Command sentinel

摘要

A video server is configured to provide streaming video to players of computer games over a computing network. The video server can provided video of different games to different players simultaneously. This is accomplished by rendering several video streams in parallel using a single GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The output of the GPU is provided to graphics processing pipelines that are each associated with a specific client/player and are dynamically allocated as needed. A client qualifier may be used to assure that only clients capable of presenting the streaming video to a player at a minimum level of quality receive the video stream. Video frames provided by the video server optionally include overlays added to the output of the GPU. These overlays can include voice data received from another game player. These overlays may be used to prevent presentation of non-allowed input controls.

主权项

1. A video server system comprising:
an application engine configured to execute a first computer application; a graphics processing unit configured to generate a graphic output in response to graphics data received from the first computer application; sentinel logic configured to monitor the graphic output and determine that a blocked input control is included within the graphic output, the sentinel logic configured to send a blocked command to disable the blocked input control, the sentinel logic provides instruction to adjust the graphic output so as to modify the blocked input control, wherein the sentinel logic is configured to determine that the blocked input control is included within the graphic output by identifying a bit pattern that is predefined for the blocked input control; an overlay logic that receives instruction from the sentinel logic to adjust the graphic output, the overlay logic is configured to process the modifying by placing an overlay on a portion of the graphic output that includes the blocked input control, the overlay configured to change an appearance of the blocked input control, wherein the sentinel logic is further configured to examine the overlay to ensure absence of any blocked input control in the overlay prior to the overlay being placed on the portion of the graphic output that includes the blocked input control; an encoding pipeline configured to generate an encoded video stream using the graphic output; an output logic configured to communicate the encoded video stream to a remote client via a communication network, the encoded video stream including the graphic output that includes the modified blocked input control; and a microprocessor configured to execute the sentinel logic at the video server system.