Amusement device communication system

• US 20040192443A1
• Filed: 02/27/2004
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Merit Industries Incorporated (AMI Entertainment Network, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Merit Industries Incorporated (AMI Entertainment Network, LLC)
• Inventors: Ferguson, Scott, Stelzer, James R., Abbate, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/789,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20040192443A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM

Abstract

Amusement device communication system includes a communication link, a first amusement device and a second amusement device. The communication link has a communication medium and a power line communication subsystem. The first amusement device has a video touchscreen, and the second amusement device has a controller and a memory. The second amusement device is coupled to the first amusement device by the communication link, and the first amusement device communicates with the second amusement device using the communication medium. The power line communication sub-system includes a local power grid and first and second power line adapters. The local power grid is configured to supply electrical power to local devices. The first power line adapter is coupled between the first amusement device and the local power grid. The first adapter superimposes communication signals onto the local power grid and decodes superimposed communication signals from the local power grid.

Claims

1. An amusement device communication system comprising:

(a) a communication link having a communication medium and a power line communication subsystem;

(b) a first amusement device having a video touchscreen; and

(c) a second amusement device having a controller and a memory, the second amusement device being coupled to the first amusement device by the communication link, the first amusement device communicating with the second amusement device using the communication medium,

the power line communication sub-system including;

a local power grid configured to supply electrical power to local devices;

a first power line adapter coupled between the first amusement device and the local power grid, the first power line adapter superimposing communication signals onto the local power grid and decoding superimposed communication signals from the local power grid; and

a second power line adapter coupled between the second amusement device and the local power grid, the second power line adapter superimposing communication signals onto the local power grid and decoding superimposed communication signals from the local power grid.

2. The amusement device communication system according to claim 1, wherein the second amusement device includes an audio output, the memory being configured to store and retrieve music files, the controller of the second amusement device being configured to access the memory to retrieve one of the music files and output the retrieved music file to the audio output.

3. The amusement device communication system according to claim 2, wherein the second amusement device further includes a video output, the memory being configured to store and retrieve multimedia files, the controller of the second amusement device being configured to access the memory to retrieve one of the multimedia files and output the retrieved multimedia file to both the audio and video outputs.

4. The amusement device communication system according to claim 1, wherein the second amusement device includes a video touchscreen.

5. The amusement device communication system according to claim 1, further comprising:

(d) a plurality of other amusement devices each having a video touchscreen and each being coupled to the second amusement device by the communication link, the plurality of amusement devices communicating with the second amusement device using the communication medium.

6. The amusement device communication system according to claim 1, wherein the local power grid supplies 120 VAC, 60 Hz, single phase electrical power.

7. The amusement device communication system according to claim 1, wherein the local power grid supplies 230 VAC, 50 Hz, single phase electrical power.

8. An amusement device communication system comprising:

(a) a communication link having a communication medium and a wireless sub-system;

(b) a first amusement device having a video touchscreen; and

(c) a second amusement device having a controller and a memory, the second amusement device being coupled to the first amusement device by the communication link, the first amusement device communicating with the second amusement device using the communication medium,

the wireless sub-system including;

a first wireless adapter coupled to the first amusement device, the first wireless adapter encoding communication signals onto a wireless broadcast signal and decoding communication signals from the wireless broadcast signal; and

a second wireless adapter coupled to the second amusement device, the second wireless adapter encoding communication signals onto the wireless broadcast signal and decoding communication signals from the wireless broadcast signal.

9. The amusement device communication system according to claim 8, wherein the broadcast signal is in the range of one of radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR) and microwave.

10. An amusement device communication system comprising:

(a) a communication link having a communication medium and a telephone line communication subsystem;

(b) a first amusement device having a video touchscreen; and

(c) a second amusement device having a controller and a memory, the second amusement device being coupled to the first amusement device by the communication link, the first amusement device communicating with the second amusement device using the communication medium,

the telephone line communication sub-system including;

a local telephone grid configured to supply standard telephonic signals to local telephones;

a first telephone line adapter coupled between the first amusement device and the local telephone grid, the first telephone line adapter superimposing communication signals onto the local telephone grid and decoding superimposed communication signals from the local telephone grid; and

a second telephone line adapter coupled between the second amusement device and the local telephone grid, the second telephone line adapter superimposing communication signals onto the local telephone grid and decoding superimposed communication signals from the local telephone grid.

11. An amusement device communication system comprising:

(a) a communication link having a communication medium and a power line communication subsystem;

(b) first and third amusement devices, each having a video touchscreen and a controller; and

(c) a second amusement device having an audio output, a controller and a memory configured to store and retrieve music files, the second amusement device being coupled to the first and third amusement devices by the communication link, the first and third amusement devices communicating with the second amusement device using the communication medium, the video touchscreen of the first and third amusement devices each being configured to access the controller of the second amusement device to cause the controller to retrieve one of the music files and output the retrieved music file to the audio output of the second amusement device,

the power line communication sub-system including;

a local power grid configured to supply electrical power to local devices;

a first power line adapter coupled between the first amusement device and the local power grid, the first power line adapter superimposing communication signals onto the local power grid and decoding superimposed communication signals from the local power grid;

a second power line adapter coupled between the second amusement device and the local power grid, the second power line adapter superimposing communication signals onto the local power grid and decoding superimposed communication signals from the local power grid; and

a third power line adapter coupled between the third amusement device and the local power grid, the third power line adapter superimposing communication signals onto the local power grid and decoding superimposed communication signals from the local power grid.

12. An amusement device communication system comprising:

(a) a communication link having a communication medium and a wireless communication subsystem;

(b) first and third amusement devices, each having a video touchscreen and a controller; and

(c) a second amusement device having an audio output, a controller and a memory configured to store and retrieve music files, the second amusement device being coupled to the first and third amusement devices by the communication link, the first and third amusement devices communicating with the second amusement device using the communication medium, the video touchscreen of the first and third amusement devices each being configured to access the controller of the second amusement device to cause the controller to retrieve one of the music files and output the retrieved music file to the audio output of the second amusement device,

the wireless communication sub-system including;

a first wireless adapter coupled to the first amusement device, the first wireless adapter encoding communication signals onto a wireless broadcast signal and decoding communication signals from the wireless broadcast signal;

a second wireless adapter coupled to the second amusement device, the second wireless adapter encoding communication signals onto the wireless broadcast signal and decoding communication signals from the wireless broadcast signal; and

a third wireless adapter coupled between the third amusement device and the local power grid, the third wireless adapter encoding communication signals onto the wireless broadcast signal and decoding communication signals from the wireless broadcast signal.

13. An amusement device communication system comprising:

(a) a communication link having a communication medium and a telephone line communication subsystem;

(b) first and third amusement devices, each having a video touchscreen and a controller; and

(c) a second amusement device having an audio output, a controller and a memory configured to store and retrieve music files, the second amusement device being coupled to the first and third amusement devices by the communication link, the first and third amusement devices communicating with the second amusement device using the communication medium, the video touchscreen of the first and third amusement devices each being configured to access the controller of the second amusement device to cause the controller to retrieve one of the music files and output the retrieved music file to the audio output of the second amusement device,

the telephone line communication sub-system including;

a local telephone grid configured to supply standard telephonic signals to local telephones;

a first telephone line adapter coupled between the first amusement device and the local telephone grid, the first telephone line adapter superimposing communication signals onto the local telephone grid and decoding superimposed communication signals from the local telephone grid;

a second telephone line adapter coupled between the second amusement device and the local telephone grid, the second telephone line adapter superimposing communication signals onto the local telephone grid and decoding superimposed communication signals from the local telephone grid; and

a third telephone line adapter coupled between the third amusement device and the local telephone grid, the third telephone line adapter superimposing communication signals onto the local telephone grid and decoding superimposed communication signals from the local telephone grid.