Method and apparatus for enhanced gaming

• US 7,718,884 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2008
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Jessop, Jerome S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fletcher; Marlon T
• Application Number:
  US12/175,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20100016079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 84/615
• 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 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• 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 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0008 Associated control or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/141 Games on or about music, i.e. based on musical knowledge, e.g. musical multimedia quizzes
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/241 on touchscreens, i.e. keys, frets, strings, tablature or staff displayed on a touchscreen display for note input purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/015 PDA [personal digital assistant] or palmtop computing devices used for musical purposes, e.g. portable music players, tablet computers, e-readers or smart phones in which mobile telephony functions need not be used
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/175 for jam sessions or musical collaboration through a network, e.g. for composition, ensemble playing or repeating; Compensation of network or internet delays therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/211 Wireless transmission, e.g. of music parameters or control data by radio, infrared or ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/285 USB, i.e. either using a USB plug as power supply or using the USB protocol to exchange data

Abstract

A system for seamless integration of a handheld device, as a secondary display and input device, to remotely interact with a host device. The host device receives data from a remote location. One or more handheld devices, receive data provided by the host device. Each of the handheld devices includes one or more controllers. Each of the controllers provides control input data to the associated handheld device. The handheld devices each have one or more input modules, such as a microphone, or Wi-Fi port, to receive the control input data as well as one or more output modules, such as a display screen and/or speaker that outputs processed data, such as video and/or audio data. The output data is specific to a particular one of the handheld devices.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first module adapted to receive data from a remote location;

one or more second modules, adapted to receive data provided by the first module and to process data;

one or more controllers, coupled to an associated second module, each of the one or more controllers adapted to provide control input data to the associated second module;

wherein the one or more second modules each have one or more input modules adapted to receive the control input data;

wherein the one or more second modules each have one or more output modules adapted to output processed data that is specific to a particular one of the one or more second modules based on the control input data received from the associated controller, and

wherein the one or more second modules are adapted to compare the control input data received from the associated controller to the data provided by the first module.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more second modules transmit signals to the first module.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the transmission of signals is via a wireless connection or a wired connection.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input module is adapted to receive the control input data via a wireless connection between the one or more controllers and the one or more second modules.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input module is a wired port.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more controllers are motion sensitive and the control input data is a function of sensed motion.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input from the first module to the one or more second modules is via a wireless link.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input from the first module to the one or more second modules is a representation of musical notes.

9. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the representation of musical notes corresponds to music selected from the group consisting of guitar music and drum music.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a supporting unit adapted to support the one or more second modules.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the supporting unit is adapted to swivel from a first position to a second position, the second position being perpendicular to the first position.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more output modules comprises a display screen.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the display screen has zooming functionality.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more output modules comprises a speaker.

15. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more output modules comprises a wireless port.

16. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more input modules comprises a microphone.

17. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more input modules comprises a Wi-Fi port.

18. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more second modules are adapted to store data.

19. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more output modules are adapted to output display data at an orientation specified by the first module.

22. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first module determines operation of the one or more second modules.

23. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more output modules include a display unit.

20. A system comprising:

a first module adapted to receive data from a remote location;

one or more second modules, adapted to receive data provided by the first module;

one or more controllers, coupled to an associated second module, each of the one or more controllers adapted to provide control input data to the associated second module;

wherein the one or more second modules each have one or more input modules adapted to receive the control input data;

wherein the one or more second modules each have one or more output modules adapted to output data that is specific to a particular one of the one or more second modules based on the control input data received from the associated controller,

wherein the one or more second modules are adapted to compare the control input data received from the associated controller to the data provided by the first module,

wherein the one or more second modules transmit signals to the first module via a wireless transmission link.

21. A system comprising:

a first module adapted to receive data from a remote location;

one or more second modules, adapted to receive data provided by the first module;

one or more controllers, coupled to an associated second module, each of the one or more controllers adapted to provide control input data to the associated second module;

wherein the one or more second modules each have one or more input modules adapted to receive the control input data;

wherein the one or more second modules each have one or more output modules adapted to output data that is specific to a particular one of the one or more second modules based on the control input data received from the associated controller,

wherein the one or more second modules are adapted to compare the control input data received from the associated controller to the data provided by the first module,

wherein the one or more second modules transmit signals to the first module via program code stored on the one or more second modules.