On-line gaming authentication

Abstract

A game device, such as a game console or a PC, is authenticated before joining an online gaming session. When the device registers with the gaming service, the device is queried for its system type (e.g., XBOX®, XBOX® 360, and PC) and a device identifier (e.g., serial number). The first time the device registers with the gaming service, the devices system type and identifier are stored. Each subsequent time the device registers with the gaming system, the device query response is compared with the stored system type and identifier. If the system type and identifier match, the device is allowed to participate in the game session. Additionally, the device system type is analyzed to determine if the device is allowed to participate in the game session. For example, a PC would not be allowed to participate in an XBOX® only game session.

1 . A method for online gaming authentication, the method comprising:
 providing a query for a requester system type and requester identification;   responsive to providing the query, receiving a query response comprising a requester system type and requester identification;   determining if the received requester system type and received requester identification are valid;   if the received requester system type and received requester identification are determined to be valid, forwarding the request to participate in the online game session; and   if the received requester system type and received requester identification are determined to be not valid, denying the request to participate.   
   
   
       2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining if the received requester system type is an allowed system type; and   if the received requester system type is not an allowed system type, denying the request to participate.   
   
   
       3 . A method in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein a received requester system type is determined to not be an allowed system type if the online game session is limited to other than the received requester system type. 
   
   
       4 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising, determining if the received requester identification was included in a previous query response. 
   
   
       5 . A method in accordance with  claim 4 , further comprising, if the received requester identification was not included in a previous query response, storing the received requester system type and received requester identification of the query response. 
   
   
       6 . A method in accordance with  claim 5 , further comprising:
 if the received requester identification was included in a previous query response, comparing the received requester system type and received requester identification with the stored requester system type and requester identification; and   if the received requester system type and received requester identification match the stored requester system type and requester identification, determining that the received requester system type and received requester identification are valid.   
   
   
       7 . An online gaming authentication system comprising:
 an input/output portion configured to:
 provide a query for a requester system type and requester identification; 
 receive a query response comprising a requester system type and requester identification; and 
 forward the request to participate in the online game session; 
   a processor portion configured to:
 determine if the received requester system type and received requester identification are valid; 
 if the received requester system type and received requester identification are determined to be valid, forward the request to participate; and 
 if the received requester system type and received requester identification are determined to be not valid, deny the request to participate; and 
   a memory portion configured to store the received requester system type and received requester identification.   
   
   
       8 . A system in accordance with  claim 7 , the processor portion further configured to:
 determine if the received requester system type is an allowed system type; and   if the received requester system type is not an allowed system type, deny the request to participate.   
   
   
       9 . A system in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein a received requester system type is determined to not be an allowed system type if the online game session is limited to other than the received requester system type. 
   
   
       10 . A system in accordance with  claim 7  the processor portion further configured to determine if the received requester identification was included in a previous query response. 
   
   
       11 . A system in accordance with  claim 10 , the processor portion further configured to, if the received requester identification was not included in a previous query response, store, in the memory portion, the received requester system type and received requester identification of the query response. 
   
   
       12 . A system in accordance with  claim 11 , the processor portion further configured to:
 if the received requester identification was included in a previous query response, compare the received requester system type and received requester identification with the stored requester system type and requester identification; and   if the received requester system type and received requester identification match the stored requester system type and requester identification, determine that the received requester system type and received requester identification are valid.   
   
   
       13 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instruction for online gaming authentication, by performing the steps of:
 providing a query for a requester system type and requester identification; responsive to providing the query, receiving a query response comprising a requester system type and requester identification;   determining if the received requester system type and received requester identification are valid;   if the received requester system type and received requester identification are determined to be valid, forwarding the request to participate;   if the received requester system type and received requester identification are determined to be not valid, denying the request to participate; and   storing the received requester system type and received requester identification.   
   
   
       14 . A computer-readable medium in accordance with  claim 13 , the computer-executable instructions further for:
 determining if the received requester system type is an allowed system type; and   if the received requester system type is not an allowed system type, denying the request to participate.   
   
   
       15 . A computer-readable medium in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein a received requester system type is determined to not be an allowed system type if the online game session is limited to other than the received requester system type. 
   
   
       16 . A computer-readable medium in accordance with  claim 13  the computer-executable instructions further for determining if the received requester identification was included in a previous query response. 
   
   
       17 . A computer-readable medium in accordance with  claim 16 , the computer-executable instructions further for, if the received requester identification was not included in a previous query response, storing the received requester system type and received requester identification of the query response. 
   
   
       18 . A computer-readable medium in accordance with  claim 17 , the computer-executable instructions further for:
 if the received requester identification was included in a previous query response, comparing the received requester system type and received requester identification with the stored requester system type and requester identification; and   if the received requester system type and received requester identification match the stored requester system type and requester identification, determining that the received requester system type and received requester identification are valid.