Multiple player game system, methods and apparatus

• US 20050202871A1
• Filed: 01/25/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Louis A. Lippincott
• Original Assignee: Louis A. Lippincott
• Inventors: Lippincott, Louis A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,862,432 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/39
• 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 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• 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 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for providing a multi-player game system using standard consumer electronics equipment. For example, a system for playing multi-player games on a DVD player and other standard consumer electronics equipment receives commands from player remote controls in response to prompts from a game being played on the DVD player and other standard consumer electronics equipment. An electronic control mechanism determines which of the player remote controls first responds to the prompt. If necessary, the electronic control mechanism translates commands from the remote controls to commands compatible with and understandable by the DVD player and other standard consumer electronics equipment. A transmitter then sends the commands to the DVD player and other standard consumer electronics equipment. Based on those commands, the game proceeds until completed.

Claims

1. A system for playing multi-player games in combination with standard consumer electronics equipment, the system comprising:

a receiver to receive commands from a plurality of player remote controls;

an electronic control mechanism for selecting one of the plurality of player remote controls and translating a set of commands from the selected player remote control to a set of commands compatible with and understandable by said standard consumer electronics equipment, wherein said standard consumer electronics equipment is electronic equipment other than a gaming system; and

a transmitter to send the set of compatible remote control commands to said standard consumer electronics equipment from said electronic control mechanism.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic control mechanism comprises:

a central processing unit to process said commands received from said plurality of player remote controls;

a random access memory for temporary storage of said commands received from said plurality of player remote controls coupled to said central processing unit;

a read only memory for permanent storage of instructions and parameters coupled to said central processing unit; and

a timer coupled to said central processing unit.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter is an infra red transmitter.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said standard consumer electronics equipment comprises a Digital Versatile Disc player.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a number of light emitting diodes to indicate said selected player remote control.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the light emitting diodes further indicate a state or condition of said electronic control mechanism.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a device to emit an audible signal to indicate a state or condition of said electronic control mechanism.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said selecting one of the plurality of player remote controls is based on a receiving order of commands from said plurality of player remote controls.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic control mechanism comprises a state machine, wherein said state machine comprises:

a first state to receive input for a plurality of player remote controls; and

a second state to receive and to respond to commands from one of said plurality of player remote controls.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of player remote controls transmit a unique code based on a configuration of said player remote control and a button pressed.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said code is transmitted more than one time, wherein each transmitted code is spaced apart by an amount of time that is uniquely based on the identity of the player remote control.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic control mechanism and transmitter sends an Enter command to the standard consumer electronics equipment to select an answer when the selected player remote control fails to make a selection in a predetermined amount of time.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic control mechanism generates a sequence of commands to navigate through one or more menus on said standard consumer electronics equipment.

14. A method for playing a multi-player game via a digital versatile disc (DVD) player, the method comprising:

receiving a set of input signals transmitted from a corresponding set of remote controllers;

determining a first remote controller associated with a first input signal from said set of input signals;

indicating to a set of players the remote controller associated with said first transmitted input signal; and

sending a set of subsequent signals to said DVD player.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein determining a first remote controller associated with a first input signal from said set of input signals comprises:

determining the first input signal from the set of input signals based on a time of reception;

translating the first transmitted input signal to a compatible signal, wherein said compatible signal is a signal understandable by said DVD player; and

sending a player select command to the DVD player, wherein said player select command uniquely identifies said remote controller.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein sending a set of subsequent input signals comprises:

navigating a set of menus on the DVD player, wherein said set of menus display aspects of a game; and

sending the set of subsequent signals based on the aspects of the game displayed by the set of menus on the DVD player.

17. A method for identifying a first remote control from a set of remote controls comprising:

encoding an optical disc with audio-visual data for playback on a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) player, wherein said audio-visual data comprises game content for a plurality of players;

encoding said optical disc with a set of menu buttons in said audio-visual data to identify said first remote control from said set of remote controls;

receiving at said DVD player an input signal translated from said first remote control, wherein said input signal uniquely identifies said first remote control.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said set of menu buttons in said audio-visual data are invisible to said plurality of players.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said audio-visual data to identify said first remote control comprises a menu containing a set of answer choices for a game question.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said audio-visual data to identify said first remote control indicates whether one of said plurality of players correctly answered a question.