Notifications on game controller

• US 20150367234A1
• Filed: 06/19/2014
• Published: 12/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Christopher, Yaksick, Jeffrey David
• Granted Patent: US 10,086,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• 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 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session

Abstract

Implementations are provided that permit a seamless activation of a game or other application on a host device from a game controller. The game may be launched on the host device in response to an activation signal that is dispatched from the game controller. The game controller may generate the activation signal or it may send such a signal to the host device for processing. The game controller may detect that an action button has been pressed and generate the activation signal in response thereto.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, by a processor of a game controller communicatively coupled to a host device, an indication of a notification about a game that is not currently launched on the host device, wherein the game controller comprises an action button and at least one of a directional pad, an analog controller, a shoulder button, a trigger button, or a controller button;

receiving an indication that the action button has been pressed; and

dispatching an activation signal to the host device in response to receiving the indication that the action button has been pressed, wherein the activation signal causes the host device to launch the game.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the host device dispatches the indication of the notification to the game controller.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the game controller further comprises a display.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

wherein the notification comprises an image of an originator of the game invitation; and

displaying the image on the display of the game controller.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a second host device;

presenting a prompt in the display that shows a representation for each of the host device and the second host device; and

receiving a selection of the host device.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the display is touch-sensitive, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the display, an indication of the activation signal.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving a message from a player of the game on the display.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving a second activation signal, wherein the second activation signal causes an in-game action.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification indicates a leaderboard status change.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the game controller further comprises a computer readable memory, the method further comprising:

storing an indication of a user account with to the computer readable memory; and

logging a user of the controller into a game account based on the indication of the user account stored to the computer readable memory.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating the host device in response to the activation signal.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating a monitor for display of the game.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the notification comprises at least one of a visual cue or an audio cue.

14. A device, comprising:

an action button and at least one of a directional pad, an analog controller, a shoulder button, a trigger button, or a controller button;

a communication module that communicatively couples the device to a host device;

a processor configured to;

receive an indication of a notification about a game that is not currently launched on the host device;

receive an indication that the action button has been pressed; and

dispatch an activation signal to the host device in response to receiving the indication that the action button has been pressed, wherein the activation signal causes the host device to launch the game.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the host device dispatches the indication of the notification to the game controller.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the game controller further comprises a display.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the notification comprises an image of an originator of the game invitation and the processor is further configured to display the image on the display of the game controller.

18. The device of claim 16, the processor further configured to:

receive an indication of a second host device;

present a prompt in the display that shows a representation for each of the host device and the second host device; and

receive a selection of the host device.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the display is touch-sensitive and the processor is further configured to receive, by the display, an indication of the activation signal.

20. The device of claim 16, further comprising receiving a message from a player of the game on the display.

21. The device of claim 20, the processor further configured to receive a second activation signal, wherein the second activation signal causes an in-game action.

22. The device of claim 14, wherein the notification indicates a leaderboard status change.

23. The device of claim 14, wherein the game controller further comprises a computer readable memory and the processor further is configured to:

store an indication of a user account with to the computer readable memory; and

log a user of the controller into a game account based on the indication of the user account stored to the computer readable memory.

24. The device of claim 14, the processor further configured to activate the host device in response to the activation signal.

25. The device of claim 14, the processor further configured to activate a monitor for display of the game.

26. The device of claim 14, wherein the indication of the notification comprises at least one of a visual cue or an audio cue.

27. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, by a processor of a game controller communicatively coupled to a host device, an indication of a chat request, wherein the game controller comprises an action button and at least one of a directional pad, an analog controller, a shoulder button, a trigger button, or a controller button;

receiving an indication that the action button has been pressed; and

dispatching an activation signal to the host device in response to receiving the indication that the action button has been pressed, wherein the activation signal causes the host device to launch a chat message application.