract: A graphical user interface, system and method are described controlling a video stream. For example, a data processing apparatus according to one embodiment has a memory for storing program code and a processor for processing the program code to generate a graphical user interface (“GUI”) comprising: a plurality of video thumbnails arranged in a pattern, each of the video thumbnails rendering a compressed version of a real-time video of a particular movie, television series, game, or other type of video content; and a selection graphic highlighting a currently-selected video thumbnail, the thumbnails moving within the GUI in relation to the selection graphic in response to user input from an input device.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method are described for performing video compression by an online video game service is provided. One example method includes receiving user input by a server and the user input is received from a client device over a network established between the client device and the server. The user input is from an input device associated with the client device and the client device and the input device are used to access the server to play a video game. The method further includes executing the video game on the server while receiving user input from the input device, and the video game produces a video output including a sequence of video images of the video game.

Abstract: A method by which a streaming interactive video user session is handed off from one streaming interactive video server to another without noticeable disruption to the video stream or the user interactivity.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising one or more servers of a hosting service server center and a RAID that stores geometry for objects of a complex scene. The RAID being coupled to the one or more application or game servers and being operable to interactively stream the geometry on-the-fly during real-time animation associated with running of a game or application on the one or more servers. The geometry is being streamed with substantially no detectable latency.

Abstract: A server center for hosting low-latency streaming interactive audio/video (A/V) includes a plurality of servers that run one or more applications and an inbound routing network that receives packet streams from users via a first network interface and routes the packets to one or more of the servers. The packet streams include user control input. One or more of the servers are operable to compute A/V data responsive to the user control input. A compression unit is coupled to receive the A/V data from the one or more of the servers and output compressed A/V data therefrom. An output routing network that routes the compressed A/V data to each of the users over a corresponding communication channel via a second interface, the compression unit is operable to modify a compression rate responsive to current characteristics of the corresponding communication channel for each user so as to optimize performance of the one or more applications.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method are described for managing audio chat for an online video game or application. For example, a system according to one embodiment comprises: an online video game or application execution engine to execute an online video game or application in response to input from one or more users of the video game or application and to responsively generate audio and video of the video game or application; and a chat subsystem to establish audio chat sessions with the one or more users and one or more spectators to the video game or application, the chat subsystem establishing a plurality of audio chat channels including a spectator channel over which the spectators participate in audio chat and a user channel over which the users participate in audio chat.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for enhancing the channel spatial diversity in a multiple antenna system (MAS) with multi-user (MU) transmissions (“MU-MAS”), by exploiting channel selectivity indicators. The proposed methods are: i) antenna selection; ii) user selection; iii) transmit power balancing. All three methods, or any combination of those, are shown to provide significant performance gains in DIDO systems in practical propagation scenarios.

Abstract: A system and method are described for managing the state of an online video game. A method includes initiating a new online video game in response to user input from a client device, the online video game being in a first state on a first server when initiated; executing the online video game on the server, thereby causing the online video game to enter a second state; pausing or terminating the online video game; determining differences between the first state and the second state and generating difference data containing the differences; transmitting the difference data over a network to a second server; and recreating the second state from the difference data and the first state in response to user input indicating that the user wishes to resume the online video game and in response to the second server being selected as the server on which to execute the video game.

Abstract: A system and method for entering text within a video game application are described.