Center device

• US 10,653,963 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2019
• Issued: 05/19/2020
• 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:
  US16/459,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20190321731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: 455 412
• 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

Abstract

Methods and apparatus provide for: receiving inputs at a service provider server system from a controller over an internet connection; using the inputs in a processing system to produce data based thereon representing desired operations by a user of the controller; and transmitting the data from the service provider server system back over the internet connection.

Claims

1. A controller, comprising:

a plurality of actuation elements that are operable to be manipulated by a user to input desired operations by the user to the controller;

a control circuit operating to receive electronic signals based on the manipulation of the plurality of actuation elements; and

a communications circuit operating to permit radio communications between the controller and a center device, wherein;

the control circuit operates to;

(i) produce inputs based on the received electronic signals, where the inputs represent the desired operations by the user, and (ii) transfer the inputs to the communications circuit,

the communications circuit operates to send the inputs to the center device via the radio communications, where the center device transmits the inputs to a service provider server of a service provider over an internet connection, and receives data from the service provider server based on the inputs.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the center device facilitates radio communication between the controller and the service provider.

3. The controller of claim 1, further comprising a memory element operating to store one or more pieces of predetermined user information, including authentication information about the user, wherein:

the control circuit operates to transfer the authentication information to the communications circuit, and

the communications circuit operates to send the authentication information to the center device via the radio communications, where the center device transmits the authentication information to the service provider over the internet connection, such that the service provider may perform authentication of the controller of the user.

4. The controller of claim 3, wherein the service provider performs authentication of the controller of the user by comparing the authentication information received with predetermined authentication information, where authentication is satisfied when the comparison indicates a predetermined threshold of concurrence between the authentication information received and the predetermined authentication information.

5. The controller of claim 4, wherein the controller operates to transfer the authentication information to the service provider in response to a request from the service provider for information contained in the memory element.

6. The controller of claim 4, wherein the authentication is not satisfied when the comparison indicates less than the predetermined threshold of concurrence between the authentication information received and the predetermined authentication information.

7. The controller of claim 1, wherein the center device is operable to execute at least one application program and to produce an output for display that is manipulated in accordance with inputs received by the center device from the controller device, and the data received from the service provider server based on the inputs.

8. The controller of claim 1, wherein the center device permits the execution and manipulation of the output of the application program only when the authentication is satisfied.

9. A service provider server system, comprising:

a server communications circuit operating to receive inputs from a controller over an internet connection; and

a processing circuit operating to use the inputs and produce data based thereon representing desired operations by a user of the controller,

wherein the server communications circuit operates to transmit the data back over the internet connection,

wherein the controller device includes;

(i) a plurality of actuation elements that are operable to be manipulated to input the desired operations by the user to the controller;

(ii) a control circuit operating to receive electronic signals based on the manipulation of the plurality of actuation elements; and

(iii) a communications circuit operating to permit radio communications between the controller and a center device,

wherein the control circuit operates to;

(i) produce inputs based on the received electronic signals, where the inputs represent the desired operations by the user, and (ii) transfer the inputs to the communications circuit,

wherein the communications circuit operates to send the inputs to the center device via the radio communications, and

wherein the center device transmits the inputs to the service provider server system over an internet connection, and receives the data from the service provider server system based on the inputs.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving inputs at a service provider server system from a controller over an internet connection;

using the inputs in a processing system to produce data based thereon representing desired operations by a user of the controller; and

transmitting the data from the service provider server system back over the internet connection,

wherein the controller device includes;

(i) a plurality of actuation elements that are operable to be manipulated to input the desired operations by the user to the controller;

(ii) a control circuit operating to receive electronic signals based on the manipulation of the plurality of actuation elements; and

(iii) a communications circuit operating to permit radio communications between the controller and a center device,

wherein the control circuit operates to;

(i) produce inputs based on the received electronic signals, where the inputs represent the desired operations by the user, and (ii) transfer the inputs to the communications circuit,

wherein the communications circuit operates to send the inputs to the center device via the radio communications, and

wherein the center device transmits the inputs to the service provider server system over an internet connection, and receives the data from the service provider server system based on the inputs.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the center device facilitates radio communication between the controller and the service provider.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving one or more pieces of predetermined user information, including authentication information about the user, from a memory of the controller; and

perform authentication of the controller of the user based on the authentication information.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising performing authentication of the controller of the user by comparing the authentication information received with predetermined authentication information, where authentication is satisfied when the comparison indicates a predetermined threshold of concurrence between the authentication information received and the predetermined authentication information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the controller operates to transfer the authentication information to the service provider server system in response to a request from the service provider server system for the authentication information.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the authentication is not satisfied when the comparison indicates less than the predetermined threshold of concurrence between the authentication information received and the predetermined authentication information.