METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN MULTIPLAYER SERVER-BASED GAMING

摘要

A method is disclosed for use in a multiplayer server-based gaming protocol in which each of a plurality of gaming clients is in communication over a network with a gaming server for participating in a common multiplayer network game. The protocol is one in which a sequence of update periods in each of at least some of which a gaming update is sent from the server to each of at least some of the clients for updating them on a status of the game. In the protocol, each client sends a gaming action, if any, to the server in response to receipt of such a gaming update, the gaming action being used at the server to update the status of the game. The network is of a type to produce variations in client-server communication delays. The disclosed method comprises: accessing (S3) for each client a function representing a distribution of client-server delays relating to that client, updating (S4) a parameter used to determine a duration of the update periods so as to tend to improve an evaluation (performed in S3) relating to a predetermined measure of game quality, the evaluation being dependent upon the functions and the parameter, and updating (S2) the functions based on measurements (S1) of client-server delay in the network.