US6009458A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Networked computer game system with persistent playing objects
Assignee: Electronic Arts Inc
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Filing: 1996-05-09
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Granted: 1999-12-28
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Expires: 2016-05-09
Abstract
Abstract The mapping of playing objects from one game to another. In one embodiment, generic attributes of an object may be mapped to game-specific attributes. The mapping may either change or maintain the look and feel of an object. For example, a fast but lightly-armed starship in one game may be mapped to a quick but weak warrior in another game.
Inventors
- 👤 William M. Hawkins
- 👤 Oren J. Tversky
- 👤 Nick Robins
- 👤 Stewart K. Hester
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 19:38
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/70; A63F13/71; A63F3/00; A63F3/00003; A63F3/00075; A63F13/12; A63F13/30; A63F13/60; A63F13/85; A63F3/00643; A63F13/34; A63F13/35; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/40; A63F2300/401; A63F2300/407; A63F2300/408; A63F2300/50; A63F2300/53; A63F2300/532; A63F2300/60; A63F2300/6009; A63F2300/65; A63F2300/80; A63F2300/807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
An apparatus comprising: a plurality of processing devices, at least first and second ones of said processing devices including an associated display; a network interconnecting said processing devices; a first game program at least partially stored on one of said processing devices, said first game program having at least a first playing object having at least one attribute, said first playing object being identifiably associated with a user, said first playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said first playing object; a second game program at least partially stored on one of said processing devices, said second game program having at least a second playing object having at least one attribute, said second playing object being identifiably associated with said user said second playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said second playing object; and a mapping function, at least partially stored on one of said processing devices, for mapping attributes of said first playing object in said first game to said second playing object in said second game, wherein said mapping function maintains a substantially similar overall value of attributes between said first and second playing objects.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
210 words
An apparatus comprising: a plurality of processing devices, at least first and second ones of said processing devices including an associated display; a network interconnecting said processing devices; a first game program at least partially stored on one of said processing devices, said first game program having at least a first playing object having at least one attribute, said first playing object being identifiably associated with a user, said first playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said first playing object; a second game program at least partially stored on one of said processing devices, said second game program having at least a second playing object having at least one attribute, said second playing object being identifiably associated with said user said second playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said second playing object; and a mapping function, at least partially stored on one of said processing devices, for mapping attributes of said first playing object in said first game to said second playing object in said second game, wherein said mapping function maintains a substantially similar overall value of attributes between said first and second playing objects.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said overall value is a combination of numerical values assigned to said attributes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of said playing objects is a modifier for a third playing object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a utility program for allowing a user to create a playing object with a plurality of attributes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a preview utility program for illustrating a mapping from said first object to said second object outside of said first and second game programs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a marketplace program at least partially stored on one of said computers, for enabling a trading of playing objects to change an association of a user with a playing object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first playing object is a generic playing object including a generic description which is maintained when the generic playing object is mapped into a game-specific playing object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a database storing a user identification associated with an identification of one of said first and second playing objects.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising an authentication program for confirming a user association with one of said playing objects.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said database is located on a central computer and stores an identifier of said playing object, and further comprising a database on a user processing device storing a plurality of attributes associated with said identifier.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a visual representation including generic aspects of said first and second objects.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said visual representation comprises a card.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said visual representation comprises a screen display.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mapping function includes a function for comparing type designations of said attributes and maintaining a proportional value between said first and second playing objects when said type designations match.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said mapping function further uses an importance coefficient associated with at least one of said attributes for scaling a value of said attribute.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said mapping function further includes a normalization function for maintaining an overall value of said playing object after scaling.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said mapping function further includes a translation function for translating a generic attribute into a game specific attribute.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
156 words
A game program stored on processing device readable medium for execution by a processing device with an associated display to perform a game, comprising: a first group of game instructions for manipulating a first playing object having at least one attribute, said first playing object being identifiably associated with a user, said first playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said first playing object; and a second group of mapping instructions for mapping attributes of a second input playing object having at least one attribute to attributes of said first playing object, said second playing object being identifiably associated with said user, said second playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said second playing object, wherein said mapping function maintains a substantially similar overall value of attributes between said first and second playing objects.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
156 words
A game program stored on processing device readable medium for execution by a processing device with an associated display to perform a game, comprising: a first group of game instructions for manipulating a first playing object having at least one attribute, said first playing object being identifiably associated with a user, said first playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said first playing object; and a second group of mapping instructions for mapping attributes of a second input playing object having at least one attribute to attributes of said first playing object, said second playing object being identifiably associated with said user, said second playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said second playing object, wherein said mapping function maintains a substantially similar overall value of attributes between said first and second playing objects.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The program of claim 18 wherein said processing device readable medium comprises a user medium and a central server medium, said program being allocated between said user and central server media.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The program of claim 18 wherein said second group of instructions includes instructions for translating generic attributes into game specific attributes.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
162 words
An apparatus comprising: at least one processing device having an associated display; a memory associated with said processing device, said memory storing a representation of at least a first object with a plurality of attributes, said first playing object being identifiably associated with a user, said first playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said first playing object; a mapping function for mapping at least one attribute of said fist object to an attribute of a second object having at least one attribute different from said plurality of attributes, said second playing object being identifiably associated with said user, said second paying object having a look and feel or said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said second playing object wherein said mapping function maintains a substantially similar overall value of attributes between said first and second playing objects; and a program for using said second playing object.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
162 words
An apparatus comprising: at least one processing device having an associated display; a memory associated with said processing device, said memory storing a representation of at least a first object with a plurality of attributes, said first playing object being identifiably associated with a user, said first playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said first playing object; a mapping function for mapping at least one attribute of said fist object to an attribute of a second object having at least one attribute different from said plurality of attributes, said second playing object being identifiably associated with said user, said second paying object having a look and feel or said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said second playing object wherein said mapping function maintains a substantially similar overall value of attributes between said first and second playing objects; and a program for using said second playing object.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a second processing device and a network connecting said processing devices, said program being a game played by users at said processing devices in peer-to-peer communication over said network.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
140 words
A method comprising the steps of: providing a game capable of being played over a network with processing devices having associated displays; providing a first playing object with a plurality of attributes, said first playing object being identifiably associated with a user, said first playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said first;laying object; and mapping at least one attribute of a second playing object associated with a game not associated with said first playing object, said second playing object being identifiably associated with said user, said second playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said second playing object, wherein said mapping function maintains a substantially similar overall value of attributes between said first and second playing objects.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
140 words
A method comprising the steps of: providing a game capable of being played over a network with processing devices having associated displays; providing a first playing object with a plurality of attributes, said first playing object being identifiably associated with a user, said first playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said first;laying object; and mapping at least one attribute of a second playing object associated with a game not associated with said first playing object, said second playing object being identifiably associated with said user, said second playing object having a look and feel on said display corresponding to said at least one attribute of said second playing object, wherein said mapping function maintains a substantially similar overall value of attributes between said first and second playing objects.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of: storing a user identification associated with an identification of one of said playing objects.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said overall value is a combination of numerical values assigned to said attributes.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of enabling a trading of playing objects to change an association of a user with a playing object.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of confirming a user association with one of said playing objects.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said mapping step includes a step of comparing type designations of said attributes and maintaining a proportional value between said first and second playing objects when said type designations match.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said mapping step further uses an importance coefficient associated with at least one of said attributes for scaling a value of said attribute.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said mapping step further includes a normalization function for maintaining an overall value of said playing object after scaling.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-27 | 2003-06-28 | 2003-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-27 | 2007-06-28 | 2007-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-27 | 2011-06-28 | 2011-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |