Secured cross platform networked multiplayer communication and game play

Abstract

A user of a software application (e.g., game or title) running at a gaming console may interact securely in real-time with a user of a compatible software application running at a general purpose computing device. Thus, a game player on the gaming console may play online over a secured communication channel with a game player on a PC, for example.

1 . A cross-platform system, comprising:
 a first computing device having a first platform running an application; and   a second computing device having a second platform running the application and in communication with the first computing device, the second platform being different from the first platform, wherein the first computing device and the second computing device are both operable to interact online in real-time with the application.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the application is a game title. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first computing device is a gaming console and the second computing device is a general purpose computing device. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the gaming console has a network stack protocol which is ported to the general purpose computing device. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first computing device and the second communication device are in communication with each other directly via a network. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first computing device and the second communication device are in communication with each other directly via a clearinghouse. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the clearinghouse comprises a multiplayer gaming and content delivery service or system. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the clearinghouse is operable to verify the type of the first computing device and the type of the second computing device. 
   
   
       9 . A method of cross-platform communication, comprising:
 a first computing device having a first platform running an application connecting to a clearinghouse; and   a second computing device having a second platform running the application connecting to the clearinghouse, the second platform being different from the first platform, wherein the first computing device and the second computing device are both operable to interact online in real-time with the application.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising authenticating the first computing device prior to connecting to the clearinghouse. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein authenticating the first computing device comprises:
 the first computing device logging into an authentication server and a key server; and   providing a clearinghouse ticket and pointer to the first computing device.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the connecting is performed responsive to the clearinghouse ticket and the pointer. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the application is a game title. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first computing device is a gaming console and the second computing device is a general purpose computing device. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the clearinghouse comprises a multiplayer gaming and content delivery service or system. 
   
   
       16 . A method of cross-platform communication, comprising:
 broadcasting an availability request from a first computing device to a second computing device, the first computing device having a first platform and the second computing device having a second platform different from the first platform;   directly connecting the first computing device and the second computing device; and   running an application on the first computing device and the second computing device such that the first computing device and the second computing device are both operable to interact online in real-time with the application.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first computing device transmits a session key to the second computing device prior to connecting the first computing device and the second computing device. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the application is a game title. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first computing device is a gaming console and the second computing device is a general purpose computing device. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first computing device and the second computing device unicast with each other.