Gaming via peer-to-peer networks

Abstract

A method includes discovering, via a device, a peer-to-peer gaming service of a peer-to-peer network offered by a peer device, wherein the peer-to-peer gaming service facilitates a user of the device to select, access, and play a plurality of specific networked games of the peer device, wherein the specific networked games are not already installed on the device, selecting, via the device, a networked game from the plurality of specific networked games of the peer device, and downloading a program by the device, wherein the program is configured to execute the selected networked game on a processor of the device, wherein downloading the program comprises downloading the program from a third party computing arrangement and receiving from the peer device, authentication for access to the third party computing arrangement, wherein the authentication limits the downloaded program for play of the networked game with only the peer device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for use in a peer to peer network having at least one peer device and one gaming server device, said peer device further having a gaming control point and a gaming client device, said method comprising:
 said gaming client device initiating a gameplay session of a game with said gaming server device in response to an open session call of said gaming control point, said gaming server device maintaining state variables associated with said game,   closing said gameplay session,   said gaming client device receiving a first game information call from said gaming control point after said gameplay session is closed and in response, sending a second game information call to said gaming server device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to said second game information call, said gaming server device replies to said gaming control point via said gaming client device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said gaming server device allows access to a plurality of games including said game. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said gaming server device allows said gaming control point and said gaming client device to view availability of said plurality of games. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  2 , wherein said gaming control point subsequently displays a host corresponding to said game. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  5 , wherein said host is an identity corresponding to said gaming server device. 
     
     
         7 . A peer device for use in a peer to peer network:
 said network having a gaming server device maintaining state variables associated with a game,   said peer device having a gaming control point and a gaming client device,   wherein said gaming client device is capable of receiving a first game information call for said game from said gaming control point and in response, and sending a second game information call to said gaming server device before a gameplay session of said game is open,   and wherein said gaming client device is further capable of initiation of said gameplay session of said game with said gaming server device in response to an open session call from said gaming control point.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein, in response to said second game information call, said gaming server device is capable of replying to said gaming control point via said gaming client device. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said gaming server device allows access to a plurality of games including said game. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said gaming server device allows said gaming control point and said gaming client device to view availability of said plurality of games. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  8 , wherein said gaming control point subsequently displays a host corresponding to said game. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  11 , wherein said host is an identity corresponding to said gaming server device. 
     
     
         13 . A method for use in a peer to peer network having at least one peer device and one gaming server device, said peer device further having a gaming control point and a gaming client device, said method comprising:
 said gaming server device maintaining state variables associated with a game,   said gaming client device receiving a first game information call for said game from said gaming control point and in response, and sending a second game information call to said gaming server device,   subsequently said gaming client device initiating a gameplay session of said game with said gaming server device in response to an open session call from said gaming control point.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein, in response to said second game information call, said gaming server device replies to said gaming control point via said gaming client device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said gaming server device allows access to a plurality of games including said game. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said gaming server device allows said gaming control point and said gaming client device to view availability of said plurality of games. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  14 , wherein said gaming control point subsequently displays a host corresponding to said game. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  17 , wherein said host is an identity corresponding to said gaming server device.