U.S. Patent No. 10,140,271: Dynamic adaptation of a narrative across different types of digital media
Issued November 27, 2018, to Telltale Inc. (currently assigned to Lcg Entertainment Inc.)
Filed/Priority to December 16, 2015
Overview:
U.S. Patent No. 10,140,271 (the ‘271 patent) relates to the dynamic adaption of presentation of digital storytelling, maintaining progress over various devices and types of digital media. The ‘271 patent could allow users to engage in a given narrative via a variety of digital media and resume progress on another device later. The ‘271 patent details a method in which a server system maintains a narrative state to be presented to a user. When it is determined that the user logs into a first client system, a copy of the narrative state is transmitted to the first client system. The first client system adapts the presentation of the narrative to the user; adapting accounts for the digital medium, information included in the copy of the narrative state, and portions of the narrative which have already been consumed on another client system by the user. Upon determination of a client logout, an updated copy of the narrative state is transmitted to the server system. This updates the narrative state so it is accessible next time the user wants to play, on whichever device.
Abstract:
Techniques for dynamically adapting the presentation of a narrative to a user across a plurality of digital media are provided. In one embodiment, a computer system can maintain a narrative state for the narrative and, upon request, transmit a copy of the narrative state to a first digital medium client operated by the user. The first digital medium client can be configured to present the narrative to the user via a first digital medium in the plurality of digital media. Upon receiving the copy of the narrative state, the first digital medium client can adapt, based on the copy of the narrative state and one or more first rules, its presentation of the narrative to the user via the first digital medium. The first digital medium client can then update the copy of the narrative state based on portions of the narrative consumed by the user and transmit the updated copy to the computer system.
Illustrative Claim:
- A method comprising: maintaining, at a server system, a narrative state for a narrative to be presented to a user across a plurality of digital media; and in response to determining that the user has logged into a first client system, transmitting, by the server system, a copy of the narrative state to the first client system, wherein the first client system is configured to present the narrative to the user via a first digital medium in the plurality of digital media, and wherein upon receiving the copy of the narrative state, the first client system is configured to: adapt, based on the copy of the narrative state and one or more first rules, the first client system’s presentation of the narrative to the user via the first digital medium, wherein the adapting takes into account information included in the copy of the narrative state that identifies portions of the narrative which have already been consumed by the user while operating a second client system different from the first client system, the second client system being configured to present the narrative via a second digital medium different from the first digital medium; update the copy of the narrative state based on portions of the narrative consumed by the user via the first client system; and upon determining that the user has logged out of the first client system, transmit the updated copy of the narrative state to the server system for storage on the server system.