Center device

• US 10,137,375 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2017
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hino, Mariko, Hashimoto, Satoshi, Kutaragi, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US15/854,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20180126278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 336 Days
• Field of Search: 463 29, 463 42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/355 Performing operations on behalf of clients with restricted processing capabilities, e.g. servers transform changing game scene into an encoded video stream for transmitting to a mobile phone or a thin client
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/201 Playing authorisation given at platform level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/208 for storing personal settings or data of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/109 by using specially-adapted hardware at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/305 by remotely controlling device operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/445 by mutual authentication, e.g. between devices or programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2109 Game systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 : based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 : Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 : dummy group

Abstract

Methods and apparatus provide for: communicating in respective paired relationships between a network interface and one or more controller devices operated by one or more users, respectively, via wired communication or wireless communication selected by the one or more users; and outputting light emission controls to the paired one or more controller devices, wherein the one or more controller devices each include at least one light emitter that responds to the light emission controls by emitting a selected one of a plurality of colors, outputting a first light emission control to a first of the one or more controller devices that first achieves the paired relationship, and wherein the first light emission control operates to cause a particular first color among the plurality of colors to emit, and outputting a second light emission control to a second of the one or more controller devices that next achieves the paired relationship after the first of the one or more controller devices, and wherein the second light emission control operates to cause a particular second color among the plurality of colors to emit.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

a network interface operating to communicate in respective paired relationships with one or more controller devices operated by one or more users, respectively, via wired communication or wireless communication selected by the one or more users; and

circuitry configured to output light emission controls to the paired one or more controller devices, wherein the one or more controller devices each include at least one light emitter that responds to the light emission controls by emitting a selected one of a plurality of colors,

wherein the circuitry configured to output light emission controls outputs a first light emission control to a first of the one or more controller devices that first achieves the paired relationship, and wherein the first light emission control operates to cause a particular first color among the plurality of colors to emit, and

wherein the circuitry configured to output light emission controls outputs a second light emission control to a second of the one or more controller devices that next achieves the paired relationship after the first of the one or more controller devices, and wherein the second light emission control operates to cause a particular second color among the plurality of colors to emit.

2. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry configured to output light emission controls outputs a third light emission control to a third of the one or more controller devices that next achieves the paired relationship after the second of the one or more controller devices, and wherein the third light emission control operates to cause a particular third color among the plurality of colors to emit.

3. The information processing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured to output light emission controls outputs a fourth light emission control to a fourth of the one or more controller devices that next achieves the paired relationship after the third of the one or more controller devices, and wherein the fourth light emission control operates to cause a particular fourth color among the plurality of colors to emit.

4. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

circuitry configured to control a display for displaying a menu of one or more controller identifiers which are associated with the one or more controller devices that are paired, respectively, and which are selectable from the menu by the one or more users,

wherein the menu includes a respective connection indication that the paired relationship exists adjacent to each of the one or more controller identifiers which are associated with the one or more controller devices that are paired.

5. The information processing apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the menu further includes one or more controller identifiers which are associated with one or more further controller devices that are not in a paired relationship with the network interface, and

the menu includes a respective non-connection indication that the paired relationship does not exist adjacent to each of the one or more controller identifiers which are associated with the one or more further controller devices that are not paired.

6. The information processing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the menu further includes a respective device icon adjacent to each of the one or more controller identifiers providing indicia of a respective type of controller device.

7. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wired communication includes communicating via a universal serial bus (USB).

8. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication includes communicating via Bluetooth.

9. A method, comprising:

communicating in respective paired relationships between a network interface and one or more controller devices operated by one or more users, respectively, via wired communication or wireless communication selected by the one or more users; and

outputting light emission controls to the paired one or more controller devices, wherein the one or more controller devices each include at least one light emitter that responds to the light emission controls by emitting a selected one of a plurality of colors,

outputting a first light emission control to a first of the one or more controller devices that first achieves the paired relationship, and wherein the first light emission control operates to cause a particular first color among the plurality of colors to emit, and

outputting a second light emission control to a second of the one or more controller devices that next achieves the paired relationship after the first of the one or more controller devices, and wherein the second light emission control operates to cause a particular second color among the plurality of colors to emit.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising outputting a third light emission control to a third of the one or more controller devices that next achieves the paired relationship after the second of the one or more controller devices, and wherein the third light emission control operates to cause a particular third color among the plurality of colors to emit.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising outputting a fourth light emission control to a fourth of the one or more controller devices that next achieves the paired relationship after the third of the one or more controller devices, and wherein the fourth light emission control operates to cause a particular fourth color among the plurality of colors to emit.

12. The non-transitory, computer readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising outputting a fourth light emission control to a fourth of the one or more controller devices that next achieves the paired relationship after the third of the one or more controller devices, and wherein the fourth light emission control operates to cause a particular fourth color among the plurality of colors to emit.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

controlling a display for displaying a menu of one or more controller identifiers which are associated with the one or more controller devices that are paired, respectively, and which are selectable from the menu by the one or more users,

wherein the menu includes a respective connection indication that the paired relationship exists adjacent to each of the one or more controller identifiers which are associated with the one or more controller devices that are paired.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the menu further includes one or more controller identifiers which are associated with one or more further controller devices that are not in a paired relationship with the network interface, and

the menu includes a respective non-connection indication that the paired relationship does not exist adjacent to each of the one or more controller identifiers which are associated with the one or more further controller devices that are not paired.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the menu further includes a respective device icon adjacent to each of the one or more controller identifiers providing indicia of a respective type of controller device.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the wired communication includes communicating via a universal serial bus (USB).

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the wireless communication includes communicating via Bluetooth.

18. The non-transitory, computer readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising outputting a third light emission control to a third of the one or more controller devices that next achieves the paired relationship after the second of the one or more controller devices, and wherein the third light emission control operates to cause a particular third color among the plurality of colors to emit.

19. A non-transitory, computer readable storage medium containing a computer program, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to carry out actions, comprising:

communicating in respective paired relationships between a network interface and one or more controller devices operated by one or more users, respectively, via wired communication or wireless communication selected by the one or more users; and

outputting light emission controls to the paired one or more controller devices, wherein the one or more controller devices each include at least one light emitter that responds to the light emission controls by emitting a selected one of a plurality of colors,

outputting a first light emission control to a first of the one or more controller devices that first achieves the paired relationship, and wherein the first light emission control operates to cause a particular first color among the plurality of colors to emit, and

outputting a second light emission control to a second of the one or more controller devices that next achieves the paired relationship after the first of the one or more controller devices, and wherein the second light emission control operates to cause a particular second color among the plurality of colors to emit.

20. A controller device for operation by a respective user, among a plurality of controller devices, comprising:

a network interface operating to communicate in a paired relationship with an information processing device via wired communication or wireless communication selected by the user; and

circuitry configured to receive a respective light emission control from the information processing device and at least one light emitter that responds to the light emission control by emitting a selected one of a plurality of colors,

wherein the information processing device outputs a first light emission control to the controller device, which is a first controller device among the plurality of controller devices, that first achieves the paired relationship, and wherein the first light emission control operates to cause a particular first color among the plurality of colors to emit from the first controller device, and

wherein the information processing device outputs a second light emission control to a second controller device among the plurality of controller devices that next achieves the paired relationship after the first controller device, and wherein the second light emission control operates to cause a particular second color among the plurality of colors to emit from the second controller device.

21. The controller device of claim 20, wherein the information processing device outputs a third light emission control to a third controller device among the plurality of controller devices that next achieves the paired relationship after the second controller device, and wherein the third light emission control operates to cause a particular third color among the plurality of colors to emit from the third controller device.

22. The controller device of claim 21, wherein the information processing device outputs a fourth light emission control to a fourth controller device among the plurality of controller devices that next achieves the paired relationship after the third controller device, and wherein the fourth light emission control operates to cause a particular fourth color among the plurality of colors to emit from the fourth controller device.