U.S. Patent No. 10,478,735: Video game system with spectator mode hud

Issued: November 19, 2019, to Riot Games, Inc.
Priority Date: April 26, 2012

Summary:
U.S. Patent No. 10,478,735 (the ’375 Patent) relates to a spectator’s heads-up-display (HUD) that improves the spectator’s experience. The ’375 Patent details a method of coupling a spectator server with an online game session server system to provide spectators with increased real time control over how they are spectating. In one embodiment, the spectator client can render gameplay from an active game on the game session server and allow the spectator to view the gameplay with an omnipresent view anywhere within the virtual landscape. This may allow a spectator to view a certain player, or a certain part of the map within a virtual landscape. In an embodiment, spectators may also jump back in time to replay a point of time in the game, have the option to play and pause, scrub through past gameplay, or jump to the latest point viewed. The HUD may also display status information within a game such as current health level, debuffs, damage dealt, kills, or ultimate status of players and teams. In an embodiment, information categories display on the HUD may be toggled on and off by the spectator. 

Abstract:
The field of the invention relates to multi-user online gaming systems, and more particularly to systems and methods that enable a spectator’s experience for online active games. In an embodiment, an online multiuser game system includes an online game session server system communicatively coupled to a public network for access by a plurality of users to establish a plurality of real-time interactive games sessions. The online multiuser game system further includes a spectator server communicatively coupled to the online game session server system and configured to enable a user to view summary information of an active game session. In another embodiment, the spectator server enables the user to time shift the active game session and to view the summary information of the active game session. In another embodiment, the spectator server enables the user to view the summary information of the active game session while the user is playing the active game session.

Illustrative Claim:
1. An online multiuser game system, comprising: an online game session server system communicatively coupled to a public network for access by a plurality of users to establish a plurality of real-time interactive games sessions; a spectator server communicatively coupled to the online game session server system and configured to enable a user to view and time-shift at least one of the plurality of real-time interactive games sessions; wherein the at least one of the plurality of real-time interactive games sessions includes a plurality of electronic avatars; and wherein the spectator server is further configured to: enable a user to select an avatar for the user’s view to follow; calculate an interest value associated with each of the plurality of avatars; and not shift the user’s view to another avatar having an interest value higher than the interest value associated with the avatar selected by the user unless one or more threshold values are exceeded.