Game history recording apparatus and method for recording and interacting with game history

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10022634-B2
Application number	US-201514618785-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2015
Priority date	Oct 31, 2014
Publication date	Jul 17, 2018
Grant date	Jul 17, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus for recording game history is coupled between a game host and a game console and performs a game history recording and interaction method. The apparatus communicates with the game host through a first wireless unit, and communicates with the game console through a second wireless unit, to receive game operation information generated from operations of the game console. The apparatus receives a video signal outputted by the game host through a video input port. The processing module is coupled to the wireless units and the video input port respectively and is used to obtain the game operation information from the wireless units and generate operation information images corresponding to the game operation information. The processing module superimposes the operation information images on the video signal correspondingly to form game history video data and outputs the superimposed game history video data to a display device for display.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A game system comprising:
a game host;
a game console;
a game history recording device coupled between the game host and the game console, which includes:
an interface module, for establishing a first connection with the game host and a second connection with the game console respectively, and receiving game operation information generated from operations of the game console;
a video input port, for receiving a video signal outputted by the game host which depicts images of a video game;
a processing module, coupled to the interface module and the video input port respectively, for obtaining the game operation information from the interface module, the game operation information including information representing a key press of at least one key of the game console and a triggering time and duration of the key press, generating operation information images corresponding to the game operation information, the operation information images including a depiction or highlighting of a character or symbol corresponding to the pressed key of the game console, wherein the depiction or highlighting is presented in the operation information images starting from the triggering time and lasting for the duration of the key press, and superimposing the operation information images on the video signal correspondingly to form game history video data; and
a video output port coupled to the processing module for outputting the game history video data; and

a display device coupled to the game history recording device for displaying the game history video data, which depicts images of the video game superimposed with operation information images including the character or symbol corresponding to the pressed key of the game console.

2. The game system of claim 1 , wherein the interface module is a wireless module, which comprises:
a first wireless unit coupled between the processing unit and the game host for establishing first wireless communication with the game host; and
a second wireless unit coupled between the processing unit and the game console for establishing second wireless communication with the game console.

3. The game system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a network transmission module coupled to the processing module for outputting the game operation information or the game history video data via a network.

4. The game system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a storage module coupled to the processing module for storing the game operation information or the game history video data.

5. The game system of claim 4 , wherein the processing module reads the game operation information stored in the storage module, the game operation information including a plurality of pieces of input information forming a time sequence, wherein the processing module transmits the input information included in the game operation information to the game host, and wherein the game host outputs corresponding video signals.

6. The game system of claim 4 , wherein the processing module reads the game operation information stored in the storage module, the game operation information including a plurality of pieces of first input information forming a time sequence, wherein the processing module receives, at a specified time point, a piece of second input information from the game console, comparing the piece of second input information with a piece of the first input information that corresponds to the specified time point, and outputs a recognition image based on a result of the comparison.

7. The game system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an audio input port coupled to the processing module for receiving an external audio signal and forwarding it to the processing module, wherein the processing module further superimposes the external audio signal into the game history video data.

8. The game system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a video output port coupled to the video input port for directly outputting the video signal inputted from the video input port.

9. A game history recording method, comprising:
(a) providing a game history recording device, coupled between a game host and a game console;
(b) respectively establishing a first connection between the game history recording device and the game host and a second connection between the game history recording device and the game console;
(c) the game history recording device receiving a video signal from the game host which depicts images of a video game;
(d) the game history recording device receiving game operation information generated by the game console during game play, wherein the game operation information includes information representing a key press of at least one key of the game console, and a triggering time and duration of the key press;
(e) the game history recording device generating operation information images corresponding to the game operation information, and correspondingly superimposing the operation information images on the video signal from the game host to form game history video data, wherein the operation information images include a depiction or highlighting of a character or symbol corresponding to the pressed key of the game console, and wherein the depiction or highlighting is presented in the operation information images starting from the triggering time and lasting for the duration of the key press;
(f) the game history recording device outputting the game history video data to a display device; and
(g) the display device displaying the game history video data, which depicts images of the video game superimposed with operation information images including the character or symbol corresponding to the pressed key of the game console.

10. The game history recording method of claim 9 , further comprising:
the game history recording device outputting the operation information images or the game history video data to a network.

11. The game history recording method of claim 9 , further comprising:
storing the game operation information or the game history video data.

12. The game history recording method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving an external audio signal and superimposing the external audio signal into the game history video data.

Assignees

• Aten Int Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kao Kuo-Feng
• Chu Hung-Chi
• Lin Hui-Ju
• Chen Chia-Chih

Classifications

• A63F13/327

  using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet · CPC title

• A63F13/23 Primary

  for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console · CPC title

• A63F13/5375

  for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game · CPC title

• A63F13/497

  Partially or entirely replaying previous game actions · CPC title

• A63F13/86 Primary

  Watching games played by other players · CPC title