Systems and methods for user-based arbitration and peer review for online multiuser systems

Abstract

The field of the invention relates to systems and methods for managing user behavior in online multiuser systems, and more particularly to systems and methods that provide user-based arbitration for online multiuser systems. In one embodiment, a multi-user online system enables a first user to report a second user's behavior while online. The system receives the report and merges the report with the second user's recorded interactions with the online system related to the report to create an arbitration file. The arbitration file is then made available to a third user to review the arbitration file and determine whether action is warranted.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An online multiuser game system, comprising:
 an online game session server system coupled to a public network for access by a plurality of users, wherein the online game server includes:
 a messaging system; 
 a recording system that records each user's interaction with the online game server; and 
 a game file database that stores the recorded interactions, including messaging data, by one or more game identifications; 
   a statistics server system communicatively coupled to the online game session server, wherein the statistics server system includes a statistics server database and is configured to derive from the game file database messaging and game interaction data from the recorded interactions to store in said statistics server database;   a report server system communicatively coupled to the online game server system, wherein the report server system includes a report server database and a report engine configured to enable a first user to submit one or more reports over the public network for one or more users during a particular game, and further wherein the report engine is further configured to store said reports in said report server database; and   an arbitration server system communicatively coupled to the report server system and the statistics server system and is accessible by the plurality of users via said public network, wherein the arbitration server system is configured to query the reporting server database and the statistics server database to create one or more arbitration files for the one or more reported users that includes the first user's one or more reports and the messaging and game interaction data associated with said particular game.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more reports indicate that the one or more users exhibited undesirable behavior during the one or more users' interaction with the game system during said particular game according to the first user. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the arbitration server system is further configured to enable a plurality of third party users to submit a vote for the one or more arbitration files indicating whether to punish or exonerate the one or more users. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the arbitration server system is further configured to disable the one or more users' access to the game system if a punishment vote threshold has been reached for the one or more users. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the vote threshold comprises number of votes total received for the arbitration file and percentage of votes for punishment. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more reports indicate that the one or more users exhibited desirable behavior or skill during the one or more users' interaction with the game system during said particular game according to the first user. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the arbitration server system is further configured to enable a plurality of third party users to submit a vote for the one or more arbitration files indicating whether to reward the one or more users. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more reports includes the first user's reporting history, including data that indicates a ratio of how many reports the first user has submitted compared to how many games the first user has played. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the messaging system includes text messaging. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the messaging system includes online chat. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the arbitration server is further configured to receive multiple reports for a user where each report is submitted by a different user for a particular game. 
     
     
         12 . A method for managing user behavior for a multi-user online game system comprising:
 recording each user's interaction with the online game system, including messages exchanged between users;   storing said recordings in a game file database;   enabling a first user to submit at least one report for at least one second user that displayed certain behavior during the at least one second user's interaction with the online game server during a particular game;   presenting the first user's at least one report with the recordings for the particular game to an arbitrating user; and   enabling a plurality of arbitrating users to review the presentation of the first user's at least one report and to submit a vote related to confirming the first user's at least one report.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one report alleges that the at least one second user exhibited undesirable behavior during the at least one second user's interaction with the game system during said particular game. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of enabling the plurality of arbitrating users to submit a vote indicating whether to punish or exonerate the at least one second user. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of disabling the at least one second user's access to the game system if a punishment vote threshold has been reached for the one or more users. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the vote threshold comprises number of votes total received for the presentation and percentage of votes for punishment. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one report alleges that the at least one second user exhibited desirable behavior or skill during the at least one second user's interaction with the game system during said particular game. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of enabling the plurality of arbitrating users to submit a vote for the presentation indicating whether to reward the at least one second user. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one report includes the first user's reporting history, including data that indicates a ratio of how many reports the first user has submitted compared to how many games the first user has played. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least second user's vote count is reduced if no other reports are submitted for that at least one second user during a predetermined period of time after the first user's report is submitted.