(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
`(19) World Intellectual Property Organization
`International Bureau
`
`I IIIII IIIIIIII II IIIIII IIIII IIII I II Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll llll 1111111111111111111
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`(43) International Publication Date
`3 May 2001 (03.05.2001)
`
`PCT
`
`(10) International Publication Number
`WO 01/31476 Al
`
`(51) International Patent Classification 7:
`
`G06F ] 7/00
`
`(21) International Application Number: PCT/AU00/01320
`
`(22) International Filing Date: 27 October 2000 (27.10.2000)
`
`(25) Filing Language:
`
`(26) Publication Language:
`
`English
`
`English
`
`(30) Priority Data:
`PQ 3733
`
`28 October 1999 (28.10.1999) AU
`
`(71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): THAT
`GAME PTY LTD [AU/AU]; Level 9, 123 Queen Street,
`Melbourne, Victoria 3000 (AU).
`
`(72) Inventors; and
`(75) Inventors/Applicants (for US only): CRANE, Richard,
`Anthony [AU/AU]; 23 Cyprus Avenue, Burwood, Victoria
`3056 (AU). SIMMONS, Wayne, John [AU/AU]; 7 Clegg
`Avenue, Croydon, Victoria 3136 (AU). PALMER, Bene(cid:173)
`dict, Byron [GB/AU]; 7 Ballarat Road, Brunswick, Victo(cid:173)
`ria 3056 (AU).
`
`(74) Agents: WEBER, David, Brian et al.: Davies Collison
`Cave. 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000
`(AU).
`
`(81) Designated States (national): AE, AG, AL, AM, AT, AU,
`AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY. BZ, CA, CH, CN, CR, CU, CZ,
`DE, DK, DM, DZ, EE, ES. FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR,
`HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC. LK, LR,
`LS, LT, LU, LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MZ,
`NO. NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM,
`TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZA. ZW.
`
`(84) Designated States (regional): ARIPO patent (GH, GM,
`KE, LS, MW, MZ, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZW), Eurasian
`patent (AM. AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), European
`patent (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, Fl, FR, GB, GR, IE,
`IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OAPI patent (BF, BJ, CF, CG,
`CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML MR, NE, SN, TD. TG).
`
`Published:
`With international search report.
`
`For /:\Vo-letter codes and other abbreviations, refer to the "Guid(cid:173)
`ance Notes on Codes and Abbreviations" appearing at the begin(cid:173)
`ning of each regular issue of the PCT Gazette.
`
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`-------------------------------------------
`-~
`(54} Title: METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A TURN-BASED GAME
`iiiiiiiiiiiiiii -iiiiiiiiiiiiii
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`2 I
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`GAME SERVER
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`/
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`I
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`\,C r-
`"" ~
`
`I P:-YERA
`~ (57) Abstract: A system for providing a game to be played between a plurality of players over a network, including: server means
`~ (20, 25) in communication with the netwo:k and a~apted to receiv_e first and second tum requests from respective first and second
`players and to send first and second tum mfonnat10n correspondmg to the first and second tum requests to the second and first
`0 players, respectively; a server engine (10) in communication with the server means (20, 25) and adapted to process the first and
`> second tum requests to become first and second tum information, whereby the first and second tum information enables the first and
`
`;;-,-- second players to send and receive subsequent tum requests directly to and from each other.
`
`Facebook's Exhibit No. 1004
`001
`
`

`

`WOOl/31476
`
`PCT/AU00/01320
`
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A TURN-BASED GAME
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`5 The present invention relates to a method and system for providing a tum-based game and,
`
`more particularly, a tum-based game to be played by communication over a network.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1 O It has been possible to play games, such as chess, over the Internet by simply logging into
`
`a remote server which is designed to facilitate the game. In the example of the chess game
`
`server, the connection may be established by the user by a telnet command and, once
`
`registered with the game server as a player, the user can engage in real-time games with
`
`other users who are concurrently logged on. The players do not communicate directly with
`
`15
`
`one another but instead send all game moves and personal messages to the game server
`
`which sends them on to the relevant player or number of players. The quality of the
`
`graphical user interface (GUI) varies from mere ASCII characters to high resolution
`
`graphical representations of the playing board and the pieces, depending on the service
`
`provider.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`The known systems for game playing over a remote server generally require that the
`
`players register with, and log into, the server in order to play. These systems do not
`
`provide for non-real-time playing and do not allow the players to communicate with each
`
`other outside of the server while playing the game.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention provides a method of providing a game to be played between a
`
`plurality of players over a network, including the steps of:
`
`Facebook's Exhibit No. 1004
`002
`
`

`

`WOOl/31476
`
`PCT/AU00/01320
`
`-2-
`
`receiving at a server system in communication Vvith the network first turn request
`
`information from a first player relating to a first tum request to begin the game with a
`
`second player;
`
`sending from the server system first tum information including the first turn request
`
`5
`
`to the second player;
`
`receiving at the server system second turn request information from the second
`
`player relating to a second tum request; and
`
`sending from the server system second tum information including the second tum
`
`request to the first player;
`
`10 wherein the first and second tum information enables the first and second players to send
`
`and receive subsequent tum requests to and from each other Vvithout communicating with
`
`the server system.
`
`The present invention further provides a system for providing a game to be played between
`
`15
`
`a plurality of players over a network, including:
`
`server means (20,25) in communication with the network and adapted to receive
`
`first and second tum requests from respective first and second players and to send first and
`
`second tum information corresponding to the first and second tum requests to the second
`
`and first players, respectively;
`
`20
`
`a server engine (10) in communication with the server means (20,25) and adapted
`
`to process the first and second tum requests to become first and second tum information,
`
`whereby the first and second tum information enables the first and second players to send
`
`and receive subsequent tum requests directly to and from each other.
`
`25 The present invention further provides a method of facilitating a game to be played
`
`between a plurality of players over a network, including the steps of:
`
`receiving at a first player terminal in communication with the network first tum
`
`request information from a second player relating to a first tum request to begin the game
`
`with the second player; and
`
`30
`
`sending from the first player terminal a second turn request to a game server in
`
`communication Vvith the network, whereby in response to receiving the second tum
`
`Facebook's Exhibit No. 1004
`003
`
`

`

`WO 01/31476
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`PCT/AU00/01320
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`- 3 -
`
`request, the game server is adapted to send second turn information including the second
`
`tum request to the second player, the first and second turn information enabling the first
`
`and second players to send and receive subsequent turn requests directly to and from each
`
`other.
`
`5
`
`The present invention further provides a method of facilitating a game to be played
`
`between a plurality of players over a network, including the steps of:
`
`sending from a first player terminal in communication with the network a first turn
`
`request to begin the game with a second player to a game server in communication with
`
`10
`
`the network, whereby in response to receiving the first turn request, the game server is
`
`adapted to send first turn information including the first turn request to the second player;
`
`and
`
`receiving at the first player terminal second turn information from the game server,
`
`the first and second turn information enabling the first and second players to send and
`
`15
`
`receive subsequent turn requests directly to and from each other.
`
`The present invention further provides a method of providing a tum-based game to a
`
`plurality of players over a network, including the steps of:
`
`receiving at a server system in communication with the network a first turn request
`
`20
`
`from a first player for starting a game, . the first turn request including first information
`
`relating to a second player and second information relating to a first turn to be played in
`
`the game;
`
`adding to the first turn request first advertising information; and
`
`forwarding the first tum request from the server system to the second player.
`
`25
`
`The present invention further provides a system for providing a tum-based game to a
`
`plurality of players over a network, including:
`
`server means (20,25) in communication with the network and adapted to receive a
`
`first move request from a first player of the plurality of players for starting a game, the first
`
`30 move request including first identification information relating to a second player and
`
`second information relating to a first move to be played in the game;
`
`Facebook's Exhibit No. 1004
`004
`
`

`

`WOOl/31476
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`PCT/AU00/01320
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`-4-
`
`server engine means (10) adapted to add to the first move request a game
`
`executable program for instantiation in a terminal of the second player and first advertising
`
`information and to then forward the first move request to the server means for delivery to
`
`the second player.
`
`5
`
`The present invention further provides a method of facilitating a game to be played
`
`between a plurality of players over a network, each player using a system having therein a
`
`game executable program, the method including the step of:
`
`sending to a second player a first communication from a first player including a
`
`10
`
`first game packet representing a game move for execution by the game executable program
`
`in the system of the second player.
`
`The present invention further provides a method of facilitating a game to be played
`
`between a plurality of players over a network, at least one player using a player terminal
`
`15
`
`having therein a game executable program, the method including the step of:
`
`sending to a second player a first communication from a first player including a
`
`game executable program and a game move, for instantiating the game executable program
`
`in a player terminal of the second player and thereby enabling the second player to accept
`
`the game move.
`
`20
`
`The present invention further provides a game system for facilitating a game to be played
`
`between a plurality of players over a network, each player using a terminal having therein
`
`a game executable program, the game system including:
`
`server means (25) adapted to send to a second player first information corresponding to a
`
`25
`
`first communication from a first player, the first information including a first game packet
`
`representing a game move for execution by the game executable program in the system of
`
`the second player.
`
`The present invention further provides a system for facilitating a game to be played
`
`30 between a plurality of players over a network, at least one player using a player terminal
`
`having therein a game executable program, the method including the step of:
`
`Facebook's Exhibit No. 1004
`005
`
`

`

`WO 01/31476
`
`PCT/AU00/01320
`
`- 5 -
`
`server means (25) adapted to send to a second player a first communication from a
`
`first player including a game executable program and a game move, for instantiating the
`
`game executable program in a player terminal of the second player and thereby enabling
`
`the second player to accept the game move.
`
`5
`
`The present invention further provides a method of providing a turn-based game over a
`
`network, including the steps of:
`
`receiving at a server system in communication with the network first information
`
`from a first player, at least a part of the first information relating to a first move to be
`
`10
`
`played in the turn-based game;
`
`forwarding second information from the server system to a second player, at least a
`
`part of the second information corresponding to the first move and a further part of the
`
`second information relating to advertising information to be displayed to the second player.
`
`15 The present invention further provides a system for providing a tum-based gl:Ulle over a
`
`network, including:
`
`server means (20,25) adapted to receive first information from a first player, at least
`
`a part of the first information relating to a first move to be played in the tum-based game,
`
`and to forward second information to a second player, at least a part of the second
`
`20
`
`information corresponding to the first move and a further part of the second information
`
`relating to advertising information to be displayed to the second player.
`
`The present invention further provides a method of providing a turn-based game over a
`
`network, the steps including:
`
`25
`
`receiving at a server system in communication with the network a first email
`
`communication including first information from a first player, the first information
`
`including game move information relating to a first move;
`
`sending from the server system a second email communication including second
`
`information to a second player, the second information including advertising information
`
`30
`
`to be displayed to the second player and game move information relating to the first move,
`
`selected by the first player, to be played in the turn-based game.
`
`Facebook's Exhibit No. 1004
`006
`
`

`

`WOOl/31476
`
`PCT/AU00/01320
`
`-6-
`
`The present invention further provides a system for providing a tum-based game over a
`
`network, including:
`
`a game server in communication with the network adapted to receive a first email
`
`5
`
`communication including first information from a first player, the first information
`
`including game move information relating to a first move selected by the first player to be
`
`played in the tum-based game, and to send a second email communication including
`
`second information to a second player, the second information including the game move
`
`information and advertising information to be displayed to the second player.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`A preferred embodiment of the present invention is hereinafter described, by way of
`
`example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
`
`Figure 1 is an overall block diagram of an email game system of an embodiment of the
`
`present invention;
`
`Figure 2 is a block diagram of a game server for use in the email game system;
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`Figure 3 is a flow diagram of a method of processing a received move request from a
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`20
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`player, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
`
`Figure 4 is a first part of a flow diagram of a method of providing a tum-based game in
`
`accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
`
`Figure 5 is a second part of a flow diagram of a method of providing a tum-based game in
`
`accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
`
`25 Figure 6 is a third part of a flow diagram of a method of providing a tum-based game in
`
`accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
`
`Figure 7 is a fourth part of a flow diagram of a method of providing a tum-based game in
`
`accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
`
`Figure 8 is an example of an interface generated and seen by a player when playing a game
`
`30 of chess using the system of an embodiment of the present invention;
`
`Figure 9 is an example of an interface generated and seen by a player when playing a game
`
`Facebook's Exhibit No. 1004
`007
`
`

`

`WO 01/31476
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`PCT/AU00/01320
`
`-7-
`
`of spades using the system of an embodiment of the present invention;
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`5 An email game system 2 shown in Figure 1 includes a game server 4 and players A and B.
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`Initially, the moves of the game can only be played through the game server 4, but after
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`each player has played a move, they are allowed to communicate their moves directly to
`
`one another, outside of the game server 4. This serves to make sure that the game server 4
`
`can maintain version and integrity control over the games played and gather information
`
`10
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`about the demographics of the players and the number of times the games are played,
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`while minimising the amount of traffic handled by the server. Importantly, routing the
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`initial moves between the players allows for updated and demographically specific
`
`advertising information to be added to the communications which contain the game moves.
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`15 The game server 4 can facilitate the initiation of a large number of games between a large
`
`number of players simultaneously and can provide a wide variety of tum-based games for
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`the players to choose from. Demographic information is obtained from players by
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`inspecting the global top level domain names of the player email addresses and by asking
`
`them to fill out questionnaires once they have played a game a certain number of times.
`
`20
`
`The questionnaire, game executable code and game moves (in the form of game packets,
`
`described below) are all communicated over the network as email attachments in a known
`
`fashion.
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`25 Screens generated for the game are similar to the examples shown in Figures 8 and 9. In
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`the example of the chess game shown in Figure 8, there is a window 90, which includes an
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`advertising area 80
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`in a prominent position for showing an advertiser's banner
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`advertisement and a text area 82 for allowing the players to communicate text messages to
`
`each other. The window 90 also includes buttons for executing game control commands,
`
`30
`
`such as: a send button 83 for sending a move to the opposing player (along with a text
`
`message if present); a help button 84 for providing information on how to play the game; a
`
`Facebook's Exhibit No. 1004
`008
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`

`

`WOOl/31476
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`PCT/AU00/01320
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`- 8 -
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`new button 85 for starting a new game; an undo button 86 for taking back a move which
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`the player has played but which has not yet been sent to the opposing player; an end button
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`87 for ending the game. The window 90 also has a playing area 81 and provides for the
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`communication of instructional text 88, preferably adjacent the playing area 81.
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`The screen layout shown in Figure 9 is largely similar to that of Figure 8 and like features
`
`are designated by like numerals. Scoring games such as spades, unlike chess, will require
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`the game to keep score of the relative points of the players, in which case the window 90
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`has some means of displaying the current player scores.
`
`5
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`10
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`When the player wishes to begin a game, he or she need only run the executable code for
`the game as received from the server 4 and the game will show the game window 90. If the
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`player has not run the code before, there is preferably a welcome message shown prior to
`
`showing the game window 90. To play the game, each player need only move a cursor to
`
`15
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`the relevant location on the screen, click on, or otherwise select, the desired playing option
`and, if a game piece 92 is to be moved, drag the game piece 92 to the desired location. If
`
`the player decides to send that move to the opponent, he or she must select the send
`
`command (for example, by clicking on the send button 83 or by selecting a menu option).
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`If it is the first move, the game will prompt the player for the details of the prospective
`opponent before completing the send function. If it is the second move (i.e. the opponent's
`
`20
`
`first move), the move will be routed via the game server 4 before being sent on to the
`
`initiating player. Otherwise the game move is sent directly to the opposing player by email
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`in response to the send command.
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`25 As shown in Figure 2, the game server 4 includes a central game server engine IO which
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`communicates with a logging system 12, an incoming mail server 20, an email blocking
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`database 21, a player database 22, a game database 23, an advertiser database 24 and an
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`outgoing mail server 25.
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`30 When an incoming email 14 is sent from a game client (for example, player A or B), it is
`
`received by the incoming mail server 20. The whole email 14 is forwarded to the game
`
`Facebook's Exhibit No. 1004
`009
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`

`

`WOOl/31476
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`PCT/AU00/01320
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`- 9 -
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`server engine 10 to check the validity of the details contained within the email 14. If any
`
`part of the email 14 is invalid, corrupt or has otherwise been tampered with, it is rejected.
`
`The email 14 is then scanned to detect what type of request it contains. Valid requests
`
`include the following: a game move; a request for advertiser information; a request for
`
`5 help in playing a game; or a request for the latest version of a particular game.
`
`If the email 14 is a game move, the email will contain a packet including the address
`
`information of each player, as well as information relating to the move to be played, which
`
`of a number of games is to be played, the version number of that game held by the player
`
`10
`
`sending the email 14 and additional data relating to, for example, advertising or a
`
`questionnaire. The information in .the email 14 which relates to the game is called the game
`
`packet. The packet structure is described below.
`
`If the email 14 is a game move, the server engine IO checks the email blocking database 21
`
`15
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`to determine if either the sending email address or the receiver email address is valid.
`
`Email addresses are added to the blocking database 21 either by user request ( e.g. the user
`
`specifically requests not to be sent any game moves from prospective challengers), or the
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`server engine 10 will automatically add the user's email address if they are deemed to have
`
`abused the service, for example by sending too many game moves during a small period of
`time, either to multiple recipients, or to a single recipient. If the sending player's email
`
`20
`
`address is in the blocking database 21, he or she is not allowed to send emails through the
`game system, and the game packet will be rejected. If the receiving player's email address
`
`is in the blocking database 21, he or she is not allowed to receive emails from the game
`
`system, the received game packet is rejected and the sender is sent an email informing him
`
`25
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`or her of this action.
`
`If the email 14 is other than a requested game move, the game server engine will pass the
`
`request on to a system administrator for his or her personal attention. Alternatively, if the
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`email is invalid, this is communicated to the sender by the server engine 10.
`
`30
`
`Facebook's Exhibit No. 1004
`010
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`

`

`WO 01/31476
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`-10 -
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`Every action· th~ game server engine performs is recorded in the logging system 12 to
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`generate system measurement statistics and so that a system administrator can monitor the
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`system as a whole.
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`5
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`If the email 14 is valid and not blocked by the blocking database 21, the player database 22
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`is then queried to see if either the sender or the receiver of the packet has previously played
`
`a game using the system. Information stored in the player database 22 includes the player's
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`email address and questionnaire information, if they have completed one, and the version
`
`number of the game the player was last sent for each game they have taken part in. If either
`
`10 of the opposing players does not exist in there, he or she is added to the player database 22
`
`with default values for demographics and game tracking information. For example, the
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`tracking information may include which version of the game the player is running, the
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`number of games started by that player and the number of different opposing players they
`
`play with.
`
`15
`
`Once the player database 22 has been queried, the game database 23 is then queried to find
`
`the latest game version number that uses the received game packet. This is then matched
`with the information pulled from the player database 22. If the receiver was last sent an
`
`older version of the game, the latest (most recent) game is added to the game packet on an
`
`20
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`outgoing email 16. In this way, the system ensures that all users are always playing the
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`latest version of the game. The player database 22 is updated with the version number of
`
`the game sent to the receiver, if a new game was sent with the outgoing email 16.
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`Next, the advertiser database 24 is queried to find the currently available advertising
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`25
`
`options that can be included in the outgoing game packet. The server engine 10 will choose
`
`one advertising option based on the demographics information read from the player
`
`database and the structure of the player's email address, and then insert the selected
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`advertising information in the outgoing game packet. The advertising information may
`
`include, for example, text, graphics, sound, or other media, or a combination of these. The
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`30 game packet is then prepared for transmission by the server engine 10 and sent out via the
`
`outgoing mail server 25 to the designated opponent.
`
`Facebook's Exhibit No. 1004
`011
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`

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`WOOl/31476
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`PCT/AU00/01320
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`- 11 -
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`Figure 3 shows a game initiation process flow diagram as seen from the perspective of the
`
`game server 4. When a player initiates a game and sends the first move or turn request at
`
`step 300, the game server engine 10 checks the incoming email 14 at step 305 to see if the
`
`5 player has filled out a questionnaire. If so, the game server engine 10 then distributes the
`
`information in the questionnaire to the appropriate databases at step 310, for example the
`
`player database 22. The game server engine 10 checks the game packet at step 315 to
`
`confirm whether or not it is the first move to be played in the game and, if so, then checks
`
`at step 320 whether or not the intended opponent is listed in the player database 22. If the
`
`IO
`
`intended opponent is not listed, his or her email address will be added to the player
`
`database 22 at step 325, together with any other relevant information such as the player's
`
`alias. At step 330, the game server engine 10 will determine whether or not to attach a
`
`questionnaire to the game packet when sending it on to the intended recipient. The
`
`questionnaire may be sent out to players who have played a game using the system 2, for
`
`15
`
`example, 30 or 40 times. If the game server engine 10 determines that it is appropriate to
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`attach a questionnaire, it is attached as a data packet to the outgoing email 16 at step 335.
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`Next, the version of the game with which the packet is associated is checked at step 340
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`and the packet is converted to correspond to the latest version of the game, if necessary, at
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`step 345. Otherwise, the packet is sent to the intended recipient at step 360 in the outgoing
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`20
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`email 16. If the recipient was registered on the player database 22 at step 325, or if the
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`packet was converted at step 345, the packet is loaded with new advertising information at
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`step 350 and the packet is attached to the latest version of the game executable program at
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`step 355 and the outgoing email is sent to the intended recipient at step 360.
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`25 Figures 4 to 7 are interlocking flow diagrams (for example, "A" in Figure 4 connects to
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`"A" in Figure 5, and "C" in Figures 5 and 6 connect to "C" in Figure 7) which show the
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`process of the operation of the game from an overall system perspective. A prospective
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`player may obtain a copy of the game executable code either by receiving it with the first
`
`move from a challenging player (step 405), or by downloading it from a web site (step
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`30
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`400). These methods of obtaining the game are merely examples however, and should not
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`WOOl/31476
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`PCT/AU00/01320
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`- 12 -
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`be read as an exclusive list of the ways in which a player may initially receive a game
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`executable program.
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`Once a player has received a game at step 410 in Figure 4, he or she may execute the game
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`5
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`at step 415 by double clicking on a game icon (as an attachment to an email or as stored in
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`the computer system memory) or otherwise commanding the execution of the game
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`executable program. The game executable code and game packets are represented by
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`different, but associated, icons. The server engine 10 checks at step 420 whether the
`player playing the move has played any games using the system 2 before. If not, the game
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`10
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`is flagged at step 425 to ask for the player's details, such as email address and alias, before
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`sending off the move. If the player has played a game using the game system 2, then at
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`step 430 the server engine 10 checks whether the player has played the particular game
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`before. If not, then at step 435 the game register extension is installed in the user's system
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`registry (so as to associate game packets having that file name extension with that game).
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`15
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`If that game has been played before, then at step 440 the version of the game is checked for
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`currency. If the received game is a new version, the new game is written to memory in
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`place of the older version at step 450. If the player does not have a new version of the
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`game, the game will ask whether the player wishes to install the new version or not. If the
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`player chooses not to install the new version, the game will exit. Following steps 435 and
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`20
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`450, the game is flagged to have a packet attached thereto and the new game version
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`number is stored at step 455. Next, at step 460, the user's computer system (as instructed
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`by game software) checks whether a game packet is attached to the packet in which the
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`executable is contained, and if so, checks whether a move has been played at step 465. If
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`no move has been played, then at step 4 70 a game packet is loaded into dynamic memory
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`25
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`so as to be ready to be played and the move is flagged as an executable move. Generally,
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`after a game is run and has checked the version number and whether the player is a first(cid:173)
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`time player, the game then checks whether a game packet was attached to the end of the
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`packet which contained the executable. If there is no game packet or there is a game
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`packet and the move within the game packet has been played, the game continues as
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`30 normal (to step 500) and waits for the player to start a new game. If there is a game packet
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`attached to the executable, and the move has not been played, the game loads the packet ( at
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`013
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`- 13 -
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`step 470) from the end of the packet into memory. The game then sets a flag to indicate
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`that a move, which was attached to the executable packet, is waiting to be played. This
`
`allows the game to initiate a parsing sequence (described below) whenever required. For
`
`example, the game may indicate to the player on the title screen that there is a move
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`5 waiting to be played. The player then has the option of playing that move or starting a new
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`game. When the player finally sends a move after the game has set the executable move
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`flag at step 470, the flag will be removed.
`
`As shown in Figure 6, a game may be started at step 600 by playing a move which was
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`IO
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`stored in memory or received by email. Each game has a unique filename and associated
`
`extension for the relevant game packets. This means that if a player double-clicks on a
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`game packet, the game packet extension (recorded in the system's extension registry) will
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`dictate which game executable code the game packet is associated with and the code for
`
`that game will automatically be executed, thereby beginning the game. This is analogous
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`15
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`to, for example, launching a resident Microsoft Word application by double-clicking on a
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`file having a ".doc" file extension. If the game move is initiated by double clicking the
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`game packet at step 605, the game packet is loaded into memory at step 610, and at step
`620 the game checks if there is a game already in progress. If there is no other game
`
`running, the game continues as normal at step 655 and proceeds to step 500. If there is
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`20
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`already a game running, then the move data is sent to that game at step 635.
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`If a stored move (stored on disk or on the email server) is dragged onto the game at step
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`625, the game packet is loaded into dynamic memory reserved for the game executable at
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`step 630. Following steps 630 and 635, the game checks whethe