Method and System for Mediating Interactive Services Over A Wireless Commuincations Network

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and system for controlling the state of an interactive application and controlling delivery of the interactive application to one or more users. The system of the present invention is a system for delivering an interactive application to one or more users of a communications network and may comprise an interactive application adapted to the communications network; a user access device adapted to receive said interactive application; control means for establishing parameters under which said interactive application is rendered on said user access device; and mediation means for establishing terms for the interaction between the at least one user and other users and the communications network.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method for controlling the delivery of an interactive application to one or more users of wireless access devices over a wireless communication network, further comprising a game server, during an interactive application session, the method comprising:
 initiating the interactive application session;   matching skill levels of the one or more users;   accommodating capabilities of the wireless access devices of the one or more users; and   facilitating game play.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein matching skill levels of the one or more users further comprises:
 retrieving information and playing history for each of the one or more users;   retrieving game information;   determining the skill level of each of the one or more users;   notifying each of the one or more users of the other users respective skill levels; and   determining whether each of the one or more users wishes to continue with the interactive application session.   
     
     
         13 . A method for controlling the delivery of an interactive application to one or more players using access devices over a wireless communications network, further comprising a game server, comprising:
 initiating the interactive application;   locating other potential players;   retrieving information about the potential players, retrieving game information, determining the skill level of the players, notifying the potential players of the skill levels of other potential players, and requesting each player if they wish to continue,   evaluating and resolving any differences between the user's respective access devices and the network by querying the access devices regarding their capabilities, and evaluating the capabilities of each users' access device,   evaluating and resolving any differences between the users' respective connections;   determining common capability and connection parameters and enabling the common capability and connection parameters that are determined; and   initiating the interactive application.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising determining a common user capability set based on at least one factor selected from the group consisting of: processor capabilities, signal strength, video capabilities, and latency of the user(s) respective access devices. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method for controlling the delivery of an interactive application to one or more players using access devices over a wireless communications network, further comprising a game server, comprising:
 logging on to the system;   locating potential players by retrieving player information and past history, retrieving game information, retrieving device information, and determining whether or not the device can provide location information;   if the device or network does not comprise means to locate the wireless access device proceeding to the step of enabling game play;   retrieving location information from the respective devices, determining whether or not the devices are close enough to initiate peer-to-peer play and if they are not, proceeding to the step of enabling game play;   determining whether the devices are capable of peer-to-peer play and if they are not, proceeding with the step of enabling game play; setting up peer-to-peer communications; and   enabling game play.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising uploading game and player detail to the game server. 
     
     
         18 . At least one machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed, cause a processing device to perform one or more operations comprising:
 initiating an interactive application session, wherein the interactive application is delivered to one or more users of wireless access devices over a wireless communication network;   matching skill levels of the one or more users;   accommodating capabilities of the wireless access devices of the one or more users; and   facilitating game play.   
     
     
         19 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein matching skill levels of the one or more users further causes the processing device to perform one or more operations comprising:
 retrieving information and playing history for each of the one or more users;   retrieving game information;   determining the skill level of each of the one or more users;   notifying each of the one or more users of the other users respective skill levels; and   determining whether each of the one or more users wishes to continue with the interactive application session.   
     
     
         20 . A system for controlling the delivery of an interactive application to one or more players using access devices over a wireless communications network, further comprising a game server, the system further comprising a processing device coupled to a memory, the processing device to perform one or more operations comprising:
 initiating the interactive application;   locating other potential players;   retrieving information about the potential players, retrieving game information, determining the skill level of the players, notifying the potential players of the skill levels of other potential players, and requesting each player if they wish to continue,   evaluating and resolving any differences between the user's respective access devices and the network by querying the access devices regarding their capabilities, and evaluating the capabilities of each users' access device,   evaluating and resolving any differences between the users' respective connections;   determining common capability and connection parameters and enabling the common capability and connection parameters that are determined; and   initiating the interactive application.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more operations further comprise determining a common user capability set based on at least one factor selected from the group consisting of: processor capabilities, signal strength, video capabilities, and latency of the user(s) respective access devices. 
     
     
         22 . A system for controlling the delivery of an interactive application to one or more players using access devices over a wireless communications network, further comprising a game server, the system further comprising a processing device coupled to a memory, the processing device to perform one or more operations comprising:
 logging on to the system;   locating potential players by retrieving player information and past history, retrieving game information, retrieving device information, and determining whether or not the device can provide location information;   if the device or network does not comprise means to locate the wireless access device proceeding to the step of enabling game play;   retrieving location information from the respective devices, determining whether or not the devices are close enough to initiate peer-to-peer play and if they are not, proceeding to the step of enabling game play;   determining whether the devices are capable of peer-to-peer play and if they are not, proceeding with the step of enabling game play; setting up peer-to-peer communications; and   enabling game play.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the one or more operations further comprise uploading game and player detail to the game server.