Be attached to the association of the ancillary equipment of console device communicatedly
Copyright notice/permission
The disclosed partial content of patent document comprises the material that receives copyright protection.This copyright owner do not oppose anyone for as the duplicating of the patent document that in the patent document of (U.S.) patent and trademark office or record, occurred or the open text of this patent, in any case but keep all copyrights in addition.Below below bulletin is applicable to accompanying drawing herein in software and the data described: Copyright
2005; MicrosoftCorporation, All Rights Reserved.
Technical field
The present invention relates generally to calculate and the game station field.The invention particularly relates to ancillary equipment related and console, controller or other computing device communication.
Background
Game on line has become a big chunk in the game experiencing.At first, the player can communicate by letter by text, yet input text is difficult to while playing games.Afterwards, recreation made the player can interconnect or be connected to central server, so that use as earphone etc. only has the equipment of audio frequency to help cooperate.Now, for reaching these purposes, many players use custom-designed earphone.Traditional earphone for example uses earphone or microphone jack or USB connector to be connected to game console.Owing to be wiredly connected to controller or console, it is comparatively easy therefore will sound to be associated with playing of particular player.
The player also can enjoy the enjoyment of using wireless controller, and it comes for the player freedom of action to be provided through controller wirelessly being connected to game console.Usually, wireless controller also can provide the characteristic that can on cable controller, find such as players such as vibrational feedback, small-sized control crank, D type pad, pressure-sensitive buttons.In addition, the system that wireless controller is connected to game console often makes a plurality of players on console, to play games simultaneously.
Traditionally, earpiece audio being associated with game console is to carry out through wired earphone being inserted in the jack in the wired or wireless controller.Yet, when earphone when being wireless, because the characteristic of wireless device, playing or physical mechanism that controller is associated not with earphone and particular player.Yet, because the characteristic of wireless device, playing or physical mechanism that controller is associated not with wireless headset and particular player.
General introduction
This disclose be used for equipment and with the ancillary equipment system associated and the method for game console or computing device communication.This ancillary equipment is bound to the port of game console or computing equipment at first.This ancillary equipment is bound to game console or computing equipment by sequence automatic or that the user starts, and is relevant with the port of distributing to this ancillary equipment subsequently.After relevant, the data that will be associated with this ancillary equipment are sent to this equipment.Game console (or computing equipment) also can be come related based on user profile with ancillary equipment.
Top non-limiting example is the wireless headset that the player uses in the process of playing games.Can this earphone be associated with player's controller, so that will send to earphone from game console with the recreation related audio that player's object for appreciation operation is associated.The player also can communicate by letter with other player who uses earphone.
Supplementary features and advantage will become obvious through the following detailed description that continues with reference to accompanying drawing.
The accompanying drawing summary
When combining advantages, can understand the general introduction of front better, and following detailed description of the preferred embodiment.From diagram the object of the invention, shown in the drawings have a representative configuration of the present invention; Yet the present invention is not limited to disclosed concrete grammar and means.In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 shows the block diagram that wherein can realize the game console of each side of the present invention;
Fig. 2 shows controller and LED indicator;
Fig. 3 shows one or more controller/ancillary equipment of being bound and find by console;
Fig. 4 shows the block diagram of wireless device;
Fig. 5 shows and is performed example process that wireless device is associated with ancillary equipment;
Fig. 6-9 shows the example wireless device design; And
Figure 10-11 shows and is performed replacement process that wireless device is associated with ancillary equipment;
Describe in detail
Fig. 1 shows the functional assembly of the multimedia/game console 100 that wherein can realize some aspect of the present invention.Multimedia console 100 has the CPU (CPU) 101 that contains on-chip cache 102, second level cache 104 and flash rom (read-only storage) 106.But on-chip cache 102 and second level cache 104 temporary storaging datas, and therefore reduced the quantity of memory access cycle, thus improved processing speed and handling capacity.Can provide to have one, and therefore have the CPU 101 of additional on-chip cache 102 and second level cache 104 with coker.
The Video processing streamline that GPU (GPU) 108 and video encoder/video codec (encoder/decoder) 114 are formed at a high speed and high graphics is handled.Data are sent to video encoder/video codec 114 through bus from GPU 108.The Video processing streamline outputs to A/V (audio/video) port one 40 with data, to be used to be transferred to television set or other display.Memory Controller 110 is connected to GPU 108, so that the various types of memories 112 of processor access, such as but not limited to RAM (random access memory).
Multimedia console 100 comprises preferably the I/O controller 120 on module 118, realized, System Management Controller 122, audio treatment unit 123, network interface controller 124, first usb host controller 126, the 2nd USB controller 128 and panel I/O sub-component 130.USB controller 126 and 128 main frames as peripheral controllers 142 (1)-142 (2), wireless adapter 148 and external memory devices 146 (for example, flash memory, outside CD/DVD ROM driver, removable medium etc.).It should be noted that the USB controller that can provide additional.Network interface 124 and/or wireless adapter 148 to network (for example provide; Internet, home network etc.) access; And can be in various wired or wireless adapter assembly any one, comprising Ethernet card, modem, bluetooth module, cable modem etc.
Provide system storage 143 to be stored in the application data that is loaded during the bootup process.Media drive 144 is provided, and it can comprise movably media drive etc. of DVD/CD driver, hard disk drive or other.Media drive 144 can be built in or be placed on multimedia console 100.Can visit application data through media drive 144, for multimedia console 100 execution, playback etc.Media drive 144 is through (for example, IEEE1394) etc. bus is connected to I/O controller 120 such as serial ATA bus or other high-speed interface.
System Management Controller 122 provides the various service functions that relate to the validity of guaranteeing multimedia console 100.Audio treatment unit 123 forms the corresponding audio with high fidelity and stereo processing with audio codec 132 and handles streamline.Voice data transmits between audio treatment unit 123 and audio codec 132 through communication link.The Audio Processing streamline outputs to A/V port one 40 with data, reproduces for external audio player with audio capability or equipment.
Panel I/O sub-component 130 is supported the function of power knobs 150 and ejector button 152, and is exposed to any LED (light emitting diode) or other indicator on the outer surface of this multimedia console 100.System power supply module 136 provides electric energy for the assembly of this multimedia console 100.Fan 138 can cool off the circuit in the multimedia console 100.
CPU 101, GPU 108, Memory Controller 110 and various other assembly in the multimedia console interconnect through one or more bus, and these buses comprise serial and parallel bus, memory bus, peripheral bus and use in the various bus architectures any processor or local bus.As an example, this architecture can comprise peripheral component interconnect (pci) bus, PCI-Express bus etc.
When the electric power starting of multimedia console 100, can application data be loaded in memory 112 and/or the high-speed cache 102,104 from system storage 143, and on CPU 101, carry out.Application program provides consistent user to experience in the time of can representing different media types available on navigating to multimedia console 100 graphic user interface.In operation, can or play application program and/or other medium that are included in the media drive 144 from media drive 144 startups, additional function to be provided to multimedia console 100.
Only, this system is equally worked as autonomous system through multimedia console 100 being connected to television set or other display.Under this stand-alone mode, multimedia console 100 make one or more users can be with system interaction, watch film or listen to music.Yet, because the broadband connection that can obtain through network interface 124 or wireless adapter 148 is integrated, multimedia console 100 can be further as the participant in the macroreticular community more.
When the electric power starting of multimedia console 100, kept one group of hardware resource, for system's use of multimedia console operating system.These resources can comprise memory (for example, 16MB), CPU and GPU cycle (for example, %5), the network bandwidth (reservation that for example, 8kbs) waits.Because these resources are retained when guiding in system, so from the angle of application program, these resources reserved do not exist.
Especially, memory keeps preferably even as big as comprising startup kernel, concurrent system application program and driver.The CPU reservation is preferably constant, if make the CPU consumption that is kept do not used by system application, then idle thread just can consume any cycle that is not used.
Keep for GPU, interrupt Pop-up message is rendered in the coverage diagram, can show the lightweight message (for example, Pop-up message) that generates by system application through using GPU to the scheduling code.The required amount of memory of coverage diagram depends on the size of this coverage diagram area, and this coverage diagram is preferably proportional with screen resolution.For the situation that whole user interface is all used by the concurrent system application program, preferably can use and the irrelevant resolution ratio of application program resolution ratio.Can this resolution ratio be set the usage ratio chi, change frequency and make the synchronous again needs of TV so that eliminate.
Guided and after the conserve system resources, the concurrent system application program is carried out so that systemic-function to be provided at multimedia console 100.Systemic-function is packaged in the group system application program of in the system resource of above-mentioned reservation, carrying out.The operating system nucleus sign is as the thread of the relation of system application thread and game application cross-thread.Preferably the dispatching patcher application program is so that move pre-determined number and with the predetermined space operation, provide application programs consistent system resource view on CPU.This scheduling is to interrupt minimum in order to make to the high-speed cache that operates in the game application on this console.
When the concurrent system application program needs audio frequency, because time sensitivity, with game application schedule audio processing asynchronously.The audio grade of control game application when multimedia console application manager (describing below) is movable at system application (for example, quiet, decay).
Input equipment (for example, controller 142 (1) and 142 (2)) is shared by game application and system application.Input equipment is not a reservation of resource, but can between system application and game application, switch, so that it all will have the focus of equipment separately.Preferably, application manager can be controlled the switching of inlet flow under the situation of not understanding game application, and driver is then safeguarded the status information of switching about focus.
With reference to figure 2, show the example wireless controller 154 of LED indicator 156 (and zoomed-in view) with four quadrants, and the console 100 with indicator 158 of four quadrants.Controller 154 is involving vibrations feedback, miniature joystick, pressure-sensitive buttons etc. also.On screen 160, show recreation.Console indicator 158 is shown in around the power knob, yet can also realize other configuration.Each quadrant on this annulus can throw light on through a LED, and this LED can be monochromatic, perhaps can be double-colored so that throw light on multiple color.As will be described below, quadrant can throw light on the pattern of indication notice, system mode, binding and discovery.
In order to support that wherein a plurality of consoles 100 and wireless controller 154 can simultaneous environment, with each controller logic ground " binding " to single console 100, so that it links with these console 100 foundation.Can not controller 154 once be tied to an above console 100.Binding is the process of console 100 to controller 154 transmission information, and this process can be set up controller with console 100 and linked.In case to console 100, just attempted linking with 100 foundation of its console of binding as long as controller 154 is unlocked by " binding ".
Preferably, binding information only is retained in the controller.For controller 154, binding is man-to-man; And for console 100, binding is an one-to-many.Thus, before setting up new binding relationship, the binding meeting is striden battery discharge/charge cycle ground and is continued on controller 154.When BIND button and the BIND button on the wireless controller 154 in the preset time section, pressed respectively on the console, attempt setting up binding relationship.Can successfully set up binding relationship depends on and can successfully set up wireless communication link and carry out mutual verification algorithm.
Console is energized before pressing its BIND button preferably.If the user starts binding on the controller that is currently connected to console 100 154, then controller 154 can abandon before attempting this binding procedure and being connected of console 100.When binding procedure moved, a status notification screen can show bound and discovery procedure (for example, in the binding ... bind ... find).Binding is man-to-man incident.In other words, the binding button of pressing on the console 100 will be bound a controller 154 at every turn.In order to bind second control, one device 154, can press the BIND button on the console 100 in second time.If bind never success in the given time, then console 100 or controller 154 be auto-timeout, and turn back to previous state, makes previous binding relationship can not lose.
Four (or other quantity) Virtual Controller ports are arranged on console 100, be referred to as " V port (Vport) " at this.V port representes to be connected to the movable game controller on the console 100 wired or wirelessly.Numbered V port is distributed to controller automatically according to the order that it is connected to console 100.Each V port all is to be represented by a quadrant of LED indicator 156 and console indicator 158." discovery " is by the wired or wireless game station of console 100 identifications, for it distributes V port, and the process that makes it can be used for playing games.
Therefore, the action of " binding " and " discovery " is preferably two different actions.Binding action is to start through the BIND button of pressing on controller and the console.In case after binding, controller will begin discovery procedure, and if successfully, will distribute the first available V port for this controller, in this case, this first available V port is described V port 1.If bind and found one to three controller before, then be that next controller of being found distributes V port 2,3,4 etc. respectively.If had been found that the controller that equates sum with the sum of V port, will carry out binding procedure, yet at this moment will not can be used for the V port that distributes, so can not distribute V port for controller.Yet, if in other controller one or be closed or be bound on the new console, it still can be bound to console, and can be used for coming to light.
With reference to figure 3, be how binding and discovery procedure and LED indicator 156 visually are communicated to the visual of player with this process with console indicator 158 here.As shown in Figure 3, the power supply of opening controller, and pressed the BIND button on console 100 and the controller.After binding procedure was accomplished, discovery procedure took place.Because this is first controller that console 100 is found, so this first controller will be associated with V port 1, and indicator 156 will illuminate to send with 158 left upper quadrant and be connected signal.If console 100 is found an above controller, then other quadrant of indicator 158 can be illuminated in succession.Therefore, if connected two controllers, then two of indicator 158 quadrants will illuminate, and can this be extrapolated to the situation of four controllers and four quadrants.Can on console, be illuminated in succession although it should be noted that other quadrant, except the error condition or other state that are shown to the user, on any single controller, have only single quadrant to be illuminated at every turn.
With reference to figure 4, show the block diagram of example wireless device (for example, earphone) 200 here.Earphone 200 can comprise electronic module 202, wherein accommodates radio 203, microcontroller (MCU)/digital signal processor (DSP), audio coder & decoder (codec) 204, I/O equipment 205, digital to analog converter (DAC) 208, analog-digital converter (ADC) 210, power supply 212, input equipment 214 and visual detector 216.Assembly in the electronic module 203 is connected to loudspeaker 216 and microphone 218.
Radio 203 can be FHSS (FHSS) radio that is operated under the 2.4GHz frequency band, and it is sent to console 100 with data (for example, audio frequency, configuration etc.).MCU/DSP/ codec 204 is handled and is gone to and from the voice communication of earphone 200.Output audio is transferred to loudspeaker 216 through DAC 208.The input audio frequency is received by microphone 218, and by ADC 210 convert into be sent to after the digital information MCU/DSP/CODEC 204 again to radio 203 so that be transferred to console 100.
Below with reference to Fig. 6-9 in greater detail input equipment 214 be used for an earphone 200 and a specific V port.Visual detector 206 provides the indication or the affirmation of the V port that is associated to the user.Like what below will describe, will come out from earphone 200 transmission based on earphone 200 the related earphone 200/ that is transferred to the V port of distributing to customer controller 154 or other ancillary equipment of finding with user's relevant audio frequency of playing games.
As above-mentioned, wireless headset 200 is directly communicated by letter with console 100 rather than with controller 154.Likewise, earphone is carried out the binding/discovery that is similar to controller 154.For achieving this end, wireless headset 200 is associated with console, and distributes a V port for it.Controller and speech ciphering equipment port there is independent V port.
Fig. 5 shows the binding and the discovery procedure of wireless headset 200.At step 220 place, the button that the user presses on console 100, wireless controller 154 or the earphone 200 through for example (by input equipment 214) connects (binding) to console.Preferably, after pressing the binding button, be earphone 200 and/or console energized again, help reducing the RF emission like this.Yet for the situation of earphone 200, the user can at first be earphone 200 energized, and the action that perhaps presses the button can be earphone 200 energized.Can be randomly, step 220 can be through realizing in the communication range of earphone being taken console 100.At step 222 place, the binding procedure of console 100 startups and completion and earphone 200.At step 224 place, determine whether to have a mobility controls 154.If, then at step 226 place, for earphone 222 distributes the V port identical with this mobility controls 154.
Subsequently, at step 228 place, notify the user related success.This notice can be that can listen or visual.Can make listened to the affirmation that V port is distributed through clock ring or tone are sent to earphone.For guaranteeing on earphone, to play this clock ring or tone, can ignore/cover personal settings.Visual notice can be made through the LED (or other visual detector 206) on the flicker earphone.If on earphone, provide single led, then can glimmer to it by set rate.If provide a plurality of LED, a LED pattern then can glimmer.Preferably, in the situation of back, this pattern is with associated control device 154 is identical.And, can use display notification on the screen.If related not success, then can use with to successful related employed one group of notice inequality.
Yet if having an above mobility controls 154 at step 224 place, the user can be selected and will make earphone 200 V ports associated therewith through console by notice.This notice can be listened or visually execution by means of indicator through being presented on the visual screen on the earphone 200.Refer now to Fig. 6-9, the user to the selection of V port can through such as dial or push away shuttle (jog shuttle) (Fig. 6), slide block (Fig. 7), button (Fig. 8) or toggle switch input equipments 214 such as (Fig. 9) realize.Those of ordinary skill in the art it will be appreciated that can also provide other mechanical input equipment to make the selection of V port.
Visual detector 206 can comprise LED, seven-segment display etc., to pass on which V port of having selected on the earphone 200 to the user.Can help to solve/avoid conflicting of a plurality of earphones and 154 of specific controller to the use of input equipment.In addition, if a plurality of earphones have been set to same V port, then preferably should first earphone of being found be assigned to this V port.At step 232 place, earphone 200 comes to light, and is associated with selected V port by console 100.At step 234 place, successfully related notice is provided.This notice can with above-mentioned notify similar.
Alternatively, can use on the screen and to show this process of carrying out.This possibly be desired, and demonstration will be more familiar and convenient to configuration device on the screen because the user may find to use, and be used to dispose the many options that are used to play games because show on the screen.Refer now to Figure 10, process can begin (step 240) on this screen when the user is the wireless headset energized.Then, press the button on the controller, and the user navigates to an option screen ( step 242 and 244).The option that can present one " discovery wireless headset ", and if selected this option, then console will start the binding procedure (step 246) with earphone.Presenting an indication user presses and shows (step 248) on the screen of the binding button on the earphone.The user presses the binding button of earphone, and console completion binding procedure, so that earphone is associated with controller.Earphone can be notified user binding and related success (step 250) subsequently.
As another optional embodiment, the user can be the wireless headset energized, and presses the binding button (step 240 and 242) of earphone.These two steps can be pressed down completion through the single to power knob.The user presses the button on the controller, and navigates to an option screen (step 244).Then, the user selects the button (step 252) of " distribution wireless headset " from this option screen.Console starts the binding procedure with earphone, and the V port of earphone with the controller of this process of startup is associated.Display notification user binding and related success (step 250) on earphone and/or the screen.
With each user that wireless headset is associated with its controller, can repeat top process for hope.
Like this, as stated, console 100 management earphones are to the association of controller.Earphone is bound to console, and this can make the management to earphone and other ancillary equipment make progress in time, because can use new feature to come upgrade console 100 relatively like a cork.In addition, preferably between earphone and controller, realize man-to-man related.
Except binding/discovery notice, if V port distributes and loses and/or when related again, also can notify the user.For example, preferably, controller 100 associations should continue between the energising/sleep cycle of console 100.Yet the wireless controller discovery procedure can be redistributed V port at all after dates of energising.This means that the controller 154 that before the energising cycle, is associated with V port 3 can be associated with V port 1 afterwards.Earphone 200 is associated with V port 1 with following controller 154.
The initial earphone 200 that is associated with controller 154 should be associated with its newly assigned V port by following controller 154.This can realize through a certain earphone identifier, or preferably realizes through the player profile that is used for earphone 200 is associated with controller 154.In the situation of back, when the player logined, this brief introduction confirmed that through the unique identifier of the earphone 200 that is associated with player profile which earphone should be associated with controller 154.When finding, controller 154 is distributed to V port automatically, as mentioned above subsequently, earphone 200 is associated with this V port.
Might be that the user hopes to use wired earphone between game play session.When the earphone jack that wired earphone is inserted on the controller, with abandoning related with wireless headset, so that support wired earphone.This is because can suppose that wired earphone just is used, and is unlikely because the accident of user's preference and wired earphone is inserted.
Except to the control of selecting V port, earphone can comprise be used for electric power on/off, microphone is quiet, volume raises/reduces, be connected to the control of console etc.Can open state etc. for battery levels, earphone indicator (for example, LED or audible alarm) is provided.Can provide buzzer or other mechanism of can listening to locate the earphone 200 of omission.
Although with reference to wireless controller top process is described, it should be noted that they can be applied to comparably will be to the cable controller of its related wireless headset.
Although invention has been described to have combined the preferred embodiment of each width of cloth accompanying drawing; But should be appreciated that, can also use other similar embodiment, perhaps can make amendment and increase said embodiment; Being used to carrying out identical function of the present invention, and can not depart from the present invention.