System, game server, terminal, and computer program product for link point scaling in a multiplayer location-aware game

Abstract

A system for scaling a link point in a multiplayer location-aware game comprises a plurality of clients capable of executing a client-side game application and a network entity capable of communicating with the plurality of clients. The plurality of clients are capable of communicating across at least one network to play a multiplayer location-aware game. The network entity is capable of determining a number of clients participating in the multiplayer location-aware game. The network entity is capable of determining a location of each of the clients participating in the multiplayer location-aware game. The network entity is capable of determining a size of at least one link point based on the number of clients and based on the location of each client.

1 . A system for scaling a link point in a multiplayer location-aware game, the system comprising: 
 a plurality of clients capable of executing a client-side game application, the plurality of clients being capable of communicating across at least one network to play a multiplayer location-aware game; and    a network entity capable of communicating with the plurality of clients;    wherein the network entity is capable of determining a number of clients participating in the multiplayer location-aware game; wherein the network entity is capable of determining a location of each of the clients participating in the multiplayer location-aware game; and wherein the network entity is capable of determining a size of at least one link point based on the number of clients and based on the location of each client.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the network entity is capable of determining the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined minimum number of clients per link point.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the network entity is capable of determining the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined maximum number of link points between any two clients.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the network entity is capable of determining the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined maximum distance between any two clients.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the network entity is capable of determining the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined minimum link point size and a predefined maximum link point size.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the predefined minimum link point size and the predefined maximum link point size may vary based on a geographic location of the at least one link point.  
   
   
       7 . A network entity for scaling a link point in a multiplayer location-aware game, the network entity comprising: 
 a processor capable of communicating with a plurality of clients capable of executing a client-side game application and capable of communicating across at least one network to play a multiplayer location-aware game;    wherein the processor is capable of determining a number of clients participating in the multiplayer location-aware game; wherein the processor is capable of determining a location of each of the clients participating in the multiplayer location-aware game; and wherein the processor is capable of determining a size of at least one link point based on the number of clients and based on the location of each client.    
   
   
       8 . The network entity of  claim 7 , wherein the processor determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined minimum number of clients per link point.  
   
   
       9 . The network entity of  claim 7 , wherein the processor determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined maximum number of link points between any two clients.  
   
   
       10 . The network entity of  claim 7 , wherein the processor determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined maximum distance between any two clients.  
   
   
       11 . The network entity of  claim 7 , wherein the processor determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined minimum link point size and a predefined maximum link point size.  
   
   
       12 . The network entity of  claim 11 , wherein the predefined minimum link point size and the predefined maximum link point size may vary based on a geographic location of the at least one link point.  
   
   
       13 . A terminal for scaling a link point in a multiplayer location-aware game, the terminal comprising: 
 a processor capable of executing a client-side game application, the processor being capable of communicating with a network entity across at least one network to play a multiplayer location-aware game with a plurality of clients;    wherein the processor is capable of interfacing with at least one of the plurality of clients based on a size of at least one link point determined by the network entity; and wherein the processor is capable of interfacing with the network entity when the network entity determines the size of the at least one link point based on a number of clients and based on a location of each client.    
   
   
       14 . The terminal of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is capable of interfacing with the network entity when the network entity determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined minimum number of clients per link point.  
   
   
       15 . The terminal of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is capable of interfacing with the network entity when the network entity determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined maximum number of link points between any two clients.  
   
   
       16 . The terminal of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is capable of interfacing with the network entity when the network entity determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined maximum distance between any two clients.  
   
   
       17 . The terminal of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is capable of interfacing with the network entity when the network entity determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined minimum link point size and a predefined maximum link point size.  
   
   
       18 . The terminal of  claim 13 , wherein the predefined minimum link point size and the predefined maximum link point size may vary based on a geographic location of the at least one link point.  
   
   
       19 . A computer program product for scaling a link point in a multiplayer location-aware game, the computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising: 
 a first executable portion capable of determining a number of players participating in the multiplayer location-aware game;    a second executable portion capable of determining a location of each of the players participating in the multiplayer location-aware game; and    a third executable portion capable of determining a size of at least one link point based on the number of players and based on the location of each player.    
   
   
       20 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the third executable portion determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined minimum number of players per link point.  
   
   
       21 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the third executable portion determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined maximum number of link points between any two players.  
   
   
       22 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the third executable portion determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined maximum distance between any two players.  
   
   
       23 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the third executable portion determines the size of the at least one link point based on a predefined minimum link point size and a predefined maximum link point size.  
   
   
       24 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein the predefined minimum link point size and the predefined maximum link point size may vary based on a geographic location of the at least one link point.