Adaptation for alternate gaming input devices

• US 8,133,119 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Finocchio, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richards, N Drew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dulka, John P
• Application Number:
  US12/363,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20100081507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 463/37, 463/38
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• 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 13/422 automatically for the purpose of assisting the player, e.g. automatic braking in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6054 by generating automatically game commands to assist the player, e.g. automatic braking in a driving game

Abstract

Mechanisms for adjusting signals between gaming controllers and gaming consoles are disclosed. In an embodiment, the output signals of a mouse control a gaming console which is normally controlled by an analog thumbstick. The output signals of mouse are adjusted to compensate for the analog thumbstick controller assist techniques employed by the gaming console. The adjusted signals are sent to the gaming console. The result is that the user is able to control the game using the mouse and have the same feel as if the user was using the analog thumbstick controller.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a gaming console with a gaming controller, comprising:

receiving at least one first signal sent from a first gaming controller to control an aspect of a gaming console configured to receive at least one second signal from a second gaming controller;

converting a polar value representative of said at least first signal to a Cartesian value representative of said at least one second signal, the Cartesian value representative of said at least one second signal being substantially similar to a value that would result from receiving the at least one second signal, the converting comprising;

determining a dead zone type of said second gaming controller,

if said dead zone type is circular, adjusting the polar value by a size of the dead zone and then converting the adjusted polar value to a Cartesian value representative of said at least first signal, and

if said dead zone type is not circular, converting the polar value to a Cartesian value representative of said at least first signal and then adjusting the Cartesian value representative of said at least first signal by a dead zone size; and

submitting the Cartesian value representative of said at least first signal to some component of said gaming console.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said submitting the Cartesian value representative of said at least first signal comprises:

generating a modified first signal based on the Cartesian value representative of said at least first signal; and

inputting said modified first signal to said gaming console.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a YX ratio.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said converting a polar value representative of said at least first signal comprises applying a translation exponent to the polar value representative of said at least first signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said converting a polar value representative of said at least first signal comprises applying a sensitivity factor to the polar value representative of said at least first signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said converting a polar value representative of said at least first signal comprises clamping the Cartesian value representative of said at least first signal to the minimum and maximum values which can be recognized by said gaming console.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said converting a polar value representative of said at least first signal comprises applying a diagonal dampening factor to the polar value representative of said at least first signal.

8. The method of claim 7, the applying a diagonal dampening factor comprising applying the formula:

M=(1−

(1−

∥

sin θ

|−

|cos θ

∥

)*DD)*M,

where M is a magnitude of value representative of said at least first signal, θ

is an angle of the value representative of said at least first signal, and DD is the diagonal dampening factor.

9. A system for controlling a gaming console with a gaming controller, comprising:

a first gaming controller operatively connected to a gaming console, the gaming console configured to receive at least one second signal from a second gaming controller;

a first subsystem configured to receive at least one first signal sent from said first gaming controller to control an aspect of said gaming console;

a second subsystem configured to convert a polar value representative of said at least first signal to a Cartesian value representative of said at least one second signal, the Cartesian value representative of said at least one second signal being substantially similar to a value that would result from receiving the at least one second signal, the second subsystem configured to convert by;

determining a dead zone type of said second gaming controller,

if said dead zone type is circular, adjusting the polar value by a size of the dead zone and then converting the adjusted polar value to a Cartesian value representative of said at least first signal, and

if said dead zone type is not circular, converting the polar value to a Cartesian value representative of said at least first signal and then adjusting the Cartesian value representative of said at least first signal by a dead zone size; and

a third subsystem configured to submit the Cartesian value representative of said at least first signal to some component of said gaming console.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said second subsystem is located within said first gaming controller.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said second subsystem is located within said gaming console.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a hub operatively connected between said first gaming controller and said gaming console.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said second subsystem is located within said hub.

14. A computer-readable storage medium containing instructions for controlling a gaming console with a gaming controller, the instructions comprising:

instructions to receive at least one first signal sent from a first gaming controller to control an aspect of a gaming console configured to receive at least one second signal from a second gaming controller;

instructions to convert a polar value representative of said at least first signal to a Cartesian value representative of said at least one second signal, the Cartesian value representative of said at least one second signal being substantially similar to a value that would result from receiving the at least one second signal, the instructions to convert comprising;

instructions to determine a dead zone type of said second gaming controller,

instructions to adjust the polar value by a size of the dead zone and then converting the adjusted polar value to a Cartesian value representative of said at least first signal if said dead zone type is circular, and

instructions to convert the polar value to a Cartesian value representative of said at least first signal and then adjusting the Cartesian value representative of said at least first signal by a dead zone size if said dead zone type is not circular; and

instructions to submit the Cartesian value representative of said at least first signal to some component of said gaming console.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, said instructions to submit the converted value representative of said at least first signal comprising:

instructions to generate a modified first signal based on the Cartesian value representative of said at least first signal; and

instructions to input said modified first signal to said gaming console.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, the instructions further comprising instructions to apply an YX ratio.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, the instructions to convert a polar value representative of said at least first signal further comprising instructions to apply a translation exponent to the polar value representative of said at least first signal.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, the instructions to convert a polar value representative of said at least first signal further comprising instructions to apply a sensitivity factor to the polar value representative of said at least first signal.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, the instructions to convert a polar value representative of said at least first signal further comprising instructions to clamp the Cartesian value representative of said at least first signal to the minimum and maximum values which can be recognized by said gaming console.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, the instructions to convert a polar value representative of said at least first signal further comprising instructions to apply a diagonal dampening factor to the polar value representative of said at least first signal.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, the instructions to apply a diagonal dampening factor comprising instructions to apply the formula:

M=(1−

(1−

∥

sin θ

|−

|cos θ

∥

)*DD)*M,

where M is a magnitude of value representative of said at least first signal, θ

is an angle of the value representative of said at least first signal, and DD is the diagonal dampening factor.