Join in-progress on-line game session

Abstract

A computer-based, multi-player, on-line, game session is capable of being joined while the session is in progress without requiring an invitation from the host of the game session. A player can join the game session via a set of User Interfaces (UIs) provided by the gaming system. The player is not required to contact the host prior to joining the game session. A game session is joinable if slots are available for additional players, the host has not declared the game session private, the player requesting to join the game session is not currently in the game session, and parental controls have not be set preventing the player from joining the game session.

1 . A method for joining an in-progress on-line game session, said method comprising: 
 determining if said in-progress on-line game session is one of joinable and not joinable;    choosing to join said game session if said game session is joinable; and    joining said game session without requiring an invitation from a host of said game session.    
   
   
       2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a game session can be determined to be joinable without requiring a game disc to be inserted into a game console; and    a game session can be determined to be joinable without requiring a joining party to have previously launched said game.    
   
   
       3 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said game session is determined to be not joinable if said host of said game session declares said game session private; and    said game session is determined to be joinable if said host of said game session declares said game session public.    
   
   
       4 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said game session is determined to be not joinable if a player attempting to join said game session is in said game session; and    said game session is determined to be not joinable if said game session has no available slots.    
   
   
       5 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said game session is determined to be not joinable if parental controls prevent joining said game session.  
   
   
       6 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said game session is partially joinable.  
   
   
       7 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said game session is joinable if at least one predetermined flag in an application programming interface for starting said game session is indicative of said game session being joinable.  
   
   
       8 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein, if a game is not detected on a game console of a joining party, said game is automatically launched at said game console of said joining party.  
   
   
       9 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the acts of: 
 determining if an in-progress on-line game session is one of joinable and not joinable;    providing means for choosing to join said game session if said game session is joinable; and    providing means for joining said game session without requiring an invitation from a host of said game session.    
   
   
       10 . A computer-readable medium in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein: 
 a game session can be determined to be joinable without requiring a game disc to be inserted into a game console; and    a game session can be determined to be joinable without requiring a game to be launched.    
   
   
       11 . A computer-readable medium in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said game session is not joinable if at least one of the following conditions is true: 
 said host of said game session declares said game session private;    a player attempting to join said game session is in said game session;    said game session has no available slots; and    parental controls prevent joining said game session.    
   
   
       12 . A computer-readable medium in accordance with  claim 9 , said computer-readable medium having further computer-executable instructions for setting at least one predetermined flag in an application programming interface for starting said game session to be indicative of said game session being one of joinable and not joinable.  
   
   
       13 . A system for joining an in-progress on-line game session, said system comprising: 
 a plurality of databases for storing information pertaining to whether said in-progress on-line game session is one of joinable and not joinable; and    a service for: 
 determining if said game session is one of joinable and not joinable, in accordance with said information;  
 providing means for choosing to join said game session if said game session is joinable; and  
 providing means for joining said game session without requiring an invitation from a host of said game session.  
   
   
   
       14 . A system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein: 
 a game session can be determined to be joinable without requiring a game disc to be inserted into a game console; and    a game session can be determined to be joinable without requiring a game to be launched.    
   
   
       15 . A system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein: 
 said service determines said game session to be not joinable if said host of said game session declares said game session private; and    said service determines said game session to be joinable if said host of said game session declares said game session public.    
   
   
       16 . A system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said service determines said game session to be not joinable if a player attempting to join said game session is in said game session.  
   
   
       17 . A system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said service determines said game session to be not joinable if said game session has no available slots.  
   
   
       18 . A system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said service determines said game session to be not joinable if parental controls prevent joining said game session.  
   
   
       19 . A system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said service is further capable of setting at least one predetermined flag in an application programming interface for starting said game session to be indicative of said game session being one of joinable and not joinable.  
   
   
       20 . A system in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein each predetermined flag is indicative of a respective portion of said game session being one of joinable and not joinable.