Video Gaming Controller Bay for Mobile Devices

• US 20090291760A1
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SoundStarts, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SoundStarts, Inc.
• Inventors: Hepburn, Bennett, Boys, Mark A., Boys, Donald R.
• Application Number:
  US12/125,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20090291760A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• 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 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• 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 13/323 between game devices with different hardware characteristics, e.g. hand-held game devices connectable to game consoles or arcade machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 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 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• 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

Abstract

A gaming console facilitating universal game control for mobile devices capable of video gaming includes a housing supporting a video graphics display area, a coupling interface and docking bay strategically located in the housing relative to the display area for docking and coupling to a mobile device, at least one video game controller interface conveniently located on the housing relative to the display area, and at least one mobile device control interface conveniently located on the housing relative to the display area wherein the gaming console with a mobile device coupled thereto serves as a video gaming station for playing video games accessible to the mobile device, and wherein the at least one video game controller interface is used to execute and play a video game instead of controls resident on the mobile device.

Claims

1. A gaming console facilitating universal game control for mobile devices capable of video gaming comprising:

a housing supporting a video graphics display area;

a coupling interface and docking bay strategically located in the housing relative to the display area for docking and coupling to a mobile device;

at least one video game controller interface conveniently located on the housing relative to the display area; and

at least one mobile device control interface conveniently located on the housing relative to the display area;

wherein the gaming console with a mobile device coupled thereto serves as a video gaming station for playing video games accessible to the mobile device, and wherein the at least one video game controller interface is used to execute and play a video game instead of controls resident on the mobile device.

2. The gaming console of claim 1 wherein the coupling interface is a male universal serial bus (USB) interface connectable to a female USB port on the mobile device directly or through a USB interface adapter.

3. The gaming console of claim 1 wherein the coupling interface connects to a mobile telephone, a hand-held computer, a music player, or a GPS unit.

4. The gaming console of claim 1 further including a power supply module capable of connecting to a direct current (DC) power source or to an alternating current (AC) power source.

5. The gaming console of claim 4 further including a charging interface accessible via the coupling interface for charging the battery or batteries on a connected mobile device.

6. The gaming console of claim 1 wherein the at least one mobile device control interface enables call initiation, call answer and call reject.

7. The gaming console of claim 6 wherein there is an additional mobile device control interface enabling volume control on the mobile device.

8. The gaming console of claim 1 further including a wireless adapter enabling wireless gaming involving more than one gaming console.

9. The gaming console of claim 8 wherein the wireless adapter is a Bluetooth™

adapter or a wireless fidelity (WiFi) network adapter.

10. The gaming console of claim 9 wherein in WiFi mode with two or more players engaged, one or more of the players may be engaged over the Internet network.

11. The gaming console of claim 9 wherein the wireless adapter enables game display on a home entertainment television screen and audio through a home entertainment audio system.

12. The gaming console of claim 1 wherein the video graphics display area is a video display screen coupled with a hi-definition graphics accelerator for enhancing lower resolution graphics display of a mobile device.

13. The gaming console of claim 1 wherein the video display area is a transparent window through which the display of a docked mobile device may be viewed.

14. The gaming console of claim 1 further including a mobile device adapter jacket and coupling adapter for readying a mobile device for insertion into the docking bay of the console.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the video game server is a network server accessed via the Internet network using a wireless network connection initiated by a mobile device.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the wireless network connection is a WiFi connection, or a wireless cellular connection.

15. A system for portable gaming comprising:

at least one gaming console facilitating universal game controller features for a mobile device capable of video gaming, including a housing supporting a video graphics display window, a coupling interface and docking bay for docking and coupling to a mobile device, at least one video game controller interface, and at least one mobile device control; and

a video game server accessible through a wireless network connection.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the video game server is a cable or satellite network access box and the wireless network connection is a Bluetooth™

connection.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the network access box is a video gaming box.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the video game server is a mobile device docked to a gaming console.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein the video game server is a computer.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the computer is a high-end gaming machine.

23. A method for adapting a mobile device to play a video game with universal game control including the steps:

(a) providing a gaming console facilitating universal game control for mobile devices capable of video gaming, including a housing supporting a video graphics display area, a coupling interface and docking bay for docking and coupling to a mobile device, and at least one video game controller interface;

(b) inserting a mobile device having access to an executable video game into the docking bay of the gaming console thereby coupling the mobile device to the gaming console;

(c) using one of the at least one video game controller interfaces, executing a video game on the mobile device; and

(d) using one of the at least one video game controller interfaces for playing the video game.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the mobile device is one of a cellular telephone, an I-Phone, a hand-held computer, a music player, or a GPS unit.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein in step (b) the mobile device is first coupled to an adapter before insertion into the docking bay.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein in step (b) the video game is accessible in storage on the device or on a network-connected server the mobile device is connected to.