System and method for effectively implementing remote display devices in a gaming network

• US 20030181241A1
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Dunn, Ted M., Oakes, Mark E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,025,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications

Abstract

A system and method for effectively implementing remote display devices in a gaming network may include a game console configured to generate game program signals corresponding to a gaming event, and a base unit coupled to the game console for processing the game program signals to produce a game program bitstream. The base unit may then wirelessly transmit the game program bitstream to various remote units which may each be configured to receive the game program bitstream and responsively process the game program bitstream to retrieve the foregoing game program signals. The remote units may then each perform a pixel identification procedure to individually identify different assigned windows from the game program signals. The remote units may also each perform a window zooming procedure to generate remote display video signals corresponding to the assigned windows. The remote units may then each advantageously display one of the remote display video signals in a substantially full-screen manner upon respective remote displays coupled to the remote units.

Claims

1. A system for implementing an electronic gaming system, comprising:

a game console configured to generate game program signals corresponding to a gaming event;

a base unit coupled to said game console for processing said game program signals to produce a game program bitstream, said base unit then wirelessly transmitting said game program bitstream; and

remote units configured to receive said game program bitstream, said remote units each responsively processing said game program bitstream to retrieve said game program signals, said game program signals including a game video signal, said remote units each performing a pixel identification procedure to individually identify assigned windows from said game video signal, said remote units then each performing a window zooming procedure to generate remote display video signals from said assigned windows, said remote units each displaying one of said remote display video signals upon respective remote displays coupled to said remote units.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said game console is implemented as a computer device that loads and executes various types of game software to generate said game program signals, said base unit being implemented to include a transmitter-receiver device for propagating said game program signals to said remote units, said base unit also providing game control signals from said remote devices to said game console.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said remote units each include an antenna, other inputs, a communications manager, said remote display, and a speaker device.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said remote units each further include a game controller that a system user may utilize to provide control signals to said game controller for interactively participating in said gaming event.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein said communications manager includes a receive channel and a transmit channel, said receive channel including said antenna, a receiver device, a central processing unit coupled to a memory device, a digital signal processor, a video decoder, a graphics engine, a video digital-to-analog converter, and an audio digital-to-analog converter, said transmit channel including an audio analog-to-digital converter, a video analog-to-digital converter, a video encoder, said digital signal processor, said central processing unit coupled to said memory device, a transmitter device, and said antenna, said memory device including receive software, transmit software, window manager software, and game controller software.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said base unit also includes a separate communications unit that is configured with a substantially similar implementation as that of said communications manager.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said game program signals generated by said game console include video information corresponding to a four-way split-screen for a television device coupled to said base unit, said four-way split-screen including four of said assigned windows that each corresponds to a different one of said remote devices.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein operating power is provided to said game console, said base unit, and said remote units, said game console, said base unit, and said remote units responsively activating a primary communications channel from said game console to each of said remote units through said base unit, said game console, said base unit, and said remote units also activating a back communications channel from each of said remote units to said game console through said base unit.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein a window assignment procedure is initially performed between said game console and said remote units to thereby uniquely specify said assigned windows from said game video signal for each of said remote units.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said assigned windows are determined based upon system user inputs from game controllers on a first-come first-served basis, said assigned windows being changeable following negotiations between said system users.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said assigned windows are determined by referencing and comparing respective numerical identifiers corresponding to said remote units.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said game console generates an audio signal and a video signal to said base unit, said base unit responsively processing said audio signal and said video signal to produce a unified A/V packet stream, said base unit then wirelessly transmitting said unified A/V packet stream to said remote units in an identical manner.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said remote units each receive and process said unified A/V packet stream to retrieve said audio signal and said video signal.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said remote units each identify one of said assigned windows, and then isolate pixels in said one of said assigned windows.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said remote units each identify said one of said assigned windows by referencing a stored window identifying parameter that specifies said one of said assigned windows.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein said remote units each isolate said pixels in said one of said assigned windows by referencing stored window boundary values.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein said remote units each perform said window zooming procedure to expand said pixels to generate said one of said remote display video signals.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said remote units each present said one of said remote display signals in a substantially full-screen manner upon a corresponding one of said respective remote displays.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein system users utilize a back communications channel to communicate with said game console with game controllers to thereby interactively participate in said gaming event.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein said remote units each store one or more window positioning points for a current gaming event, said remote units each selectively repositioning said one or more window positioning points to thereby adjust and vary a shape of one or more of said assigned windows.

21. A method for implementing an electronic gaming system, comprising the steps of:

generating game program signals corresponding to a gaming event by utilizing a game console;

processing said game program signals with a base unit to produce a game program bitstream, said base unit then wirelessly transmitting said game program bitstream; and

receiving said game program bitstream by utilizing remote units that each responsively process said game program bitstream to retrieve said game program signals, said game program signals including a game video signal, said remote units each performing a pixel identification procedure to individually identify assigned windows from said game video signal, said remote units then each performing a window zooming procedure to generate remote display video signals from said assigned windows, said remote units each displaying one of said remote display video signals upon respective remote displays coupled to said remote units.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said game console is implemented as a computer device that loads and executes various types of game software to generate said game program signals, said base unit being implemented to include a transmitter-receiver device for propagating said game program signals to said remote units, said base unit also providing game control signals from said remote devices to said game console.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said remote units each include an antenna, other inputs, a communications manager, said remote display, and a speaker device.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said remote units each further include a game controller that a system user may utilize to provide control signals to said game controller for interactively participating in said gaming event.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein said communications manager includes a receive channel and a transmit channel, said receive channel including said antenna, a receiver device, a central processing unit coupled to a memory device, a digital signal processor, a video decoder, a graphics engine, a video digital-to-analog converter, and an audio digital-to-analog converter, said transmit channel including an audio analog-to-digital converter, a video analog-to-digital converter, a video encoder, said digital signal processor, said central processing unit coupled to said memory device, a transmitter device, and said antenna, said memory device including receive software, transmit software, window manager software, and game controller software.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said base unit also includes a separate communications unit that is configured with a substantially similar implementation as that of said communications manager.

27. The method of claim 21 wherein said game program signals generated by said game console include video information corresponding to a four-way split-screen for a television device coupled to said base unit, said four-way split-screen including four of said assigned windows that each corresponds to a different one of said remote devices.

28. The method of claim 21 wherein operating power is provided to said game console, said base unit, and said remote units, said game console, said base unit, and said remote units responsively activating a primary communications channel from said game console to each of said remote units through said base unit, said game console, said base unit, and said remote units also activating a back communications channel from each of said remote units to said game console through said base unit.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein a window assignment procedure is initially performed between said game console and said remote units to thereby uniquely specify said assigned windows from said game video signal for each of said remote units.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said assigned windows are determined based upon system user inputs from game controllers on a first-come first-served basis, said assigned windows being changeable following negotiations between said system users.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein said assigned windows are determined by referencing and comparing respective numerical identifiers corresponding to said remote units.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein s aid game console generates an audio signal and a video signal to said base unit, said base unit responsively processing said audio signal and said video signal to produce a unified A/V packet stream, said base unit then wirelessly transmitting s aid unified A/V packet stream to said remote units in an identical manner.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said remote units each receive and process said unified A/V packet stream to retrieve said audio signal and said video signal.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said remote units each identify one of said assigned windows, and then isolate pixels in said one of said assigned windows.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said remote units each identify said one of said assigned windows by referencing a stored window identifying parameter that specifies said one of said assigned windows.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein said remote units each isolate said pixels in said one of said assigned windows by referencing stored window boundary values.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein said remote units each perform said window zooming procedure to expand said pixels to generate said one of said remote display video signals.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein said remote units each present said one of said remote display signals in a substantially full-screen manner upon a corresponding one of said respective remote displays.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein system users utilize a back communications channel to communicate with said game console with game controllers to thereby interactively participate in said gaming event.

40. The method of claim 21 wherein said remote units each store one or more window positioning points for a current gaming event, said remote units each selectively repositioning said one or more window positioning points to thereby adjust and vary a shape of one or more of said assigned windows.

41. A computer-readable medium comprising program instructions for implementing an electronic gaming system by performing the steps of:

generating game program signals corresponding to a gaming event by utilizing a game console;

processing said game program signals with a base unit to produce a game program bitstream, said base unit then wirelessly transmitting said game program bitstream; and

receiving said game program bitstream by utilizing remote units that each responsively process said game program bitstream to retrieve said game program signals, said game program signals including a game video signal, said remote units each performing a pixel identification procedure to individually identify assigned windows from said game video signal, said remote units then each performing a window zooming procedure to generate remote display video signals from said assigned windows, said remote units each displaying one of said remote display video signals upon respective remote displays coupled to said remote units.

42. A system for implementing an electronic gaming system, comprising:

means for generating game program signals corresponding to a gaming event;

means for processing said game program signals to produce a game program bitstream, said means for processing then wirelessly transmitting said game program bitstream; and

means for receiving said game program bitstream, said means for receiving responsively processing said game program bitstream to retrieve said game program signals, said game program signals including a game video signal, said means for receiving repeatedly performing a pixel identification procedure to individually identify assigned windows from said game video signal, said means for receiving then performing a window zooming procedure to generate remote display video signals from said assigned windows, said means for receiving responsively displaying said remote display video signals upon corresponding remote displays.

43. A system for implementing an electronic gaming system, comprising:

a game console configured to generate game signals corresponding to an electronic game;

a base unit coupled to said game console for transmitting said game signals; and

one or more remote units configured to receive said game signals, said one or more remote units each responsively processing and displaying assigned windows from said game signals upon corresponding remote display devices.