Method of identifying game controllers in multi-player game

• US 6,511,378 B1
• Filed: 05/05/2000
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Bhatt, Dhiraj, Brimhall, Wells A., Yellepeddy, Venkat U., Castlevetro, Lynette A., Reid, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones, Scott E.
• Application Number:
  US09/566,848
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/30, 463/36-39, 463/42, 463/47, 273/148.R, 273/148.B, 341/175, 345/329
• US Class Current: 463/36
• 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 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/843 involving concurrently two or more players on the same game device, e.g. requiring the use of a plurality of controllers or of a specific view of game data for each player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/513 server hierarchy, e.g. local, regional, national or dedicated for different tasks, e.g. authenticating, billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console

Abstract

In one embodiment, an operating system may assign a product ID to the game controller that matches the product ID provided with or for the game controller.

Claims

1. A method of assigning a unique product identification (ID) to at least two game controllers in a multi-player game that executes on a host computing system comprising:

coupling the at least two game controllers to the host computing system;

executing a driver on the host computing system that assigns the unique product identification (ID) to each of the at least two game controllers; and

executing an operating system on the host computing system that confirms a match between the unique product identification (ID) assigned by the driver and a product identification (ID) provided by each of the at least two game controllers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the product identification (ID) comprises an identification number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the product identification (ID) is employed as a unique game controller identification (ID).

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the unique game controller identification (ID) is employed as a player identification (ID) for the multi-player game.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each unique product identification (ID) has an associated a unique character string, the associated unique character string including a unique number, the unique number being employed as a player identification (ID) for the multi-player game.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein each game controller includes a display, and further comprising:

displaying the player identification (ID) for the particular game controller on each of the at least two game controllers.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the displayed player identification (ID) for each respective game controller is the same as the player identification (ID) associated with each respective controller by the multi-player game.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the operating system has a game controllers control panel, the game controllers control panel has the same player identification (ID) for each respective game controller as the displayed player identification (ID) for each respective game controller.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the at least two game controllers comprises coupling more than two game controllers to the host computing system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a base station is connected to the host computing system and the at least two game controllers are coupled to the base station via a wireless communications medium.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a base station is connected to the host computing system via a USB specification compliant port.

12. A method comprising:

assigning a product identification (ID) to a game controller in a game that executes on a host computing system, wherein the game controller is coupled to the host computing system via a wireless medium; and

assigning a product identification (ID) to the game controller via an operating system of the host computing system that matches the product identification (ID) for the game controller.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the game controller includes an electronic display, and further comprising;

electronically displaying the matched product identification (ID).

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the electronic display comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD).

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the product identification (ID) for the game controller is provided in an information file associated with the game controller.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the information file is provided on a storage medium associated with the game controller.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein another game controller is coupled to the host computing system via the wireless medium, and further comprising:

assigning a different product identification (ID) to the another game controller via the operating system of the host computing system that matches a product identification (ID) for the another game controller.

18. An article comprising:

a storage medium, having stored thereon, instructions, that, when executed by a host computing platform, result in executing the following;

assigning a product identification (ID) to a game controller; and

assigning a product identification (ID) to the game controller via an operating system of the host computing system that matches a product identification (ID) for the game controller.

19. The article of claim 18, wherein the game controller includes an electronic display, the storage medium having stored thereon, instructions, that further result in:

electronically displaying the matched product identification (ID).

20. The article of claim 18, wherein the product identification (ID) for the game controller is provided in a stored information file associated with the game controller.