Television Viewing on Gaming Consoles

• US 20080167128A1
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: White, Jason, Liu, Min, Law, Stacey, Seetharaman, Logananth, Turkstra, Chris, Roshak, Todd, Discolo, Anthony, Lui, Edmund, Mollis, Adam
• Application Number:
  US11/620,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20080167128A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• 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 13/323 between game devices with different hardware characteristics, e.g. hand-held game devices connectable to game consoles or arcade machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/209 characterized by low level software layer, relating to hardware management, e.g. Operating System, Application Programming Interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/57 : details of game services offered to the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 : for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/414 : Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 : PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 : Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 : Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time

Abstract

An integrated gaming and media experience is disclosed, including television viewing on a gaming console. A client component is installed via a bootstrap process that uses authentication information to accomplish this task. Once installed, it integrates itself into a typical gaming display. Various console hardware details are used to enable communication between the client component and downstream servers providing the content. Once up and running, the client component allows users to watch television as if they were interacting with a set-top box. Users may switch between various applications on the gaming console, including but not limited to game titles, DVR, VOD, DVD programs, and so on.

Claims

1. A method for viewing television on gaming consoles, comprising:

initiating the viewing of television on a gaming console using a bootstrap module, wherein said bootstrap module inquires regarding the presence of authentication information upon the launch command from a user;

inquiring regarding the presence of a client component that allows for the viewing of television, and upon lack of presence of said client component, downloading said client component from a server; and

using said client component comprising of a client subcomponent, and at least one attribute of said client component to display television content, wherein said content is based on data received from said server.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said client subcomponent is an internet protocol television (IPTV) software.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one attribute includes one of (a) a pair of public and private keys and (b) a certificate.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said bootstrap module inquires whether a hard disk drive is available for use by said gaming console when performing downloading of said client component from said server, and when said hard disk drive is available, said bootstrap module stores said client component to said hard disk drive.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said bootstrap module also stores a digital video recording (DVR) application to said hard disk drive.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said client component on said gaming console presents a menu guide for viewing television.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said client component on said gaming console presents an integrated gaming and television selection guide.

8. A method for viewing television on gaming consoles, comprising:

receiving IPTV data by a gaming console, wherein said gaming console allows for the viewing of television, wherein said gaming console acts as a set-top box;

splitting said data into an audio data and into a video data, using respective decoders for said audio and video data;

converting said audio data from a first format into a native format for said gaming console;

processing said video data using graphics rendering resources; and

providing both said audio data converted into said native format data, and said video data processed using said graphics rendering resources to a client component for display of television on said gaming console.

9. The method according to claim 8, after said receiving of said data, un-encrypting said data.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein said receiving of data includes querying whether said data is a full frame of data or a partial frame of data, in the former case placing said data in a queue to be rendered into said native format, and in the latter case buffering said data until a full frame is achieved.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein said processing using said graphics rendering resources includes using at least one of a vertex shader and a pixel shader.

12. The method according to claim 8, after said splitting of said data, uncompressing said data.

13. The method according to claim 8, after providing said audio data and video data, displaying said data into a television display that includes a menu guide for selecting channels on said television display.

14. The method according to claim 8, providing users of said gaming console with the option to switch from viewing television to gaming mode on said gaming console via a gaming menu guide.

15. A computer readable medium bearing computer executable instructions for allowing the viewing of television on gaming consoles, comprising:

a first instruction that handles data incoming to a gaming console, wherein said gaming console is configured to display television signals;

a second instruction that splits said data into an audio data and into a video data, using respective decoders for said audio and video data;

a third instruction that converts said audio data from a first format into a native format for said gaming console;

a fourth instruction that processes said video data using graphics rendering resources; and

a fifth instruction that provides both said audio data converted into said native format data, and said video data processed using said graphics rendering resources to a client component for display of television on said gaming console.

16. The computer readable media according to claim 15, after performing said first instruction, performing a subsequent instruction that un-encrypts said data, wherein said data is IPTV data.

17. The computer readable media according to claim 15, wherein said first instruction include includes querying whether said data is a full frame of data or a partial frame of data, in the former case placing said data in a queue to be rendered into said native format, and in the latter case buffering said data until a full frame is achieved.

18. The computer readable media according to claim 15, wherein said fourth instruction includes using said at least one of a vertex shader and a pixel shader.

19. The method according to claim 15, after performing said second instruction, performing a subsequent instruction that causes uncompressing of said data.

20. The computer readable media according to claim 15, after performing said fifth instruction, displaying said data into a television display that includes one of (a) a menu guide for selecting channels on said television display and (b) a gaming guide that allows users to switch from viewing television to performing gaming on said gaming console.