Mesh network game controller with voice transmission, search capability, motion detection, and/or position detection

• US 7,976,386 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2006
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: MUSE Green Investments LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Tran, Bao Q.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US11/451,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20070298885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,856 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 40- 42, 463/36
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed having a mesh network such as a ZigBee mesh network, a game controller coupled to the mesh network; and a display device coupled to the mesh network.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a mesh network;

a mesh network game controller coupled to the mesh network including one or more motion detectors and an in-door position detector;

a display device coupled to the mesh network, wherein the mesh network comprises an 802.15 network, further comprising at least two additional mesh network appliances communicating with the mesh network game controller and to determine the mesh network game controller position using triangulation with devices in the 802.15 network; and

a health condition sensor coupled to the game controller to sense at least one of;

ECG, EEG, EMG, EOG, EKG, vital sign, blood pressure, sugar level, body orientation, body position, blood-oxygen level, pulse rate, throat condition, breathing, skin resistance, limb movement, thorax movement, abdomen movement.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mesh network game controller comprises a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone.

3. The system of claim 1, comprising one or more motion detector sensors including a 3D acceleration sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, comprising one or more motion detector sensors to allow a player to perform one of:

wield the game controller to simulate a sword, wave the game controller to simulate a conductor'"'"'s baton, swing the game controller to simulate a baseball bat.

5. The system of claim 1, comprising a server coupled to the plain old telephone service (POTS) or public switched telephone network (PSTN), the server receiving a search query from the game controller;

the server searching one or more databases based on the search query and returning a search result on the display.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein a remote party is coupled to the game controller over the Internet, wherein the remote party communicates with the mesh network game controller for multi-player gaming.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the server transmits a caller identification (Caller ID) number to a third party entity for calling back a player and wherein the third party pays a fee for each Caller ID.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the databases comprise one or more of:

music, food, restaurant, movie, map, telephone directory, news, blogs, weather, stocks, calendar, sports, horoscopes, lottery, messages, traffic, direction.

9. The system of claim 1, comprising a mesh network appliance wirelessly coupled to the game controller to provide one of:

home security, door access control, lighting control, power outlet control, dimmer control, switch control, temperature control, humidity control, carbon monoxide control, fire alarm control, blind control, shade control, window control, oven control, cooking range control, personal computer control, entertainment console control, television control, projector control, garage door control, car control, pool temperature control, water pump control, furnace control, heater control, thermostat control, electricity meter monitor, water meter monitor, gas meter monitor, remote diagnostic.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the game controller is coupled to a cellular telephone to answer calls directed at the cellular telephone.

11. The system of claim 1, comprising a camera coupled to the mesh network and to the game controller.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the game controller monitors player movements and falls.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the in-door positioning detector is coupled to one or more mesh network appliances to provide location information.

14. The system of claim 1, comprising a health condition sensor coupled to the game controller to provide health feedback to a player.

15. The system of claim 1, comprising a wireless router coupled to the mesh network and wherein the wireless router comprises one of:

802.11 router, 802.16 router, WiFi router, WiMAX router, Bluetooth router, X10 router.

16. A system, comprising

a mesh network;

a network game controller coupled to the mesh network including one or more motion detectors and an in-door position detector; and

a display device coupled to the mesh network, wherein the mesh network game controller comprises a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone; and

a server coupled to the plain old telephone service (POTS) or public switched telephone network (PSTN), the server receiving a search query from the game controller;

the server searching one or more databases based on the search query and returning a search result on the display.

17. A game controller, comprising:

a mesh network;

a mesh network game controller coupled to the mesh network including a processor;

a motion sensor including an accelerometer coupled to the processor; and

a player health condition sensor coupled to the processor to sense at least one of;

ECG, EEG, EMG, EOG, EKG, vital sign, blood pressure, sugar level, body orientation, body position, blood-oxygen level, pulse rate, throat condition, breathing, skin resistance, limb movement, thorax movement, abdomen movement.

18. The game controller of claim 17, comprising a mesh network with at least two additional mesh network appliances communicating with the game controller processor and to determine game controller position using triangulation with the two mesh network appliances.