Patent ID: 7287052
Filing Date: 2007-10-23
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for enabling a server computing device to detect a condition on a client computing device used to participate in one or more electronic games over a network by utilizing a network game service, the method comprising the steps of: (a) maintaining, at a server computing device, a plurality of code segments, each of the code segments representing a different server-based challenge which may be used by the server computing device to detect a condition on a client computing device; (b) at the server computing device, selecting a particular one of the code segments; (c) sending the code segment from the server computing device to the client computing device, as a server-based challenge, and in connection with a request, the code segment being provided to enable the client computing device to determine a response that is indicative of the condition on the client computing device, said code segment comprising machine executable instructions, wherein the code segment, when processed by the client computing device, causes the client computing device to execute said machine executable instructions comprising said code segment so as to determine the response, based upon a condition automatically accessed on the client computing device; (d) receiving the response from the client computing device; (e) on the server computing device, comparing the response received from client computing device with an expected response; (f) initiating a predefined action on the server computing device, if the response received from the client computing device does not match the expected response, or if no response is received, indicating that an expected condition does not exist on the client computing device; and (g) permitting further interaction with the client computing device, if the response received from the client computing device matches the expected response, indicating that the expected condition exists on the client computing device.