U.S. Patent No. 10, 625,156: Method and system for sharing video game content

Issued: April 21, 2020, to Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC
Priority Date February 27, 2017

Summary:
U.S. Patent No. 10,625,156 (the ‘156 Patent) relates to interactively sharing video game content. The ‘156 Patent details a method of providing asynchronous and synchronous gameplay in which a user can select a segment of gameplay video to send to other users, and the recipient can select a starting point from within that video to begin an interactive session. The recipient receives the sender’s game state information (such as current health and ammo count), and is able to play that same segment of the game in the same state as the sender. If the recipient owns the game, it is played locally, otherwise the recipient can download the game (even if not owned) and play the shared segment. In some embodiments, game state data can be sent without a video, and in others, a gameplay segment may be played using the recipient’s own character rather than that of the sender. 

Abstract:
A video game sharing method and system enables users to share playable video game segments with users so that the users are able to view the video game segments or interactively play the video game segments. When shared, state information for the video game segments is included such that the users begin in the same position with the same relevant statistics. By enabling video game sharing, user enjoyment and video game popularity are increased.

Illustrative Claim:
1. A game sharing method for enabling sharing and playing of portions of video games, the method comprising: processing a video game with a first device; sharing video information of a segment of the video game of a first user with the first device directly or indirectly to a second device; enabling a second user to select any point of the video information of the segment with the second device; sharing state information of the segment starting at the point selected by the second user with the first device directly or indirectly to the second device; and enabling the second user to begin playing of the segment at the point selected by the second user based on the state information with the second device.