This week's digest covers 8 granted patents from 7 companies, with game engine and a mix of cloud gaming, AI/ML, streaming, platform, VR/AR, and UI/UX technologies represented.
The patents this week focus heavily on infrastructure and technical optimization, including Tencent's work on cloud gaming resource allocation and cross-platform streaming coordination, alongside Booming Technology's engine architecture for data structure conversion. Several patents address player experience systems, from Riot Games' event-based skill ranking to Las Vegas Sands' server-side replay validation for detecting cheating. Interface and interaction patents round out the week, with Roblox detailing facial landmark tracking for avatar movement and Netflix describing adaptive controller layouts that respond to gameplay state changes.
Tencent filed 2 patents this week, both addressing multiplayer gaming infrastructure. The first describes a cloud gaming system that separates cutscene delivery from gameplay rendering, routing pre-rendered video sequences to dedicated servers while keeping GPU resources focused on interactive elements. The second patent covers a cross-room pairing mechanism for livestreaming platforms, automatically linking broadcaster feeds when they face each other in the same match so viewers can watch both perspectives of a competitive game simultaneously.
Riot Games patented a skill rating system that updates player rankings based on specific in-game events rather than relying solely on match outcomes. The approach evaluates individual actions and performance moments during gameplay to calculate rating adjustments, aiming to produce more accurate competitive matchmaking faster than traditional win/loss models.
Las Vegas Sands patented a server-side validation system that replays recorded client actions to verify game state integrity. The technology reconstructs gameplay from action logs and compares the resulting state model against what clients reported, identifying discrepancies that might indicate cheating or software bugs without relying on client-side anti-cheat measures.
Microsoft patented a visual editing tool for creating interactive videos and games, providing a 3D workspace where users can manipulate camera nodes, movement paths, and visual effects through graphical interfaces. The system reduces the need for scripting knowledge, allowing creators to configure interactive experiences using spatial editing controls instead of code.
Booming Technology (Hangzhou) Co. patented a parameter conversion system built on entity-component-system architecture that translates data structures between game editor formats and runtime execution formats. The technology automates the transformation process, allowing developers to work with editor-friendly representations while the engine converts them to optimized runtime structures without manual intervention.
Roblox patented a camera-based system that maps real-world head movements to virtual avatar motion using facial landmark detection on mobile devices. The technology tracks user movement through standard phone or tablet cameras and applies corresponding rotations and positions to 3D avatars in virtual environments, enabling physical motion control without dedicated VR hardware.
Netflix patented a second-screen controller system that transforms smartphones and tablets into context-aware game input devices. The technology dynamically reconfigures controller layouts based on current gameplay state, changing button arrangements and control schemes in response to in-game events rather than presenting a static interface throughout a session.
All data sourced from USPTO patent filings. Google Patents may take several weeks to index recent publications. If a link is unavailable, search for the patent number at USPTO Patent Public Search.