Game controller that converts between wireless operation and wired operation

• US 20050170889A1
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Guo, Wei, Lum, Richard S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,753,788 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/39
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/49 Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/493 Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure
• 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 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/201 Playing authorisation given at platform level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/19 Connection re-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 with access to wired networks

Abstract

A game controller operates in both a wired mode and a wireless mode, and is able to switch between these two modes without permanent disruption to an ongoing game. During a transition from one mode to another, a host gaming system detects when the controller is physically disconnected (for wired mode to wireless mode) or connected (for wireless mode to wired mode). Upon detection, the host gaming system stores the game data and user information and the game controller stores an identifier in its nonvolatile memory. The host gaming system and game controller then establish a new communication link. The game controller retrieves the identifier and submits it to the host gaming system, which uses the identifier to reassociate the game data and user information with the game controller as it begins operating in the new mode. This allows the player to continue game play without interruption.

Claims

1. A video game system comprising:

a host to execute a video game; and

a game controller to communicate with the host via a cable when operated in a first mode and via a wireless link when operated in a second mode.

2. A video game system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first mode of operation occurs when the cable is connected to the host and the second mode of operation occurs when the cable is disconnected from the host.

3. A video game system as recited in claim 1, wherein the game controller switches between communicating over the cable and communicating over the wireless link while the video game is in progress without permanent disruption to ongoing play of the video game.

4. A video game system as recited in claim 1, wherein the game controller comprises a wireless interface to communicate with the host using one of RF, infrared, ultrawide band (UWB), and Bluetooth.

5. A video game system as recited in claim 1, wherein the game controller comprises:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a first module to support communication over the cable;

a second module to support communication over the wireless link; and

a power source to supply power to the processor, the memory, and the second module when the video game controller is operated in the second mode.

6. A video game system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the host stores game data associated with the game controller during play of the video game;

the video game controller stores an identity; and

wherein during transition between the first and second modes of operation, the game controller passes the identity to the host for use in locating the game data to facilitate continued play of the video game.

7. A video game system as recited in claim 1, wherein the host comprises one of a game console or a personal computer.

8. A video game controller to communicate with a host gaming system via a cable when the cable is connected to the host game system and via a wireless communication link when the cable is disconnected from the host game system.

9. A video game controller as recited in claim 8, embodied as a general-purpose controller with one or more multi-function actuators.

10. A video game controller as recited in claim 8, comprising:

a serial cable to connect the host game system; and

a wireless interface to communicate with the host game system when the cable is detached from the host game system.

11. A video game controller as recited in claim 8, comprising a power source to supply power for communication over the wireless communication link when the cable is disconnected from the host game system.

12. A video game controller comprising:

a cable to connect to a host game system;

a wireless interface to communicate with the host game system when the cable is detached from the host game system; and

means for converting between (1) wired operation in which the video game controller communicates with the host game system over the cable and (2) wireless operation in which the video game controller communicates with the host game system via the wireless interface.

13. A video game controller as recited in claim 12, wherein the converting means converts between wired operation and wireless operation while a game is in progress.

14. A video game controller as recited in claim 12, wherein the converting means stores a session ID that is passed to the host game system during transition between the wired and wireless operations for use in continuing play of a game that is in progress.

15. A video game controller comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a first module to support communication over a cable for wired operation;

a second module to support communication over a wireless link for wireless operation; and

a power source to supply power to the processor, the memory, and the second module when the video game controller is in wireless operation.

16. A video game controller as recited in claim 15, wherein the memory stores an identity of the video game controller.

17. A video game controller as recited in claim 15, wherein the second module comprises an RF module to support RF communication.

18. A video game controller as recited in claim 15, further comprising charging circuitry to charge the power source when the video game controller is in wired operation.

19. A method comprising:

operating a video game controller in a wired mode in which the video game controller is connected via a cable to a host game system; and

operating the video game controller in a wireless mode in which the video game controller communicates with the host game system via a wireless link when the cable is disconnected from the host game system.

20. A method comprising as recited in claim 19 further comprising switching between the wired mode and the wireless mode.

21. A method comprising as recited in claim 19 further comprising switching between the wired mode and the wireless mode while a video game is in progress without permanent disruption to continuing play of the video game.

22. A method comprising as recited in claim 19, wherein the video game controller comprise a power source for the wireless mode, and further comprising switching from the wireless mode to the wired mode when the power source becomes low.

23. A method comprising as recited in claim 19 further comprising, upon transitioning between the wired mode and the wireless mode:

identifying the video game controller and reassociating the video game controller with any game data of a video game that is in progress; and

continuing play of the video game.

24. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform the method as recited in claim 19.

25. For use with a video game system, a storage medium having instructions that, when executed on the video game system, performs acts comprising:

receiving instructions for controlling a video game from a video game controller, the instructions being transmitted over a cable in a wired mode of operation and over a wireless link in a wireless mode of operation;

detecting when the video game controller is switched between the wireless mode of operation and the wired mode of operation;

facilitating transition between the wireless mode of operation and the wired mode of operation to enable continued play of an ongoing video game.

26. A storage medium as recited in claim 25, wherein the detecting comprises sensing when the cable is one of connected to, or disconnected from, the video game system.

27. A storage medium as recited in claim 25, further having instructions that, when executed on the video game system, performs acts comprising:

storing game data of the video game in association with an identity of the video game controller; and

using the identity to reassociate the game data with the video game controller after the transition between the wireless mode of operation and the wired mode of operation.