Adaptation for Alternate Gaming Input Devices

• US 20100081507A1
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Finocchio, Mark J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,133,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• 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 13/422 automatically for the purpose of assisting the player, e.g. automatic braking in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6054 by generating automatically game commands to assist the player, e.g. automatic braking in a driving game

Abstract

Mechanisms for adjusting signals between gaming controllers and gaming consoles are disclosed. In an embodiment, the output signals of a mouse control a gaming console which is normally controlled by an analog thumbstick. The output signals of mouse are adjusted to compensate for the analog thumbstick controller assist techniques employed by the gaming console. The adjusted signals are sent to the gaming console. The result is that the user is able to control the game using the mouse and have the same feel as if the user was using the analog thumbstick controller.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a gaming console with a gaming controller, comprising:

receiving at least one first signal sent from a first gaming controller to control an aspect of a gaming console, wherein said gaming console is configured to receive at least one second signal from a second gaming controller;

converting a value representative of said at least first signal to a value representative of said at least one second signal, wherein the converted value is substantially similar to a value that would result from receiving the at least one second signal; and

submitting the converted value representative of said at least first signal to some component of said gaming console.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said submitting the converted value representative of said at least first signal comprises:

generating a modified first signal based on the converted value representative of said at least first signal; and

imputing said modified first signal to said gaming console.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said converting a value representative of said at least first signal comprises applying a YX ratio.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said converting a value representative of said at least first signal comprises applying a translation exponent.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said converting a value representative of said at least first signal comprises applying a sensitivity factor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said converting a value representative of said at least first signal comprises applying a diagonal dampening factor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said converting a value representative of said at least first signal comprises:

determining the dead zone size and type of said second controller; and

modifying at least some of the received signals based on the size and type of said dead zone of said second controller.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said converting a value representative of said at least first signal further comprises:

determining that said dead zone type is circular;

converting at lease some of the received signals from Cartesian values to polar values; and

adding the radius of said dead zone to the magnitude component of the said polar values.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said modifying further comprises:

determining that said dead zone type is square; and

adding the dead zone size to the said intercepted signals.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said converting a value representative of said at least first signal comprises comprising clamping the converted value representative of said at least first signal to the minimum and maximum values which can be recognized by said gaming console.

11. A system for controlling a gaming console with a gaming controller, comprising:

a first gaming controller operatively connected to a gaming console;

a first subsystem configured to receive at least one first signal sent from said first gaming controller to control an aspect of said gaming console, wherein said gaming console is configured to receive at least one second signal from a second gaming controller;

a second subsystem configured to convert a value representative of said at least first signal to a value representative of said at least one second signal, wherein the converted value is substantially similar to a value that would result from receiving the at least one second signal; and

a third subsystem configured to submit the converted value representative of said at least first signal to some component of said gaming console.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said second subsystem is located within said first gaming controller.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said second subsystem is located within said gaming console.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a hub operatively connected between said first gaming controller and said gaming console.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said second subsystem is located within said hub.

16. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a gaming console with a gaming controller, the instructions comprising instructions for:

receiving at least one first signal sent from a first gaming controller to control an aspect of a gaming console, wherein said gaming console is configured to receive at least one second signal from a second gaming controller;

converting a value representative of said at least first signal to a value representative of said at least one second signal, wherein the converted value is substantially similar to a value that would result from receiving the at least one second signal; and

submitting the converted value representative of said at least first signal to some component of said gaming console.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein said instructions for submitting the converted value representative of said at least first signal comprise instructions for:

generating a modified first signal based on the converted value representative of said at least first signal; and

imputing said modified first signal to said gaming console.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, the instructions for converting a value representative of said at least first signal further comprise instructions for applying an YX ratio.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, the instructions for converting a value representative of said at least first signal further comprise instructions for applying a translation exponent.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, the instructions for converting a value representative of said at least first signal further comprise instructions for applying a sensitivity factor.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, the instructions for converting a value representative of said at least first signal further comprise instructions for applying a diagonal dampening factor.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, the instructions for converting a value representative of said at least first signal further comprise instructions for:

determining the dead zone size and type of said second controller; and

modifying at least some of the received signals based on the size and type of said dead zone of said second controller.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, the instructions for converting a value representative of said at least first signal further comprise instructions for:

determining that said dead zone type is circular;

converting at lease some of the received signals from Cartesian values to polar values; and

adding the radius of said dead zone to the magnitude component of the said polar values.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, the instructions for converting a value representative of said at least first signal further comprise instructions for:

determining that said dead zone type is square; and

adding the dead zone size to the said intercepted signals.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, the instructions for converting a value representative of said at least first signal further comprising instructions for clamping the converted value representative of said at least first signal to the minimum and maximum values which can be recognized by said gaming console.