Method and apparatus for monitoring user game-playing behavior and reporting game play data in a gaming environment

Abstract

A computer implemented method, a data processing system, and computer program product are provided for monitoring user game-playing behavior and reporting game play data in a gaming environment. A software agent is provided for monitoring gaming characteristics of the user responsive to a launch of a game by a user. The software agent also identifies a game state based on the gaming characteristics. The software agent collects game play data of the user if the game state is changed, and reports the game play data for processing.

1 . A computer implemented method for monitoring user game play behavior and reporting user game play data in a gaming environment, the computer implemented method comprising: 
 responsive to a launch of a game by a user, monitoring gaming characteristics of the user;    identifying a game state based on the gaming characteristics;    collecting game play data of the user if the game state is changed; and    reporting the game play data for processing.    
   
   
       2 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming characteristics include user mouse movement, user joystick movement, user keyboard movement, user active process, memory usage, and processor utilization.  
   
   
       3 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring, identifying, collecting, and reporting steps are performed by a software agent.  
   
   
       4 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying step comprises: 
 validating gaming characteristics based on user inputs; and    validating gaming characteristics based on a rule set.    
   
   
       5 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the rule set comprises a threshold limit for each characteristic that is monitored.  
   
   
       6 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the reporting step comprises: 
 accumulating the game play data in a client game data file on the client; and    sending the game play data to a server via a secure communication protocol if a network connection is available on the client and a threshold is reached.    
   
   
       7 . The computer implemented method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 updating the game play data into a database; and    receiving dynamic data from the database, wherein the dynamic data comprises streaming statistics, a chat subscription, chat buddy statuses, a local user status, and real time performance statistics.    
   
   
       8 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the game play data comprises an amount of time the user spent playing the game, a time of day, a game title, and performance statistics.  
   
   
       9 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 reading a list of supported games from a game list file, wherein the game list file is created and modified as the user updates the list of supported games in an online profile; and    creating a new game object from the game list for the game to launch the game.    
   
   
       10 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 managing chat functions initiated by the user, wherein the chat functions include joining a group chat, starting a group chat, blocking another user, removing another user from a subscription, adding another user to a subscription, sending a message to another user, and receiving a message from another user.    
   
   
       11 . A gaming system for monitoring user game play behavior and reporting user game play data, the gaming system comprising: 
 a bus,    a storage device, wherein the storage device contains computer usable code;    a communications unit connected to the bus;    a user input device; and    a processing unit connected to the bus, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable code to monitor gaming characteristics of the user responsive to a launch of a game by a user; identify a game state based on the gaming characteristics; collect game play data of the user if the game state is changed; and report the game play data for processing.    
   
   
       12 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein the processing unit, in executing the computer usable code to identify a game state based on the gaming characteristics, executes the computer usable code to validate gaming characteristics based on user inputs; and validate gaming characteristics based on a rule set.  
   
   
       13 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein the processing unit, in executing the computer usable code to report the game play data for processing, executes the computer usable code to accumulate the game play data in a client game data file on the client; and send the game play data to a server via a secure communication protocol if a network connection is available on the client and a threshold is reached.  
   
   
       14 . The gaming system of  claim 14 , wherein the processing unit, in executing the computer usable code to report the game play data for processing, further executes the computer usable code to update the game play data into a database; and receive dynamic data from the database, wherein the dynamic data comprises streaming statistics, a chat subscription, chat buddy statuses, a local user status, and real time performance statistics.  
   
   
       15 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable code to read a list of supported games from a game list file, wherein the game list file is created and modified as the user updates the list of supported games in an online profile; and create a new game object from the game list for the game to launch the game.  
   
   
       16 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable code to manage chat functions initiated by the user, wherein the chat functions include joining a group chat, starting a group chat, blocking another user, removing another user from a subscription, adding another user to a subscription, sending a message to another user, and receiving a message from another user.  
   
   
       17 . A computer program product comprising: 
 a computer usable medium having computer usable program code for monitoring user game play behavior and reporting user game play data in a gaming environment, said computer program product comprising:    computer usable program code for monitoring gaming characteristics of the user responsive to a launch of a game by a user;    computer usable program code for identifying a game state based on the gaming characteristics;    computer usable program code for collecting game play data of the user if the game state is changed; and    computer usable program code for reporting the game play data for processing.    
   
   
       18 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the computer usable program code for identifying a game state based on the gaming characteristics comprises: 
 computer usable program code for validating gaming characteristics based on user inputs; and    computer usable program code for validating gaming characteristics based on a rule set.    
   
   
       19 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 computer usable program code for updating the game play data into a database; and    computer usable program code for receiving dynamic data from the database, wherein the dynamic data comprises streaming statistics, a chat subscription, chat buddy statuses, a local user status, and real time performance statistics.    
   
   
       20 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 computer usable program code for managing chat functions initiated by the user, wherein the chat functions include joining a group chat, starting a group chat, blocking another user, removing another user from a subscription, adding another user to a subscription, sending a message to another user, and receiving a message from another user.