Dedicated wireless digital video disc (dvd) controller for video game consoles

• US 6,565,440 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2000
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arista Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Arista Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Hames, Edward L.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Neill, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kasick, Julie
• Application Number:
  US09/544,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20030027633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 463/37, 463/38, 463/39, 434/351
• US Class Current: 463/39
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• 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 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• 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 2300/202 the game platform being a DVD player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands

Abstract

A wireless interface and dedicated digital video disc (DVD) controller for video game consoles capable of playing DVDs. An adapter is inserted into one of the game controller ports of the game console and provides a wireless communication receiver for receiving and inputting control commands into the game console. A dedicated DVD remote control device includes a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting DVD player control functions to the game console via the adapter and thereby enables wireless control of the DVD functions of the game console. The control buttons on the dedicated DVD remote control correspond in function to the wired game controller buttons that would otherwise control the DVD functions of the game console, but have an appearance to the user that corresponds to a standard DVD player remote control. Thus, the user need not navigate through menus or otherwise determine the DVD player functions of the wired game controller buttons with symbol designations used for various functions of game play.

Claims

1. A wireless controller for controlling digital video disc (DVD) functions of a video game console capable of playing DVDs, the game console having game controller ports for receiving game controllers, the wireless controller comprising:

a wireless receiver having one end insertable into at least one of the game controller ports of the video game console and a wireless receiving portion; and

a dedicated DVD remote control transmitter having an absence of control over game functions of the video game console at all times and having a plurality of DVD player function control buttons, said remote control wirelessly transmitting DVD player control commands to said receiver for controlling the DVD player functions of the video game console.

2. The wireless controller in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an infrared wireless protocol for the wireless transmitting and receiving of the DVD player control commands from said remote control to said wireless receiver.

3. The wireless controller in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency protocol for the wireless transmitting and receiving of the DVD player control commands from said remote control to said wireless receiver.

4. The wireless controller in accordance with claim 1, wherein said wireless receiver further comprises an indicator light for providing a user with a visual indication when said dedicated DVD remote control is actively transmitting DVD player control functions to said receiver.

5. The wireless controller in accordance with claim 1, wherein said wireless receiver further comprises a game controller receiving port adapted to receive a game controller while said wireless receiver is operably positioned within the game controller port of the video game console.

6. The wireless controller in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of DVD player function control buttons correspond in function to predetermined buttons on the game controller designated for controlling the DVD player functions of the video console.

7. The wireless controller in accordance with claim 6, wherein each of said plurality of DVD player function control buttons comprise indicia representative of the corresponding DVD player function associated with the respective button.

8. A wireless controller for a game console, the game console having controller ports and two modes including (i) a first game mode capable of playing video games and (ii) a second entertainment mode capable of playing DVD videos, and a game controller coupled to at least one of the controller port and configured to operate said game console in said first game mode, said wireless controller controlling the game console when in the second entertainment mode, the wireless controller comprising:

a wireless receiver having one end insertable into one of the controller port of the video game console and a wireless receiving portion;

a dedicated DVD remote control transmitter having an absence of control over game functions of the video game console at all times and in all modes and having a plurality of DVD player function control buttons, said remote control wirelessly transmitting DVD player control commands to said receiver for controlling the DVD player functions of the video game console when in said second entertainment mode; and

a wireless communication protocol for transmitting and receiving of the DVD player control commands from said remote control to said receiver, said wireless receiver converting received wireless DVD player control commands into electrical signals for input into a controller port of the video game console.

9. The wireless controller according with claim 8, wherein said wireless communication protocol comprises infrared (IR).

10. The wireless controller according with claim 8, wherein said wireless communication protocol comprises radio frequencies (RF).

11. The wireless controller according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of DVD player function control buttons correspond in function to predetermined buttons on the game controller designated for controlling the DVD player functions of the video console.

12. The wireless controller in accordance with claim 11, wherein each of said plurality of DVD player function control buttons comprise indicia representative of the corresponding DVD player function associated with the respective button.

13. The wireless controlled in accordance with claim 8, wherein said wireless receiver further comprises a game controller receiving port adapted to receive a game controller while said wireless receiver is operably positioned within the game controller port of the video game console.

14. A video game and audio/video entertainment system coupled to a television monitor comprising:

a game console having a controller port and two modes comprising (i) a first game mode capable of playing video games and (ii) a second entertainment mode capable of playing DVD videos;

a game controller coupled to said controller port and configured to operate said game console in said first game mode; and

a wireless adapter and a dedicated DVD video remote control configured to operate said game console via wireless transmissions to said wireless adapter, whereby upon coupling said wireless adapter to said controller port in place of said game controller, said dedicated DVD video remote control exclusively operates said game console in said second entertainment mode, and

wherein said dedicated DVD video remote control has an absence of control over game functions of the video game console at all times and in all of said operation modes.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said dedicated DVD video remote control comprises DVD player controls and a substantially flat panel in which all of said player controls are mounted.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said flat panel is devoid of game playing indicia.