Abstract:
A game console capable of operating with a variety of electronic musical instruments is provided. Such a system is especially useful for downloading different musical video games for a variety of musical instruments and capable of changing the level of difficulty during play. In one embodiment, the electronic musical instrument includes a positional sensor which can be one or more of a solid state gyroscopic sensor, a magnetic compass sensor and an accelerometer. The position of the electronic musical instrument can be used by the game console to select from two or more strategy files or to change the level of play difficulty. The game console has a network connection for sharing player responses with other remote players, and can also be used to download new musical and strategy files.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to video game systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a flexible musical video game console having access to online musical games for different instruments and with varying difficulty.  
         [0002]     Computer video games have evolved from the early games, such as “pong”, a black-and-white two-dimensional game on an eight-bit personal computer, to the present day sophisticated games with color three-dimensional video games on a dedicated game console.  
         [0003]     Popular video games include musical video games wherein a player interacts with music by stepping on a dance pad coupled to a game console. The objective of the musical game is to step on a plurality of the predetermined positions on the dance pad synchronously with a sequence of visual cues displayed on a video screen. Points are awarded based accuracy, speed and level of difficulty. For simplicity, most musical video game content is stored on a DVD which is loaded into the game console prior to beginning the game. The player selects a song from the DVD, selects the level of difficulty, and then proceeds with the musical game.  
         [0004]     After repeatedly playing the same songs over and over again from the DVD-based musical video game system, most players soon get bored because they are unable to select new songs that have not been included on the DVD&#39;s song list. Hence there is a need for an improved musical game console which supports different musical instruments, supports changing difficulty while playing, and also enables one or more players to download a wide variety of online musical video games, and enables players to interact with other players musically.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     To achieve the foregoing and in accordance with the present invention, a game console capable of operating with a variety of electronic musical instruments is provided. Such a system is especially useful for downloading different musical video games for a variety of musical instruments and capable of changing the level of difficulty during play.  
         [0006]     In one embodiment, the electronic musical instrument includes a positional sensor capable of detecting the absolute and relative position of the electronic musical instrument. The positional sensor can be one or more of a solid state gyroscopic sensor, a magnetic compass sensor and an accelerometer.  
         [0007]     The musical instrument also includes an output port for sending the position of the electronic musical instrument to the game console. The position of the electronic musical instrument can be used by the game console to select from two or more strategy files. The two or more strategy games can vary in difficulty or be for different musical instruments.  
         [0008]     Many variations are possible. For example, the game console has a network connection for sharing player responses with other remote players, enabling the players to interact during the musical game. The network connection can also be used to download new musical and strategy files.  
         [0009]     Note that the various features of the present invention can be practiced alone or in combination. These and other features of the present invention will be described in more detail below in the detailed description of the invention and in conjunction with the following figures.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a musical game console coupled to a game device in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the musical game console of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating in greater detail the MIDI Sync Interrupt of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0014]      FIGS. 4, 5  and  6  illustrate musical and strategy tracks for a string instrument, a percussion instrument and a pressure pad, respectively.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  illustrates the various files descriptors for the corresponding tracks.  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  shows an example of a string instrument.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]     The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to a few preferred embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process steps and/or structures have not been described in detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure the present invention. The features and advantages of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and discussions that follow.  
         [0018]     To facilitate discussion,  FIGS. 1-8  include block diagrams and flow diagrams which illustrate the operation of one embodiment of the game console in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0019]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a musical game console  100  includes central processor  110 , video co-processor  120 , audio co-processor  130 , input/output ports  140 , RAM memory  150 , mass storage memory device  155 , and network interface  160 , coupled to each other via system bus  190 . Game console  100  can be a dedicated game console such as a Sony PlayStation 2, a Nintendo Game Cube, Microsoft X-Box or an arcade cabinet, or can be a general purpose computer such as a Dell desktop computer.  
         [0020]     In this embodiment, video co-processor  120  is coupled a video display device  125 , e.g. a flat screen video monitor, while audio co-processor  130  is coupled to an audio output device, e.g. a speaker or a headphone. Game console  100  can also coupled via network interface  160  to a remote music file server  180  and one or more remote game player  182  . . .  189  via a wide area network  170  such as the Internet.  
         [0021]     One or more musical game players can interact with game console  100  via one or more game devices, e.g., game device  145 , which can be a string instrument such as a guitar, a percussion instrument such as a drum set, or a pressure device such as a dance pad.  
         [0022]     In accordance with the invention, game console  100  includes an operating system (OS) which supports a musical game program (MGP) executing on central processor  110 . The OS provides the MGP with system calls for controlling video co-processor  120 , audio co-processor  130 , input/output ports  140 , RAM memory  150 , mass storage device  155 , and network interface  160 .  
         [0023]     As will be discussed in greater detail below, instead of an executable file with strategy files predefined for a particular musical instrument, the MGP is a general purpose musical strategy game program which can retrieve or download video and audio primitives, including venue primitives, player render primitives, input device render primitives, note chart render primitives, music audio tracks and timing primitives via network interface  160  or mass storage device  155  such as a DVD player.  
         [0024]     Referring to the flowchart of  FIG. 2 , when the player is ready to begin the musical game, the MGP detects the “Start” button being depressed (steps  210 ,  215 ). Next in step  220 , the player selects a song from a dynamic song list. In this embodiment, the MGP retrieves the files associated with the selected song from the local mass storage device  155  or downloads the files associated with the selected song from an external source such as remote music server  180 .  
         [0025]     The MGP includes a Control Engine Master File (ECF) for selecting the component files associated with the selected song in step  230  which is described in further detail below. Accordingly, the MGP is an executable control program with an ECF having a sequence list of pointers to graphic scenes rendered images.  
         [0026]     The appropriate block of audio data is written to the input buffer of audio co-processor  130  (step  240 ). The song continues until either the selected song ends or console  100  detects that the “Stop” button has been depressed (step  250 ).  
         [0027]     The player can now be scored and if the correct pressure switch, key or button of game device  145  is depressed within the appropriate time window (step  255 ), the player is rewarded with an increase in his or her game score (step  265 ). The video display  125  can also provide a visual reward such as a “happy face” or a happy character jumping for joy.  
         [0028]     Conversely, if the incorrect pressure switch, key or button is depressed or if the timing of the depression is incorrect, then the player&#39;s game score is decreased (step  260 ). An appropriate “sad face” can be shown on video display  125 .  
         [0029]     In steps  270 ,  275 , the MGP executing on central processor  110  checks the MIDI (Music Industry Digital Interface) Sync file for synchronization information and updates the Note Chart for display device  125 . Central processor  110  sends the appropriate video data to video co-processor  120  thereby updating the output of video display  125 .  
         [0030]     Referring also to  FIG. 3  which elaborates step  230  of  FIG. 2 , in the event of a MIDI Sync interrupt (step  285 ), the MGP advances the file pointers into the NCF (Note Chart File), the MIDI NCMF (Note Chart Master File), the CCF (Video Primitive File), the Drum Track File (DTF) and the Guitar Track File (GTF) (step  333 ).  
         [0031]     Appropriate segments of these files are copied to the respective input buffers of video co-processor  120  and audio co-processor  130  (step  335 ). In steps  337 ,  338 , the MIDI NCMF file pointer is then advanced to the next sequence and the “Done” flag is set. As shown in  FIGS. 2, 3 , the process is repeated until the song ends or the player depresses the “Stop” button on console  100 .  
         [0032]     Referring also to the exemplary tracks of  FIGS. 4, 5 ,  6 , and the file and file pointer structure of  FIG. 7 , the delivery of synchronized primitives stored in various files of the Musical Game Program (MGP), in this embodiment, the NCF  715 , the MIDI NCMF  725 , the CCF  735 , the DTF  745  and the GTF  755 , to provide the appropriate audio and video feedback to the player via audio device  135  and video display  125 , is now described in greater detail.  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  includes a musical track  410  and a strategy track  420  for a typical string instrument such as guitar  145  of  FIG. 8 . The player depresses keys  811 ,  812 ,  813 ,  814 ,  815  located on guitar neck  810  in response to visual cues on video display  125 . The player may also be required to “strum” paddle  821  on guitar body  820 . For example, when the note  412  begins playing on audio device  135 , strategy file cue  422  is outputted to video display  125 . Similarly, when the note  413  begins playing on audio device  135 , strategy file cue  423  is outputted to video display  125 .  
         [0034]     In some embodiments, the difficulty of the musical game can also be increased by detecting “key velocity”, e.g., how hard keys  811 ,  812 ,  813 ,  814 ,  815  are depressed, and/or allowing the player to vary the pitch of the note by “bending” guitar neck  810 . It is also possible for dance pads to sense a range of different pressures and for the MGP to provide corresponding levels of play depending on the pressure.  
         [0035]     Similarly,  FIGS. 5 and 6  show the respective musical tracks  510 ,  610  and respective strategy tracks  520 ,  620  for a percussion instrument such a drum set and a pressure sensing system such as a dance pad. Accordingly, the MGP executing on game console  100  is able to adapt to different instruments depending on the respective musical and strategy tracks.  
         [0036]     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, game device  145 , e.g., a guitar also includes incremental position and/or motion sensor(s) to detect the absolute and/or relative position and/or movement of a guitar or a dancer, and display a corresponding image on video display  125 . Suitable position/motion sensors include commercially available solid state gyroscopic sensors, magnetic compass sensors and accelerometers from www.freescale.com, www.ssp.co.ip and www.pnicorp.com.  
         [0037]     Accordingly, position and motion sensing by game device  145  is accomplished by relying on the piezo coriolis effect of gyroscopic sensors, wherein the solid state gyroscope yields angular position relative to the angle at which game device  145  is rotated. For instance, the output voltage from the sensor can be a function of dw/dt, and wherein “w” is the relative angular position of game device  145  during rotation.  
         [0038]     Position sensing can also be accomplished by using the true north detection capability of magnetic compass sensors, e.g., the output voltage is a function of sin(Mnorth(w)), and wherein “w” is the angle between true magnetic north and the angle at which game device  145  is being held.  
         [0039]     It is also possible to use the gravitational field direction and plane-of-earth orientation capabilities of accelerometers for position sensing. One such position sensor might be a commercially available MEMS (micro-machined silicon) sensing accelerometer. Such accelerometers provide the vertical position of game device  145  as a function of the earth gravitational field. For example, the voltage output can be a function of angular position orthogonal relative to the earth&#39;s surface, i.e., Vout is a function of sin(w) and wherein “w” is the angular position of game device  145  relative to the ground plane.  
         [0040]     The positional sensor can also be a simple switch device which yields the rotated angle in crude but discernable increments. One exemplary impulse function for switch is Vout=3.3V*I(w), wherein “w” is the angle of game device  145  relative to the ground.  
         [0041]     In addition to displaying the position of game device  145 , positional information detected from game device  145  can also be used for a variety of non-positional controls, including volume control and note bending to vary change pitch. The position of game device  145  can also be used to select different strategy files and/or to control the level of difficulty. Accordingly, the player can select from base guitar track, lead guitar track, rhythm guitar track, speed of music, mode of game (solo, duet) or to change songs while playing, by for example, rotating the guitar body 90 degrees from the normal playing position such that the guitar neck is almost vertical, the player can switch musical tracks to from base guitar to lead guitar without interrupting the selected song.  
         [0042]     Although the above exemplary description uses protocols such as MIDI files, it is possible to use other protocols known to one skilled in the art. In addition, the functionality of game console  100  and game device  145  can be in software, firmware, hardware or combinations thereof.  
         [0043]     Advantages of the present invention include the ability to download add-on or enhancement to an existing musical game, a new song for an existing musical game, or a completely new game with a new list of songs. Players can also trade musical games among friends or preview trial versions of musical games before purchasing. The ability to change the level of play difficulty and/or to switch tracks during play also makes the musical games more entertaining.  
         [0044]     Many modifications and additions to the present invention also possible. For example, multiple players can play synchronously on a single console  100 . Alternatively, multiple players can play synchronously one console  100  and one or more remote game console(s)  182  . . .  189 . The multiple players can be on similar instruments such as a lead guitar, a rhythm guitar and a base guitar, or on different instruments such as a guitar, a drum set and a dance pad. In addition, the players can interact cooperatively or competitively.  
         [0045]     While this invention has been described in terms of several preferred embodiments, there are alterations, modifications, permutations, and substitute equivalents, which fall within the scope of this invention. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and apparatuses of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including all such alterations, modifications, permutations, and substitute equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.