Method and system for distributing browser-based computer games and files

Abstract

A method for securing, distributing, and updating a browser-based game includes encrypting a compiled browser-based computer game and wrapping the encrypted compiled browser-based computer game within a browser-based game loader. The browser-based game loader is executable by a web browser to decrypt the encrypted browser-based computer game and, in some embodiments, update the browser-based computer game to a newer version prior to execution.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . A computer comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory device coupled to the processor, the memory device having stored therein a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor causes the processor to:   receive a compiled browser-based computer game over a network;   encrypt the compiled browser-based computer game to generate an encrypted compiled browser-based computer game; and   generate a browser-based game loader, the browser-based game loader including the encrypted compiled browser-based computer game,   wherein execution of the browser-based game loader by a web browser causes the web browser to (i) decrypt the encrypted compiled browser-based computer game and (ii) execute the compiled browser based computer game.   
   
   
       23 . The computer of  claim 22 , wherein to encrypt the compiled browser-based computer game comprises to generate an encryption key. 
   
   
       24 . The computer of  claim 23 , wherein the browser-based game loader includes the encryption key. 
   
   
       25 . The computer of  claim 24 , wherein execution of the browser-based game loader by the web browser causes the browser-based game loader to decrypt the encrypted compiled browser-based computer game using the encryption key. 
   
   
       26 . The computer of  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to store the encryption key on a storage device. 
   
   
       27 . The computer of  claim 26 , wherein execution of the browser-based game loader by the web browser causes the browser-based game loader to retrieve the encryption key over the network and decrypt the encrypted compiled browser-based computer game using the encryption key. 
   
   
       28 . The computer of  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to receive an updated version of the compiled browser-based computer game over the network. 
   
   
       29 . The computer of  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to:
 determine differences between the compiled browser-based computer game and the updated version of the compiled browser-based computer game, and   generate an update file based on the differences between the compiled browser-based computer game and the updated version of the compiled browser-based computer game, the update file including programming code which when merged with the compiled browser-based computer game generates a browser-based computer game equivalent to the updated version of the compiled browser-based computer game.   
   
   
       30 . The computer of  claim 29 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to:
 generate a browser-executable game patch file, the browser-executable game patch file including the update file,   wherein execution of the browser-executable game patch file by a web browser causes the web browser to merge the update file with the compiled browser-based computer game to generate a browser-based computer game equivalent to the updated version of the compiled browser-based computer game.   
   
   
       31 . The computer of  claim 30 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to store the browser-executable game patch file on a storage device. 
   
   
       32 . The computer of  claim 31 , wherein execution of the browser-based game loader by the web browser causes the web browser to (i) retrieve the browser-executable game patch file from the storage device over the network and (ii) execute the browser-executable game patch file. 
   
   
       33 . The computer of  claim 32 , wherein execution of the browser-based game loader by the web browser causes the web browser to merge the update file with the compiled browser-based computer game to generate a browser-based computer game equivalent to the updated version of the compiled browser-based computer game. 
   
   
       34 . A method for executing a browser-based computer game on a client computer, the method comprising:
 downloading a browser-based game loader over a network from a remote computer, the browser-based game loader including an encrypted compiled browser-based computer game; and   executing the browser-based game loader with a web browser on the client computer,   wherein execution of the browser-based game loader on the client computer causes the web browser to (i) decrypt the encrypted compiled browser-based computer game and (ii) execute the compiled browser based computer game.   
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein execution of the browser-based game loader on the client computer causes the web browser to decrypt the encrypted compiled browser-based computer game using an encryption key. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein execution of the browser-based game loader on the client computer causes the web browser to (i) retrieve an encryption key from a remote computer and (ii) decrypt the encrypted compiled browser-based computer game using the encryption key. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 communicating with a server computer over the network to determine whether an updated version of the compiled browser-based computer game exists; and   retrieving a browser-executable game patch file from the server computer with the client computer if the updated version of the compiled browser-based computer game exists, wherein the browser-executable game patch file includes programming code which when merged with the compiled browser-based computer game generates a browser-based computer game equivalent to the updated version of the compiled browser-based computer game.   
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising merging the programming code and the compiled browser-based computer game on the client computer to generate a browser-based computer game equivalent to the updated version of the compiled browser-based computer game. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein execution of the browser-based game loader causes the web browser to (i) communicate with a server computer to retrieve an advertisement and (ii) display the advertisement in the web browser on the client computer. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein to display the advertisement in the web browser includes displaying the advertisement in the web browser contemporaneously with the compiled browser-based computer game. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein to display the advertisement in the web browser includes displaying the advertisement in the web browser between game segments of the compiled browser-based computer game. 
   
   
       42 . A method for updating a browser-based computer game on a client computer, the method comprising:
 downloading an encrypted compiled browser-based computer game from a remote computer over a network with the client computer;   decrypting the encrypted compiled browser-based computer game with the client computer to generate a compiled browser-based computer game;   communicating with a server computer over the network to determine whether an update version of the compiled browser-based computer game is available;   retrieving programming code from the server computer with the client computer if the updated version of the compiled browser-based computer game is available; and   updating the compiled browser-based computer game with the programming code on the client computer to generate an updated compiled browser-based computer game substantially similar to the updated version of the compiled browser-based computer game.