Wireless Device Multimedia Feed Switching

• US 20110159814A1
• Filed: 12/24/2009
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Mikhailov, Anton, MALLINSON, Dominic S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,167,071 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/34 using peer-to-peer connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

Methods for enabling group switching of paired wireless devices are disclosed. The method includes receiving signals indicative of setting of each of a plurality of wireless devices in pairing mode. Then, detecting a physical contact between two or more of the plurality of wireless devices. The physical contact setting a pairing of the wireless devices to a group for communication with the base computing system, and enabling the group to participate in interaction with a first multimedia feed. The method further includes detecting switch signal from one of the wireless devices of the group. The switch signal discontinuing the first multimedia feed and enabling interaction with a second multimedia feed, such that each of the wireless devices of the group switch together as a group from the first multimedia feed to the second multimedia feed.

Claims

1. A method for enabling group switching of paired wireless devices, comprising:

receiving signals indicative of setting of each of a plurality of wireless devices in pairing mode; and

detecting a physical contact between two or more of the plurality of wireless devices, the physical contact setting a pairing of the wireless devices to a group for communication with the base computing system;

enabling the group to participate in interaction with a first multimedia feed; and

detecting switch signal from one of the wireless devices of the group, the switch signal discontinuing the first multimedia feed and enabling interaction with a second multimedia feed, such that each of the wireless devices of the group switch together as a group from the first multimedia feed to the second multimedia feed.

2. A method for enabling group switching of paired wireless devices as recited in claim 1, wherein the physical contact triggers a signal by one of the wireless devices that pairing should be enabled.

3. A method for enabling group switching of paired wireless devices as recited in claim 1, wherein the group is saved to a database, the database identifying each of the wireless devices in the group and identifies a capability of the respective wireless devices.

4. A method for enabling group switching of paired wireless devices as recited in claim 1, wherein the group identifies devices for a single player or for multiple players.

5. A method for enabling group switching of paired wireless devices as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining components of the first multimedia feed, the components being matched to capabilities of each of the wireless devices of the group; and

connecting the components to input/output channels of the wireless devices.

6. A method for enabling group switching of paired wireless devices as recited in claim 5, wherein the components include one or more of video, audio, images, photos, voice, text, movies, games, and internet content.

7. A method for enabling group switching of paired wireless devices as recited in claim 1, wherein the physical contact is one of a single tap, multiple taps, rubbing, petting, shaking, capacitive contact, taps at different rates, double taps, triple taps, and sub-combinations of physical contacts.

8. A method for enabling group switching of paired wireless devices as recited in claim 7, wherein particular ones of the physical contact are coded to define a particular paring action, indication of pairing, or un-pairing.

9. A method for enabling group switching of paired wireless devices as recited in claim 1, wherein switching together triggers associating components of the second multimedia feed to input/output capabilities of the wireless devices that are part of the group that switched from the first multimedia feed.

10. A method for enabling group switching of paired wireless devices as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

detecting one or more switches to one or more multimedia feeds, wherein each of the one or more switches moves each of the devices currently in the group together.

11. A method for enabling group switching of paired wireless devices as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the one or more switches is processed at the base computing system.

12. A method for enabling group switching of paired wireless devices as recited in claim 11, wherein the base computing system is a networked system.

13. A method for enabling group switching of paired wireless devices as recited in claim 1, wherein the switch signal is triggered either at one of the wireless devices or at the base computing devices.

14. Computer readable media for enabling group switching of paired wireless devices, the computer readable media comprising:

program instructions for receiving signals indicative of setting of each of a plurality of wireless devices in pairing mode; and

program instructions for detecting a physical contact between two or more of the plurality of wireless devices, the physical contact setting a pairing of the wireless devices to a group for communication with the base computing system;

program instructions for enabling the group to participate in interaction with a first multimedia feed; and

program instructions for detecting switch signal from one of the wireless devices of the group, the switch signal discontinuing the first multimedia feed and enabling interaction with a second multimedia feed, such that each of the wireless devices of the group switch together as a group from the first multimedia feed to the second multimedia feed.

15. The computer readable media of claim 14, further comprising:

program instructions for detecting one or more switches to one or more multimedia feeds, wherein each of the one or more switches moves each of the devices currently in the group together.

16. The computer readable media of claim 14, wherein each of the one or more switches is processed at the base computing system.

17. The computer readable media of claim 16, wherein the base computing system is a networked system.

18. The computer readable media of claim 14, wherein the switch signal is triggered either at one of the wireless devices or at the base computing devices.

19. The computer readable media of claim 14, wherein each multimedia feed has components, and each of the components define one or more of video, audio, images, photos, voice, text, movies, games, and internet content.

20. The computer readable media of claim 14, wherein the physical contact is one of a single tap, multiple taps, rubbing, petting, shaking, capacitive contact, taps at different rates, double taps, triple taps, and sub-combinations of physical contacts.