Patent Application
20090325705
The technical field generally relates to game systems with remote controller units, and more specifically to the communication of commands and data between a game server and a game controller unit.
Game systems commonly comprise a game server and remote controller units located remotely from the game server that serve to provide input from the user of the game to the game server. The game server sends commands to the remote controller in turn to advance the action of the game with which a user is interacting. Current game systems involve the user more actively by establishing a wireless communication pathway for instructions and data transfer between the remote controller and the game system, in some instances providing the capability for a user to move the remote controller and have this relative motion captured and tracked by the game server.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description of the Illustrative Embodiments. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In a gaming system that utilizes motion detection by a sensor, such as a gyroscope, magnetometer, accelerometer, or optical sensor, within a game remote controller the palette of supported gestures is limited by the pre-set sensor sensitivity of the device. To achieve the fullest range of a particular gesture input the sensor sensitivity must be set to a range that may capture the full range of a user motion without losing portions of either gross or fine gestures. In the instant system, the game server reassigns the sensor sensitivity in the game controller to set the resolution dynamically such that small gestures that require finer movements, as well as large gestures that require a broader range of movements, can have the maximum effect within the game. By having the game server software assign the sensitivity range resolution dynamically, and the input device performing the adjustment and communicating the user movements back to the game server, fine gestures as well as broader, larger gestures can be discerned with better accuracy and precision. This dynamic sensitivity adjustment is used by the game server to better inform the game user as to the optimal course of the game so as to enhance the user game experience.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating dynamic sensitivity adjustment for sensors within a remote game peripheral, there is shown in the drawings exemplary constructions thereof, however dynamic sensitivity adjustment for sensors within a remote game peripheral is not limited to the specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed.
In an exemplary embodiment, the processor comprises a game console, such as an XBOX® game console for example.
Game console 100 has a central processing unit (CPU) 101 having a level 1 (L1) cache 102, a level 2 (L2) cache 104, and a flash ROM (Read-only Memory) 106. The level 1 cache 102 and level 2 cache 104 temporarily store data and hence reduce the number of memory access cycles, thereby improving processing speed and throughput. The flash ROM 106 can store executable code that is loaded during an initial phase of a boot process when the game console 100 is initially powered. Alternatively, the executable code that is loaded during the initial boot phase can be stored in a FLASH memory device (not shown). Further, ROM 106 can be located separate from CPU 101. Game console 100 can, optionally, be a multi-processor system; for example game console 100 can have three processors 101, 103, and 105, where processors 103 and 105 have similar or identical components to processor 101.
A graphics processing unit (GPU) 108 and a video encoder/video codec (coder/decoder) 114 form a video processing pipeline for high speed and high resolution graphics processing. Data is carried from the graphics processing unit 108 to the video encoder/video codec 114 via a bus. The video processing pipeline outputs data to an A/V (audio/video) port 140 for transmission to a television or other display device. A memory controller 110 is connected to the GPU 108 and CPU 101 to facilitate processor access to various types of memory 112, such as, but not limited to, a RAM (Random Access Memory).
Game console 100 includes an I/O controller 120, a system management controller 122, an audio processing unit 123, a network interface controller 124, a first USB host controller 126, a second USB controller 128 and a front panel I/O subassembly 130 that may be implemented on a module 118. The USB controllers 126 and 128 serve as hosts for peripheral controllers 142(1)-142(2), a wireless adapter 148, a wireless remote peripheral 150, and an external memory unit 146 (e.g., flash memory, external CD/DVD ROM drive, removable media, etc.). The network interface 124 and/or wireless adapter 148 provide access to a network (e.g., the Internet, home network, etc.) and may be any of a wide variety of various wired or wireless interface components including an Ethernet card, a modem, a Bluetooth module, a cable modem, and the like. The wireless remote game peripheral 150 may connect to the game console through the wireless adaptor 148 as well.
System memory 143 is provided to store application data that is loaded during the boot process. A media drive 144 is provided and may comprise a DVD/CD drive, hard drive, or other removable media drive, etc. The media drive 144 may be internal or external to the game console 100. When media drive 144 is a drive or reader for removable media (such as removable optical disks, or flash cartridges), then media drive 144 is an example of an interface onto which (or into which) media are mountable for reading. Application data may be accessed via the media drive 144 for execution, playback, etc. by game console 100. Media drive 144 is connected to the I/O controller 120 via a bus, such as a Serial ATA bus or other high speed connection (e.g., IEEE 5394). While media drive 144 may generally refer to various storage embodiments (e.g., hard disk, removable optical disk drive, etc.), game console 100 may specifically include a hard disk 152, which can be used to store game data, application data, or other types of data, and on which file system components may be implemented.
The system management controller 122 provides a variety of service functions related to assuring availability of the game console 100. The audio processing unit 123 and an audio codec 132 form a corresponding audio processing pipeline with high fidelity, 5D, surround, and stereo audio processing according to aspects of the present subject matter described herein. Audio data is carried between the audio processing unit 123 and the audio codec 126 via a communication link. The audio processing pipeline outputs data to the A/V port 140 for reproduction by an external audio player or device having audio capabilities.
The front panel I/O subassembly 130 supports the functionality of the power button and any LEDs (light emitting diodes) or other indicators exposed on the outer surface of the game console 100. A system power supply module 136 provides power to the components of the game console 100. A fan 138 cools the circuitry within the game console 100.
The CPU 101, GPU 108, memory controller 110, and various other components within the game console 100 are interconnected via one or more buses, including serial and parallel buses, a memory bus, a peripheral bus, and a processor or local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures.
When the game console 100 is powered on or rebooted, application data can be loaded from the system memory 143 into memory 112 and/or caches 102, 104 and executed on the CPU 101. The application can present a graphical user interface that provides a consistent user experience when navigating to different media types available on the game console 100. In operation, applications and/or other media contained within the media drive 144 may be launched or played from the media drive 144 to provide additional functionalities to the game console 100.
The game console 100 may be operated as a standalone system by simply connecting the system to a television or other display. In this standalone mode, the game console 100 may allow one or more users to interact with the system, watch movies, listen to music, and the like. However, with the integration of broadband connectivity made available through the network interface 124 or the wireless adapter 148, the game console 100 may further be operated as a participant in a larger network community.
A computer system can be roughly divided into three component groups: the hardware component, the hardware/software interface system component, and the applications programs component (also referred to as the “user component” or “software component”). In various embodiments of a computer system the hardware component may comprise the central processing unit (CPU) 721, the memory (both ROM 764 and RAM 725), the basic input/output system (BIOS) 766, and various input/output (I/O) devices such as a keyboard 740, a mouse 762, a monitor 747, and/or a printer (not shown), among other things. The hardware component comprises the basic physical infrastructure for the computer system.
The applications programs component comprises various software programs including but not limited to compilers, database systems, word processors, business programs, videogames, and so forth. Application programs provide the means by which computer resources are utilized to solve problems, provide solutions, and process data for various users (machines, other computer systems, and/or end-users). In an example embodiment, application programs perform the functions associated with dynamic sensitivity adjustment for sensors within a remote game peripheral as described above.
The hardware/software interface system component comprises (and, in some embodiments, may solely consist of) an operating system that itself comprises, in most cases, a shell and a kernel. An “operating system” (OS) is a special program that acts as an intermediary between application programs and computer hardware. The hardware/software interface system component may also comprise a virtual machine manager (VMM), a Common Language Runtime (CLR) or its functional equivalent, a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) or its functional equivalent, or other such software components in the place of or in addition to the operating system in a computer system. A purpose of a hardware/software interface system is to provide an environment in which a user can execute application programs.
The hardware/software interface system is generally loaded into a computer system at startup and thereafter manages all of the application programs in the computer system. The application programs interact with the hardware/software interface system by requesting services via an application program interface (API). Some application programs enable end-users to interact with the hardware/software interface system via a user interface such as a command language or a graphical user interface (GUI).
A hardware/software interface system traditionally performs a variety of services for applications. In a multitasking hardware/software interface system where multiple programs may be running at the same time, the hardware/software interface system determines which applications should run in what order and how much time should be allowed for each application before switching to another application for a turn. The hardware/software interface system also manages the sharing of internal memory among multiple applications, and handles input and output to and from attached hardware devices such as hard disks, printers, and dial-up ports. The hardware/software interface system also sends messages to each application (and, in certain cases, to the end-user) regarding the status of operations and any errors that may have occurred. The hardware/software interface system can also offload the management of batch jobs (e.g., printing) so that the initiating application is freed from this work and can resume other processing and/or operations. On computers that can provide parallel processing, a hardware/software interface system also manages dividing a program so that it runs on more than one processor at a time.
A hardware/software interface system shell (referred to as a “shell”) is an interactive end-user interface to a hardware/software interface system. (A shell may also be referred to as a “command interpreter” or, in an operating system, as an “operating system shell”). A shell is the outer layer of a hardware/software interface system that is directly accessible by application programs and/or end-users. In contrast to a shell, a kernel is a hardware/software interface system's innermost layer that interacts directly with the hardware components.
As shown in
A number of program modules can be stored on the hard disk, magnetic disk 729, optical disk 731, ROM 764, or RAM 725, including an operating system 735, one or more application programs 736, other program modules 737, and program data 738. A user may enter commands and information into the computing device 760 through input devices such as a keyboard 740 and pointing device 762 (e.g., mouse). Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite disk, scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit 721 through a serial port interface 746 that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, game port, or universal serial bus (USB). A monitor 747 or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus 723 via an interface, such as a video adapter 748. In addition to the monitor 747, computing devices typically include other peripheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers and printers. The exemplary environment of
The computing device 760 may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer 749. The remote computer 749 may be another computing device (e.g., personal computer), a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device, or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the computing device 760, although only a memory storage device 750 (floppy drive) has been illustrated in
When used in a LAN networking environment, the computing device 760 is connected to the LAN 751 through a network interface or adapter 753. When used in a WAN networking environment, the computing device 760 can include a modem 754 or other means for establishing communications over the wide area network 752, such as the Internet. The modem 754, which may be internal or external, is connected to the system bus 723 via the serial port interface 746. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computing device 760, or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers may be used.
While it is envisioned that numerous embodiments of dynamic sensitivity adjustment for sensors within a remote game peripheral are particularly well-suited for computerized systems, nothing in this document is intended to limit dynamic sensitivity adjustment for sensors to such embodiments. On the contrary, as used herein the term “computer system” is intended to encompass any and all devices capable of storing and processing information and/or capable of using the stored information to control the behavior or execution of the device itself, regardless of whether such devices are electronic, mechanical, logical, or virtual in nature.
The various techniques described herein can be implemented in connection with hardware or software or, where appropriate, with a combination of both. Thus, the methods and apparatuses for dynamic sensitivity adjustment for sensors within a remote game peripheral, or certain aspects or portions thereof, can take the form of program code (i.e., instructions) embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other machine-readable storage medium, wherein, when the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for implementing dynamic sensitivity adjustment for sensors within a remote game peripheral.
The program(s) can be implemented in assembly or machine language, if desired. In any case, the language can be a compiled or interpreted language, and combined with hardware implementations. The methods and apparatuses for implementing dynamic sensitivity adjustment for sensors within a remote game peripheral also can be practiced via communications embodied in the form of program code that is transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via any other form of transmission, wherein, when the program code is received and loaded into and executed by a machine, such as an EPROM, a gate array, a programmable logic device (PLD), a client computer, or the like. When implemented on a general-purpose processor, the program code combines with the processor to provide a unique apparatus that operates to invoke the functionality of dynamic sensitivity adjustment for sensors within a remote game peripheral. Additionally, any storage techniques used in connection with dynamic sensitivity adjustment for sensors within a remote game peripheral can invariably be a combination of hardware and software.
In an exemplary embodiment shown in
As shown in
In a non-limiting embodiment, an example of the functionality described above is represented in
In an exemplary embodiment, the game performs an initialization of the remote game peripheral when the game starts. An initial frame of reference is established in x, y, z axis coordinates for the position of the remote game peripheral. This initial position is set to x=0, y=0, and z=0. As represented in
In this exemplary embodiment, the accelerometer transmits the start time, stop time, velocity and instant acceleration measurements to the game server. The game server may then calculate the distance the remote game peripheral has moved by doubly integrating the instant acceleration value. The distance traveled and the position information in x, y, z axis coordinates may then be compared against a pre-stored library of game user movements. Depending upon the game script the comparison of the game player's movement may be used to provide feedback to the game player that will allow the game player to assess personal performance in the game at the time the feedback is provided.
Another exemplary embodiment is referenced in
Continuing in the exemplary embodiment, the comparison of the remote game peripherals motion against the retrieved library gesture may indicate that the game user has not performed an action that meets the minimum expected threshold value for a gesture at that moment in the game 635. The game server may then instead of sending a reward command, the game server may send a correction command to the remote game server 645. This command may light only a single light on the remote game serve, play a raucous noise, or provide another indication that the game player is not meeting the minimum expectations of the game. Once again, this correction feedback serves as a game enhancement by providing information to game user that they are not meeting the expectations of the game, and at what point they are not meeting the game expectations, such that correction is possible. This provides the game player with the knowledge of where expectations were not met such that they can improve their performance at those portions of the game such that they will improve over time. Once again, the remote game peripheral provides knowledge that will enhance the game player's experience in the game. The game script continues to advance 625 until the entire game script has been completed.
While dynamic sensitivity adjustment for sensors within a remote game peripheral has been described in connection with the example embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments can be used or modifications and additions can be made to the described embodiments for performing the same functions of dynamic sensitivity adjustment for sensors within a remote game peripheral without deviating therefrom. Therefore, dynamic sensitivity adjustment for sensors within a remote game peripheral as described herein should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather should be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims.
