Abstract:
An apparatus for dividing a split screen video game display into two separate video displays, for displaying two different screens. The apparatus includes a main switch box which connects to the game console and emulates all the connections expected by the game console. The main switch box wirelessly connects to a receiver switch box. The main switch box takes the video signal from the game console, divides the split screen into two halves, and outputs one half on a first screen connected to the main switch box and sends the other half to the receiver switch box for output on a second screen connected to the receiver switch box. The main switch box also takes a first headset input signal and a second headset input signal from the receiver switch box and combines the headset signals into one signal for sending to the game console.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a game console switch box for wirelessly splitting multimedia from a video game console. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Video game consoles generally connect to one display. For multiplayer games, each player has his own game console and display. However, when only one game console and display are available, the players must share the display. Often, the display is shared by showing the first player&#39;s screen in one half, such as top half, of the single display, and the second player&#39;s screen in the bottom half. Each player sees a distorted or otherwise truncated screen, as the result of sharing the single display. 
         [0005]    Even when more than one display is available, game consoles are generally configured to connect to only one display. Mirroring the same video screen on another display fails to take advantage of the added display. In addition, the second display may be remotely located, such as in another room, from the game console. 
         [0006]    There is a need for a switch box which takes a split video game screen and produces an output on two displays. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention takes a split video screen displaying multiplayers and displays each player on a separate display. The present invention also combines two headset inputs into one signal for the game console. 
         [0008]    An apparatus for separating a split video game screen is housed in a main switch box that includes a first controller having a first headset input, a multimedia input, a first multimedia output, a headset output, a first controller output, and a second controller output. A receiver switch box connected to the main switch box through a wireless link includes a second controller having a control input, a second headset input, and a second multimedia output. The main switch box receives a second controller signal from the receiver switch box through a wireless link, receives a second headset signal from the receiver switch box through the wireless link, and combines the first headset signal and the second headset signal. The main switch box separates the split screen multimedia signal into a first screen signal and a second screen signal. The second screen signal is provided to the receiver switch box through the wireless link. 
         [0009]    The system for separating a split video game screen into separate displays includes a first display, a second display remote from the first display, a first controller, a second controller, a third controller, a fourth controller, a first headset, a second headset, a game console receiving a signal from the first controller, the second controller, and the headset and outputting a multimedia signal. A main switch box connected to the game console and the first display includes a first controller and a second controller, the first controller having a first headset input, a multimedia input for receiving the multimedia signal from the game console, a first multimedia output for sending a first screen signal to the first display, a headset output for sending the headset signal to the game console, a first controller output for sending a first controller signal or a third controller signal, as a first controller input signal, to the game console. The second controller connected to a game console for sending a second controller signal or a fourth controller signal, as the second controller input signal, to the game console. The system includes a receiver switch box connected to the second display, and to the main switch box through a wireless link. A third controller and a fourth controller, in the receiver switch box, have a second headset input, and a second multimedia output for sending a second screen signal to the second display. The main switch box receives the third controller signal and the fourth controller signal from the receiver switch box through the wireless link. It receives the second headset signal from the receiver switch box through the wireless link and combines the first headset signal and the second headset signal into a single headset input signal. The main switch box separates the multimedia signal into a first screen signal and a second screen signal and sends the second screen signal to the receiver switch box through the wireless link. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The exact nature of this invention, as well as the objects and advantages thereof, will become readily apparent from consideration of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a switch box used across two rooms according to the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2A  is an illustration of a split screed used in the prior art; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2B  is an illustration of the split screen of  FIG. 2A  separated into two screens according to the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic illustration of a remote controller for use with the present invention; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a switch box used across two rooms according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    The implementations of the various features of the present invention are described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated description are provided to illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Throughout the drawings, like reference numbers are re-used to indicate correspondence between the referenced elements. 
         [0017]    In one preferred embodiment, a multiple room configuration  100 , shown in  FIG. 1 , includes a first room  101  and a second room  102 . The first room  101  includes a first display  103 , a game console  105 , a main switch box  110 , a first controller  141 , and a first headset  142 . The second room  102  includes a second display  104 , a receiver switch box  120 , a second controller  143 , and a second headset  144 . Although  FIG. 1  shows various connections as wired, the connections may also be wireless. 
         [0018]    The first display  103  may be a television or other similar display device. The second display  104  may be a television or other similar display device, and may be the same size as, or a different size from the first display  103 . 
         [0019]    The game console  105  includes a computer, or other computing device capable of receiving user inputs. The game console  105  includes a first controller input port  106 , a second controller input port  107 , a headset input port  108 , and a multimedia output port  109 . The first controller input port  106  and the second controller input port  107  are data ports, such as USB ports, which allow videogame controllers such as the first controller  141  or other human interface devices, to connect to the game console  105  for user input. The headset input port  108  is a data or audio port, such as a USB port or a headphone jack, which allow headsets such as the headset  142  to connect to the game console  105  for audio. The multimedia output port  109  is a data or audio/video port, such as an HDMI port, which allows a display, such as the display  103 , to connect to the game console for audio/video display. The multimedia output port  109  may include separate audio and video connections. 
         [0020]    The main switch box  110  includes a first controller output port  116 , a second controller output port  117 , a headset output port  118 , a multimedia input port  119 , a multimedia output port  111 , a first controller input port  112 , and a headset input port  113 . The first controller output port  116  of the main switch box  110  connects to the first controller input port  106  of the game console  105 . The second controller output port  117  of the main switch box  110  connects to the second controller input port  107  of the game console  105 . The headset output port  118  of the main switch box  110  connects to the headset input port  108  of the game console  105 . The multimedia input port  119  of the main switch box  110  connects to the multimedia output port  109  of the game console  105 . The first controller  141  connects, either wirelessly or by wire, to the main switch box input port  112 . The headset  142  connects, either wirelessly or by wire, to the headset input port  113  of the main switch box  110 . The display  103  connects to the multimedia output port  111  of the main switch box  110 . These connections between the main switch box  110  and the game console  105  allow the game console  105  to behave as if the appropriate connections were made directly to it. For example, the game console  105  “sees” the first controller  141  as if it were directly connected to the game console  105 , even if there are intermediary connections. The game console  105  outputs audio and video to the display  103  through the main switch box  110  as if the game console  105  was directly connected to the display  103 . 
         [0021]    A receiver switch box  120  has a second controller input port  122 , a second headset input port  123 , and a second multimedia output port  121 . A second controller  143  connects, either wirelessly or by wire, to the second controller input port  122 . A second headset  144  connects, either wirelessly or by wire, to the second headset input port  123 . A second display  104  connects to the second multimedia output port  121  of the receiver switch box  120 . 
         [0022]    The receiver switch box  120  connects to the main switch box  110  preferably through a wireless link  130 . Although, the connection may be a wire line. The wireless connection  130  may be implemented as a direct wireless connection, or as part of a wireless network. The wireless connection  130  allows the second controller  143  to connect to the second controller input port  107  of the game console  105 . 
         [0023]    The first headset  142  and the second headset  144  both connect to the headset input port  108  of the game console as if it was a direct connection to the game console  105 . 
         [0024]    Because the game console  105 , and games playable on the game console  105 , may be configured for one headset, the main switch box  110  and the receiver switch box  120  allow two headsets to act as one. In other words, the same audio signal is output to the first headset  142  and the second headset  144 . The audio input from the first headset  142  is mixed with the audio input from the second headset  144  by the main switch box  110  before being sent to the game console  105  as a compound audio signal. The game console  105  receives the compound audio signal and behaves as if only one headset were connected. This allows two headsets to be used for a game console that only provides one headset input port  108 . 
         [0025]    The receiver switch box  120  may output the same audio/video signal to the second display  104  as the main switch box  110  outputs to the first display  103 . The present invention allows two different video outputs to be displayed, one on each of first display  103  and second display  104 .  FIG. 2A  shows how a two-player game is displayed on a single screen. The screen  200  shows a first player sub-screen  210  and a second player sub-screen  220 , in a split-screen configuration. Although  FIG. 2A  shows a horizontal split-screen, the screen may be split vertically or portioned in any other appropriate manner. As seen in  FIG. 2A , the sharing of the screen  200  may cause the first player sub-screen  210  and the second player sub-screen  220  to be distorted, or otherwise modified, to fit the reduced screen space. 
         [0026]    The main switch box  110  splits the video signal pushing the split-screen display into two separate video signals. This restores full screen display to the first player sub-screen  210  and the second player sub-screen  220  as shown in  FIG. 2B . A first full screen display  201  displays only the first player sub-screen  210 . A second full screen display  202  displays only the second player sub-screen  220 . The first full screen display  201  may be the first display  103  of  FIG. 1 . The second full screen display  202  may be the second display  104  of  FIG. 1 . This allows each player to have his own display. As shown in  FIG. 2B , each player sub-screen is stretched, to counteract distortion and use of the full screen. However, the output signal may remain unaltered in size. The main switch box  110  can determine from the video output signal from the game console  105  how to divide the images, and may pre-process a stretched image to be sent to the second player screen  202  from the receiver switch box  120 . Or, the actual second player sub-screen  220  may be sent to the receiver switch box  120  which appropriately scales the video signal for display on the second player screen  101 . Because of a delay in the wireless connection  130  between the switch box  110  and the receiver switch box  120 , there may be a 1 frame delay in the video. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates a remote control  300 , which can be used to control video output settings. A menu button  310  prompts a menu on either the first display  103  and/or the second display  104 . The remote control  300  is preferably used with the main switch box  110 . Alternatively, the remote control  300  may be used with the receiver switch box  120 . The menu would then be displayed on the second display  104 . An exit button  320  exits the menu. Selection buttons  330  include an up button  331 , right button  332 , down button  333 , left button  334 , and OK button  335 , for making menu selections. Preset buttons  340  include a first button  341 , a second button  342 , and a third button  343 . The menu allows selection of which half or portion of the video display to send to which switch box, including scaling options. The same video may also be displayed on both switch boxes. Further options include which switch box is treated as which player, and headset mixing options, such as whether to mix or isolate headset signals. The preset buttons  340  are defined to preset settings. 
         [0028]    Alternatively, the up button  331  selects the top half to be displayed on the main switch box  110 , and the down button  333  selects the bottom half to be displayed on the main switch box  110 . The OK button  335  switches between views, and the menu button goes to a split-screen (i.e. normal) view. 
         [0029]    In certain other implementations, the functions of the remote control  300  may be performed by the first controller  141  or the second controller  143 . For example, certain uncommon button combinations on the first controller  141  may allow switching between different views. The main switch box  110  and/or the receiver switch box  120  can be configured to recognize specific button combinations from the first controller  141  and/or the second controller  143 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  illustrates a system  400 , an alternate embodiment of the present invention. Although the various connections are depicted as wire connections, one or more of the depicted connections may be wireless. A first room  401  includes a first display  403 , a game console  405 , a main switch box  410 , a first controller  441 , a second controller  442 , and a first headset  451 . A second room  402  includes a second display  404 , a receiver switch box  420 , a third controller  443 , a fourth controller  444 , and a second headset  452 . 
         [0031]    The game console  405  includes a first controller input port  406 , a second controller input port  407 , a multimedia output port  409 , and a headset input port  454 . 
         [0032]    The main switch box  410  includes a first multimedia output port  411 , a second multimedia output port  414 , a multimedia input port  419 , a first controller output port  416 , a second controller output port  417 , a first controller input port  412 , a second controller input port  413 , a first controller connection port  415 , a second controller connection port  418 , a multimedia switch  431 , a first controller switch  432 , a second controller switch  433 , and a headset connection  453  with the receiver switch box  420 . 
         [0033]    The receiver switch box  420  includes a first controller input port  422 , a second controller input port  423 , a first controller output port  425 , a second controller output port  428 , a multimedia input port  424 , and a multimedia output port  421 . 
         [0034]    The system  400  functions in a similar manner to  FIG. 1 , with respect to headset mixing and the video splitting functions. Only the differences will be discussed, for simplicity. The multimedia switch  431 , the first controller switch  432 , and the second controller switch  433  are preferably physical switches. They may, however, be implemented in logic. The multimedia switch  431  controls whether the audio/video signals are output to the first multimedia output port  411 , the second multimedia output port  414 , or both ports. The first controller switch  432  controls whether the first controller  441  or the third controller  443  is connected to the first controller input port  406  of the gaming console. Similarly, the second controller switch  433  controls whether the second controller  442  or the fourth controller  444  is connected to the second controller input port  407  of the gaming console. This configuration allows the game to be played in just the first room  401 , just the second room  402  (remote from the game console  405 ), or split between the two rooms. 
         [0035]    Those of ordinary skill would appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and algorithm steps described in connection with the examples disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. Furthermore, the present application can also be embodied on a machine readable medium causing a processor or computer to perform or execute certain functions. 
         [0036]    To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the disclosed apparatus and methods. 
         [0037]    The various illustrative logical blocks, units, modules, and circuits described in connection with the examples disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. 
         [0038]    The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the examples disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. The steps of the method or algorithm may also be performed in an alternate order from those provided in the examples. A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). The ASIC may reside in a wireless modem. In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in the wireless modem. 
         [0039]    The previous description of the disclosed examples is provided to enable any person of ordinary skill in the art to make or use the disclosed methods and apparatus. Various modifications to these examples will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the principles defined herein may be applied to other examples without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosed method and apparatus. The described implementations are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive and the scope of the application is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.