US6128660A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Network match maker
Assignee: Intel Corp
•
Filing: 1997-03-20
•
Granted: 2000-10-03
•
Expires: 2017-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A network match making system and method is used to match users of a multi-user networked application. Each user is associated with a client computer connected to the network. Clients are selected based on attributes of their users, the clients, servers, and/or communication links. The network match maker works with three different forms of network applications: peer-to-peer, multiple clients to a single server, and multiple clients to multiple servers. In one match maker method, remote server computers and client computers are matched. A match maker receives a plurality of client requests and a plurality of server requests. At least two instances of client programs and at least one instance of server programs are selected based on client and server attributes.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven Michael Grimm
- 👤 Jeffrey Jackiel Rothschild
- 👤 Daniel Joseph Samuel
- 👤 Michael Andrew Wolf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:43
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L43/00; G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/50; G06F9/5005; G06F9/5027; G06F9/5044; G06F9/5055; A; A63; A63F; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/50; A63F2300/51; A63F2300/513; A63F2300/55; A63F2300/5546; A63F2300/5566; H04L43/08; H04L43/0823; H04L43/0829; H04L43/0852; H04L43/0864; H04L43/0876; H04L43/0882; H04L43/0888; H04L43/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 57
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A method for a match maker to match server computers and client computers, said match maker, said server computers and said client computers being connected to a data communication network, each of said server computers executing an instance of server program associated with a set of attributes and each of said client computers executing an instance of client program associated with a set of attributes, said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving by said match maker a plurality of client requests from a plurality of instances of said client programs, each of said client requests containing said set of attributes associated with a corresponding instance of said client program; (b) receiving by said match maker a plurality of server requests from a plurality of instances of said server programs, each of said server requests containing said set of attributes associated with a corresponding instance of said server program; (c) selecting at least two of said plurality of instances of said client programs and at least one of the said plurality of instances of said server programs based on said sets of attributes contained in said client and said server requests.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
191 words
A method for a match maker to match server computers and client computers, said match maker, said server computers and said client computers being connected to a data communication network, each of said server computers executing an instance of server program associated with a set of attributes and each of said client computers executing an instance of client program associated with a set of attributes, said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving by said match maker a plurality of client requests from a plurality of instances of said client programs, each of said client requests containing said set of attributes associated with a corresponding instance of said client program; (b) receiving by said match maker a plurality of server requests from a plurality of instances of said server programs, each of said server requests containing said set of attributes associated with a corresponding instance of said server program; (c) selecting at least two of said plurality of instances of said client programs and at least one of the said plurality of instances of said server programs based on said sets of attributes contained in said client and said server requests.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for a match maker to match remote server computers and client computers, each of said server computers executing an instance of at least one server program and each of said client computers executing an instance of at least one client program, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving by a match maker a plurality of client requests from a plurality of instances of client programs, each of said client requests containing client attributes associated with a corresponding instance of a client program; (b) receiving by said match maker a plurality of server requests from a plurality of instances of server programs, each of said server requests containing server attributes associated with a corresponding instance of a server program; and (c) selecting at least two of said plurality of instances of client programs and at least one of said plurality of instances of server programs based on said client and server attributes.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for a match maker to match remote server computers and client computers, each of said server computers executing an instance of at least one server program and each of said client computers executing an instance of at least one client program, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving by a match maker a plurality of client requests from a plurality of instances of client programs, each of said client requests containing client attributes associated with a corresponding instance of a client program; (b) receiving by said match maker a plurality of server requests from a plurality of instances of server programs, each of said server requests containing server attributes associated with a corresponding instance of a server program; and (c) selecting at least two of said plurality of instances of client programs and at least one of said plurality of instances of server programs based on said client and server attributes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 2, wherein step (c) comprises the step of: selecting an instance of a server program based on client attributes associated with a single corresponding instance of a client program.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 2, wherein step (c) comprises the step of: selecting an instance of a server program based on client attributes associated with multiple corresponding instances of client programs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of: exchanging data messages between one of said selected instances of client programs and one of said selected instances of server programs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of: launching an instance of a server program on one of said selected instances of server programs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of: launching a server application in response to a command from one of said selected instances of a client program.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of: launching a server application in response to a command from said match maker.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of: measuring at least one communication attribute between a client computer executing one of said selected instances of client programs and a server computer executing one of said selected instances of server programs.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
146 words
A system to match remote server computers and client computers, each of said server computers executing an instance of at least one server program and each of said client computers executing an instance of at least one client program, the system comprising: (a) receiving means for receiving a plurality of client requests from a plurality of instances of client programs, each of said client requests containing client attributes associated with a corresponding instance of a client program; and for receiving a plurality of server requests from a plurality of instances of server programs, each of said server requests containing server attributes associated with a corresponding instance of a server program; and (b) selecting means for selecting at least two of said plurality of instances of client programs and at least one of said plurality of instances of server programs based on said client and server attributes.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
146 words
A system to match remote server computers and client computers, each of said server computers executing an instance of at least one server program and each of said client computers executing an instance of at least one client program, the system comprising: (a) receiving means for receiving a plurality of client requests from a plurality of instances of client programs, each of said client requests containing client attributes associated with a corresponding instance of a client program; and for receiving a plurality of server requests from a plurality of instances of server programs, each of said server requests containing server attributes associated with a corresponding instance of a server program; and (b) selecting means for selecting at least two of said plurality of instances of client programs and at least one of said plurality of instances of server programs based on said client and server attributes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 10, wherein said selecting means comprises: selecting means for selecting an instance of a server program based on client attributes associated with a single corresponding instance of a client program.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 10, wherein said selecting means comprises: selecting means for selecting an instance of a server program based on client attributes associated with multiple corresponding instances of client programs.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 10, further comprising: exchanging means for exchanging data messages between one of said selected instances of client programs and one of said selected instances of server programs.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 10, further comprising: launching means for launching an instance of a server program on one of said selected instances of server programs.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 10, further comprising: launching means for launching a server application in response to a command from one of said selected instances of a client program.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 10, further comprising: launching means for launching a server application in response to a command from said match maker.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 10, further comprising: measuring means for measuring at least one communication attribute between a client computer executing one of said selected instances of client programs and a server computer executing one of said selected instances of server programs.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: measuring at least one communication attribute between a client computer executing one of the selected instances of client programs and a server computer executing one of said selected instances of server programs.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one communication attribute relates to at least one parameter selected from a list of parameters consisting of latency, packet loss rate, and bandwidth, and wherein said measuring step comprises the steps of: sending a signal from the client computer to the server computer over a communication link between the client computer and the server computer; and evaluating the signal sent over a communication link to determine the at least one selected parameter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: receiving a measurement of a communication attribute of a communication link between a client computer executing one of said selected instances of client programs and a server computer executing one of said selected instances of server programs.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said at least one communication attribute relates to at least one parameter selected from a list of parameters consisting of latency, packet loss rate, and bandwidth, and wherein said measuring step comprises the steps of: measuring a signal sent from said client computer to said server computer over a communication link between said client computer and said server computer; and evaluating the signal sent over a communication link to determine the at least one selected parameter.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
79 words
The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one communication attribute relates to at least one parameter selected from a list of parameters consisting of latency, packet loss rate, and bandwidth, and wherein said means for measuring comprises: means for receiving a signal from said client computer over a communication link between said client computer and said server computer; and means for evaluating the signal sent over a communication link to determine the at least one selected parameter.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
184 words
A method for a matchmaker server to match a plurality of client computers and one multi-user application server in a computer network having a plurality of multi-user application servers and a plurality of client computers, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a request associated with a multi-user application from a program instance of one of the client computers, said request including at least one client attribute associated with said one of the client computers and at least one application attribute associated with the multi-user application; (b) creating a first record which includes the at least one client attribute associated with the one of the client computers and the at least one application attribute associated with the multi-user application; (c) creating a second record which includes at least one attribute associated with each of the plurality of multi-user application servers; and (d) identifying based on the first record and the second record, a subset of at least one multi-user application server potentially compatible to the one of the client computers for the multi-user application, from among the plurality of multi-user application servers in the network.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
184 words
A method for a matchmaker server to match a plurality of client computers and one multi-user application server in a computer network having a plurality of multi-user application servers and a plurality of client computers, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a request associated with a multi-user application from a program instance of one of the client computers, said request including at least one client attribute associated with said one of the client computers and at least one application attribute associated with the multi-user application; (b) creating a first record which includes the at least one client attribute associated with the one of the client computers and the at least one application attribute associated with the multi-user application; (c) creating a second record which includes at least one attribute associated with each of the plurality of multi-user application servers; and (d) identifying based on the first record and the second record, a subset of at least one multi-user application server potentially compatible to the one of the client computers for the multi-user application, from among the plurality of multi-user application servers in the network.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of: (e) sending a request to said program instance of one of the client computers for at least one communication attribute of each communication link between said one of the client computers and each of said potentially compatible multi-user application servers.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 24, further comprising the steps of: receiving at least one communication attribute measured by the program instance in response to the sent request in step (e); and selecting one server from said subset of multi-user application servers to be bound for said multi-user application, based on said at least one communication attribute.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
133 words
The method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of: receiving a request to join in the multi-user application from another client program instance of another client computer; sending a request to said another client program instance of another client computer for at least one communication attribute of a communication link between said another one of the client computers and said one server to be bound for said multi-user application; and matching said another client computer with said one of the client computers and said server to be bound for the multi-user application, if said at least one communication attribute of said data communication link, between said another one of the client computers and said one server to be bound for said multi-user application, meets a performance criteria specified in said first record.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
92 words
The method of claim 26, wherein said at least one communication attribute of each communication link between said one of the client computers and each of said potentially compatible multi-user application servers, is selected from a list of parameters consisting of latency, packet loss rate and bandwidth; and said at least one communication attribute of said communication link between said another one of the client computers and said one server to be bound for said multi-user application, is selected from a list of parameters consisting of latency, packet loss rate and bandwidth.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
154 words
The method of claim 23, wherein said multi-user application includes an online chat program and wherein: said step (a) includes receiving a request associated with the online chat program from a program instance of one of the client computers, said request including at least one client attribute associated with said one of the client computers and at least one application attribute associated with the online chat program; said step (b) includes creating a first record which includes the at least one client attribute associated with the one of the client computers and the at least one application attribute associated with the the online chat program; and said step (d) includes identifying based on the first record and the second record, a subset of at least one multi-user application server potentially compatible to the one of the client computers for the online chat program, from among the plurality of multi-user application servers in the network.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 26, wherein: said at least one communication attribute for each communication link between said one of the client computers and each of said potentially compatible multi-user application servers, includes latency; and said at least one communication attribute for said communication link between said another one of the client computers and said one server to be bound for said multi-user application, includes latency.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of: receiving a signal from said program instance of said one of the client computers that no further client computers can be joined into the multi-user application.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
148 words
The method of claim 23, wherein said multi-user application includes a game program and wherein: said step (a) includes receiving a request associated with the game program from a program instance of one of the client computers, said request including at least one client attribute associated with said one of the client computers and at least one application attribute associated with the game program; said step (b) includes creating a first record which includes the at least one client attribute associated with the one of the client computers and the at least application attribute associated with the the game program; and said step (d) includes identifying based on the first record and the second record, a subset of at least one multi-user application server potentially compatible to the one of the client computers for the game program, from among the plurality of multi-user application servers in the network.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
190 words
A system to match a plurality of client computers and one multi-user application server in a computer network having a matchmaker server, a plurality of multi-user application servers and a plurality of client computers, comprising: receiving means for receiving a request associated with a multi-user application from a program instance of one of the client computers, said request including at least one client attribute associated with said one of the client computers and at least one application attribute associated with the multi-user application; first creating means for creating a first record which includes the at least one client attribute associated with the one of the client computers and the at least one application attribute associated with the multi-user application; second creating means for creating a second record which includes at least one attribute associated with each of the plurality of multi-user application servers; and identifying means for identifying, based on the first record and the second record, a subset of at least one multi-user application server potentially compatible to the one of the client computers for the multi-user application, from among the plurality of multi-user application servers in the network.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
190 words
A system to match a plurality of client computers and one multi-user application server in a computer network having a matchmaker server, a plurality of multi-user application servers and a plurality of client computers, comprising: receiving means for receiving a request associated with a multi-user application from a program instance of one of the client computers, said request including at least one client attribute associated with said one of the client computers and at least one application attribute associated with the multi-user application; first creating means for creating a first record which includes the at least one client attribute associated with the one of the client computers and the at least one application attribute associated with the multi-user application; second creating means for creating a second record which includes at least one attribute associated with each of the plurality of multi-user application servers; and identifying means for identifying, based on the first record and the second record, a subset of at least one multi-user application server potentially compatible to the one of the client computers for the multi-user application, from among the plurality of multi-user application servers in the network.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 32, further comprising: sending means for sending a request to said program instance of one of the client computers for at least one communication attribute of each communication link between said one of the client computers and each of said potentially compatible multi-user application servers.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 33, further comprising: receiving means for receiving at least one communication attribute measured by the program instance in response to the sent request; and selecting means for selecting one server from said subset of multi-user application servers to be bound for said multi-user application, based on said at least one communication attribute.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
142 words
The system of claim 34, further comprising the steps of: receiving means for receiving a request to join in the multi-user application from another client program instance of another client computer; sending means for sending a request to said another client program instance of another client computer for at least one communication attribute of a communication link between said another one of the client computers and said one server to be bound for said multi-user application; and matching means for matching said another client computer with said one of the client computers and said server to be bound for the multi-user application, if said at least one communication attribute of said data communication link, between said another one of the client computers and said one server to be bound for said multi-user application, meets a performance criteria specified in said first record.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
90 words
The system of claim 35, wherein said at least one communication attribute of each communication link between said one of the client computers and each of said potentially compatible multi-user application servers, is from a list of parameters consisting of latency, packet loss rate and bandwidth; and said at least one communication attribute of said communication link between said another one of the client computers and said one server to be bound for said multi-user application, is from a list of parameters consisting of latency, packet loss rate and bandwidth.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 32, wherein said multi-user application includes an online chat program.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system of claim 35, wherein: said at least one communication attribute for each communication link between said one of the client computers and each of said potentially compatible multi-user application servers, includes latency; and said at least one communication attribute for said communication link between said another one of the client computers and said one server to be bound for said multi-user application, includes latency.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 35, further comprising: receiving means for receiving a signal from said program instance of said one of the client computers that no further client computers can be joined into the multi-user application.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 32, wherein said multi-user application includes a game program.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
215 words
A system to match a plurality of client computers and one multi-user application server in a computer network having a matchmaker server, a plurality of multi-user application servers and a plurality of client computers, comprising: receiving means for receiving a request associated with a multi-user application from a program instance of one of the client computers, said request including at least one client attribute associated with said one of the client computers and at least one application attribute associated with the multi-user application; first storing means for storing the at least one client attribute associated with the one of the client computers and the at least one application attribute associated with the multi-user application; second storing means for storing at least one attribute associated with each of the plurality of multi-user application servers; and identifying means for identifying, based on the at least one client attribute associated with the one of the client computers and the at least one application attribute associated with the multi-user application and the at least one attribute associated with each of the plurality of multi-user application servers, a subset of at least one multi-user application server potentially compatible to the one of the client computers for the multi-user application, from among the plurality of multi-user application servers in the network.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
215 words
A system to match a plurality of client computers and one multi-user application server in a computer network having a matchmaker server, a plurality of multi-user application servers and a plurality of client computers, comprising: receiving means for receiving a request associated with a multi-user application from a program instance of one of the client computers, said request including at least one client attribute associated with said one of the client computers and at least one application attribute associated with the multi-user application; first storing means for storing the at least one client attribute associated with the one of the client computers and the at least one application attribute associated with the multi-user application; second storing means for storing at least one attribute associated with each of the plurality of multi-user application servers; and identifying means for identifying, based on the at least one client attribute associated with the one of the client computers and the at least one application attribute associated with the multi-user application and the at least one attribute associated with each of the plurality of multi-user application servers, a subset of at least one multi-user application server potentially compatible to the one of the client computers for the multi-user application, from among the plurality of multi-user application servers in the network.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 41, further comprising: sending means for sending a request to said program instance of one of the client computers for at least one communication attribute of each communication link between said one of the client computers and each of said potentially compatible multi-user application servers.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 42, further comprising: receiving means for receiving at least one communication attribute measured by the program instance in response to the sent request; and selecting means for selecting one server from said subset of multi-user application servers to be bound for said multi-user application, based on said at least one communication attribute.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
137 words
The system of claim 43, further comprising the steps of: receiving means for receiving a request to join in the multi-user application from another client program instance of another client computer; sending means for sending a request to said another client program instance of another client computer for at least one communication attribute of a communication link between said another one of the client computers and said one server to be bound for said multi-user application; and matching means for matching said another client computer with said one of the client computers and said server to be bound for the multi-user application, if said at least one communication attribute of said data communication link, between said another one of the client computers and said one server to be bound for said multi-user application, meets a performance criteria.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
90 words
The system of claim 44, wherein: said at least one communication attribute of each communication link between said one of the client computers and each of said potentially compatible multi-user application servers, is from a list of parameters consisting of latency, packet loss rate and bandwidth; and said at least one communication attribute of said communication link between said another one of the client computers and said one server to be bound for said multi-user application, is from a list of parameters consisting of latency, packet loss rate and bandwidth.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 41, wherein said multi-user application includes an online chat program.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system of claim 44, wherein: said at least one communication attribute for each communication link between said one of the client computers and each of said potentially compatible multi-user application servers, includes latency; and said at least one communication attribute for said communication link between said another one of the client computers and said one server to be bound for said multi-user application, includes latency.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 44, further comprising: receiving means for receiving a signal from said program instance of said one of the client computers that no further client computers can be joined into the multi-user application.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 41, wherein said multi-user application includes a game program.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
204 words
A method for matching a plurality of client computers and one multi-user application server in a computer network having a matchmaker server, a plurality of multi-user application servers and a plurality of client computers, comprising the steps of: receiving a request associated with a multi-user application from a program instance of one of the client computers, said request including at least one client attribute associated with said one of the client computers and at least one application attribute associated with the multi-user application; storing the at least one client attribute associated with the one of the client computers and the at least one application attribute associated with the multi-user application; storing at least one attribute associated with each of the plurality of multi-user application servers; and identifying, based on the at least one client attribute associated with the one of the client computers and the at least one application attribute associated with the multi-user application and the at least one attribute associated with each of the plurality of multi-user application servers, a subset of at least one multi-user application server potentially compatible to the one of the client computers for the multi-user application, from among the plurality of multi-user application servers in the network.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
204 words
A method for matching a plurality of client computers and one multi-user application server in a computer network having a matchmaker server, a plurality of multi-user application servers and a plurality of client computers, comprising the steps of: receiving a request associated with a multi-user application from a program instance of one of the client computers, said request including at least one client attribute associated with said one of the client computers and at least one application attribute associated with the multi-user application; storing the at least one client attribute associated with the one of the client computers and the at least one application attribute associated with the multi-user application; storing at least one attribute associated with each of the plurality of multi-user application servers; and identifying, based on the at least one client attribute associated with the one of the client computers and the at least one application attribute associated with the multi-user application and the at least one attribute associated with each of the plurality of multi-user application servers, a subset of at least one multi-user application server potentially compatible to the one of the client computers for the multi-user application, from among the plurality of multi-user application servers in the network.
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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) | 2003-10-03 | 2004-04-03 | 2004-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-03 | 2008-04-03 | 2008-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-03 | 2012-04-03 | 2012-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |