Abstract:
A gaming system with performance tuning and optimized data sharing functions essentially includes a server, a performance detection module, a performance adjusting module, a peripheral control module, a plurality of PCs, and a plurality of input devices. The performance detection module detects the performance of, and generates a PC performance table for, one of the PCs. The performance adjusting module optimizes the original instruction set of a chosen game according to the PC performance table and the standard action table of the game and generates an optimized instruction set, which is output by the peripheral control module. By the update and sharing functions of the server, the optimized instruction set can be shared among the PCs or input devices, allowing each PC or input device to read the optimized instruction set using a corresponding ID and thereby achieve optimized game operation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a gaming system and, more particularly, to a gaming system with performance tuning and optimized data sharing functions. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    A conventional personal computer (PC)-based gaming system typically works on the existing standard action table and original instruction set of a game. In order for the PCs in the gaming system to carry out game players&#39; desired actions, input devices such as a mouse and a keyboard are connected to each PC as an operation interface between each player and the game. 
         [0005]    While the above arrangement enables operation of the gaming system, the fact that PC performance varies significantly from brand to brand or with the hardware/software used can be a problem. More specifically, during operation of the gaming system, different PCs may have different response times in the action interface with a game and have a time difference in function input, and the differences in response time and input time are very likely to keep the gaming system from operating smoothly and effectively. Game players either have to spend a lot of time and energy solving the problem or, as is often the case, are at a loss as to the cause of and solution to the problem. 
         [0006]    In light of the above, game players and game providers are definitely looking forward to a momentous improvement in the conventional gaming systems which not only provides ease of use, but also allows the optimal gaming experience to be shared without the players having to modify their existing PCs. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming system with performance tuning and optimized data sharing functions. The gaming system includes a server, a performance detection module, a performance adjusting module, a peripheral control module, at least one PC, and at least one input device. The performance detection module can detect the performance of each PC and generates a PC performance table for each PC. The performance adjusting module can optimize the original instruction set of a game according to a PC performance table and the standard action table of the game, thereby generating an optimized instruction set. The optimized instruction set includes optimized game action instructions and can, by the update and sharing functions of the server, be shared with each PC connected to the server and with each input device connected to each PC. With the present invention, each input device can, using a corresponding ID (i.e., identification code), read from the server or whichever PC that the input device is connected to the optimized instruction set generated by the performance adjusting module, so as to enable optimized game operation. 
         [0008]    To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a gaming system with performance tuning and optimized data sharing functions. The gaming system includes: a server for recording at least one original instruction set, a standard action table corresponding to each original instruction set, and at least one optimized instruction set corresponding to each original instruction set; at least one PC electrically connected to the server and configured for downloading and executing at least one original instruction set or at least one optimized instruction set, wherein each PC includes: a performance detection module for detecting the performance of the PC where the performance detection module is provided and for generating a PC performance table accordingly; a performance adjusting module for optimizing the original instruction set corresponding to an aforesaid standard action table according to the standard action table and the PC performance table and thereby generating an aforesaid optimized instruction set; and a peripheral control module for outputting the optimized instruction set generated by the performance adjusting module; and at least one input device electrically connected to each PC and configured for receiving the optimized instruction set output by the corresponding peripheral control module, wherein each input device includes: a plurality of input keys; a controller for reading output signals of the input keys; and a storage unit for storing the optimized instruction set received. 
         [0009]    To achieve the above object, the present invention also provides a gaming system with performance tuning and optimized data sharing functions, wherein the gaming system includes: a server for recording at least one original instruction set, a standard action table corresponding to each original instruction set, and at least one optimized instruction set corresponding to each original instruction set, wherein the server includes: a performance detection module for detecting the performance of each of at least one PC electrically connected to the server and for generating a PC performance table corresponding to each PC; a performance adjusting module for optimizing the original instruction set corresponding to an aforesaid standard action table according to the standard action table and an aforesaid PC performance table and thereby generating an aforesaid optimized instruction set; and a peripheral control module for outputting the optimized instruction set generated by the performance adjusting module; the at least one PC electrically connected to the server, each PC being configured for downloading and executing at least one original instruction set or at least one optimized instruction set; and at least one input device electrically connected to each PC and configured for receiving the optimized instruction set output by the peripheral control module, wherein each input device includes: a plurality of input keys; a controller for reading output signals of the input keys; and a storage unit for storing the optimized instruction set received. 
         [0010]    Implementation of the present invention at least involves the following inventive steps: 
         [0011]    1. The disclosed gaming system enables a game player to input optimized game actions correctly and smoothly. 
         [0012]    2. Through the storage, update, and sharing of optimized data, an expert&#39;s operating experience can be provided to each game player. 
         [0013]    3. The disclosed gaming system is applicable to all kinds of PCs. In other words, the disclosed gaming system can produce optimized instruction sets for each kind of PCs. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a gaming system with performance tuning and optimized data sharing functions according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a schematic drawing of a server according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing of a PC according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  schematically shows how a PC performance table is generated according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  schematically shows how an optimized instruction set is generated according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a schematic drawing of an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  schematically shows how combination IDs are generated according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram of a gaming system with performance tuning and optimized data sharing functions according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  schematically shows an embodiment of the server in  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a gaming system  100  with performance tuning and optimized data sharing functions according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a server  10 , at least one PC  20 , and at least one input device  30 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the server  10  stores at least one original instruction set  11 , a standard action table  12  corresponding to each original instruction set  11 , and at least one optimized instruction set  13  corresponding to each original instruction set  11 . For example, assuming there are X games Game1, Game2, . . . GameX, the original instruction sets  11  corresponding to the games are O1, O2, . . . OX respectively, and the standard action tables  12  corresponding to the games are A1, A2, . . . AX respectively. 
         [0025]    Continuing from the above example, Table 1 below shows how the server  10  may store the original instruction set  11  and standard action table  12  of each game, using game IDs (i.e., G1, G2, . . . GX) as the indices. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 G1 
                 O1 
                 A1 
               
               
                   
                 G2 
                 O2 
                 A2 
               
               
                   
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
                 GX 
                 OX 
                 AX 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0026]    The server  10  is configured for updating the at least one optimized instruction set  13  or sharing the at least one original instruction set  11  or the at least one optimized instruction set  13  with each PC  20  connected to the server  10  or, by way of each PC  20 , with each input device  30  connected thereto. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  shows an embodiment of one PC  20 . Each PC  20  is electrically connected to the server  10  and configured for downloading and executing at least one original instruction set  11  or at least one optimized instruction set  13 . Each PC  20  includes a performance detection module  21 , a performance adjusting module  22 , and a peripheral control module  23 . Each PC  20  also has a corresponding PC ID. 
         [0028]    The PC ID of each PC  20  serves as a means whereby each PC  20  can be identified or as an index to data or tables. Continuing from the above example, the PC IDs in the gaming system  100  of this embodiment are PCA, PCB, . . . PCN. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , each performance detection module  21  is configured for detecting the performance of the corresponding PC  20  and generating a PC performance table  211  accordingly, wherein the PC performance table  211  is stored in the server  10  or the corresponding PC  20  and is indexed by the PC ID of the corresponding PC  20 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , each performance adjusting module  22  can optimize the original instruction set  11  of a game according to the standard action table  12  of the game and the PC performance table  211  of the corresponding PC  20 , thereby generating an optimized instruction set  13 , which is stored in the server  10  or the corresponding PC  20 . 
         [0031]    Each peripheral control module  23  serves to generate combination IDs and supply the optimized instruction set  13  generated by the corresponding performance adjusting module  22  to each of the corresponding at least one input device  30 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of one input device  30 . Each input device  30 , which may be a mouse, a keyboard, or a joystick, is electrically connected to one PC  20  and includes a plurality of input keys  31 , a controller  32 , and a storage unit  33 , wherein the storage unit  33  stores an input ID corresponding to the input device  30 . Continuing from the above example, the input IDs in the gaming system  100  of this embodiment are P1, P2, . . . Pn. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , each combination ID generated by each peripheral control module  23  is a combination of one input ID, one PC ID, and one game ID. Continuing from the above example, there are X games, N PCs  20 , and n input devices  30  in the gaming system  100  of this embodiment, so the combination IDs generated by the peripheral control modules  23  have N×X×n combinations, namely C111, C112, C11n, . . . C1N1, C1N2, . . . C1Nn, C2Nn, CXNn. In the gaming system  100  of this embodiment, each optimized instruction set  13  is stored in the server  10  or in the corresponding PC  20  or in the storage unit  33  of an input device  30  connected to the corresponding. PC  20 , using the corresponding combination ID as the index. The at least one optimized instruction set  13  of each game can be updated by the server  10  or be shared by the server  10  with each PC  20  electrically connected thereto, using the corresponding at least one combination ID as the index. 
         [0034]    The input keys  31  of each input device  30  function as an input interface for playing a game. The number of the input keys  31  to be used and how the input keys  31  correspond to a game are defined in the standard action table  12  of the game and are implemented by the original instruction set  11  or each corresponding optimized instruction set  13  of the game. 
         [0035]    The controller  32  of each input device  30  is configured for reading output signals of the corresponding input keys  31  and transmitting the output signals to the PC  20  electrically connected to the input device  30 , so as to enable input of game actions. 
         [0036]      FIG. 8  illustrates a gaming system  100 ′ with performance tuning and optimized data sharing functions according to another embodiment of the present invention. The gaming system  100 ′ includes a server  10 ′, at least one PC  20 ′, and at least one input device  30 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , the server  10 ′ in the gaming system  100 ′ shown in  FIG. 8  includes a performance detection module  21 , a performance adjusting module  22 , and a peripheral control module  23 . Besides, the server  10 ′ stores at least one original instruction set  11 , a standard action table  12  corresponding to each original instruction set  11 , and at least one optimized instruction set  13  corresponding to each original instruction set  11 . For example, assuming there are X games Game1, Game2, GameX, the original instruction sets  11  corresponding to the games are O1, O2, . . . OX respectively, and the standard action tables  12  corresponding to the games are A1, A2, AX respectively. 
         [0038]    Continuing from the foregoing example, the original instruction set  11  and standard action table  12  of each game may be stored in the server  10 ′ in the same way as shown in Table 1 and use the corresponding game ID as the index. 
         [0039]    The server  10 ′ is configured for updating the at least one optimized instruction set  13  or sharing the at least one original instruction set  11  or the at least one optimized instruction set  13  with each PC  20 ′ connected to the server  10 ′ or, by way of each PC  20 ′, with each input device  30  connected thereto. 
         [0040]    The performance detection module  21  is configured for detecting the performance of each of the at least one PC  20 ′ electrically connected to the server  10 ′ and for generating a PC performance table  211  corresponding to each PC  20 ′. The at least one PC performance table  211  thus generated is stored in the server  10 ′ or is respectively stored in the at least one PC  20 ′, using the PC ID of each PC  20 ′ as the index. Generation of the at least one PC performance table  211  is carried out in the same way as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0041]    The performance adjusting module  22  can optimize the original instruction set  11  of a game according to the standard action table  12  of the game and a PC performance table  211  and thereby generate an optimized instruction set  13 . The optimized instruction set  13  thus generated is stored in the server  10 ′ or the corresponding PC  20 ′. Generation of the optimized instruction set  13  is carried out in the same way as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0042]    The peripheral control module  23  serves to generate combination IDs and supply the optimized instruction set  13  generated by the performance adjusting module  22  to each input device  30 . 
         [0043]    Each PC  20 ′ is electrically connected to the server  10 ′ and configured for downloading and executing at least one original instruction set  11  or at least one optimized instruction set  13 . Each PC  20 ′ has a corresponding PC ID. 
         [0044]    Each input device  30  in the gaming system  100 ′ of  FIG. 8  has the same configuration as shown in  FIG. 6 . Like the at least one input device  30  in the gaming system  100  of  FIG. 1 , each input device  30  in the gaming system  100 ′ may be a mouse, a keyboard, or a joystick; is electrically connected to one PC  20 ′; and includes a plurality of input keys  31 , a controller  32 , and a storage unit  33 , wherein the storage unit  33  stores an input ID corresponding to the input device  30 . Continuing from the foregoing example, the input IDs in the gaming system  100 ′ of this embodiment are P1, P2, Pn. 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , each combination ID generated by the peripheral control module  23  is a combination of one input ID, one PC ID, and one game ID. Continuing from the foregoing example, there are X games, N PCs  20 ′, and n input devices  30  in the gaming system  100 ′ of this embodiment, so the combination IDs generated by the peripheral control module  23  have N×X×n combinations, namely C111, C112, C11n, . . . C1N1, C1N2, . . . C1Nn, C2Nn, . . . CXNn. In the gaming system  100 ′ of this embodiment, each optimized instruction set  13  is stored in the server  10 ′ or in the corresponding PC  20 ′ or in the storage unit  33  of an input device  30  connected to the corresponding PC  20 ′, using the corresponding combination ID as the index. The at least one optimized instruction set  13  of each game can be updated by the server  10 ′ or be shared by the server  10 ′ with each PC  20 ′ electrically connected thereto, using the corresponding at least one combination ID as the index. 
         [0046]    The input keys  31  of each input device  30  function as an input interface for playing a game. The number of the input keys  31  to be used and how the input keys  31  correspond to a game are defined in the standard action table  12  of the game and are implemented by the original instruction set  11  or each corresponding optimized instruction set  13  of the game. 
         [0047]    The controller  32  of each input device  30  is configured for reading output signals of the corresponding input keys  31  and transmitting the output signals to the PC  20 ′ electrically connected to the input device  30 , so as to enable input of game actions. 
         [0048]    The embodiments described above are only the preferred embodiments of, but not limitations to, the present invention. While the present invention is disclosed herein with reference to the preferred embodiments, the embodiments are not intended to restrict the present invention. Based on the technical contents disclosed herein, a person skilled in the art may alter or modify the foregoing embodiments and thereby produce equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, all minor alterations and equivalent changes which are based on the technical substance of the present invention and made to the foregoing embodiments should be considered as within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention.