SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GAME PERIPHERALS

In accordance with one embodiment, a portable system is provided. The portable system enabling the portable system's peripherals or built-in gadgets as gaming system peripherals. The portable system is enabled to electrically connect to the one or more of peripheral or the built-in gadgets. The portable system further comprises an instruction set to couple the gaming system and the portable system. The instruction set is stored on a non-volatile portable system memory. The instruction set further enables pairing of the gaming system with at least one of the portable system peripherals or built-in gadgets.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. Furthermore, the term “or” as used in either the detailed description or the claims is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from the context, the phrase “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, the phrase “X employs A or B” is satisfied by any of the following instances: X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B.

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the subject matter disclosed herein may be practiced. These embodiments, which are also referred to herein as “examples,” are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the subject matter disclosed herein. It is to be understood that the embodiments may be combined or that other embodiments may be utilized, and that structural, logical, and electrical variations may be made without departing from the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. In the description that follows, like numerals or reference designators will be used to refer to like parts or elements throughout. In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one. In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, unless otherwise indicated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property.

FIG. 1illustrates an exemplary environment including a first and a second user (10,12) as interacting with a multi-player game controller system14. The multi-player game controller system14includes a first hand-held game controller16as being used by the first user10and a second hand-held game controller18as being used by a second user12. As will be further described below the first and second hand-held game controllers16,18are in an unengaged state. There is also illustrated a gaming system20and a display device22.

The first hand-held game controller16includes a first game controller housing24, and a first input control, such as a knob26or a button28, attached to the first game controller housing24. The first input control is configured to generate a first input control signal36in response to interaction with the first user10. The first and second hand-held game controllers16,18have engagement states of an engaged state and an unengaged state. The first and second game controllers16,18are in fixed physical relation to each other with respect to at least one degree of freedom when in the engaged state. The first and second hand-held game controllers16,18are independently movable in relation to each other when in the unengaged state.

The second hand-held game controller18includes a second game controller housing30, and a second input control, such as a knob32or a button34, attached to the second game controller housing30. The second input control18is configured to generate a second input control signal38in response to interaction with a second user12. The engagement circuitry46is configured to generate an engagement signal40in response to the first and second hand-held game controllers16,18being in the engagement state.

As shown inFIG. 1, a portable system's100peripherals gadgets102or built-in gadgets (not shown) being used as gaming system peripherals. The first user and the second user (10,12) are engaged with the gaming system20. For example, as shown inFIG. 1, the first user and the second user (10,12) may be using the headset that is a peripheral of the portable system100. It is to be understood that the embodiments and features that are described herein may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware or any combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the portable system100may have one or more intermediary gadget to help the portable system to connect to the gaming system20. The intermediary gadget may allow to circumvent limitation of the gaming system20to communicate or pair with the non-original equipment manufacturer (OEM) peripherals. For example, the intermediary gadgets may be one connected directly to the gaming system20or to a hand-held game controllers16,18. The intermediary gadget may enable gaming system20to communicate with the portable system100.

FIG. 2illustrates a block diagram of a portable system100in accordance with an embodiment. Software or firmware memory18can comprise a read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a miniature hard drive, a flash memory card, or any kind of device (or devices) configured to read instruction set from a machine-readable medium or media. The portable system100further comprises an instruction set to couple the gaming system20and the portable system100. The instruction set is stored on a non-volatile portable system memory. The instruction set contained in software or firmware memory18further include instruction set to pair the gaming system20with at least one of the portable system100peripherals or built-in gadgets.

Network module may enable data sent from portable system to external device24via a wired or wireless network (or direct connection, for example, via a serial or parallel cable or USB port)26under control of processor16and user interface28. In some embodiments, external device24may be a computer or a workstation having a display. In some other embodiments, external device24may be a gaming system20.

A user interface28(that may also include integrated display14) is provided to receive commands from a user and to instruct back end processor16to perform certain functions that may enhance users experience engaging with a gaming system20. Various embodiments described herein are described in the general context of methods or processes, which may be implemented in one embodiment by a computer program product, embodied in a computer-readable medium, including computer-executable instructions, such as program code, executed by computers in networked environments.

The various embodiments and/or components, for example, the modules, elements, or components and controllers therein, also may be implemented as part of one or more computers or processors. The computer or processor may include a computing device, an input device, a display unit and an interface, for example, for accessing the Internet. The computer or processor may include a microprocessor. The microprocessor may be connected to a communication bus. The computer or processor may also include a memory. The memory may include Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM). The computer or processor further may include a storage device, which may be a hard disk drive or a removable storage drive such as an optical disk drive, solid state disk drive (e.g., flash RAM), and the like. The storage device may also be other similar means for loading computer programs or other instructions into the computer or processor.

As used herein, the term “computer” or “module” may include any processor-based or microprocessor-based system including systems using microcontrollers, reduced instruction set computers (RISC), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), graphical processing units (GPUs), logic circuits, and any other circuit or processor capable of executing the functions described herein. The above examples are exemplary only, and are thus not intended to limit in any way the definition and/or meaning of the term “computer”.

As used herein, the terms “software”, “firmware” and “algorithm” are interchangeable, and include any computer program stored in memory for execution by a computer, including RAM memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, and non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) memory. The above memory types are exemplary only, and are thus not limiting as to the types of memory usable for storage of a computer program.

For example, the portable system100may be a cellphone. The plurality of peripherals or the built-in gadgets enabling communication of at least one of audio, visual, mechanical, sensory signals to and from the gaming system20via the portable system100. The system may also include a user interface enabling a user and the portable system100to interact. The user interface may use the instruction set installed or stored on the portable system100. The user interface may provide controls for managing the plurality of peripherals or the plurality of built-in gadgets.

In accordance with one embodiment, at least one of the peripheral or built-in gadgets is a headset with at least one speaker and a microphone built-in. In yet another embodiment, the instruction set is an integral part of a mobile software application. The portable system100pairs with the gaming system20using one of a wired or wireless technology. Alternatively, the portable systems keypad is used to communicate instructions between the portable system100and the gaming system20.

FIG. 3illustrates a process/method300for enabling a portable system's peripherals or build-in gadgets to acts as gaming system20peripherals in accordance with an embodiment. The process300starts at302where the method involves electrically connecting the portable system100to the plurality of peripherals or the built-in gadgets. The method may also provide pairing the gaming system20and the portable system100using an instruction set stored on a non-volatile portable system memory, the instruction set further enabling pairing of the gaming system20with at least one of the portable system100peripherals or built-in gadgets.

The method may also include enabling communication of at least one of audio, visual, mechanical, sensory signals to and from the gaming system20. The method may provide a user interface enabling a user and the portable system100to interact, such that the user interface uses the instruction set.

The method may further include managing the plurality of peripherals or the plurality of built-in gadgets using the user interface. The method may use the user interface for controlling the relationship between the plurality of peripherals or the plurality of built-in gadgets and the gaming system20.

In one embodiment, the method may provide at least one of the peripheral or built-in gadgets as a headset with at least one speaker and a microphone built-in. The method integrating the instruction set within a mobile software application. The method pairing the portable system100with the gaming system20using one of a wired or wireless technology.

In addition, the method involves using the portable systems keypad to communicate instructions between the portable system100and the gaming system20. The method further enabling multiple players communicate with each other using the peripheral or built-in gadgets.