Distributed Network Game System

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing network-based games to otherwise non-networked devices are provided herein. A network server may provide video game execution and rendering capabilities in accordance with video game software on the server, and may transcode video game output into a media stream for sending to a remotely located media player in use by a user playing the video game. The transcoded media stream is in a format displayable by the media player. The media player may include an expansion card providing wireless network access to the media player for communication with the network gaming server, and may further relay the transcoded media stream received from the network gaming server to the media player, as well as relay user input from a game controller back to the network gaming server. Alternatively, the game controller may communicate directly with the network gaming server.

1 . An expansion card comprising:
 a microprocessor configured to control operations of the expansion card;   a wireless networking module configured to wirelessly connect to a network;   a relay module configured to relay a transcoded media stream received from a network gaming server to a device with which the expansion card is associated; and   control logic configuring the expansion card to maintain a session with the network gaming server.   
     
     
         2 . The expansion card of  claim 1 , further comprising a short-range wireless communication module configured to communicate with a game controller, and wherein the relay module is configured to relay user input commands received from the game controller to the network gaming server via the wireless networking module. 
     
     
         3 . The expansion card of  claim 1 , comprising a Secure Digital(SD) Card. 
     
     
         4 . The expansion card of  claim 1 , comprising a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) CableCard. 
     
     
         5 . A network gaming server comprising:
 a processor configured to control operations of the server according to control logic stored at the gaming sever;   a transcoder module configured to transcode a media stream into a format displayable by a gaming client device, based on output from a user-selected video game executing on the network gaming server; and   a network interface configured to communicate with the gaming client device and a game controller;   said control logic, when executed by the processor, configuring the network gaming server to perform:
 receiving a session initiation message from the gaming client device; 
 transcoding the media stream based on output from the user-selected video game in accordance with received video game user input; 
 sending the transcoded media stream to the gaming client device; and 
 repeating the transcoding and sending steps during game play of the user-selected video game. 
   
     
     
         6 . The network gaming server of  claim 5 , wherein the gaming client device is an expansion card. 
     
     
         7 . The network gaming server of  claim 6 , wherein the expansion card is an SD Card. 
     
     
         8 . The network gaming server of  claim 6 , wherein the expansion card is a PCMCIA CableCard. 
     
     
         9 . The network gaming server of  claim 5 , wherein the received video game input is received from a game controller communicating through the gaming client device. 
     
     
         10 . The network gaming server of  claim 5 , wherein the received video game input is received from a game controller communicating independently of the gaming client device. 
     
     
         11 . A method of playing network game media, comprising steps of:
 detecting that an expansion card executing the method has been inserted into a media player;   receiving user input indicating a desire to play a networked video game;   initiating a session with a network gaming server by sending a session initiation message to the network gaming server via a wireless networking module of the expansion card;   receiving a transcoded media stream from the network gaming server, wherein the transcoded media stream is in a format displayable by the media player, and wherein the media stream provides audio and video output of the video game executing on the network gaming server based on user input provided by a user to the network gaming server; and   relaying the transcoded media stream to the media player for output via the media player.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving, via a short-range wireless communication module, user input from a game controller; and   relaying the user input to the network gaming server for further processing in accordance with the video game executing on the network gaming server.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein relaying the user input is over a reverse channel established between the expansion card and the network gaming server. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the expansion card is an SD Card. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the expansion card is a PCMCIA CableCard. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the transcoded media stream is in H.264 format. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the session initiation message conforms to one of session initiation protocol (SIP) and digital living network alliance (DLNA). 
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 an expansion card comprising:
 a microprocessor configured to control operations of the expansion card; 
 a wireless networking module configured to wirelessly connect to a network; 
 a short-range wireless communication module configured to communicate with a game controller; 
 a relay module configured to relay a transcoded media stream received from a network gaming server to a device with which the expansion card is associated, and configured to relay commands received from the game controller to the network gaming server; 
 control logic configuring the expansion card to maintain a session with the network gaming server, and 
   the game controller comprising a plurality of user inputs for interacting with a video game executing on the network gaming server.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the expansion card is an SD Card. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the expansion card is a card adapted for insertion in a set top box.