DVD game remote controller
First Claim
1. A method in a remote control device for arbitrating between a plurality of game participants playing a DVD-based electronic game having game control logic that controls game flow and having game challenges stored on a DVD medium that are presented to the game participants and are selectable by the game control logic, comprising:
- receiving an indication of a desire to respond to a current challenge in a game turn from a plurality of auxiliary devices, each associated with one of the game participants;
determining which of the received indications was the first received indication;
designating the game participant associated with the auxiliary device that corresponds to the determined first received indication as the next participant to respond to the current challenge; and
notifying the game control logic of the designated next participant.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for enhancing a DVD-based game using a remote controller are provided. Example embodiments provide a DVD game remote controller “DGRC,” which provides input to DVD-based games, access to additional game functions and special features such as game hints, enhanced timing and scoring functions, die roll simulation, and support for buzz-in remotes. The buzz-in remotes provide automated support for turns in which multiple participants can respond to challenges. In one embodiment, the DGRC provides a transmitter, an integrated display screen, game-related selection buttons, navigation buttons, a roll button, a timer button, a score button, and a media slot. The DGRC also provides buzz-in remotes and a receiver for receiving signals therefrom.
132 Citations
60 Claims
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1. A method in a remote control device for arbitrating between a plurality of game participants playing a DVD-based electronic game having game control logic that controls game flow and having game challenges stored on a DVD medium that are presented to the game participants and are selectable by the game control logic, comprising:
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receiving an indication of a desire to respond to a current challenge in a game turn from a plurality of auxiliary devices, each associated with one of the game participants; determining which of the received indications was the first received indication; designating the game participant associated with the auxiliary device that corresponds to the determined first received indication as the next participant to respond to the current challenge; and notifying the game control logic of the designated next participant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer readable memory medium containing instructions downloadable to a remote control device that, when executed by a computer processor in the remote control device, cause the device to arbitrate between a plurality of game participants playing a DVD-based electronic game, by:
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receiving an indication of a desire to respond to a current challenge in a game turn from a plurality of auxiliary devices, each associated with one of the game participants; determining which of the received indications was the first received indication; designating the game participant associated with the auxiliary device that corresponds to the determined first received indication as the next participant to respond to the current challenge; and notifying the game control logic of the designated next participant. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A remote control device used by a plurality of game participants to play a DVD-based electronic game having game control logic that controls game flow, comprising:
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a transmitter that transmits signals to a DVD player, each indicating an instruction to perform an action that is associated with the DVD-based electronic game; a receiver that receives signals that indicate a desire to respond to a current challenge in a single game turn from a plurality of auxiliary devices, each associated with one of the game participants; game arbitration logic that is structured to receive from the receiver a plurality of indications, each indicating a corresponding game participant that desires to respond to the current challenge; determine which of the received signals was received first in time; designate based upon the determined first received signal a next game participant; and provide to the game control logic an indication of the designated next game participant so that a next signal transmitted by the transmitter that corresponds to the current challenge is associated with the designed next game participant. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A wired or wireless auxiliary remote device used to transmit signals to a separate remote controller that controls a DVD player to present a DVD-based electronic game, comprising:
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a buzz-in button that transmits a signal to the remote controller to indicate a desire to respond to a current game challenge presented on a display associated with the DVD player; and a special feature button that transmits a signal to the remote controller to initiate the presentation of a game-specific feature associated with the DVD-based electronic game. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A remote controller used with a DVD-based electronic game having game control logic that controls the flow of the game, comprising:
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an integrated display screen; a plurality of buttons that indicate to the game control logic responses to game challenges and instructions to the game control logic; and a timer button that selectably causes the remote controller to start an adjustable countdown timer associated with a current game challenge or to initiate tracking of elapsed time for the game participants to respond to game challenges, whereby the tracked elapsed time is displayed on the integrated display screen. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A remote controller used with a DVD-based electronic game having game control logic that controls the flow of the game, comprising:
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a plurality of buttons that, when activated, indicate to the game control logic responses to game challenges and instructions to the game control logic; and a roll button that, when activated, simulates a roll of a die to determine a result, causes display of a visualization of the result, and forwards the result to the game control logic to advance the DVD-based game in accordance with the result. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A remote control device used to provide an automated game board to supplement a DVD-based electronic game having game control logic that controls the flow of the game including selecting game content from the DVD for presentation on a display device associated with a DVD player, comprising:
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an integrated display screen that displays a visualization of the game board and a current position on the game board associated with each game participant; a plurality of buttons that indicate to the game control logic responses to game challenges and further instructions to the game control logic; and a scoring module that contains logic structured to receive an indication of activation of one of the plurality of buttons; determine based upon the received indication a response to a current game challenge; and adjust the visualization of the game board displayed on the integrated display screen in accordance with the determined response. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A remote control device used with a DVD-based electronic game having game control logic that controls the flow of the game, comprising:
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an integrated display screen; a plurality of buttons that indicate to the game control logic responses to game challenges and instructions to the game control logic; a score button that selectably causes the remote controller to display scores, edit scores, or display multiple game statistics on the integrated display; a timer button that selectably causes the remote controller to control an adjustable countdown timer, to initiate tracking of elapsed time for the game participants, or to display timer related values on the integrated display screen; a roll button that simulates a roll of a die, displays a visualization of a result of the simulated roll, and causes the game control logic to adjust a location or score of a current game participant accordingly; and a media slot for receiving media that contains auxiliary game related content or updates to functions for controlling processing of at least one of the score button, the timer button, or the roll button. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60)
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Specification