Controller notification system

• US 9,308,443 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2014
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Glaser, Russell E., Landers, Amy Lynn, Furr, Kevin L., Del Castillo, Leonardo G., Lum, Richard S., Gunn, Steven R., Guo, Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US14/258,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20140228117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 455/73, 273/148.B, 463/37
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 providing notifications in a gaming system, comprising:

illuminating a visual indicator on a controller to indicate a message to a user;

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

displaying an onscreen notification on a display separate from the controller, and

providing the message to the user via a combination of said visual indicator and said onscreen notifications.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting the onscreen notification subsequent to illuminating visual indicator and the visual indicator is illuminated in a predetermined sequence.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a notification that said controller has been bound to the console.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing a notification that the controller has been discovered by the console.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a vibration controller, wherein the message to the user is provided by a combination of the visual indicator, onscreen notification, and vibration controller.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the onscreen notification includes one of a game invitation, a warning, or an error.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual indicator indicates one of a binding, a discovery, a status, an error, or a notification.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual indicator operates in a pattern comprising flash, cycle, or on.

9. A system for providing notifications in a gaming system, comprising:

a visual indicator on a controller operated by a user, the visual indicator being illuminated to indicate the presence of a message to a user and the controller being assigned to one of a plurality of different ports of a gaming console over which different controllers may separately communicate with the gaming console;

the gaming console configured for sending an onscreen notification to a display, wherein the display is separate from the gaming console; and

the message to the user is provided by a combination of the visual indicator and onscreen notification.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a vibration component on the controller operated by the user, wherein the message to the user is provided by a combination of the visual indicator, onscreen notification, and vibration controller.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the visual indicator indicates one of a binding, a discovery, a status, an error, or a notification.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the visual indicator operates in a pattern comprising flash, cycle or on.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the onscreen notification includes one of a game invitation, a warning, or an error.