Computer system with reconfigurable controller
First Claim
1. A reconfigurable video game/simulator system comprising:
- a personal computer having a microprocessor operable under control of a system reconfiguration program during a reconfiguration mode and under control of a video game/simulator program during a functional mode, and a keyboard interface port;
a display coupled to the personal computer for displaying images produced by the reconfiguration and video game programs;
a video game/simulator controller having a plurality of input devices, a keyboard input port, and a keyboard input/output port coupled to the computer keyboard interface port;
a computer keyboard coupled to the controller keyboard input port for inputting reconfiguration keycodes and input keycodes;
means within the controller for transmitting from the controller to the computer predetermined reconfiguration keycodes responsive to actuation of corresponding controller input devices during the functional mode;
means within the computer for receiving the keycodes transmitted from the controller;
means within the computer for transmitting reconfiguration keycodes from the computer to the controller via the keyboard interface port during the reconfiguration mode;
means within the controller for receiving the reconfiguration keycodes from the computer during the reconfiguration mode via the keyboard interface port; and
means within the controller for reconfiguring the controller responsive to receiving the reconfiguration keycodes such that the controller transmits a reconfiguration keycode when a corresponding controller input device is actuated.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A reconfigurable video game/simulator system including a personal computer, a video display, a keyboard, and one or more game controllers including a throttle controller. The keyboard is coupled to the throttle controller as are the other game controllers. The throttle controller is coupled to the computer through a keyboard interface port. During a functional mode, the throttle controller receives inputs from the controllers and the keyboard and transmits a corresponding input keycode. During a reconfiguration mode, the user inputs the desired keycodes into the computer, either by inputting them by the keyboard or selecting a preexisting configuration file stored on the computer. The reconfiguration keycodes are then downloaded to the throttle controller over the keyboard interface. The throttle controller receives the reconfiguration keycodes and stores them in a non-volatile memory located within the controller. During a subsequent functional mode, when one of the input devices is actuated, the corresponding reconfiguration keycode is transmitted to the computer.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A reconfigurable video game/simulator system comprising:
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a personal computer having a microprocessor operable under control of a system reconfiguration program during a reconfiguration mode and under control of a video game/simulator program during a functional mode, and a keyboard interface port; a display coupled to the personal computer for displaying images produced by the reconfiguration and video game programs; a video game/simulator controller having a plurality of input devices, a keyboard input port, and a keyboard input/output port coupled to the computer keyboard interface port; a computer keyboard coupled to the controller keyboard input port for inputting reconfiguration keycodes and input keycodes; means within the controller for transmitting from the controller to the computer predetermined reconfiguration keycodes responsive to actuation of corresponding controller input devices during the functional mode; means within the computer for receiving the keycodes transmitted from the controller; means within the computer for transmitting reconfiguration keycodes from the computer to the controller via the keyboard interface port during the reconfiguration mode; means within the controller for receiving the reconfiguration keycodes from the computer during the reconfiguration mode via the keyboard interface port; and means within the controller for reconfiguring the controller responsive to receiving the reconfiguration keycodes such that the controller transmits a reconfiguration keycode when a corresponding controller input device is actuated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A reconfigurable computer system comprising:
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a personal computer having a microprocessor operable under control of a reconfiguration program during a reconfiguration mode and under control of an application program during a functional mode, and having a keyboard interface port; a display coupled to the personal computer for displaying images produced by the application program; a controller having one or more input devices and a keyboard input/output port coupled to the computer keyboard interface port; means within the computer for transmitting reconfiguration keycodes from the computer to the controller via the computer keyboard interface port during the reconfiguration mode; means within the controller for receiving the reconfiguration keycodes from the computer during the reconfiguration mode; means within the controller for reconfiguring the controller responsive to receiving the reconfiguration keycodes such that the controller transmits a reconfiguration keycode when a corresponding controller input device is actuated; and means within the controller for transmitting from the controller to the computer a predetermined reconfiguration keycode via the computer keyboard interface port responsive to actuation of a corresponding controller input device during the functional mode. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A method of reconfiguring a video game/simulator system comprising a personal computer having a microprocessor operable under control of a system reconfiguration program during a reconfiguration mode and under an application program during a functional mode, the computer having a keyboard interface port, a display coupled to the personal computer for displaying images produced by the application program, a computer keyboard, and a controller coupled to the keyboard through a keyboard input port and coupled to the computer keyboard interface port through a controller keyboard input/output port, the controller having one or more input devices, and means for selecting between the reconfiguration mode and the functional mode, the method comprising:
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selecting the reconfiguration mode; invoking the reconfiguration program on the computer; inputting reconfiguration keycodes into the computer during the reconfiguration mode, each reconfiguration keycode corresponding to one of the controller input devices; downloading the reconfiguration keycodes from the computer to the controller; reconfiguring each of the controller input devices responsive to receiving the reconfiguration keycodes such that the controller transmits a predetermined reconfiguration keycode corresponding to an input device when the input device is actuated in the functional mode; and storing the reconfiguration keycodes in a non-volatile memory within the controller for use in the functional mode. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of reconfiguring a video game/simulator system comprising a personal computer having a microprocessor operable under control of a system reconfiguration program during a reconfiguration mode and under a video game program during a functional mode, the computer having an input/output port, a display coupled to the personal computer for displaying images produced by the programs, a computer keyboard, and a video game/simulator controller coupled to computer via the input/output port, the controller having a plurality of input devices, the method comprising:
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in the reconfiguration mode, displaying on the display a representation of the controller including the controller input devices; selecting one of the controller input devices; displaying an entry field for the selected one of the input devices on the representation of the controller; inputting a set of one or more reconfiguration keycodes into the computer and thence into the displayed entry field thereby associating the set with the selected controller input device; storing the set of inputted reconfiguration keycodes in association with the selected controller input device; and in the functional mode, responsive to each actuation of the selected input device on the controller, presenting the set of associated keycodes to the video game program as though they were keyed by the user on the computer keyboard. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A reconfigurable video game/simulator system comprising:
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a personal computer having a microprocessor and a memory; a display coupled to the personal computer for displaying images; a controller having multiple input devices and being coupled to the personal computer to input a keycode to the computer responsive to actuation of one of the input devices; means within the computer for displaying an image representing the controller on the display; means within the computer for displaying an entry field for each input device; means within the computer for receiving and storing a set of reconfiguration keycodes for the input devices, and means for receiving a reconfiguration keycode within each entry field.
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17. A reconfigurable video game/simulator system comprising:
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a personal computer having a microprocessor; a display coupled to the personal computer for displaying images; a controller having one or more input devices and being coupled to the personal computer; means within the computer for displaying an image representing the controller, including the input devices, on the display; means within the computer for receiving reconfiguration keycodes for the input devices including; means within the computer for receiving reconfiguration keycodes stored in a reconfiguration file; and means within the computer for associating each reconfiguration keycode with a corresponding input device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification