Methods for controller pairing with assigned differentiating color/player

• US 10,363,479 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2017
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Mallinson, Dominic S., Mikhailov, Anton
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall, Shauna-Kay
• Application Number:
  US15/605,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20170259169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 463 37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/32 using local area network [LAN] connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/34 using peer-to-peer connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections

Abstract

Methods and systems of pairing controllers for game play are presented. In one example, a method of pairing controllers to a base computing device for playing a game executed on the base computing device is provided. The method includes receiving a pairing request from one of a first or a second controller. The pair request is generated in response physical contact between the first and second controllers. The method assigns the first and second controllers as a first pairing for a first player and assigns the first pairing to a first color. The method includes transmitting the first color to the first or second controllers, such that at least one of the first and second controllers for the first pairing is configured to illuminate in the first color. Additional pairs of controllers will be assigned a different color, so that each player has a differentiated color on their respective controller.

Claims

1. A method of pairing controllers to a base computing device comprising:

establishing communication between a first and second controller and the base computing device, the communication identifying each of the first and second controllers as active;

receiving a pairing initiation signal, at the base computing device, from each of the first and second controllers, the pairing initiation signal from each of the first and second controllers being generated respectively in response to physical contact between the first and second controllers, the physical contact being a tap between the first and second controllers and the tap is detected respectively by an accelerometer of each of the first and second controllers;

determining, at the base computing device, that the pairing initiation signal from each of the first and second controllers correlate in time to each other and responsively setting the first and second controllers as paired to a first player; and

transmitting, from the base computing device, instructions to one of the first or second controllers to cause a light of the first controller to illuminate in a first color and a light of the second controller to illuminate in the first color.

2. The method of pairing controllers as recited in claim 1, further comprising,

detecting, by the base computing device, communication with a third and fourth controller;

receiving a pairing initiation signal from each of the third and fourth controllers, the pairing initiation signal from each of the third and fourth controllers being generated in response to physical contact between the third and fourth controllers;

determining that the pairing initiation signal of the third and fourth controllers correlate in time to each other and responsively setting the third and fourth controllers as paired to a second player and assigning a second color to the second player; and

transmitting instructions to one of the third or fourth controllers to cause the third and fourth controllers to illuminate in the second color.

3. The method of pairing controllers as recited in claim 2, wherein second color is configured to be different than the first color, when the second color is assigned.

4. The method of pairing controllers as recited in claim 3, wherein said determining that the pairing signal from the first and second controllers correlate in time is based on a time the pairing initiation signal is generated respectively at the first and second controller or based on a time the pairing initiation signal is received at respectively from the first and second controllers at the base computing device.

5. The method of pairing controllers as recited in claim 1, further comprising, for each additional pairs of controllers paired, assigning a different color to each pair, wherein each pair is associated to a different player.

6. The method of pairing controllers as recited in claim 5, wherein assigning different colors to additional pairs of controllers paired includes adjusting previously assigned colors to maintain a differentiation in color between the paired controllers and players.

7. The method of pairing controllers as recited in claim 1, wherein the pairing initiation signal from the first or second controller contains pairing data for the first and the second controller.

8. The method of pairing controllers as recited in claim 1, wherein the setting the first and the second controller as paired further comprises:

applying at the first and the second controller a pairing indicator, the pairing indicator providing a visible cue indicating the first and second controllers are paired to the first player.

9. The method of pairing controllers as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an unpairing signal, at the base computing device, from the first or second controllers, the unpairing signal generated in response to detected physical contact between the first and second controllers after pairing; and

removing pairing between the first and second controllers and the first player, the first color becoming available for assigning to new pairings of other controllers for other players.

10. A base computing device configured for pairing controllers, comprising:

wireless communication logic of the base computing device for establishing communication between a first and second controller, the communication identifying each of the first and second controllers as active;

the base computing device is configured for detecting a pairing initiation signal, from each of the first and second controllers, the pairing initiation signal from each of the first and second controllers being generated in response to physical contact between the first and second controllers, the physical contact being a tap between the first and second controllers and the tap is detected respectively by an accelerometer of each of the first and second controllers; and

the base computing device is further configured to determine that the pairing signal from each of the first and second controllers correlate in time to each other and responsively transmit settings to at least one of the first and second controllers to pair them to a first player and responsively transmit instructions to one of the first or second controllers to cause a light of the first controller to illuminate in a first color and a light of the second controller to illuminate in the first color to indicate said pairing to said first player.

11. The base computing device of claim 10, wherein pairing between other pairs of controllers for other players is assigned a second color that is different than the first color.

12. The base computing device of claim 10, wherein different colors are assigned to additional pairs of controllers paired, and for said additional pairs of controllers adjusting at least one previously assigned color to maintain a differentiation in color between the paired controllers and players.

13. The base computing device of claim 10, wherein the pairing initiation signal from the first or second controller contains pairing data identifying the first and the second controller.

14. The base computing device of claim 10, wherein the setting the first and the second controller as paired further comprises:

instructing to apply at the first and the second controller a pairing indicator, the pairing indicator providing a visible cue indicating the first and second controllers are paired to the first player.

15. The base computing device of claim 10, further comprising:

the base computing device is configured to process an unpairing signal received from the first or second controllers, the unpairing signal generated in response to detected physical contact between the first and second controllers at a point in time subsequent to said pairing, which then causes removing of said pairing between the first and second controllers and the first player;

wherein the first color becoming available for assigning to new pairings of other controllers for other players.

16. A computer readable medium having non-transitory program instructions for pairing controllers to a base computing device comprising:

program instructions for establishing communication between a first and second controller and the base computing device, the communication identifying each of the first and second controllers as active;

program instructions for detecting a pairing initiation signal, at the base computing device, from each of the first and second controllers, the pairing initiation signal from each of the first and second controllers being generated respectively in response to physical contact between the first and second controllers, the physical contact being a tap between the first and second controllers and the tap is detected respectively by an accelerometer of each of the first and second controllers;

program instructions for determining, at the base computing device, that the pairing initiation signal from each of the first and second controllers correlate in time to each other and responsively setting the first and second controllers as paired to a first player.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising,

program instructions for detecting, by the base computing device, communication with a third and fourth controller;

program instructions for detecting a pairing initiation signal from each of the third and fourth controllers, the pairing initiation signal being generated in response to physical contact between the third and fourth controllers;

program instructions for determining that the pairing signal from each of the first and second controllers correlate in time to each other and responsively setting the third and fourth controllers as paired to a second player and assigning a second color to the second player.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein said determining that the pairing signal from the first and second controllers correlate in time is based on a time the pairing initiation signal is generated respectively at the first and second controller at the base computing device.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein said determining that the pairing signal from the first and second controllers correlate in time is based on a time the pairing initiation signal is received at respectively from the first and second controllers at the base computing device.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein said determining that the pairing signal from the first and second controllers correlate in time is based on a respective timestamp associated with the pairing signal from the first and second controllers.