METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING USE OF AN ACCESSORY

• US 20140274399A1
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelseries Aps
• Original Assignee: Steelseries Aps
• Inventors: Mahlmeister, Jeffrey Nicholas, Chen, Keny, Seolberg, Tino
• Granted Patent: US 9,604,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• 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 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/40 Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• 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 2300/209 characterized by low level software layer, relating to hardware management, e.g. Operating System, Application Programming Interface

Abstract

A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system having a processor that performs operations including receiving from an accessory device a control signal for controlling a software application, determining that the control signal corresponds to a first action of a plurality of actions for controlling the software application, monitoring a frequency of usage of the first action, and presenting at the accessory device or a display device coupled to the accessory device a measure of the frequency of usage of the first action. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a system comprising a processor, from a gaming accessory a control signal for controlling a video game;

determining, by the system, that the control signal corresponds to a first gaming action of a plurality of gaming actions for controlling the video game;

tracking, by the system, a frequency of usage of the first gaming action; and

presenting, by the system, at the gaming accessory a measure of the frequency of usage of the first gaming action.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the measure of the frequency of usage is presented by way of an input function of the gaming accessory.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the measure of the frequency of usage of the first gaming action is presented by an illumination of the input function of the gaming accessory.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the illumination comprises a color that identifies the measure of the frequency of usage.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the input function of the gaming accessory is a button.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the button comprises one of a touch screen button, a depressible button, or a combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying an over usage state responsive to detecting that the frequency of usage of the first gaming action has exceeded a threshold.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising blocking usage of the first gaming action responsive to identifying the over usage state.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising replacing the first gaming action with a second gaming action responsive to identifying the over usage state.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising setting a time limit for usage of the first gaming action responsive to identifying the over usage state.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the threshold comprises a time limit for usage of the first gaming action.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising presenting a second gaming action responsive to identifying the over usage state.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the presenting of the second gaming action comprises presenting the second gaming action at the gaming accessory.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the presenting the second gaming action at the gaming accessory comprises presenting the second gaming action at the gaming accessory by an illumination of an input function of the gaming accessory.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the presenting of the measure of the frequency of usage of the first gaming action occurs during a replay of a gaming session of the video game.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the presenting of the measure of the frequency of usage of the first gaming action occurs during a gaming session of the video game.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the system is an integral part of the gaming accessory.

18. A machine-readable storage medium, comprising instructions, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, a processor performs operations comprising:

receiving from an accessory device a control signal for controlling a software application;

determining that the control signal corresponds to a first action of a plurality of actions for controlling the software application;

monitoring a frequency of usage of the first action; and

presenting at the accessory device or a display device coupled to the accessory device a measure of the frequency of usage of the first action.

19. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise identifying an over usage state responsive to detecting that the frequency of usage of the first action has exceeded a threshold.

20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise blocking usage of the first action responsive to identifying the over usage state.

21. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the measure of the frequency of usage is presented by way of an input function of the accessory device, and wherein the input function comprises one of a touch-sensitive button, a depressible button, or a combination thereof.

22. An accessory device, comprising:

a memory to store instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, the processor performs operations comprising;

detecting a selection of an input function of the accessory device;

generating a control signal responsive to detecting the selection of the input function for controlling a software application;

determining that the control signal corresponds to a first action of a plurality of actions for controlling the software application;

determining a frequency of usage of the first action; and

presenting at the accessory device or a display device coupled to the accessory device a measure of the frequency of usage of the first action.

23. The accessory device of claim 22, wherein the operations further comprise identifying an over usage state responsive to detecting that the frequency of usage of the first action has exceeded a threshold.

24. The accessory device of claim 23, wherein the operations further comprise modifying a usage of the first action responsive to identifying the over usage state.

25. The accessory device of claim 22, wherein the measure of the frequency of usage is presented by way of an input function of the accessory device, and wherein the input function comprises one of a touch-sensitive button, a depressible button, or a combination thereof.