Controller notification system

• US 8,731,482 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2013
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Glaser, Russell E., Landers, Amy Lynn, Del Castillo, Leonardo G., Guo, Wei, Furr, Kevin L., Lum, Richard S., Gunn, Steven R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US13/758,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20130143662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 455/73, 273/148.B, 463/37
• 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

A method of associating a controller to a console comprises, at the controller, establishing a connection with the console such that the controller is assigned to one of a plurality of different ports of the console over which different controllers may separately communicate with the console. A visual indication is then provided on the controller to indicate to the user of the controller which one of the plurality of different ports of the console has been assigned to the controller and over which the controller communicates with the console.

Claims

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

establishing a connection with the console, the controller being assigned to one of a plurality of different ports of the console over which different controllers may separately communicate with the console;

visually indicating on the controller to a user of the controller which one of the plurality of different ports of the console has been assigned to the controller and over which the controller communicates with the console.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said visually indicating comprises illuminating one of a plurality of visual indicators on the controller, each visual indicator corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of different ports on the console, the illuminated visual indicator indicating on the controller which port of the plurality of ports of the console has been assigned to the controller.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of visual indicators comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), each of the LEDs representing a different one of said plurality of ports to which the controller may be assigned, the method further comprising illuminating one of the LEDs to indicate which one of the plurality of ports of the console has been assigned to the controller.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing other notifications to the user via the visual indicator corresponding to the port of the console that has been assigned to the controller.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the visual indicator can be illuminated in different colors, and wherein providing other notifications via the visual indicator comprises illuminating the visual indicator in a selected one of the different colors.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the different colors comprise green, red and orange.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein providing other notifications via the visual indicator comprises flashing the visual indicator.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said establishing a connection comprises a bind sequence comprising:

initiating the bind sequence via a first action at the controller; and

after the controller is recognized by the console as a result of a second action having been initiated at the console within a predetermined period of time of said first action, storing binding information in the controller.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller is either a wired controller or a wireless controller.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of ports is a virtual port.