Method and apparatus for interactive gameplay across multiple computing platforms

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for enabling interactive gameplay.

1 . A computer implemented method of interactive gameplay comprising:
 receiving at a server game information from each computing device of a plurality of computing devices;   storing said received game information in a respective field of a respective data structure, each data structure being associated with a respective user and stored in a data store of said server; and   sending game information of a user to a computing device associated with at least one other user,   wherein each data structure comprises:
 a user ID field; 
 a status of game progress field; and 
 a list of at least one other user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one data structure further comprises a status of in-game virtual currency field. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said storing of said received game information from each computing device comprises comparing said game progress information of said game information with previously stored game progress information associated with a user of said each computing device and determining based on the outcome of said comparing whether to replace the stored game progress information with said received game progress information. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said game information comprises one or more of:
 level; 
 points; and 
 items obtained. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said list of at least one other user is created from a list of contacts from a social networking site. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 receiving at the server an interaction request from a first computing device of said plurality of computing devices; and 
 sending said interaction request to a second computing device of said plurality of computing devices. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said interaction request is an invitation to play a game. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said interaction request is a request for an in-game item. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said interaction request is sent via a social networking site. 
     
     
         10 . A computer implemented method of interactive gameplay comprising:
 sending from a computing device game information to a server;   receiving at said computing device game information of at least one other user;   storing said game information of at least one other user in a at least one field of a data structure of a data store of said computing device,   wherein said data structure comprises:
 a user ID field; 
 a status of game progress field; and 
 a list of at least one other user. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said data structure further comprises a status of in-game virtual currency field. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said storing of said received game information comprises comparing game progress information of said game information with previously stored game progress information associated with a said other user and determining based on the outcome of said comparing whether to replace the stored game progress information with said received game progress information. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said received game information comprises one or more of:
 level; 
 points; and 
 items obtained. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the list of at least one other user is created from a list of contacts from a social networking site. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  comprising sending with said computing device an interaction request to the server. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  comprising receiving at said computing device an interaction request from the server. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said interaction request is an invitation to play a game. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said interaction request is a request for an in-game item. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said interaction request is sent via a social networking site. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the computing device is a mobile device. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the computing device is a computer running a web browser. 
     
     
         22 . A server comprising a data store comprising a plurality of data structures, each data structure being associated with a respective user and wherein each data structure comprises:
 a user ID field;   a status of game progress field; and   a list of at least one other user   wherein the server is configured to:   receive game information from each computing device of a plurality of computing devices;   store said received game information in a respective field of a respective one of said plurality of data structures; and   send game information of a user to a computing device associated with at least one other user.   
     
     
         23 . A computing device comprising a data store comprising a data structure comprising:
 a user ID field;   a status of game progress field; and   a list of at least one other user   wherein the computing device is configured to:   send game information to a server;   receive at said computing device game information of at least one other user;   store said game information of at least one other user in a at least one field of said data structure.