Car-based entertainment system with video gaming
First Claim
1. Apparatus for use in a car, comprising:
- a car area network disposed in a car to enable communications between various devices in the car;
an existing consumer electronics device corresponding to a DVD player, a CD player, or a car radio system, the existing consumer electronics device being coupled to the car area network and having an existing consumer electronics device function, wherein the consumer electronics device is reprogrammed so that the existing consumer electronics device is transformed into a virtual video game player using a video game emulator or transcompiler program to support an additional control function that includes controlling execution of video games, the consumer electronics device including;
processing circuitry already existing in the consumer electronics device for the purpose of supporting the existing consumer electronics device function,a car area network interface for interfacing the processing circuitry with the car area network;
a user interface coupled to the processing circuitry;
a memory, coupled to the processing circuitry, for storing video game emulator or transcompiler program code executable by the processing circuitry for use by the processing circuitry in supporting play of one or more video games;
a game server coupled to the car area network for assisting the reprogrammed consumer electronics device in supporting play of one or more video games;
a video game display device coupled to the car area network for displaying video game information to a car occupant in accordance with a game being executed under the control of one or both of the reprogrammed consumer electronics device and the game server;
a multifunction controller for transmitting control information to the reprogrammed consumer electronics device via the car area network to permit a car occupant to control the reprogrammed consumer electronics device to permit the occupant to play a video game displayed on the video game display; and
one or more audio or visual devices coupled to the car area network and configured to be controlled by commands transmitted from the reprogrammed consumer electronics device or from the multifunction controller over the car area network.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A car area network is disposed in a car to enable communications between various devices in the car. An existing consumer electronics device (CED) coupled to the car area network (CAN) performs an existing consumer electronics device function. That existing (CED) is adapted to control various devices coupled to the CAN including video gaming devices. In one example, the adapted CED cooperates with a game server to effect game play. In another example, the adapted CED functions as a virtual video game platform to support play of video games. A multifunction controller transmits control information to the adapted CED via the car area network to permit a car occupant to control the adapted CED to permit the occupant to play a video game using the video game display. One or more audio and/or visual devices coupled to the CAN may also be controlled by commands transmitted from the adapted CED or from the multimedia controller over the CAN.
33 Citations
31 Claims
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1. Apparatus for use in a car, comprising:
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a car area network disposed in a car to enable communications between various devices in the car; an existing consumer electronics device corresponding to a DVD player, a CD player, or a car radio system, the existing consumer electronics device being coupled to the car area network and having an existing consumer electronics device function, wherein the consumer electronics device is reprogrammed so that the existing consumer electronics device is transformed into a virtual video game player using a video game emulator or transcompiler program to support an additional control function that includes controlling execution of video games, the consumer electronics device including; processing circuitry already existing in the consumer electronics device for the purpose of supporting the existing consumer electronics device function, a car area network interface for interfacing the processing circuitry with the car area network; a user interface coupled to the processing circuitry; a memory, coupled to the processing circuitry, for storing video game emulator or transcompiler program code executable by the processing circuitry for use by the processing circuitry in supporting play of one or more video games; a game server coupled to the car area network for assisting the reprogrammed consumer electronics device in supporting play of one or more video games; a video game display device coupled to the car area network for displaying video game information to a car occupant in accordance with a game being executed under the control of one or both of the reprogrammed consumer electronics device and the game server; a multifunction controller for transmitting control information to the reprogrammed consumer electronics device via the car area network to permit a car occupant to control the reprogrammed consumer electronics device to permit the occupant to play a video game displayed on the video game display; and one or more audio or visual devices coupled to the car area network and configured to be controlled by commands transmitted from the reprogrammed consumer electronics device or from the multifunction controller over the car area network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. Apparatus for use in a car, comprising:
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a car area network disposed in a car to enable communications between various devices in the car; an existing consumer electronics device corresponding to a DVD player, a CD player, or a car radio system, the existing consumer electronics device being coupled to the car area network and having an existing consumer electronics device function, wherein the consumer electronics device is also reconfigured using a video game emulator or transcompiler program to function as a virtual video game platform to support play of video games, the existing consumer electronics device including; native processing circuitry already existing in the consumer electronics device for the purpose of supporting the existing consumer electronics device function, a car area network interface for interfacing the processing circuitry with the car area network; a user interface coupled to the processing circuitry; a memory, coupled to the processing circuitry, for storing video game emulator or transcompiler program code executable by the processing circuitry and for storing at least temporarily one or more video game files for use by the processing circuitry in executing one or more video games based on the one or more video game files; a video game display device coupled to the car area network for displaying video game information to a car occupant in accordance with a game being executed under the control of the reconfigured consumer electronics device; a multifunction controller for transmitting control information to the reprogrammed consumer electronics device via the car area network to permit a car occupant to control the reconfigured consumer electronics device to permit the occupant to play a video game using the video game display; and one or more audio or visual devices coupled to the car area network and configured to be controlled by commands transmitted from the reconfigured consumer electronics device or from the multimedia controller over the car area network. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A method for using a car area network disposed in a car to enable communications between various existing consumer electronic devices in the car, comprising:
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adapting one or more of the existing consumer electronic devices using a video game emulator or transcompiler program so that the adapted consumer electronic device functions as a virtual video game platform to support play of video games, where the adapted consumer electronic device corresponds to one or more of a DVD player, a CD player, or a car radio system; displaying a menu including consumer electronic device options and video game options to a car occupant; receiving over the car area network at the adapted consumer electronic device the selected menu option; if the selected menu option is a video game, providing the game selection to the adapted consumer electronic device over the car area network; downloading a game data file corresponding to the game selection over the car area network to the adapted consumer electronic device; executing the video game emulator or transcompiler program in the adapted consumer electronic device in order to run the selected video game corresponding to the stored game data file; displaying audio and video game information to the car occupant; and transmitting game play commands from the car occupant entered on a controller by the car occupant from the controller over the car area network to the adapted consumer electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification