Video game controller hub with control input reduction and combination schemes

• US 20040178576A1
• Filed: 12/11/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied Invention, LLC
• Original Assignee: Applied Minds LLC
• Inventors: Hillis, W. Daniel, Ferren, Bran
• Granted Patent: US 8,012,025 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/148B
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/06 using player-operated means for controlling the position of a specific area display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/27 characterised by a large display in a public venue, e.g. in a movie theatre, stadium or game arena
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5255 according to dedicated instructions from a player, e.g. using a secondary joystick to rotate the camera around a player's character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/843 involving concurrently two or more players on the same game device, e.g. requiring the use of a plurality of controllers or of a specific view of game data for each player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5513 involving billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6676 by dedicated player input
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8023 the game being played by multiple players at a common site, e.g. in an arena, theatre, shopping mall using a large public display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console

Abstract

A video game controller hub receives a number of control input sets from an equal number of video game controllers, and provides a preferably smaller number of control input sets to a video game console. Each of the control input sets provided to the video game console by the controller hub is used to control a distinct on-screen entity, e.g. vehicle, character, or team. A number of players therefore collectively control a single on-screen entity. The reduction in the number of control input sets is performed according to reduction and combination schemes that are preferably specified by the user to suit a particular video game. The reduction in the number of control input sets increases the number of players that may concurrently participate in a video game without requiring support from the video game console or software, and the collaborative nature of the control of on-screen entities provides for exciting variations in game play.

Claims

1. A video game controller hub, comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of control input sets from a corresponding plurality of video game controllers, each of said control input sets comprising at least one control input;

means for reducing said control input sets to at least one reduced control input set according to a reduction scheme; and

means for providing said at least one reduced control input set to a video game console;

wherein each reduced control input set determines an action of a separate on-screen entity; and

wherein said video game controllers collectively control at least one on-screen entity.

2. The controller hub of claim 1, wherein said reduction scheme specifies a mapping of said control input sets onto said at least one reduced control input set.

3. The controller hub of claim 2, wherein said mapping is a one-to-one mapping of said control input sets onto said at least one reduced control input set;

and

wherein said controller hub is functionally deactivated and said control input sets are provided unaltered to said video game console.

4. The controller hub of claim 1, further comprising:

means for combining at least two of said at least one control input from said control input sets according to a combination scheme.

5. The controller hub of claim 4, wherein said combination scheme specifies at least one combination procedure applied to at least two of said at least one control input, each of which corresponds across said control input sets;

said combination procedure producing a single control input within said at least one reduced control input set.

6. The controller hub of claim 5, wherein said at least one combination procedure is applied to corresponding control input sets in accordance with said reduction scheme.

7. The controller hub of claim 5, wherein said at least one combination procedure is based upon any of:

a vote;

a selection; and

an averaging calculation.

8. The controller hub of claim 1, wherein said on-screen entity comprises any of:

a vehicle;

a character; and

a team.

9. The controller hub of claim 1, wherein said reduction scheme is specified by a user of said video game console through a user interface.

10. The controller hub of claim 4, wherein said combination scheme is specified by a user of said video game console through a user interface.

11. A method for reducing a plurality of control input sets provided from a corresponding plurality of video game controllers to a video game console by a video game controller hub, comprising the steps of:

receiving said control input sets from said video game controllers, each of said control input sets comprising at least one control input;

reducing said control input sets to at least one reduced control input set according to a reduction scheme; and

providing said at least one reduced control input set to a video game console;

wherein each reduced control input set determines an action of a separate on-screen entity; and

wherein said video game controllers collectively control at least one on-screen entity.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said reduction scheme specifies a mapping of said control input sets onto said at least one reduced control input set.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said mapping is a one-to-one mapping of said control input sets onto said at least one reduced control input set;

and

wherein said controller hub is functionally deactivated and said control input sets are provided unaltered to said video game console.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

combining at least two of said at least one control input from said control input sets according to a combination scheme.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said combination scheme specifies at least one combination procedure applied to at least two of said at least one control input, each of which corresponds across said control input sets;

said combination procedure producing a single control input within said at least one reduced control input set.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said at least one combination procedure is applied to corresponding control input sets in accordance with said reduction scheme.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said at least one combination procedure is based upon any of:

a vote;

a selection; and

an averaging calculation.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said on-screen entity comprises any of:

a vehicle;

a character; and

a team.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein said reduction scheme is specified by a user of said video game console through a user interface.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein said combination scheme is specified by a user of said video game console through a user interface.