CN101933038A - Systems and methods for making targeted recommendations using a social gaming network - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for targeting a recommendation to a first user of an online multi-player gaming environment based on tracked data of a second user with which the first user has a relationship on the online multi-player gaming environment. In addition to the general system, methods and computer readable medium for such recommendations, the recommendations can be further refined by incorporating information about the first user, including how the user accesses the online multi-player gaming environment.

Description

Systems and methods for making targeted recommendations using a social gaming network

Background of the invention

服务(华盛顿州雷蒙德市，微软公司)等用于视频游戏的在线多玩家服务允许游戏者在世界的任何地点彼此一起玩游戏或进行对抗游戏。在线多玩家服务使用户能够在该游戏服务内彼此进行交互。such as XBOX

Services (Redmond, Wash., Microsoft Corporation) and other online multiplayer services for video games allow gamers to play with each other or against each other anywhere in the world. Online multiplayer services enable users to interact with each other within the gaming service.

E-commerce systems strive to connect users to items and/or services that may be of interest to the user. For example, an e-commerce system may present recommendations, suggestions, related items and/or services, etc. to a user. The user may also be shown contextual advertisements that are similar to the item or service being viewed.

These e-commerce systems generally make recommendations based on the user's purchase/view history, clustering of purchases made by other people on the site, recommendations made by strangers to the user, and the like. However, these traditional recommendation techniques do not take full advantage of the unique information available in the context of an online multiplayer game service that captures aspects of the natural social network formed within the online multiplayer game service. Techniques for targeted recommendation can be improved by fully exploiting this unique information about the relationships of like-minded users.

Summary of the invention

The disclosed methods and systems leverage the preferences of users in an online multiplayer gaming environment and the natural social network relationships among those users to provide recommendations, such as e-commerce recommendations. To illustrate, a first user and a second user may be connected to an online multiplayer gaming environment. Once connected, users can interact with the gaming environment and/or with each other within the gaming environment.

Activity indicative of a relationship between the first user and the second user can be tracked. The activity may be indicative of an interaction between the first user and the second user within the online multiplayer gaming environment. For example, a first user and a second user may play a game together, may friend each other within the gaming environment, may participate in a public online chat within the gaming environment, and the like. Users can transfer game data to each other, can play the same instance of the same game, can send text, audio, or video communications to each other, and so on.

E-commerce preferences of the second user may be received. The e-commerce preferences may be associated with products and/or services purchased and/or used by the second user. For example, the e-commerce preferences may be associated with games that the second user frequently plays in the gaming environment.

The recommendations for the first user may be determined using activity between the first and second users and the second user's e-commerce preferences. The recommendation may be sent to the first user in a format compatible with the first user's access device. For example, the access device may include a game console, and the recommendations may include links to recommended products, such as downloadable games within the gaming environment.

Because the first user and the second user may have established relationships within the natural social network of the online multiplayer gaming environment, they are more likely to share common interests, hobbies, beliefs, values, and the like. Therefore, recommendations based on the second user's preferences are more likely to be more relevant to the first user and more likely to be more effective in connecting the first user with desired products and/or services.

The foregoing is an overview, and thus simplifications, generalizations, and omissions of detail are necessarily included. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be limiting in any way.

Brief description of the drawings

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for making recommendations to users of online multiplayer gaming services via a computerized gaming environment based on user behavior and social networks in accordance with the present specification are further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

1 illustrates an example system for providing targeted recommendations to users based on use of a social online multiplayer gaming network.

2 illustrates an example system for providing targeted recommendations to users based on use of a social online multiplayer gaming network.

3 illustrates an example operational process for providing targeted recommendations to users based on use of a social online multiplayer gaming network.

4 is a block diagram of an exemplary computer network environment suitable for providing targeted recommendations to users based on use of a social online multiplayer gaming network.

5 is a block diagram illustrating an example game console that may be included in the computer network environment.

6 is a block diagram of an example computing environment that may be included in the computer network environment.

Figure 7 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of a processor.

Detailed Description of Illustrative Embodiments

Certain specific details are set forth in the following description and drawings to provide a thorough understanding of the various embodiments. Those of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that they can practice other embodiments without one or more of the details described below. Although various methods are described in the following disclosure with reference to steps and sequences, such description is to provide a clear implementation of the various embodiments of the invention and no step or sequence of steps should be considered necessary. 1, 2, and 4-7 illustrate operating environments in which various operating procedures may be performed. Figure 3 depicts an example operational process.

FIG. 1 illustrates using data in a social network within an online multiplayer gaming environment 100 to make recommendations 122 . The system includes a computing network 108 linking together a game server 102, an e-commerce server 104, a recommendation server 106, a first user's access device 112, and a second user's access device 116. Game server 102, e-commerce server 104, and recommendation server 106 may reside on one physical computing device or on multiple computing devices. Likewise, an online multiplayer gaming environment may include a single computing server or a plurality of such servers networked together.

Access devices 112 , 114 are computing devices that users 110 , 114 may use to connect to online multiplayer gaming environment 100 . This may include a dedicated video game console, a general purpose computer configured to play games online, a portable digital media player configured to play simple games, a cellular phone or personal data assistant configured to play simple games, and the like. By accessing the data 112, 116, the users 110, 114 are able to access the online multiplayer gaming environment 100 and can participate in activities thereon.

Online multiplayer gaming environment 100 is an environment that includes services that enable users to interact with each other. For example, a user may play a game with or against another user, chat (real-time and asynchronously) with another user via audio, video, and text, post to a message board, watch audio or video, and otherwise participate in the game. Services provided by the service. As a result of user interactions via the environment, a social network may be formed. A social network is a social structure composed of nodes (usually individuals or organizations) bound by one or more interdependencies of a particular type, such as values, insights, ideas, financial transactions, friends, relatives Relationships, dislikes, conflicts, trade, and web links, etc. These network connections can be explicit, such as when two users add each other to a "friends" list maintained by the server, or implicit, such as when two users post to the same message board but do not explicitly when directing their messages to each other.

One component of an online multiplayer gaming environment may be an e-commerce server 104 . This provides functionality that allows users to search for, learn about, and purchase items. Items can be entire games, additional content to games such as new maps to play, video content, music, etc. The functionality to purchase items includes the functionality to interface with a financial institution to transfer funds to pay for the purchase. The e-commerce server may be a web server separate from the online multiplayer gaming environment.

Another component of an online multiplayer gaming environment may be a game server 102 . This game server can allow users to find other users playing the same game, create instances of the game with each other, and allow the game to be played together. The game server also keeps track of things such as a user's high score, the best user in a game, league games, and records of one user playing against another. In one embodiment, the game server helps users find other users to play the game with, launches the game according to selected parameters, and then monitors all communications between players as the game takes place. In another embodiment, the game server helps the user find other users to play the game with, launches the game according to selected parameters, and then the user communicates during game play independently of the game server.

The e-commerce activity or preferences of the second user may include items the second user has searched for, items the second user has viewed details of, items the second user has rated, items the second user has reviewed, and Items purchased by the user. Data indicative of the first user's online activity may include games played by the first user, videos watched by the first user, content purchased by the first user, services used by the first user, and preferred languages of the first user. Data indicative of the second user's preferences may include games played by the second user, videos watched by the second user, content purchased by the second user, services used by the second user, and preferred languages of the second user.

The recommendation server 106 may take the data 118 extracted from the first user's access device 112 indicative of the first user's online activity and the data 120 extracted from the second user's access device 116 indicative of the second user's preferences to determine what is subsequently recommended. A recommendation 112 is sent to the first user. The recommendation server takes this data and determines therefrom recommendations including items offered by the service that may be of interest to the first user. The recommendations may include friends to add to friend list, videos to watch, songs to listen to, games to play, contests to enter, groups to subscribe to, and opponents to play against. For example, the recommendation server can obtain the friend list of the first user and the data that many users on the friend list have downloaded the new game to make a recommendation of the new game to the first user.

2 illustrates an example system for providing targeted recommendations to users based on use of a social online multiplayer gaming environment. The recommendation server 200 can be implemented on a general-purpose computing device, or on multiple general-purpose computing devices networked together. The server may include memory storing first data of activity of the first user while using the online multiplayer gaming environment. The data may indicate a relationship between the first user and the second user. The memory may also store second data indicative of preferences of the second user. The server may also include a processor operable to determine a recommendation based on the first data and the second data and send the recommendation to the first user.

Along with the recommendation server 200 exists a two-way communication link with the first user's access device 202, which may be a component of an online multiplayer gaming environment. Such devices may include game consoles, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, general purpose computers, and portable digital music players capable of playing simple games.

While interacting with the online multiplayer gaming environment, users will communicate behavioral data collected by behavioral data collection component 204 . This behavioral data may be overall information communicated to the environment by the first user, such as which parts of the environment the user viewed, which videos the user watched, and which games the user played. The behavior data may also be e-commerce behavior.

The behavioral data is then sent from the behavioral data collection component to the behavioral data cleansing and aggregation component 206 . This component can determine which part of the data is valuable for making recommendations and pass only that data. For example, in one embodiment, knowing how much time a user spent viewing a particular part of the environment is not useful for making recommendations, only that the user viewed that particular part. In this case, the Behavioral Data Cleansing and Aggregation component can pass from this data information about which sections the user viewed, but not the time the user spent viewing each section.

The behavioral data cleansing and aggregation component then sends the cleansed data to the data analysis and inference engine 214 . The engine uses this information along with information from the user database 208, item database 210, and game database to assign a relative weight to each item in the item database, where the relative weight indicates the likelihood that the item will be of interest to the first user. User database 208 may include a collection of users, recording which users have a relationship with a first user and the nature of that relationship, as well as each user's preferences with respect to items. The item database 210 may include a collection of items provided by the recommendation server, such as games, videos, songs, users to be friends with, and supplemental content for the game, and information describing each item, such as title, descriptive text, and preview. The game database can include a list of games that can be played on the online multiplayer gaming environment, and also include games that can be downloaded to the access device and played independently of the environment.

Data analysis and inference engine 214 then sends its weighted results to recommendation component 216 . The recommendation component takes this information, along with the user database 208 , item database 210 , and game database 212 , and can use this information to determine recommended items to return to the first user via the first user access device 202 . In one embodiment, the recommendation component can return to the first user the items that the first user is most likely to need. In another embodiment, the recommendation component may return to the first user a plurality of items including those items that may be of interest to the user. For example, a recommendation may include a link to purchase the item, descriptive text about the item, a title for the item, a preview of the item, a review for the item, and the item itself (where appropriate).

3 illustrates an example operational flow for providing targeted recommendations to users based on usage of a social online multiplayer gaming network. Those skilled in the art will note that the disclosed processes are illustrative and different implementations are contemplated.

At 300, the process flow begins. The process may be triggered, for example, in response to determining that the first user is using the online multiplayer gaming service.

At 302, activities of a first user within an online multiplayer gaming environment can be tracked. This activity may include logging into the online multiplayer gaming environment to select aspects of the game to play, such as game maps and/or levels to play. The activity may include choosing to modify features of the game, such as music, game options, difficulty levels, and the like. The activity may include the act of interacting with other users of the online multiplayer gaming environment. For example, the activity may include online chatting, collaborative gaming, message posting, and the like.

The activity may indicate a relationship between the first user and the second user. For example, a first user and a second user may play games with each other in an online tournament. The first and second users can chat with each other. The first and second users may jointly play the game with other users. The first and second users may have similar game options and/or difficulty levels. The first and second users may be part of the same online group or team.

In an embodiment, the activity may include playing a game that the first and second users play together or against each other. The activity may include direct audio, video and text communication between the first user and the second user. The activity may include interactions with mutual friends. The activity may include presenting videos, music, message boards, etc. shared by both the first user and the second user.

Tracking can include storing data about the activity in a database. The storing may include filtering data about the activity such that the data is indicative of an interaction between the first user and the second user.

The interaction between the first user and the second user may include explicit interaction. For example, the two users can add each other to their respective friend lists, can play games together or against each other, can post to the same thread on a message board, and/or can talk to each other directly, such as via instant messaging, Audio, and/or video chat. The interaction between the first user and the second user may also be an implicit relationship. For example, they may share mutual friends, play the same game, watch the same video, log in from the same time zone, share a default language preference, or rate something the same.

Interactions between a first user and a second can happen in real-time, such as during an audio or video chat session or while playing a game together, or asynchronously, such as when the first user posts to a message board while the second user is not using the environment And when the second user responds later on the message board while the first user is not using the environment.

At 304, first data indicative of preferences of the second user may be received, eg, at a recommendation engine. In one embodiment, the first data includes games played by the second user, videos watched by the second user, content purchased by the second user, services used by the second user, and preferred language of the second user. In addition, the preferences of the second user may also include the second user's game activities within the game environment, the second user's e-commerce activities within the game environment, the second user's e-commerce activities outside the game environment, and the second user's e-commerce activities in the game environment. A preference expressed by any of the social activities within the environment.

The second user's preferences may be explicit. Such explicit preferences may include answering surveys, rating products, message board postings, videos, games or users, or voting for or against something in a poll. The second user's preferences may also be implicit. Such implicit preferences may include playing certain games, playing certain games often, viewing content, and spending most of the time in certain parts of the environment.

The second user's preferences may originate in the gaming system. Such preferences originating from the gaming system may include downloading game maps, playing against specific users, and playing games. The second user's preferences may also originate outside the gaming system. Such preferences originating outside of the gaming system may include searching for and purchasing products from e-commerce sites.

At 306, a recommendation based on the first data and activity can be determined. Recommendations may suggest a series of actions to the first user. For example, the recommendation may recommend friends to add to a friend list, games to play, contests to enter, groups to subscribe to, and opponents to play against.

The online multiplayer gaming environment can determine a number of recommendations applicable to the first user. The recommendations presented to the user may be selected as the most relevant of the determined recommendations.

In an embodiment, determining the recommendation may include receiving data indicative of the first user's preferences and basing the recommendation on the first user's preferences. The first user's preferences can help provide better results, as in the case where the first user shows a strong preference not to get new game maps for games owned by the user.

Furthermore, in an embodiment, recommendations may be determined, i.e., based on characteristics of the first user's social network, behavior of a third user connected to the first user via the second user, characteristics of the first user's gaming environment, etc. Any one of them to determine the recommendation. Additional data about the first user can help provide better results.

The recommendation may be determined based on communication capabilities of an access device associated with the first user. Access devices can include game consoles, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, general purpose computers, and portable digital music players. For example, where the first user is using a portable digital music player with the ability to play simple games, it would be preferable to make a recommendation of a song or a simple game (things that can be used with the portable digital music player).

In an embodiment, the recommendation may include a suggestion for a series of actions for the first user. This sequence of actions may be visiting a message board with content that may be of interest to the first user, or using the service at a particular time, such as when a game is played frequently by users with a similar level of proficiency in the game.

In an embodiment, determining the recommendation may be based on any of characteristics of the first user's social network, behavior of a third user connected to the first user via the second user, and characteristics of the first user's gaming environment.

In one embodiment, determining the recommendation includes determining the recommendation based on characteristics of the second user's social network. Characteristics of the second user's social network may include a number of friends associated with the second user, feedback about the second user from other users, behavior of the second user's friends, and behavior of friends of friends of the second user any of the

In one embodiment, this operation also includes receiving a request for a recommendation from the first user. The first user may click on a link indicating which maps the user would like to see recommended to the user, or while viewing such a map may click on a link to display similar maps that the user may like. In both cases, such action includes a request by the first user to receive a recommendation, sent to the online multiplayer gaming environment.

The recommendation system may use an information filtering algorithm to determine recommendations based on the activity and the first data about the second user's preferences. Information filtering algorithms may include collaborative filtering methods that coordinate multiple inputs from multiple sources to formulate recommendations. For example, the information filtering algorithm may be a slope-one algorithm.

At 308, the recommendation can be sent to the first user. The recommendation may include a descriptive object. The descriptive object may be selected to be compatible with the communication capabilities of the first user's access device. For example, the descriptive object may include the recommendation's descriptive text, price, title, length, image, a preview of the recommendation, a rating of the recommendation's quality level, a rating of the recommendation's age-appropriateness, etc.

The recommendation may include additional content. For example, when recommending a song, a short sample of the song may be included in the recommendation. The recommendation may also include text describing the song, genre information, artist information, the song title, a photo of the artist, or the album the song was taken from, the length of the song, a sample of the accompanying music video for the song, and other such A descriptive object for information.

The descriptive object may be selected based on the compatibility of the first user's access device. For example, the first user's access devices may include game consoles, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, general purpose computers, and portable digital music players. To illustrate, where the first user is using a portable digital music player that has the capability to play audio files, the descriptive object may include audio information. Similarly, where the first user's access device has limited communication bandwidth, the selected descriptive object may have a complementary small storage size. In an embodiment, the recommendation may be sent to the first user in response to a request for a recommendation from the first user. The first user may not wish to receive unsolicited recommendations, but may welcome recommendations when he or she initiates the process.

In an embodiment, recommendations may include links to products. For example, the link may be a hyperlink according to Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Extensible Markup Language (XML), or the like. The link may facilitate purchasing products and/or services based on the recommendation.

4 is a diagram of an example computer network that can include aspects of media reliability. Computers 400a-400e may host various computing objects such as games or other applications. Although the physical environment shows the connected device as a computer, this illustration is for explanatory purposes only and may include various digital devices and processors, such as PDAs, game consoles, cell phones, and the like. In addition, the communication network 460 itself may include a plurality of computers, servers, network devices such as routers, and the like.

A variety of systems, components, and network configurations exist that support distributed computing environments. For example, computing systems may be connected together by wired or wireless systems, local networks, or widely distributed networks. Currently, many such networks are coupled to the Internet, which provides the infrastructure for widely distributed computing and spans many different networks. Aspects of the various embodiments may be used to distribute computer readable instructions, code segments, application programs, etc. to various distributed computing devices.

连网服务。微软

控制台支持到被称为Xbox的服务的家庭网络连接。Xbox

是微软开发的使得

游戏系统能够与其他

用户通过因特网或其他网络一起游戏或进行对抗游戏的在线网络。该服务允许玩家口头地进行通信，维护记分牌等。该连接允许多玩家因特网联系。An example of a known network configuration is the Microsoft

Internet service. Microsoft

console support to be called Xbox service's home network connection. xbox

was developed by Microsoft so that

Gaming systems can interact with other

An online network where users play together or against each other over the Internet or other network. The service allows players to communicate verbally, maintain scoreboards, and more. This connection allows for multiplayer Internet connection.

The network infrastructure enables various network topologies, such as client/server, peer-to-peer, or hybrid architectures. A client is a member of a class or group that uses the services of another unrelated class or group. Thus, in computing, a client can be a process (ie, a set of instructions or tasks) that requests a service provided by another program. A client process can use a requested service without knowing any working details about another program or the service itself. In client/server architectures, especially networked systems, a client is typically a computer that accesses shared network resources provided by another computer (ie, a server). A server can be a remote computer system accessible through a remote network such as the Internet. A client process, which can be active in a first computer system, and a server process, which can be active in a second computer system, communicate with each other through a communications medium, thereby providing distributed functionality and allowing multiple clients to utilize the information gathering capabilities of the server.

Clients and servers can communicate with each other using the functions provided by the protocol layers. For example, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is a common protocol used in connection with the World Wide Web (WWW). Computer network addresses, such as Uniform Resource Locators (URL) or Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, can be used to identify server or client computers to each other. Communication between computing devices may be provided over a communications medium. In particular, a client and server may be operatively coupled to each other via a TCP/IP connection for high volume communication.

Generally, a computer network can include both server devices and client devices (in a peer-to-peer environment a device can be both a client and a server) deployed in a network environment. Communications network 460 may be a LAN, WAN, intranet, or the Internet, or any combination thereof, that facilitates communications between multiple computing devices 400a-400e. Additionally, communication network 460 may include wireless, wired, or a combination of wireless and wired connections. Additionally, a computer network may include a distributed computing environment. In such an environment, computing tasks may be spread across multiple computing devices that are addressable elements in a computer network.

According to an embodiment, the communication network 460 may host a web service 450 accessible from a plurality of computers 400a-400e. Web service 450 may collect information and track users of computers 400a - 400e to provide computing services to users of service 450 .

游戏控制台。游戏控制台500所播放或读取的媒体内容可包括但不限于游戏内容和诸如电影内容、音乐内容、音频内容、视频内容、视频会议内容、和/或数字视频盘(DVD)内容等非游戏内容。游戏内容还可包括例如涉及车辆、人物、武器、符咒、等级、更新统计的数据和媒体，或游戏控制台的用户/玩家一般知道的适用于要在游戏控制台上玩的任何具体游戏的其他可用图形显示的或游戏可使用的信息。媒体内容可包括可任选地与非游戏内容相组合的任何游戏内容。5 is a block diagram of an example game console that may implement the above techniques. Processor 500 is a type of computing device or system in general and is an example of a computing device or system that may be used with these techniques. In this example scenario, processor 500 includes a game console such as

game console. The media content played or read by game console 500 may include, but is not limited to, game content and non-game content such as movie content, music content, audio content, video content, video conferencing content, and/or digital video disk (DVD) content. content. Game content may also include, for example, data and media relating to vehicles, characters, weapons, spells, levels, updated stats, or other information generally known to users/players of the game console as applicable to any particular game to be played on the game console. Information that may be displayed graphically or that may be used by the game. Media content may include any gaming content that may optionally be combined with non-gaming content.

Game console 500 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 501 having a level 1 (L1) cache 502, a level 2 (L2) cache 504, and a flash ROM (read only memory) 506. The level 1 cache 502 and the level 2 Cache 504 temporarily stores data and thus reduces the number of memory access cycles, thereby increasing processing speed and throughput. Flash ROM 506 may store executable code that is loaded during the initial stages of the boot process when game console 500 is initially powered on. Alternatively, the executable code loaded during the initial boot phase may be stored in a flash memory device (not shown). Also, the ROM 506 can be located separately from the CPU 501. Optionally, game console 500 may be a multiprocessor system; for example, game console 500 may have three processors 501, 503, and 505, where processors 503 and 505 have similar or identical components to processor 501 .

Graphics processing unit (GPU) 508 and video encoder/video codec (encoder/decoder) 514 form a video processing pipeline for high-speed, high-resolution graphics processing. Data is conveyed from the graphics processing unit 508 to the video encoder/video codec 514 via a bus. The video processing pipeline outputs data to A/V (audio/video) port 540 for transmission to a television or other display device. A memory controller 510 is connected to the GPU 508 and CPU 501 to facilitate processor access to various types of memory 512, such as but not limited to RAM (Random Access Memory).

The processor 500 may include an I/O controller 520, a system management controller 522, an audio processing unit 523, a network interface controller 524, a first USB host controller 526, a second USB controller 528, which may be implemented on module 518 and front panel I/O assembly 530. USB controllers 526 and 528 serve as hosts for peripheral controllers 542(1)-842(2), wireless adapter 548, and external memory unit 546 (e.g., flash memory, external CD/DVD ROM drive, removable media, etc.) . Network interface 524 and/or wireless adapter 548 provide access to a network (e.g., the Internet, a home network, etc.) and can be any of a variety of different wired or wireless interface components, including Ethernet cards, modems, Bluetooth modules, cable modems etc.

System memory 543 may store application data loaded during the boot process. Media drives 544 may include DVD/CD drives, hard drives, or other removable media drives, among others. Media drive 544 may be built into or external to game console 500 . When the media drive 544 is a drive or reader for removable media, such as a removable optical disk or a flash cartridge, etc., the media drive 544 is an example of an interface on which (or in) the media may be mounted for reading. Media driver 544 may access application data 544 for execution, playback, etc. by game console 500 . Media drive 544 may be connected to I/O controller 520 via a bus such as a Serial ATA bus or other high-speed connection (eg, IEEE1394). While media drive 544 may generally refer to various storage embodiments (e.g., hard disk, removable optical drive, etc.), game console 500 may specifically include hard disk 552, which may be used to store game data, application data, or other types of storage. data.

System management controller 522 may provide various service functions related to ensuring the availability of game console 500 . Audio processing unit 523 and audio codec 532 may form corresponding audio processing pipelines with high fidelity, 3D, surround and stereo audio processing in accordance with aspects of the inventive subject matter described herein. A communication link may carry audio data between the audio processing unit 523 and the audio codec 526 . The audio processing pipeline outputs data to A/V port 540 for reproduction by an external audio player or audio capable device.

Front panel I/O assembly 530 supports the functionality of power button 550 and eject button 552 and any LEDs (light emitting diodes) or other indicators exposed on the outer surface of game console 500 . The system power module 536 may provide power to various components of the game console 500 . Fan 538 may cool the circuitry within game console 500 .

The interconnection between CPU 501, GPU 508, memory controller 510, and various other components within game console 500 may be via one or more buses, including serial and parallel buses, memory buses, peripheral buses, and using various A processor or local bus of any of these bus architectures.

Application data may be loaded from system memory 543 into memory 512 and/or caches 502, 504 and executed on CPU 501 when game console 500 is powered on or rebooted. The application can present a graphical user interface that provides a consistent user experience when navigating to the different media types available on the game console 500 . In operation, applications and/or other media contained in media drive 544 may be launched or played from media drive 544 to provide additional functionality to game console 500 .

Game console 500 can be operated as a standalone system by simply connecting the system to a television or other display. In the standalone mode, game console 500 may allow one or more users to interact with the system, watch movies, listen to music, and so on. However, with the integration of a broadband connection, which may be made available through network interface 524 or wireless adapter 548, game console 500 may also operate as a participant in a larger online community.

Computer systems can be broadly divided into three component groups: hardware components, hardware/software interface system components, and application program components (also referred to as "user components" or "software components"). In various embodiments of a computer system, hardware components may include a central processing unit (CPU) 521; memory (both ROM 564 and RAM 525); basic input/output system (BIOS) 566; Various input/output (I/O) devices such as a monitor 547 and/or a printer (not shown). Hardware components include the basic physical infrastructure of a computer system.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary system for implementing aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter, including a general-purpose computing device in the form of a computer 641 . Components of computer 641 may include, but are not limited to, processing unit 659, system memory 622, graphics processing unit 629 (and graphics interface 631), video memory 630 (and video interface 632), and various system memory components that will include system memory 622. Components are coupled to system bus 621 of processing unit 659 . System bus 621 can be any of several types of bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus (also called Mezzanine bus).

Computer 641 typically includes various computer-readable media. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by computer 641 and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media include, but are not limited to, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other storage technologies, CD-ROM, digital versatile disk ( DVD) or other optical disk storage, cassette tape, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used to store the desired information and can be accessed by the computer 641.

Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term "modulated data signal" means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer readable media.

System memory 622 includes computer storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory, such as read only memory (ROM) 623 and random access memory (RAM) 660 . The basic input/output system 624 (BIOS), which includes the basic routines that help transfer information between elements within the computer 641, such as at start-up, is typically stored in ROM 623. RAM 660 typically contains data and/or program modules that processing unit 659 can immediately access and/or is currently operating on. By way of example and not limitation, FIG. 6 shows operating system 625 , application programs 626 , other program modules 627 , and program data 628 .

Computer 641 may also include other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only, FIG. 6 shows a hard disk drive 638 for reading and writing to non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media, a magnetic disk drive 639 for reading and writing to removable, non-volatile magnetic disk 654, and an An optical disc drive 640 for reading and writing a removable, non-volatile optical disc 653 such as other optical media. Other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media that may be used in the exemplary operating environment include, but are not limited to, magnetic tape cartridges, flash memory cards, digital versatile disks, digital video tapes, solid-state RAM, solid-state ROM and so on. Hard disk drive 638 is typically connected to system bus 621 by a non-removable memory interface, such as interface 634 , and magnetic disk drive 639 and optical disk drive 640 are typically connected to system bus 621 by a removable memory interface, such as interface 635 .

The drives and their associated computer storage media, discussed above and illustrated in FIG. 6 , provide storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computer 641 . In FIG. 6 , for example, hard drive 638 is shown storing operating system 658 , application programs 657 , other program modules 656 , and program data 655 . Note that these components may or may not be the same as operating system 625 , application programs 626 , other program modules 627 , and program data 628 . Operating system 658, application programs 657, other program modules 656 and program data 655 are here labeled differently to illustrate at least that they are different copies. A user may enter commands and information into the computer 641 through input devices such as a keyboard 651 and pointing device 652 (commonly referred to as a mouse, trackball or touch pad). Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, and the like. These and other input devices are typically connected to the processing unit 659 by a user input interface 636 coupled to the system bus, but may also be connected by other interfaces and bus structures, such as parallel ports, game ports or universal serial bus (USB). A monitor 642 or other type of display device is also connected to system bus 621 via an interface, such as video interface 632 . In addition to the monitor, the computer may also include other peripheral output devices, such as speakers 644 and a printer 643 , which may be connected through the output peripheral interface 633 .

Computer 641 may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as remote computer 646 . Remote computer 646 may be a personal computer, server, router, network PC, peer-to-peer device, or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above with respect to computer 641, although only memory storage device647. The logical connections shown in Figure 6 include a local area network (LAN) 645 and a wide area network (WAN) 649, but other networks may also be included. Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 641 is connected to the LAN 645 through a network interface or adapter 637. When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 641 typically includes a modem 650 or other means for establishing communications over the WAN 649, such as the Internet. Modem 650, which may be internal or external, may be connected to system bus 621 via user input interface 636 or other suitable mechanism. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer 641, or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. By way of example and not limitation, FIG. 6 shows remote application 648 residing on memory device 647 . It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers may be used.

It should be understood that the various techniques described herein may be implemented in combination with hardware or software, or a combination of both as appropriate. Accordingly, the methods and apparatus of the presently disclosed subject matter, or specific aspects or portions thereof, may take the form of program code (i.e., instructions) embodied on a tangible medium, such as a floppy disk, CD-ROM, hard drive, or any other machine-readable storage medium. form, where when the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine such as a computer, the machine becomes a means for carrying out the presently disclosed subject matter. In the case of program code execution on programmable computers, the computing device generally includes a processor, a storage medium readable by the processor (including volatile and non-volatile memory and/or storage elements), at least one input device , and at least one output device. One or more programs may implement or utilize the processes described in connection with the presently disclosed subject matter, eg, through the use of APIs, reusable controls, and the like. Such programs are preferably implemented in a high-level procedural or object-oriented programming language to communicate with the computer system. However, the program can be implemented in assembly or machine language, if desired. In any case, the language may be a compiled or interpreted language and may be combined with hardware implementations.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example system for providing targeted recommendations to users based on the use of a social online multiplayer gaming environment 700 . In one embodiment, the first user accesses the environment via the first user's access device 702 . Such a device may include a game-enabled e-commerce or advertising client, a dedicated gaming device, or a game-enabled music or other device interface. Data communicated during this interaction of the first user with the environment is captured and stored by the environment's behavioral data collection component 704 . This data is then sent to the Behavioral Data Cleansing and Aggregation component 706, which filters out information that is not necessary for the process of determining recommendations, sends it to the correct database (User Database 708, Item Database 710, and Game Database), and Aggregate it to the level necessary for proper processing.

Subsequently, the data analysis and inference engine 714 takes information about the items contained in the item database 710 and information gathered from the behavior of the first user and related to the first user, his or her friends, and his or her social network existing information. This data analysis and inference engine 714 determines the best recommendation for the first user among all relevant items in the item database 710 given his or her past behavior and the behavior of his or her friends in his social network . For example, if all of the first user's friends have purchased an additional map for a particular game and the first user has not, the first user is more likely to purchase the map than he or she is to purchase one that no one in his or her network is interested in. The probability of the project is higher.

The recommendation component 716 takes the calculated relevance of each recommendable item from the data analysis and inference engine 714 and combines it with data from the user database 708, item database 710, and game database 712 to determine which items to send to. The first user's recommendation. In one embodiment, this recommendation is the one determined to be most helpful to the user. Metadata related to the recommendation can be sent along with the recommendation. For example, where the recommendation is a song, an image of the artist or album associated with the song, along with text covering the song title, artist name, album title, song length, similar artists, and description of the song can be used with Sent along with a link to purchase the item. This recommendation is then returned to the first user.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an example processor 700 that implements the systems and methods disclosed herein. Processor 700 includes a processing portion 702 , a memory portion 704 and an input/output portion 706 . Coupling together processing portion 702, memory portion 704, and input/output portion 706 (coupling not shown in FIG. 7) may allow communication therebetween. As noted above, input/output portion 706 can provide and/or receive content over a network.

Processor 700 may be implemented as a client processor and/or a server processor. In a basic configuration, the processor 700 may include at least one processing part 702 and a memory part 704 . Memory portion 704 may store any information used in connection with media reliability. Depending on the exact configuration and type of processor, memory portion 704 may be volatile (eg, RAM) 708, non-volatile (eg, ROM, flash memory, etc.) 710, or a combination thereof. Processor 700 may include removable storage 712 and non-removable storage 714 including, but not limited to, magnetic or optical disks, tape, flash memory, smart cards, and the like. Computer storage media, such as memory portions 704, 708, 710, 712, and 714, may include volatile and memory devices implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Non-volatile, removable and non-removable media. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disk (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic tape cartridges, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, A universal serial bus (USB) compatible memory, a smart card, or any other medium that can be used to store the required information and that can be accessed by the processor 700 . Any such computer storage media may be part of processor 700 .

Processor 700 may also contain a communication connection 720 that allows processor 700 to communicate with other devices. Communication connection 720 is one example of a communication medium. Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. A "modulated data signal" consists of a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency, infrared and other wireless media. The term "computer readable medium" as used herein may include both storage media and communication media. The processor 700 may also have an input device 718 such as a keyboard, mouse, pen, voice input device, touch input device, and the like. Output devices 716 such as a display, speakers, printer, etc. may also be included.

Claims (15)

1. one kind with first user of the online multi-player gaming environment method as the target of recommending, and described method is characterised in that:

Follow the tracks of the activity of described first user (110) in online multi-player gaming environment (100), the relation between wherein said activity (118) described first user of indication and second user (114);

Receive first data (120) of described second user's of indication preference;

Determine to recommend based on described first data and described activity;

Described recommendation (122) is sent to described first user.

2. the method for claim 1 is characterized in that, determines to recommend to comprise based on described first data and described activity described recommendation is defined as associated recommendation in a plurality of recommendations.

3. the method for claim 1 is characterized in that, follow the tracks of described activity comprise with about the data storage of described activity in database (208).

4. method as claimed in claim 3 is characterized in that, also comprise filtration about the data of described activity so that described data are indicated mutual between described first user and described second user.

5. the method for claim 1, it is characterized in that described first data comprise any in the recreation that described second user plays, the video that described second user watches, content that described second user buys, service that described second user uses and described second user's the Preferred Language.

6. the method for claim 1 is characterized in that, described recommendation comprise be chosen to be with described first user for the compatible mutually descriptive object of the communication capacity of the access means of described online multi-player gaming environment.

7. method as claimed in claim 6 is characterized in that, described access means (202) comprises any in game console, cell phone, personal digital assistant, multi-purpose computer and the portable digital music player.

8. the method for claim 1 is characterized in that, recommends to advise a series of actions to described first user.

9. the method for claim 1 is characterized in that, described recommendation comprise the friend that will add list of friends to, the recreation that will play, the contest that will participate in, the group that will subscribe to and to resist among the adversary of recreation at least any one.

10. the method for claim 1 is characterized in that, also comprises the request of reception to described recommendation.

11. the method for claim 1 is characterized in that, also comprises second data of the preference that receives described first user of indication; And

Determine described recommendation based on described second data.

12. the method for claim 1, it is characterized in that, described first data comprise e-commerce initiative in described game environment of the ludic activity of described second user in described game environment, described second user, described second user outside described game environment e-commerce initiative and any in the doings of described second user in described environment.

13. the method for claim 1, it is characterized in that, determine described recommendation comprise feature based on described first user's social networks, be connected to via described second user in described first user's the 3rd user's behavior and described first user's the feature of game environment any determine described recommendation.

14. the method for claim 1 is characterized in that, determines that described recommendation comprises based on the feature of described second user's social networks to determine described recommendation.

15. one kind is used for the system as the target of recommending with first user of online multi-player gaming environment, described system is characterised in that:

Storer (512), described storer is used for storage described first user of indication (110) in first data of the activity of described online multi-player gaming environment (110) and second data (120) of described first user's of indication preference, the relation between wherein said movable indication described first user (110) and second user (114); And

Processor (510), described processor is used for determining to recommend (122) and described recommendation being sent to described first user (110) based on described first data and described second data, wherein said processor filters described first data so that described first data are indicated mutual between described first user (110) and described second user (114), and wherein said recommendation (122) is advised a series of actions to described first user.

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