Game console notification system

• US 8,369,795 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2005
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Landers, Amy Lynn, Furr, Kevin L., Del Castillo, Leonardo G., Lum, Richard S., Gunn, Steven R., Guo, Wei, Glaser, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US11/034,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20060154725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,946 Days
• Field of Search: 463/37, 455/73, 273/148.B
• US Class Current: 455/73
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• 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 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• 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 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/30 characterized by output arrangements for receiving control signals generated by the game device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing notifications to players of a gaming console of messages and system notifications. A controller and the gaming console include a four quadrant LED indicator. Each quadrant of the ring may be illuminated individually or together using an LED to indicate the messages and notifications. The quadrants may be illuminated in one of three colors and/or in patterns to indicate different types of notifications. Onscreen displays may be used to supplement the LED indicators to convey information to users. A method of binding and discovering a controller is also provided where the controller may be bound to a gaming console. After a controller is bound to a console, the controller may be discovered by the gaming console where it is assigned a virtual port and enabled for game play.

Claims

1. A gaming controller, comprising:

a plurality of buttons; and

a plurality of visual indicators, each of which corresponds to a different one of a plurality of ports of an associated gaming console;

wherein one of the plurality of visual indicators is illuminated to notify a user which one of the corresponding plurality of ports of the associated gaming console has been assigned to the gaming controller.

2. The gaming controller of claim 1, wherein each of said visual indicators has a corresponding indicator on said associated gaming console.

3. The gaming controller of claim 2, further comprising a bind button, wherein when said bind button is pressed, said gaming controller will bind with said associated gaming console, and wherein said visual indicator is illuminated to indicate that said gaming controller is bound to said associated gaming console.

4. The gaming controller of claim 3, wherein said visual indicators are arranged as quadrants, and one of said quadrants is associated with said gaming controller so long as said gaming controller is bound to said associated gaming console via a discovery process.

5. The gaming controller of claim 1, further comprising at least one of an audible component and a vibration controller,

wherein messages are conveyed by said at least one of said audible component and said vibration controller.

6. The gaming controller of claim 1, wherein a predetermined sequence of illuminating said LED is utilized to convey messages to the user.

7. A method of associating a gaming controller to a gaming console, comprising at the gaming controller:

establishing a connection with said gaming console, wherein the gaming controller is assigned to one of a plurality of ports of the gaming console;

illuminating one of a plurality of visual indicators on the gaming controller, each visual indicator corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of different ports on the gaming console, the illuminated visual indicator indicating on the gaming controller which port of the plurality of ports of the gaming console has been assigned to the gaming controller; and

making said gaming controller available for game play.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said establishing a connection comprises a bind sequence comprising:

initiating said bind sequence via a first action at said gaming controller;

initiating a second action at said gaming console within a predetermined period of time of said first action, whereby said gaming controller is recognized by said gaming console; and

storing, in said gaming controller, binding information.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

requesting a port assignment from said gaming controller.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising at the gaming console:

determining a number of assigned ports; and

assigning a next available port to said gaming controller.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising at the gaming console:

determining if a last available port has already been assigned; and

if so, maintaining said binding information in said gaming controller and assigning a previously used port as said next available port to said gaming controller when said previously used port is released by a second gaming controller.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing an indication that said controller has been discovered by said gaming console.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said indication is provided by a plurality of LEDs on said gaming controller.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said plurality of LEDs comprises four quadrants, each of said quadrants representing a different one of said plurality of ports to which the gaming controller may be assigned, said method further comprising illuminating one of said quadrants to indicate which of said plurality of ports has been assigned to the gaming controller.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing notifications via said one of said quadrants to a player using said gaming controller.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein said controller is either a wired controller or a wireless controller.

17. The method of claim 7, wherein each of said plurality of ports is a virtual port.