Voice communication during a multi-player game

• US 6,241,612 B1
• Filed: 11/09/1998
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cirrus Logic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cirrus Logic Incorporated
• Inventors: Heredia, Rafael
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BINH AN DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/188,122
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42, 463/40, 463/41, 463/35, 704/201, 704/200, 704/203, 704/270, 704/275, 725/18, 725/20, 725/118, 725/127, 725/148, 725/149
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• 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 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2432 actuated by a sound, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games

Abstract

Real-time synchronized voice communications during a multi-player game is disclosed. A server is connected to client computers, players. Players can speak into a microphone and have their voice transmitted to all players or a select few. Digitized voice communications are transmitted along with other game data. Player speech and game data is synchronized and reproduced in the same order it was captured.

Claims

1. A video game system for providing real-time synchronized audio during a multi-player game, comprising:

a plurality of game player client computers, each including a player voice input means for inputting a player voice and producing a player voice signal for that game player client computer;

a server computer; and

a network connecting said plurality of game player client computers with said server computer, for transmitting data between plurality of game player client computers and the server computer,

wherein each of said plurality of game player client computers further comprises a first data processing and transfer program, residing in each of the plurality of game player client computers, for processing video game data, converting the player voice signal into player voice data, combining video game data with player voice data into data packets and transmitting the data packets over said network to said server computer,

wherein said server computer further comprises a second data processing and transfer program, residing within said server computer, for receiving the data packets from each of the plurality of game player client computers, combining the data packets from each of the plurality of game player client computers into a combined data packet including combined player voice data and combined video game data, and routing the combined data packet to each of the plurality of game player client computers,

wherein each of said plurality of game player client computers further comprises at least one speaker, coupled to the game player client computer for generating sounds,

wherein each of said first data processing and transfer program receives the combined data packet from the network, converts the combined player voice data into a player voice signal, and plays back the player voice signal over the at least one speaker,

wherein each of said first data processing and transfer program for each same player client computer removes player voice data for that game player client computer from the combined player voice data so as to prevent feedback of the player voice signal over said at least one speaker

wherein the combined player voice data comprises each of the player voice data for each of the player computers time division multiplexed together.

2. The video game system of claim 1, wherein said at least one speaker comprises at least two speakers for providing a stereo sound output;

and

wherein said first data processing and transfer program spatially processes the combined player voice data based upon the combined video game data so as to position aurally, individual player voice signals based upon player location in a video game.