Game system that converts between wireless operation and wired operation while communicating with a controller

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9427660-B2
Application number	US-201414281460-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 19, 2014
Priority date	Jan 30, 2004
Publication date	Aug 30, 2016
Grant date	Aug 30, 2016

Abstract

A system communicates with a device in both a wired mode and a wireless mode, and is able to switch between these two modes without permanent disruption to an ongoing use. The system is configured to receive an indication of a condition that suggests switching from the wireless mode of operation to a wired mode of operation, to display a notification for the device to switch, and to transition from the wireless mode of operation to the wired mode of operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method implemented by a gaming system comprising:
receiving, at the gaming system and from a controller, data corresponding to a condition that suggests switching from a wireless mode of operation to a wired mode of operation during use;
displaying, at the gaming system, an instruction to switch from the wireless mode of operation to the wired mode of operation;
transitioning from the wireless mode of operation to the wired mode of operation;
based at least in part on transitioning from the wireless mode of operation to the wired mode of operation, receiving a session identification from the controller; and
re-associating the controller with saved data, the saved data being generated during the use before the transitioning from the wireless mode of operation to the wired mode of operation.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the data corresponding to the condition is based at least in part on a power supply of the controller being low.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the data corresponding to the condition is based at least in part on a loss of packets transmitted during the use in the wireless mode of operation.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the data corresponding to the condition is based at least in part on a determination that packets transmitted during the use in the wireless mode of operation contain incorrect data.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the instruction comprises a pop up message on a display coupled to the gaming system and the pop up message includes information regarding a low power supply condition of the controller.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the session identification comprises a controller identifier used by the gaming system to re-associate the controller, currently operating in the wired mode of operation, with the saved data.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the re-associating distinguishes the saved data from other data generated in association with another controller during the use.

8. A system comprising:
at least one game console configured to:
receive data corresponding to a condition that suggests switching from a wireless mode of operation to a wired mode of operation during use;
cause an instruction to switch from the wireless mode of operation to the wired mode of operation to be output;
transition from the wireless mode of operation to the wired mode of operation;
based at least in part on transitioning from the wireless mode of operation to the wired mode of operation, receive a session identification from a controller in communication with the at least one game console; and
re-associate the controller with saved data, the saved data being generated during the use before the transitioning from the wireless mode of operation to the wired mode of operation.

9. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the data corresponding to the condition is based at least in part on a power supply of the controller being low.

10. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the data corresponding to the condition is based at least in part on a loss of packets transmitted during the use in the wireless mode of operation.

11. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the data corresponding to the condition is based at least in part on a determination that packets transmitted during the use in the wireless mode of operation contain incorrect data.

12. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the instruction comprises a pop up message on a display coupled to the at least one game console and the pop up message includes information regarding a low power supply condition of the controller.

13. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the session identification comprises a controller identifier used by the at least one game console to re-associate the controller, currently operating in the wired mode of operation, with the saved data.

14. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the re-associating distinguishes the saved data from other data generated in association with another controller during the use.

15. A game console comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more memories storing executable instructions that, when executed on the one or more processors, cause the game console to perform operations comprising:
based at least in part on receiving data corresponding to a condition that suggests switching from a wireless mode of operation to a wired mode of operation during use, causing a switch instruction to be output;
transitioning from the wireless mode of operation to the wired mode of operation;
based at least in part on transitioning from the wireless mode of operation to the wired mode of operation, receiving a session identification from a controller; and
re-associating the controller with saved data, the saved data being generated during the use before the transitioning from the wireless mode of operation to the wired mode of operation.

16. The game console as recited in claim 15 , wherein the data corresponding to the condition is based at least in part on a power supply of the controller being low.

17. The game console as recited in claim 15 , wherein the data corresponding to the condition is based at least in part on a loss of packets transmitted during the use in the wireless mode of operation.

18. The game console as recited in claim 15 , wherein the switch instruction comprises a pop up message on a display and the pop up message includes information regarding a low power supply condition of the controller.

19. The game console as recited in claim 15 , wherein the session identification comprises a controller identifier used to re-associate the controller, currently operating in the wired mode of operation, with the saved data.

20. The game console as recited in claim 15 , wherein the re-associating distinguishes the saved data from other data generated in association with another controller during the use.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Lum Richard
• Guo Wei

Classifications

• A63F13/493

  Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure · CPC title

• A63F2300/636

  involving process of starting or resuming a game · CPC title

• A63F2300/532

  using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication · CPC title

• A63F2300/401

  Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication · CPC title

• A63F2300/201

  Playing authorisation given at platform level · CPC title