Patents by Inventor Steven Trombetta

Steven Trombetta has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20210016190
    Abstract: Systems and methods for discovery and detection of events in interactive digital content are provided. A plurality of game titles may be hosted on a gaming network platform, and gameplay data in sessions involving the plurality of game titles may be tracked in real-time. Each session may be associated with a stream. One or more event criteria may be stored for each of a plurality of predefined events of interest. An event of interest may be identified when the tracked gameplay data for a session meets the stored criteria. A list of available streams identified as including the identified event may be sorted, and a subset of the available streams may be identified as being at a top of the list. A notification may be provided to a spectator device, the notification including a link to one of the streams in the subset. The criteria for the event of interest may also be updated based on subsequent game data and feedback (e.g., use of the link).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Christopher Thielbar, James Fairbairn
  • Publication number: 20200406152
    Abstract: A video game has at least one player client with control over an aspect of a shared virtual environment. The video game also has at least one spectator client with limited to no control over the shared virtual environment. For example, the spectator client's control may be limited to the game server generating audience cheers or boos in response to spectator input during gameplay. In response to detection of a trigger event by a game server, the player and spectator may switch roles. The client switching from spectator to player experiences an increase in network transfer quality from the game server to help provide smooth gameplay. The client switching from player to spectator faces a decrease in network transfer properties to compensate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Christopher Thielbar, James Fairbairn
  • Publication number: 20200398169
    Abstract: A multi-user platform provides an immersive digital (including virtual reality (VR)) environment to solicit and broadcast commentary related to gameplay. The multi-user platform receives gameplay content, which includes a plurality of media streams that show one or more views. The multi-user platform generates a graphical representation for each media stream in the VR environment, receives commentary content corresponding to one or more media streams in the VR environment, and determines one graphical representation for one media stream is an active representation in the VR environment for a time period. The multi-user platform further synchronizes a portion of the commentary content received in the time period with the one media stream associated with the active representation to create synchronized content and broadcast gameplay channel(s) that includes the synchronized content to one or more subscribers connected to the multi-user platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Christopher Thielbar, James Fairbairn
  • Publication number: 20200398157
    Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to the de-interleaving of captured game data for the creation of separate video data and statistical metadata repositories. In some aspects, a process of the disclosed technology includes steps for capturing gameplay data based on live gameplay in a game environment, the gameplay data comprising video data and statistical metadata based on player interactions with the game environment, de-interleaving the video data and the statistical metadata, storing the video data to a first database, and storing the statistical metadata to a second database, the first database being different from the second database. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Christopher Thielbar, James Fairbairn, Adil Sherwani
  • Publication number: 20200384364
    Abstract: Techniques for incentivizing completive gameplay include measuring metrics for a plurality of players (e.g., ranked players and non-ranked players) that engage in gameplay, and generating ranked profiles for the ranked players and a non-ranked profile for the non-ranked player based on the metrics. The techniques further include mapping the ranked profiles and the non-ranked profile in a vector-space, where one metric corresponds to one dimension in the vector-space, and presenting a notification to the non-ranked player based on a distance in the vector-space between the non-ranked profile and at least one ranked profile. The notification provides an incentive for the non-ranked player to engage in competitive gameplay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Christopher Thielbar, James Fairbairn
  • Publication number: 20200351531
    Abstract: Systems and methods for real-time incorporation of user-produced content into a broadcast media stream are provided. A media title may be streamed to a producer computing device over a communication network. The producer computing device is associated with a channel for distributing the user-produced content in conjunction with the media title. Produced content may be captured from the producer computing device as the streamed media title is played on the producer computing device. Such captured produced content may be designated for the channel. The media title and the produced content may then be broadcast in real-time over the communication network to one or more subscriber devices subscribed to the channel. The media title and the produced content may be synchronized within the broadcast to reflect when the produced content was captured in relation to the media title as the media title was played on the producer computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventor: Steven Trombetta
  • Patent number: 10818142
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems directed towards creation of winner tournaments. Instead of using traditional tournament bracket structures which establish pre-set match-ups between participating players in a tournament at an e-sport event, the present disclosure broadens the scope of participants who may be eligible to also participate within the same tournament but who may not initially be attending the e-sport event. With the e-sport competitive scene, not only do professionals compete against each other during a live e-sport event but remote users remotely viewing the e-sport event can also be introduced into the tournament structure as well. These remote users can be introduced into the live e-sport event for the purpose of also competing against competitive players as well as being introduced as an exhibition match with the professionals (e.g. fans of the professionals selected based on social media).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Christopher Thielbar
  • Patent number: 10814228
    Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to the creation of channels providing customizable video feeds in an online gaming platform. In some aspects, a process of the disclosed technology can include steps for receiving a first set of event attributes from a first user, the first set of event attributes comprising information identifying a first game title and a first game-play event associated with the first game title, monitoring play of the first game title by a second user to detect occurrence of the game-play event, and in response to a detected occurrence of the first game-play event, automatically providing a video stream of the first game title to the first user. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, James Fairbairn, Christopher Thielbar
  • Publication number: 20200330863
    Abstract: A system and method for establishing and managing multiuser sessions is provided. A plurality of interactive content titles and at least one activity template associated with each of the interactive content titles are stored in memory. A processor executes instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor receives input regarding a selected activity associated with one of the interactive content titles stored in memory, retrieves an activity template associated with the selected activity from memory, establishes a session based at least on the activity properties, assigns a user as a leader of the established session, adds each of a plurality of peers to an available participant slot in accordance with leader input, and automatically initiates the selected activity within the established session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: STEVEN TROMBETTA, SHOGO SUZUKI, MASANAO NISHIKIDO, BENEDIKT NEUENFELDT
  • Patent number: 10792576
    Abstract: A video game has at least one player client with control over an aspect of a shared virtual environment. The video game also has at least one spectator client with limited to no control over the shared virtual environment. For example, the spectator client's control may be limited to the game server generating audience cheers or boos in response to spectator input during gameplay. In response to detection of a trigger event by a game server, the player and spectator may switch roles. The client switching from spectator to player experiences an increase in network transfer quality from the game server to help provide smooth gameplay. The client switching from player to spectator faces a decrease in network transfer properties to compensate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Christopher Thielbar, James Fairbairn
  • Patent number: 10792577
    Abstract: Systems and methods for discovery and detection of events in interactive digital content are provided. Gameplay data in sessions involving the plurality of game titles may be tracked in real-time. Each session may be associated with a stream. Event criteria may be stored for each of a plurality of predefined events of interest. An event of interest may be identified when the tracked gameplay data for a session meets the stored criteria. A list of available streams identified as including the identified event may be sorted, and a subset of the available streams may be identified as being at a top of the list. A notification may be provided to a spectator device that includes a link to one of the streams in the subset. The criteria for the event of interest may also be updated based on subsequent game data and feedback (e.g., use of the link).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Christopher Thielbar, James Fairbairn
  • Patent number: 10765938
    Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to the de-interleaving of captured game data for the creation of separate video data and statistical metadata repositories. In some aspects, a process of the disclosed technology includes steps for capturing gameplay data based on live gameplay in a game environment, the gameplay data comprising video data and statistical metadata based on player interactions with the game environment, de-interleaving the video data and the statistical metadata, storing the video data to a first database, and storing the statistical metadata to a second database, the first database being different from the second database. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Christopher Thielbar, James Fairbairn, Adil Sherwani
  • Patent number: 10765957
    Abstract: A multi-user platform provides an immersive digital (including virtual reality (VR)) environment to solicit and broadcast commentary related to gameplay. The multi-user platform receives gameplay content, which includes a plurality of media streams that show one or more views. The multi-user platform generates a graphical representation for each media stream in the VR environment, receives commentary content corresponding to one or more media streams in the VR environment, and determines one graphical representation for one media stream is an active representation in the VR environment for a time period. The multi-user platform further synchronizes a portion of the commentary content received in the time period with the one media stream associated with the active representation to create synchronized content and broadcast gameplay channel(s) that includes the synchronized content to one or more subscribers connected to the multi-user platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Christopher Thielbar, James Fairbairn
  • Patent number: 10765952
    Abstract: A system and method for providing system-level multiuser matchmaking is provided. A user selection specifying a multiuser activity associated with an interactive content title is received. An activity template associated with the selected activity is retrieved and the retrieved activity template includes activity requirements required to launch the selected activity. A new multiuser session having session requirements is established, and the session requirements are based on at least the activity requirements. The user device and at least one peer device identified based on the session requirements is added to the new multiuser session. The selected activity is launched in the new multiuser session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Toshimasa Aoki, Jonathan Webb
  • Patent number: 10751623
    Abstract: Techniques for incentivizing completive gameplay include measuring metrics for a plurality of players (e.g., ranked players and non-ranked players) that engage in gameplay, and generating ranked profiles for the ranked players and a non-ranked profile for the non-ranked player based on the metrics. The techniques further include mapping the ranked profiles and the non-ranked profile in a vector-space, where one metric corresponds to one dimension in the vector-space, and presenting a notification to the non-ranked player based on a distance in the vector-space between the non-ranked profile and at least one ranked profile. The notification provides an incentive for the non-ranked player to engage in competitive gameplay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Christopher Thielbar, James Fairbairn
  • Patent number: 10695671
    Abstract: A system and method for establishing and managing multiuser sessions is provided. A plurality of interactive content titles and at least one activity template associated with each of the interactive content titles are stored in memory. A processor executes instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor receives input regarding a selected activity associated with one of the interactive content titles stored in memory, retrieves an activity template associated with the selected activity from memory, establishes a session based at least on the activity properties, assigns a user as a leader of the established session, adds each of a plurality of peers to an available participant slot in accordance with leader input, and automatically initiates the selected activity within the established session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignees: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC, SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Shogo Suzuki, Masanao Nishikido, Benedikt Neuenfeldt
  • Publication number: 20200179812
    Abstract: A multi-user system hosts a game session over a communication network. The game session includes a plurality of media streams that show one or more views of live game play for the game session. The multi-user system further assigns a spectator value to each media stream, updates one or more spectator values based on user inputs received during the game session, selects, for one or more time periods of the game session, one media stream to broadcast based on the spectator value assigned to the one media stream for the one or more time periods, and broadcasts the one media stream over the communication network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, James Fairbairn
  • Publication number: 20200101377
    Abstract: A system and method for establishing and managing multiuser sessions is provided. A plurality of interactive content titles and at least one activity template associated with each of the interactive content titles are stored in memory. A processor executes instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor receives input regarding a selected activity associated with one of the interactive content titles stored in memory, retrieves an activity template associated with the selected activity from memory, establishes a session based at least on the activity properties, assigns a user as a leader of the established session, adds each of a plurality of peers to an available participant slot in accordance with leader input, and automatically initiates the selected activity within the established session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: STEVEN TROMBETTA, SHOGO SUZUKI, MASANAO NISHIKIDO, BENEDIKT NEUENFELDT
  • Publication number: 20200097147
    Abstract: A system and method for generating an integrated interface is provided. A user dataset of a user, a peer dataset of a peer user, and interactive titles available to the user are stored in memory. A network interface establishes a session with a user device associated with the first user. A processor executes instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor constructs a group of interactive activities based on the sets of one or more activities of each interactive title, a user presence based on the first user dataset, and a peer presence based on the peer dataset and displays the set of interactive activities, the user presence, and the peer presence on an integrated interface displayed on the first user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: STEVEN TROMBETTA, CHARLES WAYNE DENISON, II, BENEDIKT NEUENFELDT, AKIHIKO KUSUMOTO, NOBUKAZU KOYAMA, ATSUSHI FUSE
  • Publication number: 20200094148
    Abstract: A system and method for providing system-level multiuser matchmaking is provided. A user selection specifying a multiuser activity associated with an interactive content title is received. An activity template associated with the selected activity is retrieved and the retrieved activity template includes activity requirements required to launch the selected activity. A new multiuser session having session requirements is established, and the session requirements are based on at least the activity requirements. The user device and at least one peer device identified based on the session requirements is added to the new multiuser session. The selected activity is launched in the new multiuser session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: STEVEN TROMBETTA, TOSHIMASA AOKI, JONATHAN WEBB