Hybrid platform for video games

• US 20100113156A1
• Filed: 11/04/2008
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acer Cloud Technology, Inc. (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Acer Cloud Technology, Inc. (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: YEN, Wei
• Granted Patent: US 8,073,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/203 Image generating hardware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games

Abstract

Techniques for providing a hybrid platform for video games are disclosed. To enjoy the video and audio quality a TV could provide, all game actions with a video game are provided via a TV. However, the video game itself is running on a generic personal computer (PC). In one embodiment, a game hub is provided to receive from a game controller various game actions by a game player with the video game. The game hub provides an (wired or wireless) interface for transferring signals representing the game actions to the PC, in return the PC provides an uncompressed digital stream to the TV for display.

Claims

1. A game system comprising:

at least a game controller being used by a game player;

a game hub coupled to the game controller and receiving signals representing various game actions from the game controller;

a personal computer (PC) loaded with a video game and caused to execute and manipulate the video game in accordance with data representing the game actions, and producing corresponding digital streams; and

a television (TV) receiving the digital streams from the PC and displaying the video game to the game player.

2. The game system as recited in claim 1, wherein the digital streams from the PC are uncompressed video streams and audio streams.

3. The game system as recited in claim 1, wherein the digital streams from the PC are uncompressed video streams.

4. The game system as recited in claim 2, wherein the TV receives the digital streams via a wired means.

5. The game system as recited in claim 2, wherein the TV receives the digital streams via a wireless means.

6. The game system as recited in claim 5, wherein the wireless means includes one of RF, wireless HDMI and wireless HD.

7. The game system as recited in claim 1, wherein the game hub conveys the signals to the PC via a wireless means.

8. The game system as recited in claim 7, wherein the wireless means includes one of RF, bluetooth and WiFi.

9. The game system as recited in claim 1, wherein the TV and the PC are placed separately or relatively remotely, the game hub is placed near the TV to facilitate communication between the controllers and the PC.

10. The game system as recited in claim 1, wherein the game hub includes at least a controller interface to receive the game controller, a microprocessor, a memory space for storing one or more modules, a circuit and an interface to the PC, the microprocessor executing the one or more modules to process the signals and cause the data to be conveyed to the PC via the circuit and the interface.

11. The game system as recited in claim 10, wherein the game controller is used to remotely turn on/off the PC, to load all available games, or to execute a selected game, and to execute another application.

12. The game system as recited in claim 11, wherein the another application includes one or more of an Office tool, an Internet browser, a financial application and a photo presentation.

13. The game system as recited in claim 1, wherein the PC is installed with programs or modules to be associated with the video game to make the video game more controllable in a sense that the game player decides where the video game restarts, transport stats and data pertaining to the video game and start up the video game from another computing device without having to start the video game all over again.

14. The game system as recited in claim 1, wherein the game controller is installed with programs or modules to be associated with the video game to make the video game more controllable in a sense that the game player decides where the video game restarts, transport stats and data pertaining to the video game and start up the video game from another computing device without having to start the video game all over again.

15. A game system comprising:

at least a game controller being manipulated by a game player;

a personal computer (PC) loaded with a video game and caused to execute and manipulate the video game in accordance with data representing the game actions, and producing a corresponding uncompressed digital stream; and

a television (TV) receiving the uncompressed digital streams wirelessly from the PC and displaying the video game to the game player.

16. The game system as recited in claim 16, wherein the PC communicates with the game controller to receive signals representing various game actions from the game controller and sends the uncompressed digital streams to the TV via wireless.

17. The game system as recited in claim 16, wherein communication between the PC and the game controller is conducted wirelessly.

18. A game system comprising:

at least a game controller being manipulated by a game player;

a game hub coupled to the game controller and receiving signals representing various game actions from the game controller;

a personal computer (PC) loaded with a video game and caused to execute and manipulate the video game in accordance with data representing the game actions, and producing digital streams; and

a television (TV) receiving a video signal via the game hub and displaying the video game to the game player.

19. The game system as recited in claim 18, wherein the digital streams from the PC are uncompressed video streams.

20. The game system as recited in claim 19, wherein the digital streams from the PC are uncompressed video and audio streams.

21. The game system as recited in claim 18, wherein the game hub receives the digital streams from the PC via a wired means.

22. The game system as recited in claim 18, wherein the game hub receives the digital streams from the PC via a wireless means.

23. The game system as recited in claim 22, wherein the wireless means includes one of RF, wireless HDMI or wireless HD.

24. The game system as recited in claim 18, wherein the game hub conveys the signals to the PC via a wireless means.

25. The game system as recited in claim 24, wherein the wireless means includes one of RF, IR, bluetooth and WiFi.

26. The game system as recited in claim 18, wherein the TV and the PC are placed separately or relatively remotely, the game hub bridges the TV and the PC and communicates with at least one game controller.

27. The game system as recited in claim 26, wherein the game hub includes at least a controller interface to receive the game controller, a microprocessor, a memory space for storing one or more modules, a circuit and a first interface to the TV and a second interface to the PC, the microprocessor executing the one or more modules to process the signals and cause the data to be conveyed to the PC via the circuit and the second interface or the video and audio signal to the TV via the circuit and the first interface.

28. The game system as recited in claim 27, wherein the game controller is used to remotely turn on/off the PC, to load all available games, or to execute a selected game, and to execute another application.

29. The game system as recited in claim 18, wherein the PC is installed with a virtual machine that co-exists but is not part of a traditional operating system on the PC, this virtual machine allows a game player to invoke and run quickly a video game without invoking the traditional operating system.

30. The game system as recited in claim 18, wherein one of the PC or game controller is installed with programs or modules to be associated with the video game to make the video game more controllable in a sense that the game player decides where the video game restarts, transport stats and data pertaining to the video game and start up the video game from another computing device without having to start the video game all over again.