System and method for capturing and sharing console gaming data

Abstract

A system and method for capturing and sharing console gaming data is described. Embodiments capture gameplay data directly at the gaming console, without the need for external hardware. This allows users to easily capture rich console gaming experiences and share them across a variety of outlets. In one embodiment, the methods described herein can be implemented with a patch or driver on the operating system of the user device, rendering it unnecessary to heavily modify the source code of the game.

1 . A method for storing gameplay, the method comprising:
 executing gameplay on a machine having a processor running instructions for executing the gameplay;   buffering a first portion of the executed gameplay in an electronic storage medium;   receiving a request to capture a second portion of the executed gameplay subsequent to the first portion of the executed gameplay;   capturing the second portion of the executed gameplay in an electronic storage medium, the first and second portions comprising an uninterrupted portion of the executed gameplay; and   storing the first and second portions of the executed gameplay.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second portions of the executed gameplay are screenshots of gameplay. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second portions of the executed gameplay are videos of gameplay. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the executed gameplay begins at a predetermined interval prior to the second portion of the executed gameplay. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the executed gameplay comprises a statistical anomaly. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the executed, gameplay comprises an achievement. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising display the first and second portions of the executed gameplay. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the first and second portions of the executed gameplay. 
     
     
         9 . A system for storing executed gameplay, the system comprising:
 a memory operable to buffer a first portion of the executed gameplay, and store the first portion of the executed gameplay and a second portion of the executed gameplay immediately subsequent to the first portion of the executed gameplay;   a processor operable to:
 execute the gameplay, 
 receive a request to capture the second portion of the executed gameplay, and 
 capture the second portion of the executed gameplay; and 
   a controller operable to send a request to capture the second portion of the executed gameplay.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processor and the memory are comprised in a game console. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processor and the memory are comprised in a server. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first and second portions of the executed gameplay are screenshots of gameplay. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first and second portions of the executed gameplay are videos of gameplay. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first portion of the executed gameplay begins at a predetermined interval prior to the second portion of the gameplay. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first portion of the executed gameplay comprises a statistical anomaly. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first portion of the executed gameplay comprises an achievement. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a display operable to display the first and second portions of the executed gameplay. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further operable to transmit the first and second portions of the executed gameplay. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable instructions embedded thereon for performing the steps of:
 executing gameplay;   buffering a first portion of the gameplay;   receiving a request to capture a second portion of the gameplay subsequent to the first portion of the gameplay;   capturing the second portion of the gameplay, the first and second portions comprising an uninterrupted portion of the executed gameplay; and   storing the first and second portions of the gameplay.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the first and second portions of the executed gameplay are screenshots of gameplay. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the first and second portions of the executed gameplay are videos of gameplay. 
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the first portion of the executed gameplay begins at a predetermined interval prior to the second portion of the executed gameplay. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the first portion of the executed gameplay comprises a statistical anomaly. 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the first portion of the executed gameplay comprises an achievement.