Invitation system for on-line video games

Abstract

Example methods and systems for inviting users to play video games involve receiving at an invitation server an invitation from a first user logged into the invitation server using a first game system that invites a second user logged into the invitation server using a second game system to play a game. The invitation is forwarded from the invitation server to the second user and an acceptance of the invitation from the second user is received at the invitation server. Invitation acceptance data indicative of the second user's acceptance is stored at the invitation server after the second user logs out of the invitation server. When the second user subsequently logs back into the invitation server, one or both of the first and second users is sent information based on the stored invitation acceptance that enables the first and second users to play the game.

1 . A method for inviting users to play video games comprising: 
 receiving at an invitation server an invitation from a first user logged into the invitation server using a first game system that invites a second user logged into the invitation server using a second game system to play a game;    forwarding the invitation from the invitation server to the second user;    receiving at the invitation server an acceptance of the invitation from the second user;    storing invitation acceptance data indicative of the second user's acceptance at the invitation server after the second user logs out of the invitation server; and    when the second user subsequently logs back into the invitation server, sending to one or both of the first and second users information based on the stored invitation acceptance that enables the first and second users to play the game.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the invitation acceptance data is stored for a specified period of time after the second user logs out of the invitation server.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the invitation acceptance data comprises game-related data.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the invitation acceptance data comprises an IP address of a game server for the game.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the invitation acceptance data comprises connection information for connecting to a game server for the game.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the invitation acceptance data comprises password information for connecting to a game server for the game.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the invitation acceptance data comprises game settings.  
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the invitation acceptance data comprises identification data identifying the first user.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 sending to the first user an indication that the second user has accepted the invitation.    
   
   
       10 . An invitation server for an on-line gaming system, comprising: 
 communication circuitry;    a storage device; and    processing circuitry for controlling the communication circuitry to forward an invitation from a first user logged into the invitation server using a first game system that invites a second user logged into the invitation server using a second game system to play a game,    wherein the processing circuitry stores in the storage device acceptance data indicative of the second user's acceptance at the invitation server after the second user logs out of the invitation server.    
   
   
       11 . The invitation server according to  claim 9 , wherein the acceptance data is stored for a specified period of time after the second user logs out of the invitation server.  
   
   
       12 . The invitation server according to  claim 9 , wherein, when the second user subsequently logs back into the invitation server, the processing circuitry controls the communication circuitry to send to one or both of the first and second users information based on the stored invitation acceptance that enables the first and second users to play the game.  
   
   
       13 . The invitation server according to  claim 9 , wherein the processing circuitry controls the communication circuitry to send to the first user an indication that the second user has accepted the invitation.  
   
   
       14 . The invitation server according to  claim 9 , wherein the invitation acceptance data comprises game-related data.  
   
   
       15 . The invitation server according to  claim 9 , wherein the invitation acceptance data comprises an IP address of a game server for the game.  
   
   
       16 . The invitation server according to  claim 9 , wherein the invitation acceptance data comprises connection information for connecting to a game server for the game.  
   
   
       17 . The invitation server according to  claim 9 , wherein the invitation acceptance data comprises password information for connecting to a game server for the game.  
   
   
       18 . The invitation server according to  claim 9 , wherein the invitation acceptance data comprises game settings.  
   
   
       19 . The invitation server according to  claim 9 , wherein the invitation acceptance data comprises identification data identifying the first user.  
   
   
       20 . A computer-readable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for use in the execution in an invitation server of a method for inviting users to play video games, the method comprising: 
 receiving at an invitation server an invitation from a first user logged into the invitation server using a first game system that invites a second user logged into the invitation server using a second game system to play a game;    forwarding the invitation from the invitation server to the second user;    receiving at the invitation server an acceptance of the invitation from the second user;    storing invitation acceptance data indicative of the second user's acceptance at the invitation server after the second user logs out of the invitation server; and    when the second user subsequently logs back into the invitation server, sending to one or both of the first and second users information based on the stored invitation acceptance that enables the first and second users to play the game.    
   
   
       21 . The computer-readable medium according to  claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises: 
 sending to the first user an indication that the second user has accepted the invitation.    
   
   
       22 . A data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor of an invitation server, cause the processor to perform a method for inviting users to play video games, the method comprising: 
 receiving at an invitation server an invitation from a first user logged into the invitation server using a first game system that invites a second user logged into the invitation server using a second game system to play a game;    forwarding the invitation from the invitation server to the second user;    receiving at the invitation server an acceptance of the invitation from the second user;    storing invitation acceptance data indicative of the second user's acceptance at the invitation server after the second user logs out of the invitation server; and    when the second user subsequently logs back into the invitation server, sending to one or both of the first and second users information based on the stored invitation acceptance that enables the first and second users to play the game.    
   
   
       23 . The data signal according to  claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises: 
 sending to the first user an indication that the second user has accepted the invitation.    
   
   
       24 . A method for inviting users to play video games comprising: 
 receiving at a first game system used by a first user to play a first game an invitation from a second user using a second game system inviting the first user to play a second game different than the first game;    storing in nonvolatile memory of the first game system invitation data indicative of the invitation from the first user; and    re-starting the first game system to play the second game, wherein the re-starting comprises using the invitation data stored in the non-volatile memory to enable the first game system to automatically initiate game play processing for playing the second game with the second user.