Gaming headset with voice scrambling for private in-game conversations
First Claim
1. A headset that comprises a microphone and circuitry that is configurable to operate in a scrambling mode and a non-scrambling mode while processing chat audio and microphone audio for a first player participating in an online multiplayer game via a game console, wherein:
- while operating in said non-scrambling mode, said circuitry of said headset is configured to transmit said microphone audio to said game console without scrambling said microphone audio;
while operating in said scrambling mode, said circuitry of said headset is configured to scramble said microphone audio and transmit said scrambled microphone audio to said game console; and
said circuitry of said headset is operable to;
determine whether a key for descrambling said chat audio is available to said circuitry of said headset based on a key identifier;
apply a descrambling process to said chat audio from a begin-scrambling indicator until an end-scrambling indicator when said key for descrambling said chat audio is available to said circuitry of said headset; and
mute said chat audio from said begin-scrambling indicator until said end-scrambling indicator when said key for descrambling said chat audio is not available to said circuitry of said headset.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic device may be configurable to operate in a scrambling mode and a non-scrambling mode while processing chat audio and microphone audio for a first player participating in an online multiplayer game via a game console. While operating in the non-scrambling mode, the electronic device may be configured to transmit the microphone audio to the game console without scrambling the microphone audio. While operating in the scrambling mode, the electronic device may be configured to scramble the microphone audio and transmit the scrambled microphone audio to the game console. The electronic device may be operable to select a scrambling key used to scramble the microphone audio based on a signal received by the electronic device that indicates a role of the player in the online multiplayer game. The role of the player may correspond to which of two or more opposing teams the first player is a member of in the online multiplayer game.
12 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A headset that comprises a microphone and circuitry that is configurable to operate in a scrambling mode and a non-scrambling mode while processing chat audio and microphone audio for a first player participating in an online multiplayer game via a game console, wherein:
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while operating in said non-scrambling mode, said circuitry of said headset is configured to transmit said microphone audio to said game console without scrambling said microphone audio; while operating in said scrambling mode, said circuitry of said headset is configured to scramble said microphone audio and transmit said scrambled microphone audio to said game console; and said circuitry of said headset is operable to; determine whether a key for descrambling said chat audio is available to said circuitry of said headset based on a key identifier; apply a descrambling process to said chat audio from a begin-scrambling indicator until an end-scrambling indicator when said key for descrambling said chat audio is available to said circuitry of said headset; and mute said chat audio from said begin-scrambling indicator until said end-scrambling indicator when said key for descrambling said chat audio is not available to said circuitry of said headset. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
in a headset that comprises a microphone and circuitry that is configurable to operate in a scrambling mode and a non-scrambling mode while processing chat audio and microphone audio for a first player participating in an online multiplayer game via a game console; while operating in said non-scrambling mode, transmitting said microphone audio to said game console without scrambling said microphone audio; while operating in said scrambling mode, scrambling said microphone audio and transmit said scrambled microphone audio to said game console; determining whether a key for descrambling said chat audio is available to said circuitry of said headset based on a key identifier; applying a descrambling process to said chat audio from a begin-scrambling indicator until an end-scrambling indicator when said key for descrambling said chat audio is available to said circuitry of said headset; and muting said chat audio from said begin-scrambling indicator until said end-scrambling indicator when said key for descrambling said chat audio is not available to said circuitry of said headset. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A headset that comprises a microphone and circuitry that is configurable to operate in a scrambling mode and a non-scrambling mode while processing chat audio and microphone audio for a first player participating in an online multiplayer game via a game console, wherein:
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while operating in said non-scrambling mode, said circuitry of said headset is configured to transmit said microphone audio to said game console without scrambling said microphone audio; while operating in said scrambling mode, said circuitry of said headset is configured to scramble said microphone audio and transmit said scrambled microphone audio to said game console; and said circuitry of said headset is operable to; determine whether a key for descrambling said chat audio is available to said circuitry of said headset based on a key identifier; descramble said chat audio when said key for descrambling said chat audio is available to said circuitry of said headset; and mute said chat audio when said key for descrambling said chat audio is not available to said circuitry of said headset. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method comprising:
in a headset that comprises a microphone and circuitry that is configurable to operate in a scrambling mode and a non-scrambling mode while processing chat audio and microphone audio for a first player participating in an online multiplayer game via a game console; while operating in said non-scrambling mode, transmitting said microphone audio to said game console without scrambling said microphone audio; while operating in said scrambling mode, scrambling said microphone audio and transmitting said scrambled microphone audio to said game console; determining whether a key for descrambling said chat audio is available to said circuitry of said headset based on a key identifier; descrambling said chat audio when said key for descrambling said chat audio is available to said circuitry of said headset; and muting said chat audio when said key for descrambling said chat audio is not available to said circuitry of said headset. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
Specification