Wake-on-Event Game Client and Monitor for Persistent World Game Environment

Abstract

A mechanism is provided for automatically waking a game client responsive to game events occurring within a persistent world online game. An event monitor monitors for events that occur in a persistent virtual world maintained by a game server. When a game event occurs that triggers an offline player rule, the player agent automatically activates execution of game client software. The player agent may also automatically log the player into the game server through the game client software. The player agent may generate and present a launcher dialog prompting the user whether to launch the game client software. Alternatively, the player agent may send a message to a messaging device of the offline player with instructions for launching the game client software remotely. Responsive to a message including a launch command, the player agent automatically launches the game client software on a game client device associated with the offline player.

1 . A method for launching a game client responsive to game events within a persistent virtual world online game managed by a game server, wherein the game server observes and generates game events for the persistent virtual world online game, the method comprising:
 activating a player agent for an offline player, wherein the player agent has an associated set of offline player rules and wherein at least one offline player rule within the set of offline player rules defines a client launch event responsive to which the offline player wishes to launch a game client software on a game client device associated with the offline player;   monitoring, by the player agent, for an occurrence of the launch event; and   responsive to an occurrence of the launch event, automatically launching the game client software on the game client device associated with the offline player.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the player agent executes within the game server. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the player agent executes at a game client device associated with the offline player when the player is not logged into a game client application at the game client device. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein automatically launching the game client software comprises:
 sending a launch request from the player agent to a launcher application running on the game client device associated with the offline player; and   responsive to receipt of the launch request at the launcher application, sending one or more commands to an operating system on the game client device associated with the offline player to begin execution of the game client software.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein automatically launching the game client software comprises:
 presenting a launcher dialog interface prompting the offline player whether to launch the game client software; and   responsive to an interaction from the offline player indicating to launch the game client software, sending one or more commands to an operating system on the game client device associated with the offline player to begin execution of the game client software.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein automatically launching the game client software comprises:
 sending an event notification message to a messaging device associated with the offline player, wherein the event notification message includes instructions for launching the game client software; and   responsive to receipt of a launch message from the messaging device associated with the offline player including a launch command, launching the game client software on the game client device associated with the offline player.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein automatically launching the game client software comprises:
 sending a launch request from the player agent to the game client device associated with the offline player; and   responsive to receipt of the launch request at a network interface within the game client device associated with the offline player, performing a remote wake-up of the game client device.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein automatically launching the game client software further comprises:
 upon completion of the remote wake-up, determining, by a launcher application running on the game client device, that the launch request was received at the network interface; and   sending, by the launcher application, one or more commands to an operating system on the game client device associated with the offline player to begin execution of the game client software.   
   
   
       9 . A data processing system for launching a game client responsive to game events within a persistent virtual world online game, the data processing system comprising:
 a game server that observes and generates game events for a persistent virtual world; and   a player agent that has an associated set of offline player rules, wherein at least one offline player rule within the set of offline player rules defines a client launch event responsive to which the offline player wishes to launch a game client software on a game client device associated with the offline player;   wherein the player agent monitors for an occurrence of the launch event; and   wherein, responsive to an occurrence of the launch event, the player agent automatically launches the game client software on the game client device associated with the offline player.   
   
   
       10 . The data processing system of  claim 9 , wherein the player agent executes within the game server. 
   
   
       11 . The data processing system of  claim 9 , wherein the player agent executes at a game client device associated with the offline player when the player is not logged into a game client application at the game client device. 
   
   
       12 . The data processing system of  claim 9 , wherein the player agent automatically launches the game client software by:
 sending a launch request from the player agent to the game client device associated with the offline player; and   wherein, responsive to receipt of the launch request at a network interface within the game client device, the game client device performs a remote wake-up of the game client device.   
   
   
       13 . The data processing system of  claim 12 , wherein, upon completion of the remote wake-up, a launcher application running on the game client device determines that the launch request was received at the network interface and sends one or more commands to an operating system on the game client device associated with the offline player to begin execution of the game client software. 
   
   
       14 . The data processing system of  claim 9 , wherein the game client device associated with the offline player is a personal computer or a video game console. 
   
   
       15 . A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computing device, causes the computing device to:
 activate a player agent for an offline player, wherein the player agent has an associated set of offline player rules and wherein at least one offline player rule within the set of offline player rules defines a client launch event responsive to which the offline player wishes to launch a game client software on a game client device associated with the offline player;   monitor, by the player agent, for an occurrence of the launch event; and   responsive to an occurrence of the launch event, automatically launch the game client software on the game client device associated with the offline player.   
   
   
       16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein automatically launching the game client software comprises:
 sending a launch request from the player agent to a launcher application running on the game client device associated with the offline player; and   responsive to receipt of the launch request at the launcher application, sending one or more commands to an operating system on the game client device associated with the offline player to begin execution of the game client software.   
   
   
       17 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein automatically launching the game client software comprises:
 presenting a launcher dialog interface prompting the offline player whether to launch the game client software; and   responsive to an interaction from the offline player indicating to launch the game client software, sending one or more commands to an operating system on the game client device associated with the offline player to begin execution of the game client software.   
   
   
       18 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein automatically launching the game client software comprises:
 sending an event notification message to a messaging device associated with the offline player, wherein the event notification message includes instructions for launching the game client software; and   responsive to receipt of a launch message from the messaging device associated with the offline player including a launch command, launching the game client software on the game client device associated with the offline player.   
   
   
       19 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein automatically launching the game client software comprises:
 sending a launch request from the player agent to the game client device associated with the offline player; and   responsive to receipt of the launch request at a network interface within the game client device associated with the offline player, performing a remote wake-up of the game client device.   
   
   
       20 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein automatically launching the game client software further comprises:
 upon completion of the remote wake-up, determining, by a launcher application running on the game client device, that the launch request was received at the network interface; and   sending, by the launcher application, one or more commands to an operating system on the game client device associated with the offline player to begin execution of the game client software.