Networking & Multiplayer

Microsoft received 1 patent addressing wireless reliability for game controllers. The system performs rapid channel hopping every 8 to 16 milliseconds, switching frequencies before interference can cause problems rather than waiting to detect issues first. This approach targets brief fading events that typically last around 80 milliseconds, using pre-synchronized channel sequences between the controller and receiver to eliminate the reaction delay present in traditional Wi-Fi systems that need hundreds of milliseconds to identify and respond to interference.

Sony received 1 patent for a relay architecture that extends console connectivity to incompatible devices. A designated smartphone running a relay app acts as an intermediary between a PlayStation console and nearby phones that cannot communicate directly with the console. The relay device bridges two different protocols, allowing devices that lack native console support to participate in local multiplayer sessions without requiring each phone to implement the console's communication standard.

Supercell received 1 patent covering matchmaking that actively recruits players rather than passively waiting for them to come online. When a skill-matched category lacks enough participants, the server identifies qualified players who are not currently active and sends them push notifications inviting them to join a session. This approach contrasts with conventional matchmaking systems that only pair players already logged into the game, addressing scenarios where too few people are online simultaneously to form balanced matches.