Dynamic player management

Abstract

The present invention relates to a application that is configured to be operated in a multi-participant environment on a computer network. The application manages participants in an online session of a multi-user application so that if one of the participants exits the session, the session can continue without interruption. The application initiates an online session of the multi-user application, wherein the online session includes two or more participants comprised of network computers that are communicatively linked to a computer network. If the application detects that a first participant has disconnected from the online session, wherein the first participant is responsible for managing certain managerial functionality associated with the running of the multi-user application, then the application broadcasts a notification to existing participants of the online session over the communication network, thereby notifying the existing participants that the first participant has disconnected from the online session. The initiating application then re-assigns the functionality associated with the first participant to an existing participant of the online session. The participants can be communicating in a peer-to-peer arrangement or can be performing server duties in a client-server arrangement.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of managing participants in an online session of a multi-user application, comprising: 
 initiating an online session of the multi-user application, the online session including two or more participants comprised of network computers that are communicatively linked to a computer network;    detecting that a first participant has disconnected from the online session, wherein the first participant is responsible for managing certain managerial functionality associated with the running of the multi-user application;    broadcasting a notification to existing participants of the online session over the communication network, thereby notifying the existing participants that the first participant has disconnected from the online session;    re-assigning the functionality associated with the first participant to an existing participant of the online session.    
     
     
         2 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , additionally comprising obtaining a new participant to replace the existing participant.  
     
     
         3 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the new participant is human-controlled.  
     
     
         4 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the new participant is network computer-controlled.  
     
     
         5 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the multi-user application is a gaming application, and wherein the managerial functionality comprises scorekeeping.  
     
     
         6 . A method of managing participants in an online session of a multi-user application, comprising: 
 initiating an online session of the multi-user application, the online session including two or more participants comprised of network computers that are communicatively linked to a computer network;    detecting that a first participant has disconnected from the online session;    broadcasting a participant-disconnect notification to existing participants of the online session over the communication network, thereby notifying the existing participants that the first participant has disconnected from the online session;    obtaining a new participant to replace the first participant that exited the online session.    
     
     
         7 . A method as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the first participant is responsible for managing certain managerial functionality associated with the running of the multi-user application, and additionally comprising re-assigning the functionality associated with the first participant to another participant of the online session.  
     
     
         8 . A method as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the functionality associated with the first participant to another participant of the online session is re-assigned to the new participant.  
     
     
         9 . A method as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the new participant is human-controlled.  
     
     
         10 . A method as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the new participant is network computer-controlled.  
     
     
         11 . A method as defined in  claim 7 , additionally comprising re-assigning the functionality associated with the first participant to another participant of the online session based on the communication environment of the existing participants.  
     
     
         12 . A method as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the functionality associated with the first participant to another participant of the online session is randomly reassigned to another participant.  
     
     
         13 . A system that manages participants in an online session of a multi-user application, the system comprising one or more processors that execute program instructions and receive a data set, and: 
 initiate an online session of the multi-user application, the online session including two or more participants comprised of network computers that are communicatively linked to a computer network;    detect that a first participant has disconnected from the online session, wherein the first participant is responsible for managing certain managerial functionality associated with the running of the multi-user application;    broadcast a notification to existing participants of the online session over the communication network, thereby notifying the existing participants that the first participant has disconnected from the online session;    re-assign the functionality associated with the first participant to an existing participant of the online session.    
     
     
         14 . A system as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the processors further execute program instructions to obtain a new participant to replace the existing participant.  
     
     
         15 . A system as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the new participant is human-controlled.  
     
     
         16 . A system as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the new participant is network computer-controlled.  
     
     
         17 . A system as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the multi-user application is a gaming application, and wherein the managerial functionality comprises scorekeeping.  
     
     
         18 . A program product for use in a computer system that executes program steps recorded in a computer-readable media to perform a method for managing participants in an online session of a multi-user application the program product, wherein the program steps comprise: 
 initiating an online session of the multi-user application, the online session including two or more participants comprised of network computers that are communicatively linked to a computer network;    detecting that a first participant has disconnected from the online session, wherein the first participant is responsible for managing certain managerial functionality associated with the running of the multi-user application;    broadcasting a notification to existing participants of the online session over the communication network, thereby notifying the existing participants that the first participant has disconnected from the online session;    re-assigning the functionality associated with the first participant to an existing participant of the online session.    
     
     
         19 . A program product as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the program steps further comprise comprising obtaining a new participant to replace the existing participant.  
     
     
         20 . A program product as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the new participant is human-controlled.  
     
     
         21 . A program product as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the new participant is network computer-controlled.  
     
     
         22 . A program product as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the multi-user application is a gaming application, and wherein the managerial functionality comprises score-keeping.  
     
     
         23 . A system that manages participants in an online session of a multi-user application, the system comprising one or more processors that execute program instructions and receive a data set, and: 
 initiate an online session of the multi-user application, the online session including two or more participants comprised of network computers that are communicatively linked to a computer network;    detect that a first participant has disconnected from the online session;    broadcast a participant-disconnect notification to existing participants of the online session over the communication network, thereby notifying the existing participants that the first participant has disconnected from the online session;    obtain a new participant to replace the first participant that exited the online session.    
     
     
         24 . A program product for use in a computer system that executes program steps recorded in a computer-readable media to perform a method for managing participants in an online session of a multi-user application the program product, wherein the program steps comprise: 
 initiating an online session of the multi-user application, the online session including two or more participants comprised of network computers that are communicatively linked to a computer network;    detecting that a first participant has disconnected from the online session;    broadcasting a participant-disconnect notification to existing participants of the online session over the communication network, thereby notifying the existing participants that the first participant has disconnected from the online session;    obtaining a new participant to replace the first participant that exited the online session.