System for associating a wireless device to a console device

• US 9,943,756 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2016
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• 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: Lum, Richard S., Guo, Wei, Gordon, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Liddle, Jay
• Assistant Examiner(s): RADA, ALEX P
• Application Number:
  US15/042,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20160158642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• 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 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• 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 associating a wireless device to a host. The wireless device is associated to the host via a binding and discovery process. The binding process establishes the association. A unique identifier and other binding information is provided to the wireless device, which is stored in the wireless device to establish the link to the console. The binding information is retained in the wireless device. The discovery process enables the wireless device to join a session at hosted by the host. The host sends broadcast packets that are compared to the stored information in the wireless device. The broadcast packets are validated and authenticated to complete the discovery process. A visual indicator on the host and/or controller may indicate the success or failure of either the binding or discovery process.

Claims

1. A controller, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the memory stores computer-executable instructions causing the controller to;

receive a user input to establish wireless communication with a console, wherein the user input begins a binding process to associate the controller with the console;

receive a console unique identifier from the console, wherein the console unique identifier is retained in the memory when power to the controller is lost such that the controller is not required to re-bind with the console when power is restored, wherein the console unique identifier is associated with frequency hopping information used for the wireless communication; and

perform a discovery process after the binding process that associates the controller with one of a plurality of virtual controller ports on the console.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the console unique identifier is received from the console during the binding process.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the binding process comprises selecting a frequency hopping channel based on the console unique identifier and waiting for a broadcast packet.

4. The controller of claim 3, wherein upon receipt of the broadcast packet, the controller exchanges binding packets with the console.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable to capture a broadcast packet from the console and correlate an identifier in the broadcast packet to the console unique identifier stored in the controller.

6. The controller of claim 5, wherein the instructions are further executable to implement a retry mechanism to retry the discovery process if the broadcast packet is not received within a predetermined period of time, the retry mechanism retrying a predetermined number of times.

7. The controller of claim 5, wherein the instructions are further executable to authenticate the broadcast packet received from the console.

8. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller indicates a success or failure of the binding process by illuminating a visual indicator on the controller.

9. The controller of claim 8, wherein the visual indicator indicates which virtual controller port the controller is associated with.

10. The controller of claim 1, wherein the discovery process is performed when the controller is turned on.

11. A method of associating a wireless controller to a console, comprising:

actuating a connection process;

performing a binding process to associate the wireless controller to the console in a one-to-one relationship;

storing in memory of the wireless game controller, a console unique identifier to enable the wireless controller to establish a communication link with the console, wherein the console unique identifier is retained in the memory of the wireless controller when power is lost from and then restored to the wireless controller such that the wireless controller is not required to re-bind with the console when power is restored, and wherein the console unique identifier is associated with frequency hopping information used for the communication link; and

performing a discovery process that occurs after the binding process to join the wireless controller to a session with the console, wherein the discovery process associates the wireless controller with one of a plurality of virtual controller ports on the console.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the console unique identifier is provided to the wireless controller during the binding process.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising maintaining the one-to-one relationship in the wireless controller using the console unique identifier.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising retrying the discovery process if a broadcast packet is not received within a predetermined period of time.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

capturing a broadcast packet from the console; and

correlating a console unique identifier in the broadcast packet to the console unique identifier stored in the wireless controller.

16. A device, comprising:

an input; and

a processor configured to;

in response to operation of the input, begin a binding process to associate the device with the console;

receive a console unique identifier from the console, wherein the console unique identifier is retained in the memory when power to the device is lost such that the device is not required to re-bind with the console when power is restored, wherein the console unique identifier is associated with frequency hopping information used for the wireless communication; and

perform a discovery process after the binding process that associates the device with one of a plurality of virtual ports on the console.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the input is a button.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the device indicates a success or failure of the binding process by illuminating a visual indicator on the device.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the visual indicator indicates which virtual port the device is associated with.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the console unique identifier is received from the console during the binding process.