Preemptive loading of console games

Abstract

Executable content for use is preemptively loaded in order to allow the content to be used when requested by a user without the significant download delay which would otherwise be required. The executable content is downloaded without the user's specific request. When the content is to be used, additional data, such as license data or a password which may be purchased, may be required to access the full functionality of the executable content. Where the executable content is a game, the preemptive loading may be to a personal computer rather than a game console, in order to take advantage of the storage space traditionally available in such a personal computer. Content is loaded based on system information, which may include, without limitation, information about the system, the user of the system, and/or community information regarding a community the user belongs to or users similar to the user, among other information.

1 . A method for providing an executable to a system via a remote connection, said method comprising: 
 establishing a remote connection to said system; and    sending executable data to said system, where said executable data has not been requested by a user of said system, and where said executable data is selected based at least in part on determining system information regarding said system.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , where said system comprises a game console system and said executable data comprises game data.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , where said executable data comprises game data for a game console system, where said system comprises a personal computer, and where said system information comprises information regarding a game console unit associated with said personal computer.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , where said system information comprises information regarding at least one executable previously associated with said system.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , where said system information comprises user information regarding a user of said system.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , where said user information comprises friend information comprising an indication of at least one other user, and where said executable data is selected based on usage information describing usage of at least one executable by at least one of said at least one other users.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , where said user information comprises friend information comprising an indication of at least one other user, and where said executable data is selected based on ratings information describing ratings of at least one executable by at least one of said at least one other users.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , where some functionality of said executable data can not be executed without additional data, said method further comprising: 
 sending said additional data to said system.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , where said step of sending said additional data to said system comprises: 
 accepting payment information.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , where said additional data comprises a digital license to use said executable data.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , where said step of sending executable data to said system is performed in such a way as to not perceptibly affect any ongoing operation of said system.  
   
   
       12 . A system for providing executable data to a remote system, comprising: 
 system information storage for storing system information regarding said remote system;    executable data selection module, operably connected to said system information storage, for selecting executable data based at least in part on said system information; and    executable data transmitter, operably connected to said executable data selection module, for transmitting executable data to said remote system.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , where said executable data comprises game data.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12 , where said system information comprises information regarding at least one executable previously associated with said system.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 12 , where said system information comprises user information regarding a user of said system.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 12 , where said user information is used to determine a community of at least one other users, and where said executable data is selected based on community information regarding said community.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 12 , where some functionality of said executable data can not be executed without additional data.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , where said system further comprises: 
 payment acceptor for accepting payment information; and    additional data transmitter, operably connected to said payment acceptor, for transmitting said additional data to said remote system.    
   
   
       19 . A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for providing an executable to a system via a remote connection, said computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising: 
 determining that a specific user is likely to be interested in using a specific executable; and    delivering that executable to said specific user in advance of a request from said specific user.    
   
   
       20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , where at least some functionality is disabled in said delivered executable, said steps further comprising: 
 determining that said specific user has requested enablement of said disabled functionality; and    delivering unlocking data to said specific user, where said unlocking data enables said disabled functionality.