U.S. Patent No. 8,678,928: System and method to deliver video games
Issued Mar. 25, 2014, to AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
The ‘928 patent covers set-top boxes that rely on user logins to access previous game information. The set-top box connects to a server through the internet allowing a user to retrieve information such as previous save points and information about previous play throughs. This information is then shared with other users of set-top boxes connected to the same server, allowing other users to access the save point and information from the first player, and giving users the option to join each others’ games.
Abstract:
The present disclosure is directed to a system and method to deliver video games. The method includes receiving a request for a game from a set-top box device. The method also includes determining whether at least one user identity is associated with the set-top box device. The method also includes retrieving previous game information associated with the at least one user identity. The method can also include providing the previous game information to the set-top box device and allowing at least one user to continue a previously executed game in response to a user selection at least partially based on the previous game information.
Illustrative Claim:
1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a game server via an internet protocol television network, a request from a first set-top box device coupled to the internet protocol television network; in response to receiving the request, accessing, by the game server, user account data associated with an internet protocol address of the first set-top box device, wherein the user account data is associated with a user account at a service provider of the internet protocol television network; and when the user account is associated with a user identity created at the first set-top box device, wherein the user identity is associated with a user:
retrieving, by the game server, previous game information associated with the user identity, wherein the previous game information includes a plurality of continuation points of a game, wherein each of the plurality of continuation points is associated with a particular previous execution of the game, and wherein each of the plurality of continuation points is associated with the user identity and with a plurality of additional players; providing, by the game server, the previous game information to the first set-top box device via the internet protocol television network; receiving, by the game server, information from the first set-top box device indicating selection by the user at the first set-top box device of a particular continuation point of the plurality of continuation points;
in response to receiving the information, sending, by the game server, a prompt to a plurality of second set-top box devices, each second set-top box device associated with a particular additional player of the plurality of additional players, wherein the prompt includes a selectable option to continue the game with the user based on the particular continuation point; and in response to receiving data indicating selection of the selectable option in the prompt at at least one of the plurality of second set-top box devices, enabling, by the game server, a first execution of the game between the user and one or more of the plurality of additional players, wherein the first execution is a continuation of the game at least partially based on the particular continuation point.
