WO2007025240A1

WO2007025240A1 - Providing interactive experience with audiovisual content

Info

Publication number: WO2007025240A1
Application number: PCT/US2006/033451
Authority: WO
Inventors: John P. Kavanagh; Craig S. Gravina; Martin McDonald; Geoffrey M. Lyon
Original assignee: Bright Entertainment Limited
Priority date: 2005-08-25
Filing date: 2006-08-25
Publication date: 2007-03-01

Abstract

A media control unit provides an interactive experience with audiovisual content of a DVD played by a multimedia player and includes: (a) receiving a user-generated signal representative of a response of the user to a first video sequence of the DVD presented to the user; (b) in response thereto, determining, in a manner independent of the multimedia player, an appropriate video sequence of the DVD to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence, the determining of the appropriate video sequence being dependent upon the detected presence by the media control unit of an object removably coupled to the media control unit, and (c) wirelessly communicating one or more media control signals to cause the multimedia player to play the appropriate video sequence.

Description

PROVIDING INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE WITH AUDIOVISUAL CONTENT

Cross Reference to Related Applications

For purposes of the United States, this application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 120 to, each of: U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 10/247,271, which published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2004/0054826 Al, now U.S. Patent No. 7,003,598; U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11/045,510, which published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2005/0246458 Al; and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11/039,646, which published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2006/0161690 Al. This application also is a nonprovisional of, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to, U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 60/596,038. The entire disclosure of each of these patent applications, and corresponding patent application publications and patent, is hereby incorporated by reference herein. Field of the Invention

The field of the invention comprises electronic multimedia devices that provide interactive experiences with audiovisual content. Background of the Invention The video game industry has developed over recent decades into a rather mature industry in which production costs of a single video game can rival production costs of motion pictures produced by major studios. In addition, growth in the performance of personal computers is currently being driven by the demanding performance requirements of currently available video games played on personal computers. Dedicated game consoles are currently more powerful than the most powerful desktop computers available even a few years ago.

Of course, commensurate with this processing power is substantial cost. In addition, such games require substantial attention and fqcus — frequently involving very active use of multiple user input devices while seated at a computer workstation. For some, particularly young children or casual game players, current gaming platforms are too expensive and/or too demanding of focused attention for simple, relaxing play. In short, there appears to be a substantial lack of and consequent need for low-cost alternatives to video game devices currently available.

In addition, despite the ever expanding richness of the video gaming experience, there appears to be a desire for a different gaming experience as evidenced by the advent of collectible card games starting in 1993 with the introduction of "Magic: The Gathering" (sometimes referred to as simply "Magic"). Magic is estimated to currently have six million players in over seventy countries worldwide and on the Internet. A thriving secondary market has developed in which players of Magic trade, barter, and sell individual cards for as much as $1,000. Since the introduction of Magic in 1993, numerous collectible card games have been introduced, including a wildly popular Pokemon collectible card game and an associated merchandizing juggernaut. The draw to collectible card games is purported to include the allure of fantasy and imagination of role playing games and the challenge of carefully thought-out strategies. In addition, collectible card games allow the strategic challenge to continue well beyond the actual play of the game as cards are traded, bought, sold, and collected.

By contrast, most currently available video games promote fast action excitement as the primary source of entertainment value. Strategy tends to take a subordinate role in fast action video games. On the other hand, collectible card games tend to provide very little entertainment aside from the movement of collectible game cards from one pile to another and the reaction of other players. There thus appears to be a need for a video game that promotes strategy in addition to action and that incorporates use of collectible game cards.

One or more aspects of the invention addresses one or more of these distinct needs. Summary of the Invention The present invention first is summarized by reference to one or more preferred embodiments, which may be more readily understood at this point in the present disclosure. Thereafter, broader aspects of the present invention are summarized as found in one or more claims. Furthermore, to the extent that each claim serves to define an invention, the phrase "present invention" is intended generally to refer to an invention of the claims but not necessarily to all of the inventions of the claims. An "aspect of the present invention" as used herein is generally intended to refer to an invention of an independent claim. Finally, reference to the "claims" is generally intended to refer, collectively, to the claims of the present application as well as to the claims of any application related to the present application through a claim of priority.

According to one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention, a media control unit provides an interactive experience with audiovisual content by controlling presentation of the audiovisual content on standard home entertainment equipment. The media control unit executes an interactive computer program, such as a computer game, and communicates standard infrared (IR) remote control signals to cause standard home entertainment equipment to provide output to the user as part of the interactive program. The standard home entertainment equipment can be a standard digital video disk (DVD) player and a digital video disk which includes rich audiovisual content for presentation to the user as directed by the portable computer device. The interactive program can be executed by the portable computer device from a memory device that contains both computer- executable instructions defining the behavior of the interactive program and a layout map of the associated DVD such that the portable computer device can select content from the associated DVD for presentation to the user. In response to actions of the user, the portable computer device can emit remote control signals representing button combinations to allow for controlled navigation of the DVD, thus providing a higher level of interactivity than previously attainable with conventional control of DVD players. Because the media control unit does not include the electronic components for presenting the audiovisual content but, instead, only the components for controlling such presentation in accordance with predetermined logic, the media control unit may comprise a simple and inexpensive portable computer device.

Additionally, in accordance with one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention, a media control unit reads data from a game card and modifies play of a video game based on the data that is read from the game card. Modifications to the play of the video game can include unlocking of hidden features of the video game such that the use of the game cards to augment and modify the play of the video games extends and perpetuates interest in the game and adds variety to a game with which some players may have become a little too familiar. The game cards can be collected, traded, shuffled, etc. to add new and varied social and strategic dimensions to play of a video game. In addition, the use of a video game to render play of a collectible game card adds a layer of excitement and entertainment not currently found in collectible card games, thereby augmenting the social and strategic value of collectible game cards.

The media control unit includes a card dock into which a game card can be placed for reading by the peripheral device. In executing the interactive program, a state of the program is maintained and that state is modified based on data of a game card that is inserted in the card dock. Thus, each game card represents one or more changes in the state of the play of a game. Examples of such state changes can be quite numerous. For example, game cards can represent one of a number of identities of the protagonist such that use of the game card in conjunction with the media control unit allows the user to select an identity for the protagonist. Game cards can represent items in position of the protagonist or any game character, e.g., in a role playing game or in a fight game, such that use of the game card can add an item to the inventory of items carried by, or otherwise available to, the character. Game cards can represent capabilities of game characters, such as the ability to jump unusually high, to run unusually fast, to become invisible, to become unusually strong, etc. Game cards can be associated with unusual degrees of direct control over the play of the game such as the ability to change levels of difficulty at will.

With regard to particular aspects and features of the present invention, of which there are many, a media control unit includes in a first aspect of the invention: (a) a card reader for reading data of a card; and (b) state modifying logic, operatively connected to the card reader, for modifying a presentation of audiovisual content in accordance with the data of the card. The presentation of audiovisual content is controlled by the media control unit and is responsive to user-generated signals. The presentation of audiovisual content may represent a video game.

In a feature of this aspect, the audiovisual content is remotely located relative to the media control unit. In another feature of the invention, the state modifying logic may modify play of the video by issuing one or more cheat codes. The state modifying logic may issue the one or more cheat codes to a remotely located video game console or to a remotely located video game cheat device.

In another feature of this aspect, the state modifying logic causes, as a function of the data of the game card, signals to be issued representing a collection of two or more user interface gestures in response to a single user input gesture. The collection of user interface gestures may include a combination of at least two simultaneous user input gestures, and the collection of user interface gestures may include a combination of at least two sequential user input gestures.

In other features of this aspect, the card reader includes an insertion detector for detecting insertion of the card into the card reader; the card reader includes a removal detector for detecting removal of the card from the card reader; and/or the card reader includes a wireless identifier reader for reading the data from a wirelessly readable identifier of the card. Moreover, the wireless identifier reader may be a radio frequency identifier reader. The card reader also may include a barcode reader for reading the data from a barcode of the card; and the card reader may include an interface for reading the data from logic included in the card. In yet another feature of the invention, the card reader includes an interface for detecting one or more magnetically coupled links of the card.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method performed by a media control unit for providing an interactive experience with audiovisual content of a DVD that is played by a multimedia player includes the steps of: (a) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to a first video sequence of the audiovisual content of the

DVD that is presented to the user; (b) in response to the user-generated signal received in said step (a), determining, by the media control unit, in a manner independent of the multimedia player, an appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content of the DVD to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content of the DVD that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence, the determining of the appropriate video sequence dependent upon the detected presence by the media control unit of an object that is removably coupled to the media control unit, and (c) wirelessly communicating, by the media control unit, one or more media control signals to cause the multimedia player to play the video sequence determined to be appropriate in said step (b). The step of determining the appropriate video sequence is dependent upon the detected presence by the media control unit of an object that is removably coupled to the media control unit in that the prior presence of the object is necessary for the appropriate video sequence to be determined in this step. The prior presence of the object may be necessary for the appropriate video sequence to be determined, for example: to the extent that the object results in the proper identification of a title of a DVD in which the possible video sequences reside; to the extent that the object includes the logic itself that is utilized in making the determination of what is appropriate; or to the extent that the object includes data constituting an argument of a function for determining what video sequence is appropriate based on the user-generated signal. The presence may be coextensive with the determination of the appropriate video sequence (e.g., the detected presence may occur when the determination is to be made), or prior to the determination of the appropriate video sequence (e.g., the detected presence may have already occurred prior to the determination being made with the object then no longer being present during the determination). Thus, for example, both scenarios of the insertion and removal of a card (temporary presence) versus the insertion and retention of a card are provided for. In features of this aspect, the user-generated signal may result from actuation of a user input device of the media control unit itself. In this regard, the user input device may be a button or switch that is actuated by the user to generate a user-generated signal. The user-generated signal also may be generated in response to the detected presence of the coupling of an object to the media control unit and/or the detected decoupling of an object from the media control unit. In this regard, a user- generated signal may result from a card being inserted in or removed from a card dock; a user- generated signal may result from a memory device being inserted in or removed from the media control unit; and a user-generated signal may result from an overlay being placed on or removed from the media control unit.

In a feature of this aspect, the step (b) is performed in accordance with logic for navigating the audiovisual content of the DVD based on, (i) the presence of the object removably coupled to the media control unit, and (ii) the user-generated signal received in said step (a), whereby the interactive experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD is provided. In this regard, the machine- executable instructions may represent the logic for navigating the audiovisual content of the DVD, the machine-executable instructions being specific to the DVD that is played by the multimedia player. Furthermore, the object may comprises a memory device, and the machine-executable instructions representing the logic for navigating the audiovisual content of the DVD may be read by the media control unit from the memory device. In another feature, the step (b) of determining an appropriate video sequence to be presented comprises determining the appropriate one or more media control signals communicated in said step

(C).

In yet another feature, the method further comprises identifying, by the media control unit, the object when the object is removably coupled to the media control unit.

In additional features, the object includes computer-executable instructions and/or the object includes data. The object further may include an identifier that is read, and the object may comprises a removable memory device.

In another feature of the invention, the method further comprises, after performing said steps (a)-(c), the steps of: (d) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to presentation of the appropriate video sequence of said step (b); (e) based on said received user-generated signal of said step (d), determining by the media control unit, in a manner independent of the multimedia player, an appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content of the DVD to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content of the DVD that are then available for presentation to the user; and (f) wirelessly communicating, by the media control unit, one or more media control signals to cause the multimedia player to play the appropriate video sequence of said step (e). In this regard, the plurality of possible video sequences of said step (b) may be different from the plurality of possible video sequences of said step (e). Also, the received user-generated signal of said step (a) may be identical to said received user-generated signal of said step (d), but the one or more media control signals wirelessly communicated in said step (c) may be different from the one or more media control signals wirelessly communicated in said step (f), which are determined in accordance with the media control logic.

In another, related aspect of the present invention, a method performed by a media control unit for providing an interactive experience with audiovisual content of a DVD that is played by a multimedia player, includes the steps of: (a) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to a first video sequence of the audiovisual content of the DVD that is presented to the user; (b) in response to the user-generated signal received in said step (a), selecting, by the media control unit, in a manner independent of the multimedia player, a video sequence of the audiovisual content of the DVD to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content of the DVD that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence, the selecting of the video sequence dependent upon the detected presence by the media control unit of an object that is removably coupled to the media control unit; and (c) wirelessly communicating by the media control unit one or more media control signals to cause the multimedia player to play the video sequence selected in said step (b); (d) wherein said step (b) is performed by the media control unit in accordance with logic in the media control unit for providing the interactive experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD in response to user-generated signals. In a feature of this aspect, the computer-executable instructions executed within the media control unit may represent the logic in the media control unit for providing the interactive experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD in response to user-generated signals, the computer- executable instructions including multiple choice outcome mapping.

In another feature of this aspect, the step (b) is performed by referring to information regarding predefined hierarchical relationships between titles, chapters, and/or other segments of the audiovisual content of the DVD that is played by the multimedia player.

In yet another feature, the method includes, after performing said steps (a)-(c): (e), the subsequent steps of: receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to presentation of the selected video sequence of said step (b); (f) in response to said received user-generated signal, selecting by the media control unit, in a manner independent of the multimedia player, a video sequence of the audiovisual content of the DVD to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content of the DVD that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence; and (g) wirelessly communicating by the media control unit one or more media control signals to cause the multimedia player to play the video sequence selected in said step (T).

In still yet another related aspect of the invention, a method performed by a wireless media control unit for providing an interactive DVD experience to a user of any standard DVD player includes the steps of: (a) receiving a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to a video sequence stored on a DVD that is played by the DVD player; (b) in accordance with logic within the wireless media control unit, and in response to said received user-generated signal of said step (a), selecting a subsequent video sequence stored on the DVD for playback by the DVD player, the selecting of the video sequence being dependent upon the detected presence by the media control unit of an object that is removably coupled to the media control unit, and the selecting being performed in a manner that is independent of the DVD player; and (c) mimicking standard infrared remote control signals that are specific to the DVD player for controlling playback, by the DVD player, of the subsequent video sequence selected in said step (b).

In an aspect of the invention, a method performed by a media control unit for providing an interactive experience with audiovisual content of a DVD that is played by a multimedia player includes the steps of: (a) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to a first video sequence of the audiovisual content of the DVD that is presented to the user; (b) in response to the user-generated signal received in said step (a), determining, by the media control unit, one or more media control signals to communicate to the multimedia device that will result in the multimedia player playing an appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content of the DVD in order to provide to the user an interactive experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD, the appropriate video sequence being one of a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content of the DVD that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence, the appropriate video sequence being dependent upon a detected presence by the media control unit of an object that is removably coupled to the media control unit; and (c) wirelessly communicating, by the media control unit, for receipt by the multimedia device, the one or more media control signals determined in said step (b) for playing of the appropriate video sequence; whereby the appropriate video sequence from the DVD is played by the multimedia player in reply to the response of the user in said step (a) and the interactive experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD is provided to the user. In a feature of this aspect, the method further includes, after performing said steps (a)-(c), the steps of: (d) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to presentation of the appropriate video sequence for which the media control signals were determined in said step (b); (e) in response to the user-generated signal received in said step (d), determining, by the media control unit, one or more media control signals to communicate to the multimedia device that will result in the multimedia player playing a subsequent appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content of the DVD in order to continue to provide to the user an interactive experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD, the subsequent appropriate video sequence being one of a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content of the DVD that are then available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence; and (f) wirelessly communicating, by the media control unit, for receipt by the multimedia device, the one or more media control signals determined in said step (e) for playing the subsequent appropriate video sequence; whereby the subsequent appropriate video sequence from the DVD is played by the multimedia player in reply to the response of the user of said step (d), and the interactive experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD is continued to be provided to the user. In a feature of this aspect, the subsequent appropriate video sequence also is dependent upon the detected presence of said step (b).

In another feature of this aspect, the object comprises data and the appropriate video sequence is dependent upon the data of the object. In yet another aspect of the invention, a method performed by a game control unit for providing an interactive gaming experience with audiovisual content of a DVD that is played by a multimedia player includes the steps of: (a) receiving, by the game control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of an action of the user in a game; (b) in response to the user-generated signal received in said step (a), determining, by the game control unit, one or more game control signals to communicate to the multimedia device that will result in the multimedia player playing an appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content of the DVD in order to provide to the user an interactive gaming experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD, the appropriate video sequence being one of a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content of the DVD that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence, the appropriate video sequence being dependent upon a detected presence by the game control unit of an object that is removably coupled to the game control unit; and (c) wirelessly communicating, by the game control unit, for receipt by the multimedia device, the one or more game control signals determined in said step (b) for playing of the appropriate video sequence; whereby the appropriate video sequence from the DVD is played by the multimedia player in response to the action of the user in the game in said step (a), and the interactive gaming experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD is provided to the user.

In a feature of this aspect, the method further includes, after performing said steps (a)-(c), the steps of: (d) a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user in the game to presentation of the appropriate video sequence for which the game control signals were determined in said step (b); (e) in response to the user-generated signal received in said step (d), determining, by the game control unit, one or more game control signals to communicate to the multimedia device that will result in the multimedia player playing a subsequent appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content of the DVD in order to continue to provide to the user the interactive gaming experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD, the subsequent appropriate video sequence being one of a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content of the DVD that are then available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence; and (f) wirelessly communicating, by the game control unit, for receipt by the multimedia device, the one or more game control signals determined in said step (e) for playing the subsequent appropriate video sequence; whereby the subsequent appropriate video sequence from the DVD is played by the multimedia player in response to the action of the user in the game in said step (d), and the interactive gaming experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD is continued to be provided to the user.

In an aspect of the invention, a method performed by a media control unit for providing an interactive experience with audiovisual content that is played by a multimedia player includes the steps of: (a) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal from a user input device of the media control unit, said received user-generated signal being representative of a response of the user to a first video sequence of the audiovisual content that is presented to the user; (b) in response to the user-generated signal received in said step (a), determining, by the media control unit, in a manner independent of the multimedia player, an appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence, the determining of the appropriate video sequence dependent upon the detected presence by the media control unit of an object that is removably coupled to the media control unit, and (c) wirelessly communicating, by the media control unit, one or more media control signals to cause the multimedia player to play the video sequence determined to be appropriate in said step (b); (d) wherein said step (b) is performed by executing, within the media control unit, machine-executable instructions that represent logic for navigating the audiovisual content based on, (i) the presence of the object removably coupled to the media control unit, and (ii) the user-generated signal received in said step (a), the machine-executable instructions being specific to the audiovisual content that is played by the multimedia player, the navigation in accordance with the logic providing the interactive experience with the audiovisual content, and (e) wherein the machine-executable instructions of said step (d) are read by the media control unit from a memory device that is removably coupled to the media control unit, the memory device being separate from the object and containing the machine-executable instructions representing the logic for navigating the audiovisual content.

In a feature of this aspect, the machine-executable instructions contained on the memory device of said step (e) define an interactive behavior of a game that is played by the user. Furthermore, the memory device of said step (e) may be a game cartridge, and the memory device of said step (e) may be a compact flash card, a smart media card, a memory stick, a multimedia card, a secure digital card, a USB portable memory drive, a floppy disk, or an optical disk.

In another feature of the invention, the object may be a removable memory card, a removable user interface, an overlay, or a printed card such as a trading card.

The object further may be an overlay that is removably coupled to the media control unit in disposition over a user input device of the media control unit, such as a touch sensitive pad of the media control unit.

In another feature of the invention, the method includes, after performing said steps (a)-(c), the subsequent steps of: (f) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal from a user input device of the media control unit, said received user-generated signal being representative of a response of the user to presentation of the appropriate video sequence of said step (b); (g) based on said received user-generated signal of said step (f), determining by the media control unit, in a manner independent of the multimedia player, an appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content that are then available for presentation to the user; and (h) wirelessly communicating, by the media control unit, one or more media control signals to cause the multimedia player to play the appropriate video sequence of said step (g). In this regard, the plurality of possible video sequences of said step (b) may be different from the plurality of possible video sequences of said step (g). Furthermore, the received user-generated signal of said step (a) may be identical to the received user-generated signal of said step (f), but the one or more media control signals wirelessly communicated in said step (c) may nevertheless be different from the one or more media control signals wirelessly communicated in said step (h), in accordance with the media control logic.

In another aspect of the invention, a method performed by a media control unit for providing an interactive experience with audiovisual content that is played by a multimedia player includes the steps of: (a) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal from a user input device of the media control unit, said received user-generated signal being representative of a response of the user to a first video sequence of the audiovisual content that is presented to the user; (b) in response to the user-generated signal received in said step (a), selecting, by the media control unit, in a manner independent of the multimedia player, a video sequence of the audiovisual content to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence, the selecting of the video sequence dependent upon the detected presence by the media control unit of an object that is removably coupled to the media control unit; and (c) wirelessly communicating by the media control unit one or more media control signals to cause the multimedia player to play the video sequence selected in said step (b); (d) wherein said step (b) is performed by the media control unit in accordance with logic in the media control unit for providing the interactive experience with the audiovisual content in response to user-generated signals, the logic being based on, (i) the presence of the object removably coupled to the media control unit, and (ii) the user-generated signal received in said step (a); and (e) wherein the logic of said step (d) is obtained by the media control unit from a memory device that is removably coupled to the media control unit and that is separate from the object.

In a feature of this aspect, the computer-executable instructions executed within the media control unit represent the logic in the media control unit for providing the interactive experience with the audiovisual content in response to user-generated signals, the computer-executable instructions including multiple choice outcome mapping. In another feature, step (b) includes referring to information pertaining to hierarchical relationships between video sequences of the audiovisual content that is played by the multimedia player.

In still another feature of this aspect, the method further includes, after performing said steps (a)-(c), the subsequent steps of: (f) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal from a user input device of the media control unit, said received user-generated signal being representative of a response of the user to presentation of the selected video sequence of said step (b); (g) in response to said received user-generated signal, selecting by the media control unit, in a manner independent of the multimedia player, a video sequence of the audiovisual content to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence; and (h) wirelessly communicating by the media control unit one or more media control signals to cause the multimedia player to play the video sequence selected in said step (g).

In yet another aspect of the invention, a method performed by a wireless media control unit for providing an interactive DVD experience to a user of any standard DVD player includes the steps of: (a) receiving a user-generated signal from a user input device of the wireless media control unit, said received user-generated signal being representative of a response of the user to a video sequence stored on a DVD that is played by the DVD player; (b) in accordance with logic within the wireless media control unit, and based on said received user-generated signal of said step (a), selecting a subsequent video sequence stored on the DVD for playback by the DVD player, the selecting of the video sequence dependent upon the detected presence by the media control unit of an object that is removably coupled to the media control unit, said step (b) being performed in a manner that is independent of the DVD player; and (c) mimicking standard infrared media control signals that are specific to the DVD player for controlling playback, by the DVD player, of the subsequent video sequence selected in said step (b); (d) wherein the logic of said step (d) is obtained by the media control unit from a memory device that is removably coupled to the media control unit and that is separate from the object.

In a feature of this aspect, the method further includes, after performing said steps (a)-(c), the subsequent steps of: (e) receiving a user-generated signal from a user input device of the wireless media control unit, said received user-generated signal being representative of a response of the user to the playing of the video sequence selected in said step (b); (f) in accordance with logic within the wireless media control unit, and in response to said received user-generated signal of said step (e), selecting a subsequent video sequence stored on the DVD for playback by the DVD player, the selecting being performed in a manner that is independent of the DVD player; and (g) mimicking standard infrared media control signals that are specific to the DVD player for controlling playback, by the DVD player, of the subsequent video sequence selected in said step (f).

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a method performed by a media control unit for providing an interactive experience with audiovisual content that is played on an external display device including the steps of: (a) receiving, by the media control unit, a user- generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to a first video sequence of the audiovisual content that is presented to the user; (b) in response to the user-generated signal received in said step (a), determining, by the media control unit, in a manner independent of the external display device, an appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence, the determining of the appropriate video sequence dependent upon the detected presence by the media control unit of an object that is removably coupled to the media control unit, and (c) causing, by the media control unit, the video sequence determined to be appropriate in said step (b) to be displayed on the external display device; (d) wherein said step (b) is performed by executing, within the media control unit, machine- executable instructions that represent logic for navigating the audiovisual content based on, (i) the presence of the object removably coupled to the media control unit, and (ii) the user-generated signal received in said step (a), the machine-executable instructions being specific to the audiovisual content that is played by the external display device, the navigation in accordance with the logic providing the interactive experience with the audiovisual content; and (e) wherein the machine-executable instructions of said step (d) are read by the media control unit from a memory device that is removably coupled to the media control unit, the memory device being separate from the object and containing the machine-executable instructions representing the logic for navigating the audiovisual content. In a feature of this aspect, the memory device containing the machine-executable instructions representing the logic for navigating the audiovisual content further contains the audiovisual content.

In a feature of this aspect, the media control unit drives the display of the audiovisual content on the external display device.

In a feature of this aspect, the media control unit includes the form factor of a conventional, handheld user game controller.

In a feature of this aspect, the media control unit comprises a game control unit, wherein the logic comprises game control logic, and wherein the object that is removably coupled to the game control unit comprises a trading card. In another aspect of the invention, a method performed by a media control unit for providing an interactive experience with audiovisual content that is played on an external display device includes the steps of: (a) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to a first video sequence of the audiovisual content that is presented to the user; (b) in response to the user-generated signal received in said step (a), determining, by the media control unit, in a manner independent of the external display device, an appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence, the determining of the appropriate video sequence dependent upon the detected presence by the media control unit of an object that is removably coupled to the media control unit, and (c) causing, by the media control unit, the video sequence determined to be appropriate in said step (b) to be displayed on the external display device; (d) wherein said step (b) is performed by executing, within the media control unit, machine-executable instructions that represent logic for navigating the audiovisual content based on, (i) the presence of the object removably coupled to the media control unit, and (ii) the user-generated signal received in said step (a), the machine-executable instructions being specific to the audiovisual content that is played by the external display device, the navigation in accordance with the logic providing the interactive experience with the audiovisual content; and (e) wherein both the machine-executable instructions of said step (d) and the audio visual content are stored within internal memory of the media control unit. In a feature of this aspect, the memory device containing the machine-executable instructions representing the logic for navigating the audiovisual content further contains the audiovisual content.

In a feature of this aspect, the media control unit comprises a game control unit, wherein the logic comprises game control logic, and wherein the object that is removably coupled to the game control unit comprises a trading card.

In another aspect of the invention, a method performed by a media control unit for providing an interactive experience with audiovisual content that is played on an external display device includes the steps of: (a) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to a first video sequence of the audiovisual content that is presented to the user; (b) in response to the user-generated signal received in said step (a), determining, by the media control unit, in a manner independent of the external display device, an appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence, the determining of the appropriate video sequence dependent upon the detected presence by the media control unit of an object that is removably coupled to the media control unit, and (c) causing, by the media control unit, the video sequence determined to be appropriate in said step (b) to be displayed on the external display device; (d) wherein said step (b) is performed by executing, within the media control unit, machine-executable instructions that represent logic for navigating the audiovisual content based on, (i) the presence of the object removably coupled to the media control unit, and (ii) the user-generated signal received in said step (a), the machine-executable instructions being specific to the audiovisual content that is played by the external display device, the navigation in accordance with the logic providing the interactive experience with the audiovisual content; and (e) wherein the media control unit comprises both (i) a game console that includes the machine-executable instructions of said step (d) and the audio visual content, and (ii) a peripheral device disposed in electronic communication with the game console, the object removably coupling to the peripheral device.

In a feature of this aspect, the game console drives the display of the audiovisual content on the external display device.

In a feature of this aspect, the peripheral device includes the form factor of a conventional, handheld user game controller. In a feature of this aspect, the object that is removably coupled to the peripheral device comprises a trading card.

In a feature of this aspect, the peripheral device includes cheat codes stored in internal memory thereof. In this feature, the method further may include accessing a cheat code in response to the detection of the presence of the removable object. In a feature of this aspect, the peripheral device includes macros stored in internal memory thereof. In this feature, the method further may include accessing a macro in response to the detection of the presence of the removable object.

In a feature of this aspect, a removable memory device is removably received within the peripheral device. In this feature, the removable memory device may include game cheat codes that are accessible to the peripheral device, and the method further may include accessing a cheat code by the peripheral device in response to the detection of the presence of the removable object.

In other aspects of the invention, media control units perform methods in accordance with the aforementioned aspects of the present invention. Each of the media control units may be a remote control unit; a game control unit, and/or a handheld unit. The present invention further includes the various possible combinations and permutations of the aforementioned aspects and features, as well as systems including the same. Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a game control unit, DVD player, television, DVD and associated memory device and game card in accordance with one or more preferred embodiments of the invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the game control unit of Figure 1 in greater detail.

Figure 3 is a diagram showing the memory device of Figure 1 in greater detail.

Figures 4 and 5 are each a diagram showing an alternative view of the game control unit, the memory device, and the game card of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an illustration of various user-input device components of the game control unit of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a block diagram showing organization of software including computer-executable instructions and data on the memory device of Figure 1. Figure 8 is a logic flow diagram of the initialization of the game control unit of Figure 2 during game play start-up.

Figure 9 is a logic flow diagram of game play of a quiz-type game executed by the game control unit of Figure 2.

Figure 10 is an illustration of a conventional remote control unit. Figure 11 is a logic flow diagram showing the modification of game play by the game control unit of Figure 1 in response to detected insertion of a game card into a card dock of the game control unit.

Figure 12 is a logic flow diagram showing the modification of game play by the game control unit of Figure 1 in response to detected removal of a game card from a card dock of the game control unit.

Figure 13 is a diagram illustrating a game control unit that directly drives audiovisual display of a television and that modifies play of a video game in accordance with a game card inserted into a card dock of the game control unit in accordance with one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. Figure 13a is a diagram illustrating another game control unit in accordance with one or more preferred embodiments of the invention similar to that of Figure 13.

Figure 14 is a diagram illustrating a game control unit that modifies play of a video game in accordance with a game card inserted into a card dock in accordance with one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. Figure 14a is a diagram illustrating another game control unit in accordance with one or more preferred embodiments of the invention similar to that of Figure 14.

Figure 15 is an illustration showing a loudspeaker of the game control unit of Figure 1. Figure 16 is a circuit and block diagram showing a card reader accordingly to an embodiment of the game control unit of Figures 1, 13, and 14.

Figure 17 is a block diagram showing a card reader including four (4) magnetically coupled links analogous to the magnetically coupled link of Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a block diagram showing a game card for use in the card reader of Figure 17 in accordance with an alternative embodiment to that shown in Figure 17. Detailed Description

As a preliminary matter, it will readily be understood by one having ordinary skill in the relevant field ("Ordinary Artisan") that the present invention has broad utility and application. Furthermore, any embodiment discussed and identified as being "preferred" is considered to be part of a best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention. Other embodiments also may be discussed for additional illustrative purposes in providing a full and enabling disclosure of the present invention. Moreover, many embodiments, such as adaptations, variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosed by the embodiments described herein and fall within the scope of the present invention.

Accordingly, while the present invention is described herein in detail in relation to one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is illustrative and exemplary of the present invention, and is made merely for the purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the present invention. The detailed disclosure herein of one or more embodiments is not intended, nor is to be construed, to limit the scope of patent protection afforded the present invention, which scope is to be defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof. It furthermore is not intended that the scope of patent protection afforded the present invention be defined by reading into any claim a limitation found herein that does not explicitly appear in the claim itself.

Thus, for example, any sequence(s) and/or temporal order of steps of various processes or methods that are described herein are illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, it should be understood that, although steps of various processes or methods may be shown and described as being in a sequence or temporal order, the steps of any such processes or methods are not limited to being carried out in any particular sequence or order, absent an indication otherwise. Indeed, the steps in such processes or methods generally may be carried out in various different sequences and orders while still falling within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of patent protection afforded the present invention is to be defined by the appended claims rather than the description set forth herein.

Additionally, it is important to note that each term used herein refers to that which the Ordinary Artisan would understand such term to mean based on the contextual use of such term herein. To the extent that the meaning of a term used herein — as understood by the Ordinary Artisan based on the contextual and specific use of such term — differs in any way from any particular dictionary definition of such term, it is intended that the meaning of the term as understood by the Ordinary Artisan should prevail.

Furthermore, it is important to note that, as used herein, "a" and "an" each generally denotes "at least one," but does not exclude a plurality unless the contextual use dictates otherwise. Thus, reference to "a picnic basket having an apple" describes "a picnic basket having at least one apple" as well as "a picnic basket having apples." In contrast, reference to "a picnic basket having a single apple" describes "a picnic basket having only one apple."

When used herein to join a list of items, "or" denotes "at lease one of the items," but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. Thus, reference to "a picnic basket having cheese or crackers" describes "a picnic basket having cheese without crackers", "a picnic basket having crackers without cheese", and "a picnic basket having both cheese and crackers."

Finally, when used herein to join a list of items, "and" denotes "all of the items of the list." Thus, reference to "a picnic basket having cheese and crackers" describes "a picnic basket having cheese, wherein the picnic basket further has crackers," as well as describes "a picnic basket having crackers, wherein the picnic basket further has cheese."

In accordance with one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention, a game control unit 103 (Figure 1) uses existing multimedia infrastructure such as a conventional DVD player 101 for display of multimedia content in accordance with game control logic stored on a memory device 104 in a manner responsive to game cards such as game card 110. As a result, game control unit 103 can be very simple and relatively inexpensive yet, in combination with currently ubiquitous multimedia infrastructure, can provide fairly sophisticated interactive game play with a very rich multimedia experience for the user. Specifically, DVD 106 includes audiovisual clips and other content which represent portions of a multimedia presentation of game play. Collectively, the clips and other content of DVD 106 represent all possible permutations of the multimedia presentation of the game programmed on memory device 104. During execution of the game programmed on memory device 104, game control unit 103 issues remote control signals to DVD player 101 to play specific clips of multimedia content in succession to present a full, multimedia, interactive game play experience to the user. Thus, the full multimedia capabilities of currently available and relatively ubiquitous DVD players and televisions supply the rich, multimedia experience of video games while only at the cost of producing a relatively simple game control unit 103. Such provides a rich video game play experience at a cost substantially below that of currently available game consoles and personal computers. In addition and in a manner described more completely below, the game control logic stored on memory device 104 is responsive to a number of game cards such as game card 110. Briefly, placement of game card 110 in card dock 105 of game control unit 103 is recognized by game control unit 103. In response, game control unit 103 preferably reads data from game card 110 and play of the game is modified according to game control logic based on the data read from the game card 110. In particular, game card 110 affects a particular aspect of the state of the game implemented by the game control logic. For example, game card 110 can represent one of a number of game characters whose activity is controlled by game control unit 103 or a type of weapon or ability of a character controlled by game control unit 103. Insertion of game card 110 into card dock 105 causes the game control logic of game control unit 103 to respectively include the associated character in the game or modify the state of the character to include the weapon or ability, for example.

The use of game cards to modify the game implemented by game control unit 103, e.g., in accordance with logic stored in memory device 104, adds an entirely new dimension to multi-player games and/or new twists on other games. In multi-player games, collecting, exchanging, and/or randomly choosing games cards adds variations to game play in a tangible way and improves the overall interactively and social nature of play of the game.

As described more completely below, game control unit 103 preferably includes a general purpose processor for executing computer instructions stored on memory device 104. Memory device 104 is intended to be a simple and very affordable memory device. Illustrative examples include ubiquitous flash memory devices such as compact flash cards, smart media cards, memory sticks, multimedia cards, secure digital cards, and USB portable memory "drives" as well as floppy disks, CDROMs in various sizes and shapes, and wireless and wired network connections to other computers.

An illustrative embodiment of memory device 104 is shown in greater detail in Figure 3. Memory device 104 includes contacts 302 which mate with corresponding contacts in game control unit 103 to provide electrical communication between memory device 104 and game control unit 103.

To prevent inadvertent inverted insertion of memory device 104 into game control unit 103, memory device 104 includes grooves 304 which mate with ridges 404 (Figure 4) of game control unit 103. In addition, memory device 104 includes a raised ridge 306 (Figure 3) to improve the grip of a user for removing memory device 104 from game control unit 103. Memory device 104 is associated with a separate digital storage medium on which is stored display content associated with a game program stored preferably on memory device 104. Such a digital storage medium is represented by DVD 106 in this illustrative embodiment and memory device 104 can be packaged for distribution along with DVD 106. Other remote storage media can be used to store display content such as compact disks (CDs), laser disks, and hard disk drives, for example.

Game control unit 103 is shown in greater detail in Figure 2. In this illustrative embodiment, CPU 201 is a low-cost, low power consumption, 8-bit processor unit. At power up, CPU 201 performs a standard bootstrap process as defined by read-only memory (ROM) 203. ROM 203 also contains a list of predefined DVD-player IR control codes and a configuration program to re-program the remote unit 103 by an IR receiver 207 using a conventional learning remote process. In an alternative embodiment, game control unit 103 determines to which of a number of predetermined command code sets DVD player 101 is responsive in a manner described in the incorporated U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11/039,646. As described more completely below, game control unit 103 mimics a remote control of DVD player 101 to cause playback of multimedia content on DVD

106 through DVD player 101 to provide a rich multimedia game play experience in accordance with the program stored on memory device 104. Therefore, game control unit 103 is initially configured to use a set of infrared command codes to control operation of DVD player 101. In addition to those described above, conventional universal remote control programming techniques can also be used to configure game control unit 103.

After booting, CPU 201 checks a non-volatile random access memory (NvRAM) module 202 for system patches that are delivered via memory device 104. In this way, memory device 104 can be used as a transport for updates to the operational programming of game control unit 103. Memory device 104 is accessed through a memory card reader 208. New DVD player infrared command code sets and/or new mechanisms for selection of a command code set can also be delivered in this way. In this illustrative embodiment, NvRAM module 202 is a relatively small cache that retains its contents when the power is switched off and is used to store configuration information such as data which identifies the particular model of DVD player 101 or a particular one of the command code sets such that control of DVD player 101 is properly implemented without requiring re-initialization of game control unit 103.

Game control unit 103 also includes random-access memory (RAM) 205 which is volatile RAM in this illustrative embodiment to provide a fast-access workspace for data during operation of game control unit 103. During operation, CPU 201 determines the particular command code set to be used to control DVD player 101 as stored in NvRAM 202 and retrieves that command code set from the ROM 203 and stores the command code set into RAM 205 for faster execution during runtime operations. RAM 205 also serves as a small cache used during program execution. It should be appreciated that the entire functionality of the foregoing description of game control unit 103 can be available as an integrated ASIC solution at a reasonable cost and that other configurations of processor(s) and/or memory can be used to implement similar functionality. For example, CPU 201 can be implemented using two (2) processors: one for executing game control logic and another to control sending of IR codes through IR transmitters 107.

Through memory card reader 208, CPU 201 accesses game control logic on memory device 104, which includes computer-instructions in the form of code 702 (Figure 7) and data in the form of a DVD map 701. Both the code 702 and the DVD map 701 are specific to DVD 106.

In particular, code 702 is a computer program which includes computer instructions that specify a behavior of game control unit 103 (Figure 2). DVD map 701 is data representing a navigation map specifying hierarchical relationships between various titles and chapters of the multimedia content stored on DVD 106. In an alternative embodiment, the data comprising DVD map 701 is omitted and code 702 includes sufficient information for game control unit 103 to select and cause to be displayed an appropriate segment of audiovisual content on television 100 from DVD 106.

For example, in navigating from one chapter of DVD 106 to another, execution of code 702 may cause game control unit 103 to mimic the following button press sequence: <down> <righl> <right> <enter>. Alternatively, execution of code 702 may cause game control unit 103 to specify directly to the DVD player the chapter of the DVD 106 to be played rather than specifying direct navigation of a menu displayed by the DVD player.

The organization of multimedia content stored on a DVD is known and is not described in detail herein. Briefly, the multimedia content of a DVD is divided into titles and chapters which are organized hierarchically. Users who have viewed multimedia content of a DVD and have selected episodes or various edits and/or commentary using a DVD remote control have followed the rudimentary logic and hierarchical titles and chapters of multimedia content stored on a DVD.

It should be appreciated that other organizations of audiovisual content can be used. The particular organization of DVD 106 or an alternative audiovisual content storage medium is not essential to the present invention, nor is any representation or mapping of the audiovisual content storage medium in memory device 104 essential to the present invention, so as long as code 702 is able to determine the appropriate signals to send to cause display of an appropriate segment of audiovisual content for providing the desired and intended interactive experience to the user. Game control unit 103 detects insertion of memory device 104 into memory card reader 208 and reads code 702 (Figure 7) and DVD map 701. CPU 201 (Figure 2) commences execution of code 702. During such execution, CPU 201 (i) processes signals received by physical manipulation of keyboard 206 by the user, (ii) uses DVD map 701 of memory device 104 to navigate the various chapters of audiovisual content of DVD 106, and (iii) provides game play functionality such as timers, random number generation, and scoring.

Game control unit 103 includes card dock 105 which preferably reads data from game cards such as game card 110. In this illustrative embodiment, each game card includes data representing an identifier that is readable by card dock 105 and that has an effect on the game play as implemented by code 702 (Figure 7). Each identifier can represent a unique set of state changes effected in a game implemented by code 702 in memory device 104. For example, in a versus fighting game, game card 110 can represent a particular fighting character that is controlled by game control unit 103 when game card 110 is inserted in card dock 105, and the identifier of game card 110 is associated with that particular fighting character. In other alternative embodiments, data of game card 110 can represent one or more state changes directly and/or can represent logic effecting such state changes directly.

The identifier of game card 110 in this illustrative embodiment can be represented in any of a number of ways. Similarly, the mechanism within card dock 105 that reads the identifier of game card 110 can be implemented in any of a number of ways. It is preferred that the representation of the identifier and the identifier reading mechanism are both rugged and inexpensive. Since games cards are likely to be produced in large numbers, game card 110 is intended to be inexpensive. Since game cards are expected to be inserted into, and removed from, card dock 105 repeatedly by young and eager game players, game card 110 is intended to be durable. In all embodiments described below, card dock 105 includes flanges 402 (Figures 4 and 5) to guide game card 110 into a precise location within card dock 105, thus aiding proper reading of the identifier of game card 110 in each of the embodiments described below.

In one embodiment, game card 110 includes a number of small magnets laminated between two sheets of card stock, and card dock 105 includes a number of reed switches. Card dock 105 detects individual magnets in the manner described more completely in the incorporated U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11/045,510. In this embodiment, a particular pattern of magnets present in game card 110 corresponds to a particular identifier or data value.

In another embodiment, game card 110 includes a radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag, and card dock 105 includes an RFID reader. Typically, an RFID reader requires too much power and excessive cost for a low-cost, low-power device such as game control unit 103, which is battery- powered in this illustrative embodiment. However, flanges 402 hold game card 110 in very close proximity to card dock 105. Accordingly, RFID readers using less power and involving commensurately lower costs can be used in card dock 105. Currently available low-cost RFID tags can store as much as 64-bytes of data and can therefore represent a very wide variety of cards making for a very rich game playing environment. In another embodiment, game card 110 includes a barcode along its back, and card dock 105 includes a barcode reader positioned near the forward edge of card dock 105. Accordingly, as the user inserts game card 110 under flanges 402 and into card dock 105, the barcode on the back of game card 110 passes over, and in close proximity to, the barcode reader of card dock 105. The barcode can be made of alternating infrared-reflective and infrared-absorbing stripes such that the barcode is not visible to the user. In this embodiment, the barcode reader recognizes infrared light. Such makes it more difficult for the user to spoof game control unit 103, e.g., using a photocopier or other means to produce counterfeit game cards.

In another embodiment, the barcode on the back of game card 110 is replaced with a magnetic strip in which identifier information is stored, and the barcode reader of card dock 105 is replaced with a magnetic strip reader.

In another embodiment, the barcode on the back of game card 110 is replaced with a number of punched holes in game card 110 in which identifier information is encoded, and the barcode reader of card dock 105 is replaced with a number of switches which detect the presence or absence of respective hole locations in game card 110. The switches can be spring-loaded switches that are open when the switch protrudes into a hole in game card 110 and are closed when the switch is held in a pressed position by game card 110, i.e., in the absence of a hole at the respective hole location. Alternatively, the switches can be photo sensors positioned at respective hole locations and detecting ambient light through one or more holes in game card 110 at such hole locations.

In another embodiment that is described below in more detail, game card 110 includes one or more pairs of coupled inductors, e.g., inductors 1650A-D (Figure 17) coupled to respective ones of inductors 1652A-D. Card dock 105 in this illustrative embodiment includes selectively energized inductors 1610A-D and sensing inductors 1612A-D. Inductors 1610A-D are positioned so as to be in close proximity to inductors 1650A-D, respectively, when game card 110 is positioned within card dock 105. Similarly, inductors 1612A-D are positioned so as to be in close proximity to inductors 1652A-D, respectively, when game card 110 is positioned within card dock 105 to form loosely coupled transformers. Data is encoded in game card 110 by the presence of specific coupled pairs of inductors as shown in Figures 17 and 18. Card dock 105 selectively energizes one or more of inductors 1610A-D and senses the presence of corresponding signals through inductors 1612A-D. The specific collection of coupled inductors in game card 110 controls which of inductors 1612A-D register a corresponding signal in response to energizing of inductors 1610A-D.

This embodiment has many of the advantages of an RFID tag included in game card 110 but can be implemented at substantially less cost. Much of the cost of producing an RFID tag is in the coupling of the antenna portion of the RFID tag to the data storage logic portion of the RFID tag. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 16-18, game card 110 includes only coupled pairs of inductors, which act as antennae, and no data storage logic. However, data capacity can be less than that of currently available RFID tags. In the embodiment shown in which up to four (4) pair of coupled inductors can be included in game card 110, seventy (70) unique identifiers can be represented. In another embodiment, game card 110 is a smart card. Smart cards and smart card readers are known and are described in the Government Smart Card-Interoperability Specification, version 2.1, published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), for example. In this embodiment, card dock 105 includes a smart card reader. While smart cards tend to be more expensive than some of the other embodiments described herein, smart cards can include logic to provide additional and/or different logic from that of code 702. Thus, as a smart card, game card 110 can modify the play of the game implemented by code 702 in a manner not anticipated at the time code 702 was developed. To enable such modification, code 702 checks for replacement and/or adjunct logic modules within game card 110. Such modules are identified as such within game card 110 in a manner that is recognized by code 702 through card dock 105. In addition, providing logic in game card 110 as a smart card can obviate memory device 104 in such various embodiments of the present invention. In particular, code 702 and DVD map 701, either explicitly or implicitly within code 702, can be stored in game card 110 and copied into RAM 205 (Figure 2) such that game card 110 can be removed from card dock 105 without interfering with execution of code 702 by game control unit 103. Thus, in all of the above-described embodiments including card dock 105 and game card 110, game card 110 includes data and card dock 105 reads the data and communicates the data to CPU 201 (Figure 2) for use by code 702. Card dock 105 reads the data when game card 110 is detected to be fully inserted into card dock 105. In embodiments in which the data is read by movement of game card 110, e.g., magnetic strip and barcode embodiments, detection of the fully inserted game card 110 can be by reading element of card dock 105 itself or by a photo sensor in card dock 105 in which ambient light is only fully blocked when a card is in card dock 105 at a position just before the identifier is accessible to the reader within card dock 105. In embodiments in which the data is read while game card 110 is still and positioned fully within card dock 105, e.g., smart card, punched hole, and RFID embodiments, detection of the fully inserted game card 110 can be by a pressure switch in card dock 105 thai is only actuated when a card is fully inserted in card dock 105 or by a photo sensor in card dock 105 in which ambient light is only fully blocked when a card is fully inserted in card dock 105. Smart card readers can detect presence of a connected smart card; thus, information regarding the insertion of game card 110 into card dock 105 is available in embodiments in which game card 110 is a smart card.

In this illustrative embodiment, game control unit 103 acknowledges and confirms detection of insertion of game card 110 into card dock 105 with some cue to the user. For example, game control unit 103 can play a short distinctive sound through a loudspeaker 1502 (Figure 15) and/or illuminate one or more of LEDs 617-621 (Figure 6) to indicate to the user that game card 110 has been successfully detected and read. Game control unit 103 can also provide such feedback to the user by causing DVD player 101 to play a particular segment of audiovisual content of DVD 106 on television 100 in lieu of, or in addition to, the sound and/or illuminated LEDs. Game control unit 103 can also acknowledge and confirm detection of removal of game card 110 from card dock 105 in a similar manner. Keyboard 206 (Figure 2) can mimic the main functions of a standard DVD remote control and additionally provides application-specific assignable buttons as well as custom button operation. Keyboard 205 includes buttons 601-614 (Figure 6).

Keyboard 206 can also provide visual feedback for confirmation of user input or to prompt user interaction with keyboard 206 as directed by code 702 executing within CPU 201 (Figure 2). Such visual feedback can be in the form of LEDs 617-621 (Figure 6), which are associated by proximity with buttons 607-613, respectively. LEDs 617-621 are individually controllably lighted in accordance with computer instructions executed by CPU 201. In this illustrative embodiment, LED 619 is a multi-colored LED and can be illuminated in any of a number of colors. Multi-colored LEDs are known and not described further herein. Buttons 601-606 can also be lighted in an alternative embodiment. A directional rocker button 614 forms a joy pad. Alternatively, four separate directional buttons can be used in place of directional rocker button 614.

In one embodiment, card dock 105 includes a touch-sensitive pad such that CPU 201 (Figure 2) can detect touches of card dock 105 and locations of such touches. Game card 110 is made of a thin pliable plastic material in this embodiment such that touching through game card 110 is detected by card dock 105 at a location of the touch. For example, in a medieval fighting game, the user can select a halberd as a weapon to wield by inserting a game card representing a halberd into card dock 105. A touch by the user through the game card at a position near a tip of an image of a halberd on game card 110 can be interpreted by code 702 as an instruction to use the halberd in a poking/stabbing motion. Similarly, a touch by the user through the game card at a position near an ax blade of the image of the halberd on game card 110 can be interpreted by code 702 as an instruction to use the halberd in a hacking, ax-like motion. In particular, code 702 can interpret touches of card dock 105 in the context of the particular game card inserted in card dock 105 in this illustrative embodiment.

The layout of keyboard 206 is also designed to facilitate user-interaction with the displayed content rather than to facilitate navigation of DVD 106 as found on a standard remote control.

Specifically, keyboard 206 includes directional rocker button 614 which can be used in a manner similar to a joystick. Alternatively, a number of the buttons of keyboard 206 are arranged to represent directional buttons, namely, up, down, left, and right.

In addition, a speaker 1502 (Figure 15) can provide audio cues to the user. In one embodiment, game control unit 103 includes two infrared (IR) transmitters 107 for transmitting remote control signals to DVD player 101. The use of two IR transmitters positioned at left and right forward corners, respectively, of game control unit 103 dramatically increases the likelihood that IR command signals sent by IR transmitters 107 are successfully received by IR receiver 108 of DVD player 101 and accurately interpreted by DVD player 101, especially if the user moves game control unit 103 enthusiastically during the excitement of game play. IR transmitters 107 of game control unit 103 can also be used to receive IR signals from a remote control device to learn the specific remote control signals expected and understood by DVD player 101. Learning remote controls are well known and are not described further herein.

Figure 7 shows illustrative contents of memory device 104 arranged into two distinct areas: one for DVD map 701; and the other for program execution code 702, which is sometimes referred to as code 702. DVD map 701 contains data identifying the various multimedia clips stored on DVD 106 and interrelationships there between for navigation among the various multimedia clips for playback on DVD player 101. The multimedia clips stored on DVD 106 represent segments of audiovisual content available for display, and one or more clips may be presented in a predetermined video sequence.

Organization of content on a DVD comports with a standard implemented by currently available and conventional DVD players such as DVD player 101. Such organization is known and is not described herein except briefly to facilitate understanding and appreciation of the present invention. At the time of authoring of the multimedia content of the DVD, a data set showing the interconnectivity between the various chapters, menus, and buttons of the multimedia content is produced by authoring software according to the format laid down by the DVD Book definitions to which all consumer DVD players such as DVD player 101 must adhere. According to this illustrative embodiment of the present invention, only the navigational portion of this file is then saved to memory device 104. As a result, DVD map 701 represents the data navigation map without the actual multimedia content being stored on memory device 104 so that the storage area of DVD map 701 is relatively miniscule. For example, a DVD such as DVD 106 might contain nine gigabytes 9 (GB) of data whereas DVD map 701 can store as little as sixty-four kilobytes (64 kb) or less, i.e., 16,000 times smaller storage space. Code 702 of memory device 104 contains computer instructions which defines a program for execution by CPU 201 of game control unit 103. Execution of code 702 generally operates as follows: code 702 defines a game, play of which involves user responses to multimedia stimuli presented on television 100 and, in response to the user's response, game control unit 103 transmits remote control signals to cause DVD player 101 to present additional multimedia content to the user for further response. Thus, the content played on DVD player 101 from DVD 106 is selected by game control unit 103 to present an interactive, integral game experience for the user.

In contrast, a user controlling DVD playback with a conventional remote control directly or indirectly specifies specific content to view. The following example is illustrative of the distinction. Consider that the user is playing a simple quiz game in which the user selects one of multiple choices to answer various questions. In selecting an answer, the user is not specifying to view a brief animation with the message "Correct!" and display of a cumulative score. Instead, the user intends to communicate the she knows which of the choices is the correct answer — and the resulting display is exactly that described above: a brief animation with the message "Correct!" and display of a cumulative score. Code 702 includes logic to determine, according to the particular interaction implemented by memory device 104, a video sequence of audiovisual content of DVD 106 that is appropriate for display at a particular state in response to the user's response. Thus, the content to be presented is not directly or indirectly selected by the user but instead selected for the user by the logic represented in code 702.

In a preferred embodiment, game control unit 103 can also function as a universal remote control to control DVD player 101 in a conventional manner, especially when memory device 104 is not removably coupled to game control unit 103.

In addition to presenting an integral game experience, code 702 can use multimedia content of DVD 106 as reward animations and/or reward musical selections to reward the user with entertainment for reaching various predetermined milestones. In this illustrative embodiment, DVD Player 101 is a standard consumer DVD player without any modification whatsoever and can be purchased at retail. All multimedia content in this illustrative embodiment is supplied on standard DVD-compliant discs, which enables presentation of the multimedia content with standard consumer DVD players. It should be appreciated that generally any directly accessible storage medium and player device can be used to store content for playback as part of an interactive experience. According to the present invention, it is the control unit (such as game control unit 103 in Figure 1) that embodies the logic resulting in the interactive experience enjoyed by the user.

Game control unit 103 requires a one-time initialization process in which game control unit 103 is configured to emulate remote control signals understood by a particular brand and model of DVD player. This initialization process is generally the same process by which any universal remote control is initialized prior to use with a specific DVD player. Briefly, such initialization is achieved by matching DVD device 101 with one of the internal codes as supplied in the memory of the remote unit 103 or through the IR receiver on the remote unit 103. In one embodiment, initialization of game control unit 103 to properly control DVD player 101 is performed in the manner described in the incorporated U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11/039,646.

As described above, interactive game play through game control unit 103 is effected, at least in part, by directing playback of video sequences of DVD 106 by emulation of remote control signals to DVD player 101. Generally, DVD navigation is relative, i.e., where a given navigation command takes one within the content of a DVD depends on the current navigational state of DVD player 101 with respect to DVD 106. For example, given a table of contents for playback, a typical remote control enables the user to navigate up, down, left, and/or right to identify an entry in the table of contents. In this illustrative embodiment, game control unit 103 does not provide any simple and convenient mechanism by which a user can directly specify a particular clip of multimedia content of a DVD for playback. Such poses challenging problems for an interactive use of DVD content as described herein. One is initial synchronization of the navigational state of DVD player 101 with game control unit 103 such that DVD player 101 and game control unit 103 agree as to which clip of multimedia content is cued up for DVD player 101. Such is important if game control unit 103 is to cause DVD player 101 to provide an integral multimedia game experience with a high degree of continuity.

Accordingly, prior to playing a particular game as defined by data stored on memory device 104 and DVD 106, game control unit 103 synchronizes with DVD player 101 in the manner illustrated in Figure 8. Such ensures that memory device 104 in game control unit 103 corresponds to the same game as DVD 106 in DVD player unit 101. In step 802, the user inserts DVD 106 into DVD player 101. In response, DVD player 101 performs a conventional DVD startup sequence, typically involving display of a welcome presentation and an initial menu from which to select content to play.

Standard DVD navigation requires that a link be present on each menu screen to all content selectable from that menu. This typically takes the form of selectable menu buttons overlaid on a graphical background. Generally, the user navigates the selectable menu buttons using the menu navigation buttons 703 to highlight an intended selection.

In this illustrative embodiment, the user is not expected, and generally not permitted, to select specific content of DVD 106. Instead, content of DVD 106 is selected by logic represented by code 702 of memory device 104. In step 804, DVD 106 causes DVD player 101 to display a title menu which includes only a message of "Press Start" or otherwise directing the user to press a specific button of game control unit 103 such as button 602 (Figure 6). In particular, the appearance of the initial menu as represented on DVD 106 includes only a single visible selection and the selection is associated with the text "Press Start" or the instruction to press a specific button such as button 602. This menu has no visible selectable menu buttons and playback of DVD 106 will remain at this point represented as wait step 806 (Figure 8) until the appropriate IR command sequence is received. Accordingly, game control unit 103 expects DVD 106 to be waiting at this menu screen in step 806 when play begins using game control unit 103.

Continuing with this illustrative embodiment of the invention, the initial menu of DVD 106 actually includes menu buttons which could be used in a conventional manner to navigate the various clips of multimedia content which are the modules from which the integral gaming experience is crafted by game control unit 103. However, the menu buttons are configured so as to be invisible to the user and only one of the buttons can successfully start play according to the logic of code 702 (Figure 7) and corresponding content of DVD 106. For example, the initial menu of DVD 106 can include a grid of three rows by four columns of invisible menu buttons, with focus initially placed on the menu button in the first (left-most) column and the first (top) row. In this example, consider that, to continue game play according to the logic of code 702, the menu button on the second row and third column must be actuated. Actuation of any other menu button of the initial scene of DVD 106 will fail to start game play according to the logic of code 702. Therefore, only a sequence of IR codes representing pressing of a "down" button once and a "right" button twice and lastly a pressing of an "enter" button will continue game play. This sequence is hidden from the user. This sequence also preferably varies from one matching pair of memory device 104 and DVD 106 (Figure 1) to another. Therefore, if DVD 106 does not correspond to memory device 104, game control unit 103 will not issue the proper sequence of IR commands and game play will not start. Additional assistance can be provided to the user by authoring DVD 106 to present a message encouraging the user to ensure that the proper memory device is installed in game control unit 103 if any but the one proper menu button is actuated, i.e., if an incorrect sequence of IR commands is received by DVD player 101.

An example of invisible buttons is black menu buttons with black text over a black background positioned so as to not obscure the text "Press Start" in white. In another example, buttons are made invisible by omitting images corresponding to the button from DVD 106. To access any of these invisible menu buttons, the user would have to blindly guess as to locations of menu buttons containing the active menu on the title menu the button and to blindly navigate to the appropriate button using repeated presses on the remote control. Thus, it is unlikely that the user will be able to initiate game play with DVD 106 without game control unit 103. It is possible to manage such cracking of the content of DVD 106 using a process of trial and error, i.e., a process which is akin to manually attempting to cracking a secret number password by entering all possible numerical combinations. While it is generally a good idea to thwart attempts to access content of DVD 106 and/or memory device 104 in unauthorized ways, it is more important to avoid inadvertent malfunctions of the integral game experience because a user has inadvertently inserted an incorrect DVD into DVD player 101, i.e., one which does not correspond to memory device 104 inserted in game control unit 103.

Continuing with this illustrative embodiment of the invention, the initial initialization of game play by game control unit 103 begins with step 822 (Figure 8) in which the user inserts memory device 104 into memory card reader 208 (Figure 2). ROM 203, or alternatively NvRAM 202, includes instructions and/or data which cause CPU 201 to detect insertion of memory device 104 into memory card reader 208 and to read the contents of memory device 104 upon insertion in step 824 (Figure 8). The initial behavior of game control unit 103 upon execution of code 702 is awaiting pressing of the "Start" button by the user in step 826. As described above, the "Start" button can be button 602 or another of the buttons of game control unit 103. The initial display screen of DVD 106 identifies the particular "Start" button, e.g., as button 602, and code 702 is configured to recognize pressing of the same "Start" button.

Code 702 is programmed to display an initial video sequence of audiovisual content of the DVD to initiate game play. This initial video sequence is presented in response to the user's pressing of the "Start" button. To get to the intended initial video sequence, code 702 causes game control unit 103 to issue successive remote control signals to DVD player 101 (Figure 1) to make a selection from the current, invisible menu displayed by DVD player 101 on television 100. For example, consider that the initial video sequence is accessible by the series of navigational commands described above, namely, pressing a "down" button on a conventional remote control once, a "right" button twice, and pressing an "enter" button. In response to pressing of the "Start" button by the user, code 702 (Figure 7) causes media control unit 103 to issue remote control signals emulating one "down" button press, two distinct "right" button presses, and one "enter" button press in step 828 (Figure 8). In addition to the <up>, <down>, <left>, <right>, <enter> button press mimicking described above, code 702 can cause game control unit 103 to mimic pressing of numeric buttons on a conventional remote control: i.e., buttons <0>, <1>, <2>, <3>, <4>, <5>, <6>, <7>, <8>, and <9>. Many DVD players implement a feature in which pressing of the <1> button on a conventional remote control actuates a first GUI button, pressing the <2> button actuates a second GUI button, and so on. Such a feature is sometimes referred to as "direct access menus" herein. Using this navigation mechanism, code 702 can cause display of selected audiovisual content more quickly because fewer button presses are mimicked to cause such display. However, a substantial number of models of DVD player do not implement direct access menus so reliance on such a feature can render code 702, and therefore game control unit 103, inoperable with some models of DVD players. In this illustrative embodiment, code 702 determines whether direct access menus are supported according to the particular model of DVD player identified in the initialization of game control unit 103. In particular, certain models of DVD player are predetermined to support direct access menus and, if DVD player 101 is determined to be such a model of DVD player during initialization, code 702 generally preferably mimics numeric button presses in lieu of, or in addition to, directional button presses.

It is possible that the audiovisual content displayed by DVD player 101 and television 100 does not correspond with the audiovisual content expected by code 702 and game control unit 103 to be displayed. Such loss of synchronization results in incongruities in the multimedia game play experience of the user and loss of the interactive experience enjoyed by the user. To resolve such incongruities, the user presses reset button 603. In response thereto, code 702 causes game control unit 103 to mimic pressing of a <menu> button on a conventional remote control, thereby bringing up a main segment of audiovisual content and a collection of invisible GUI buttons. The invisible GUI buttons are organized in a hierarchical manner such that each and every segment of audiovisual content represented on DVD 106 is accessible from the menu, mimicking directional buttons and/or numeric buttons.

Code 702 while executing in game control unit 103 includes in its state a segment of audiovisual content of DVD 106 that is believed to be currently displayed by DVD player 101. In response to pressing of reset button 103, code 702 mimics a pressing of a conventional <menu> button and mimics additional button presses to navigate to the particular segment believed to be currently displayed, thereby synchronizing the state of game play represented within game control unit 103 and as effected by DVD player 101.

In an alternative embodiment, game control unit 103 is able to cause DVD player 101 to display any portion of any segment of audiovisual content of DVD 106 directly and without access to menus. Such direct access of audiovisual content of DVD 106 is described, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 10/605,868 of Gravina et al., titled "Controller and Removable User Interface (RUI) for Media Presentation," filed Nov. 1, 2003, and published as U.S. App. Publ. No. US 2004/0140997 Al, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference; and in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 10/904,039 of Gravina et al., titled "Controller and Peripheral User Interface (PUI) for Media Event," filed Oct. 20, 2004 and published as U.S. App. Publ. No. US 2005/0060238 Al, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference."

Figure 9 shows the operation of DVD player 101 in conjunction with game control unit 103. In this example, (i) memory device 104 has been inserted into game control unit 103 and DVD 106 has been inserted in DVD player 101, (ii) DVD 106 and memory device 104 correspond to one another and therefore collectively implement the same game, and (iii) the initiation process of Figure 8 has completed. In the illustrative example of Figure 9, the subject game, i.e., the game implemented by memory device 104 and DVD 106, is a quiz-type game in which the user is prompted to answer questions.

In this illustrative quiz-type game, the operation of DVD player 101 under control of game control unit 103 allows the user to answer a number of questions randomly selected from a collection of sixty-four (64) questions. To randomly select a question for presentation to the user, code 702 causes CPU 201 (Figure 2) to generate a random number to thereby select a question at random. Then, to present the question to the user, code 702 (Figure 7) causes game control unit 104 to send remote control signals causing the selected question to be displayed to the user through television 100. DVD 106 represents the questions as thirty-two (32) respective menu buttons organized in a grid of eight (8) columns by four (4) rows, for example, and those menu buttons are not visible to the user. The remote control signals issued by game control unit 103 to initiate play of the selected question are those that the user would ordinarily use to access the representative video sequence on DVD 106, e.g., <down> <down> <right> <right> <enter> to initiate playback of the question associated with the menu button on the third row down and the third column from the left. The button pressed by the user to answer the question does not specify a video sequence of DVD 106 to be played but instead represents an answer to the recently viewed question. Code 702 interprets the pressed button as either a correct or incorrect answer and selects the appropriate video sequence of audiovisual content of DVD 106 to play in response thereto. In this manner, code 702 controls display of audiovisual content of DVD 106 through DVD player 101 on television 100 in selected video sequences to portray a mosaic of clips of the audiovisual content that collectively serve to present a full, continuous, interactive experience to the user which is adapted in real time to the interaction of the user with media control unit 103. Thus, media control unit 103 is a fully interactive computer device which leverages a full, rich, multimedia user experience of an installed infrastructure of audiovisual equipment. Indeed, the game control logic can be readily adapted to generally provide any type of interactive game or other interactive experience to the user. With further regard to interactive games, Table A of Figure 19 shows various categories of games that can be configured by appropriate configuration of code 702 and corresponding multimedia content on DVD 106. Of course, the categories of games shown in Table

A are illustrative only. Other categories of games can be implemented as well.

Figure 9 shows logic of an illustrative quiz-type game. In step 902, DVD player 101 displays an initial screen in which the user is prompted to enter a number of players. In step 922, game control unit 103 awaits user input specifying a number of players. Such input can be repeated presses of certain buttons of game control unit 103 to increment and/or decrement the number of players. The number of players can be correspondingly incremented/decremented on television 101 by playing corresponding audiovisual clips and/or displaying still images representing the current number of players. When the number of players is specified by the user, game control unit 103 issues remote control signals according to DVD map 701 to cause a current player number to be displayed by television 100 in step 904. In step 924, game control unit 103, in executing code 702, randomly selects a question for presentation to the current player. Game control unit 103 issues remote control signals to DVD player 101 to cause the selected question to be presented through television 100 in step 906. In this illustrative example game, a timer is also shown in the question. The timer can be shown to count down by successively changing a still image which includes the question with a numerical seconds-left indicator such that the superimposed seconds-left indicator counts down. Alternatively, a seconds-left count-down indicator can be superimposed over an audiovisual clip in which the question is posed such as a recorded image of a person reading the question as if in a television game show.

In step 926, game control unit 103 awaits input from the user indicating one of a number of possible answers. Such input can indicate such answers as "true" or "false" or, alternatively, as "A," "B," "C," or "D" in a couple of illustrative examples. In this illustrative game example, expiration of the timer is the equivalent of a wrong answer. In step 928, game control unit 103, in executing code 702, determines whether the user input represents a correct response. If so, the current player's score is increased within RAM 205 (Figure 2) in step 932 (Figure 9). Of course, game control unit 103 (Figure 1) can cause audiovisual content of DVD 106 representing the current player's new score to be displayed on television 100.

If the user's response is incorrect, game control unit 103, in executing code 702, causes content of DVD 106 representing feedback indicating an incorrect response to be displayed on television 100 in step 908 (Figure 9). If the incorrect answer is actually a failure to respond before expiration of the timer, an appropriate message as represented in the multimedia content of DVD 106 is displayed in step 910 in response to remote control signals from game control unit 103 so commanding. In this illustrative game, failure to respond in time also causes user selection of the next player in step 930. A standard DVD player remote control is depicted in Figure 10. The DVD Book definition specifies that a standard DVD remote control will include a number of standard buttons for controlling the DVD player, which are set forth in Table B of Figure 20.

While game control unit 103, shown in greater detail in Figure 6, emulates the standard DVD navigation controls of buttons 1003 (Figure 10), game control unit 103 preferably differs significantly in form and therefore function from a standard DVD remote control 1000. It should also be appreciated that game control unit 103 differs from a standard DVD remote 1000 or a universal remote by the presence of certain clearly defined buttons that present unique functionality to the user.

Game control unit 103 (Figure 6) includes a number of custom function buttons — e.g., start button 602, reset button 603, and application-specific buttons 607-611 — that provide an example of this extended functionality. For the sake of clarity and ergonomics as well as functionality, certain standard buttons from a DVD remote unit 1000 (Figure 10) are not mimicked on game control unit 103 (Figure 6) or are re-labeled in order to better describe their function when used in the context of game control unit 103. These buttons can provide visual and auditory feedback through a small loudspeaker based either on the user's actions in the form of emulated button-clicks or similar button- confirmation sounds or as audio content and/or prompts to the user in accordance with the programming of code 702.

It should be understood that preferably none of buttons of game control unit 103 are hardwired or otherwise configured to repeatedly cause a remote control signal to be automatically sent to DVD player 101. Instead, all user input, such as button presses or touching of touch -sensitive pad 105, preferably are processed according to code 702 while executing within game control unit 103.

Thus, the following general functions associated with each of the buttons of game control unit 103 is implemented by code 702 and can vary depending upon the specific configuration of code 702.

Power button 601 causes game control unit 103 to be powered-on or powered-off - i.e., toggles the power state of game control unit 103 between an "on" state and an "off state. Because of the nature of the function of power button 601, the function of power button 601 preferably is not controlled by code 702.

Start button 602 on game control unit 103 signals completion of the custom boot sequence described above, and causes code 702 to navigate DVD player 101 to the chapter menu that has been designated as the root menu at the time of DVD authoring in the manner described above. Pressing reset button 603 causes resynchronization of the audiovisual content of DVD 106 displayed by DVD player 101 to that expected by game control unit 103 in a manner described more completely above.

Pause button 604 causes game play to be suspended until a subsequent press of pause button 604 or, alternatively, a subsequent press of start button 602. During the pause, audiovisual content of the DVD may be paused, or audiovisual content representing the fact that game play has been paused may be presented and looped until game play is resumed or the reset button is pressed.

Game control unit 103 includes a next button 605 and a previous button 606. Generally, code 702 responds to pressing of next button 605 by moving to a next part of the game implemented by code 702. For example, in the quiz show game described above, pressing of next button 605 can cause code 702 to skip the current question and proceed to the next question. Conversely, pressing of previous button 605 can cause code 702 to return to the previously presented question.

In preferred embodiments, application specific buttons 607-611 provide contextual and configurable actions to be assigned by the currently executing program of code 702 on game control unit 103. For example, each button could be assigned a character that would immediately appear to give contextual help in a game, i.e., a hint button in a detective game. Furthermore, preferably each of buttons 607-611 is associated with a respective unique color. In this illustrative embodiment, button 607 is red, button 608 is yellow, button 609 is white and associated with a star shape, button 610 is green, and button 611 is blue. Visual cues in the audiovisual content of DVD 106 played for the user can correspond to individual ones of buttons 607-611. For example, a red character in the audiovisual clip can correspond to button 607 which is also red such that pressing button 607 causes the red character to perform some action. In an embodiment in which content of code 702 and DVD 106 are modeled after the BBC television show, "Teletubbies," pressing button 607, which is red, can cause Po, the red Teletubby character, to perform some action. Directional rocker button 614 is a 4-way rocker switch that emulates an analogue joystick input to enable code 702 to represent a real world device that cannot be controlled by a button, such as a golf club. In this example, game control unit 103 makes decisions based on the input from the player — i.e., how hard to hit the ball — and shows the appropriate video sequence. via the DVD player 101. A sufficient number of swings can be either filmed or computer generated and stored on DVD 106 so that the user gets a reasonable representation of their intended action being displayed. This kind of multiple choice outcome mapping requires dozens of outcomes to be depicted and is beyond the specifications of what can be done using only a conventional navigation system of a standard DVD. This system, in another example, can be adapted to emulate a baseball pitcher throwing a user- selected pitch or the timing and/or aim of a batter's swing. In this illustrative example, directional rocker button 614 is formed as a single peace of molded plastic and protrudes through the outer casing of game control unit 103 to resemble four distinct control buttons. In an alternative embodiment, directional rocker button 614 is replaced with four separate buttons for the respective four basic directions of up, down, right, and left. LEDs 617-621 are positioned adjacent to buttons 607-611, respectively. In some embodiments, buttons 601-606 are lighted. The lighting of each of LEDs 617-621 and buttons 601- 606 is individually controlled by code 702 (Figure 7) using computer instructions implemented by CPU 201 (Figure 2). Such lighting can be used to provide feedback regarding pressing of a button. For example, in response to pressing button 607, code 702 causes LED 617 to be illuminated briefly to signal to the user that such pressing has been recognized. Other techniques can also be used to provide immediate feedback regarding pressing of buttons of game control unit 103 such as audible sounds played through a small loudspeaker immediately upon recognition of the pressing of the button. Such sounds are sometimes referred to as key clicks but can generally be any sound playable through the loudspeaker. Individual illumination of buttons and/or LEDs of game control unit 103 can also be used to provide clues and/or assistance to the user. In the quiz game example described above, the correct answer can be revealed to the user by illuminating the one of LEDs 617-621 which corresponds to the one of buttons 607-611 representing the correct answer. For example, if the correct answer to the current question is represented by button 610, code 702 can illuminate LED 620 after a predetermined period of time, e.g., 30 seconds, has elapsed. Such allows the user to ponder the respective answer choices and study the correctness of the answer associated with button 610 prior to pressing button 610 to move on to the next question.

Such button lighting cues can also vary from continuous to flashing patterns. In one embodiment, a cue starts as a slow flashing pattern, escalates to a fast flashing pattern, and eventually escalates to continuously illuminated at successive time intervals.

In another example of useful cueing by game control unit 103 in accordance with code 702, the user may be a very young child and may not fully appreciate the interactive quality of game control 103. Consider that the content of DVD 106 shows four television characters, e.g., the known Teletubbies characters, all waving at the user when shown through television 100. Consider also that code 702 is configured to cause a selected one of the Teletubby characters to say "Good bye!" and duck behind a hill when the one of buttons 607-611 with the corresponding color is pressed by the user. Also consider that pressing of button 609, which is white and therefore corresponds to none of the Teletubbies characters, causes all Teletubbies characters to stand up and continue waving to the user - a form of a reset function. In a similar example, LED 619, corresponding to button 609, changes color while the Teletubbies are shown to be waving at the user from television 100. When the user presses button, code 702 determines the color to which LED 619 is currently illuminated and causes the Teletubby of that color to say "Good bye!" and duck behind a hill. Since code 702 causes the color of LED 619 to change, code 702 knows the color to which LED 619 was most recently changed and therefore knows the current illumination state, i.e., color, of LED 619 at the time button 609 is pressed. In addition, code 702 causes LED to cycle through only those colors corresponding to Teletubbies that are shown to continue to wave at the user from television 100 in this illustrative example.

A young user may not Understand or appreciate the connection between the pressing of any of buttons 607-611 and the corresponding effect shown in the audiovisual content displayed by television 100. Accordingly, code 702 can be configured to provide hints and/or suggestions to the user after predetermined periods of time of inactivity. For example, after about 15 seconds of inactivity, code 702 can illuminate button 608 to suggest to the user to press button 608. When the user does so, code 702 causes game control unit 103 to issue IR commands causing display of a video sequence in which Laa-Laa, the yellow Teletubby character corresponding to the yellow color of button 608, says "Good bye!" and ducks behind a hill. Similar hints/suggestions can be given by code

702 until all characters have ducked behind respective hills. Code 702 can then illuminate button 609 to suggest pressing thereof to bring back all the characters, and play according to code 702 continues.

Thus, code 702 can cause game control unit 103 to cue the user to push a selected one of buttons 602-611 or to rock directional rocker button 614 in a selected direction. In one embodiment, code 702 can also cause game control unit 103 to cue the user to push button 601. However, since button 601 is a power button for game control unit 103, it is preferred that pressing of button 601 remains solely at the user's initiative and discretion.

As described briefly above, game card 110 (Figure 1) preferably includes an identifier that is read by game control unit 103 and represents a set of one or more state changes in the game implemented collectively by code 702 (Figure 7) and DVD 106 (Figure 1). Logic flow diagram 1100 (Figure 11) illustrates the behavior of game control unit 103 as defined by code 702 in response to detected insertion of game card 110. Logic flow diagram 1100 is described in the illustrative context of an interactive game modeled after the popular television game show of a few years ago, "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?"

In this illustrative example, the game has a state that evolves as play of the game proceeds. The state includes, for example, which of two or more players is currently being asked a question, the available categories of questions from which to randomly select one to ask the player, the level of difficulty achieved by each of the players, etc. In step 1102, code 702 causes card dock 105 to read the identifier of game card 110. In step 1104, code 702 determines one or more state changes associated with the identifier of game card 110. In step 1106, code 702 effects the one or more state changes in the current state of the game currently executing. Table C of Figure 21 represents examples of state changes associated with various game card identifiers. In this illustrative embodiment, the identifiers are 7-bit binary numbers ranging in value from 0 to 127.

Consider that game card 110 has data representing an identifier of two (2). Upon insertion of game card 110 into card dock 105, code 702 reads the identifier from game card 110 in step 1102 and recognizes, in step 1104, that the identifier indicates that Kelly Ripa should be shown as the host of the interactive game show. In step 1106, code 702 effects this change. From the user's perspective, Regis Philbin is no longer asking the questions in the interactive game show viewed in television 100 but instead Kelly Ripa is asking the questions. To effect this change in the game, code 702 can cause a video sequence of the audiovisual content of the DVD 106 to be displayed that includes a "transition" clip in which Regis Philbin thanks the audience for their participation, then an "introduction" clip in which Regis introduces Kelly Ripa as his replacement host, and then an "exit" clip in which Regis excuses himself from the show.

Code 702 can effect the change in a number of ways. For example, code 702 can store data, e.g., in RAM 205 (Figure 2), identifying the current host as Kelly Ripa and, for each scene from DVD 106 shown to effect game play, code 702 can cause clips that includes Kelly Ripa as the host to be played. Alternatively, separate inter-linked chains of chapters of DVD 106 can represent game play with a different respective host. To effect a change of host in this alternative embodiment, code 702 follows a transition chain of chapters to effect a transition from a chain of chapters representing Regis Philbin as the host to a chain of chapters representing Kelly Ripa as the host.

The chain of chapters could be implemented as follows. In the current state, Regis Philbin is about to ask a question. The chapter of DVD 106 currently playing shows Regis Philbin asking, "This one's worth $125,000. Are you ready for your next question?" In addition, the chapter shows an icon matching that of next button 605 (Figure 6) indicating that pressing of next button 605 would cue up the next question. On the screen are a number of invisible buttons like those described above, each of which is associated with a question of the $125,000 level of difficulty and asked by Regis Philbin, allowing code 702 to select any of those invisible buttons randomly.

When game card 110 is removably coupled to the game control unit 103, code 702 begins to effect a host transition to Kelly Ripa. Another invisible button on the screen is a "Regis exit" button. Code 702 effects selection of the "Regis exit" button by mimicking remote control navigation buttons to select the "Regis exit" button and to mimic pressing of the <enter> key on a conventional remote control. The result is that the next chapter displayed by DVD player 101 from DVD 106 shows Regis saying, "My time is up. Thank you, you've been a wonderful audience." On the "Regis exit" chapter currently playing are three invisible buttons, one for each replacement host. Code 702 causes game control unit 103 to emit IR codes to effect actuation of the invisible button associated with Kelly Ripa. That invisible button is associated with a "Regis introduces Kelly" chapter within DVD 106 such that, in response to such actuation, DVD player 101 plays the "Regis introduces Kelly" scene. In that scene, Regis Philbin is shown to introduce Kelly Ripa "who will be asking you questions from now on" and to leave the game show set. Code 702 waits for the expected duration of the "Regis exit" scene before actuating the "Regis introduces Kelly" button to allow the "Regis exit" scene to play to completion.

The new current scene shows Kelly Ripa asking, "This one's worth $125,000. Are you ready for your next question?" In addition, the chapter also shows an icon matching that of next button 605 (Figure 6) indicating that pressing of next button 605 would cue up the next question. On the screen are a number of invisible buttons like those described above, each of which is associated with a question of the $125,000 level of difficulty and asked by Kelly Ripa, allowing code 702 to select any of those invisible buttons randomly. Each of the chapters of DVD 106 associated with a respective one of the questions is linked to responsive chapters showing Kelly Ripa responding that the user answered correctly or that the user answered incorrectly and leads to another set of questions, asked by Kelly Ripa, to be selected by game control unit 103 (preferably randomly) in accordance with code 702.

Thus, the transition to a new host is completed by following a chain of chapters in which Regis Philbin is the host asking questions, through a "host transition" chain of chapters, to a chain of chapters in which Kelly Ripa is the host asking questions.

As another example, consider that game card 110 has an identifier of ten (10). To effect the change in state represented by game card 110 in this illustrative example, code 702 modifies the state of the game to limit the pool of questions available to select for presentation to the user to only those associated with the category of science. Thus, in randomly selecting a next question for the player to answer, code 702 only considers those available questions from the science category.

As yet another example, consider that game card 110 has an identifier of 126. To effect the change in state represented by game card 110 in this illustrative embodiment, code 702 plays a chapter representing an audience survey of answers to the question following a chapter showing the host asking the question. The audience survey chapter represents a hint given to the player and no other change in the state, other than the particular chapter sequence played, is effected by code 702 in this illustrative embodiment.

The game cards can be integrated into game play in any of a number of ways. In a social game play setting, game cards in this illustrative example can be selected from a shuffled deck prior to each player attempting to ask a question. Thus, as play continues, various aspects of the game play are changed according to the "luck of the draw." Such adds a new and surprising dimension to a game to thereby extend the player's interest therein and, thus, adds value to the game. Alternatively, game cards can be used in marketing events to reinvigorate interest in a game some time after its release. For example, Kelly Ripa can distribute game cards with identifiers of two (2) at book signing and other public events to allow her fans to "unlock" a hidden feature of the game implemented by code 702 and DVD 106.

In some embodiments, the change in state effected in response to insertion of game card 110 into card dock 105 are intended to remain in effect even after game card 110 is removed from card deck 105. Thus, a number of game cards can be inserted into, then removed from, card dock 105 in succession and the state of the game implemented by code 702 incorporates the cumulative state changes effected by those games cards by successive performances of the steps of logic flow diagram 1100 (Figure 11). One example is a role playing game in which collectible game cards represents items and/or abilities of the protagonist. Inserting such game cards in succession adds such items and abilities to the protagonist's inventory of items and abilities. In other embodiments, the change in state effected in response to insertion of game card 110 into card dock 105 is intended to remain in effect only while game card 105 remains inserted in card dock 105. In particular, the state change of the game is reversed when game card 110 is removed from card dock 105.

To appreciate this embodiment, it is helpful to consider the illustrative example of a role playing game. Game cards such as game card 110 can represent various articles and/or abilities of the protagonist in an adventure game - not simply articles and/or abilities to accumulate at the start of game play in the example given above but a presently used article or ability. For example, the protagonist can be exploring a dark and damp cave and game card 110 can represent one of a number of articles currently in the protagonist's hand. Coupling a game card representing a battle ax with card dock 105 causes display of a brief video sequence showing the protagonist retrieving a battle ax from a satchel. The protagonist is now carrying a battle ax in hand. Suppose the player notices that the protagonist is particularly weak. Accordingly, the player removes the game card from card dock 105 and inserts a game card representing a healing potion. In response to the user's action in the game, a video sequence is shown, in quick succession to present an integrated story line, in which the protagonist returns his battle ax to the satchel, removes a flask from the satchel, drinks from the flask, and appears somewhat healthier and more comfortable and strong. The player then uncouples that game card from card dock 105 and re-inserts the game card representing the battle ax. In response, the protagonist is shown to return the flask to the satchel and to retrieve the battle ax from the satchel. Such game cards can be made available from various sources independently of those through which memory device 104 and DVD 106 are made available to encourage a collector's mind set in users of the game. By doing so, it is believed that this will increase the novelty of the game and perpetuate interest in the game.

The processing of removal of game card 110 from card dock 105 by code 702 is illustrative by logic flow diagram 1200 (Figure 12). In step 1202, code 702 determines one or more state changes associated with the game card most recently inserted into card dock 105, e.g., game card 110. Code 702 can do so by simply storing data representing the most recently read game card identifier and performing step 1104 (Figure 11) for that stored identifier. In step 1204 (Figure 12), code 702 reverses the effect or effects of the one or more state changes determined in step 1202. Reversal of an effect is performed preferably in a manner directly analogous to the effecting of the same state change. For example, if removal of a game card selecting Kelly Ripa as the host in the game show described above causes reversion to the default host, then removal of game card 110 from card dock 105 preferably effects an analogous host change from Kelly Ripa back to Regis Philbin. The benefits of card dock 105 and the changing of the state of game play according to a game card such as game card 110 transcend the play implemented by game control unit 103 and can be realized in other types of video game controllers and/or consoles.

In another embodiment of the game control unit in accordance with the present invention as shown in Figure 13, game control unit 1303 drives a video signal through audiovisual cable 109 to directly provide the audiovisual content for the presentation thereof on television 100, thereby obviating the DVD player. The audiovisual content is provided in accordance with logic stored in memory device 1304. Alternatively, the audiovisual content may be provided in accordance with logic stored in memory that is internal to game control unit 1303 at the time of manufacture, which scenario is shown in Figure 13a, in which no memory device 104 is illustrated. The audiovisual content further may be stored in the memory device 1304 or internal memory in these scenarios. In either scenario, however, game control unit 1303 (Figure 13) detects insertion of game card 110 into and/or removal of game card 110 from card dock 1305 to effect one or more changes in the state of a game that is being played in the same ways as described above with respect to game control unit 103 (Figure 1). It is noted that game systems which directly provide audio and/or video signals to a television are known. One example is the "Pong" game introduced by Atari, Inc. in 1972. Another example is the Atari Classic Controller by Atari, Inc. in which a small, handheld controller includes logic and audiovisual driving circuitry for ten (10) classic arcade-style games. Some of the very earliest video games can be fully implemented within code and audiovisual content represented entirely within the storage capacity of currently available portable memory. It is believed, however, that none of these game systems include, inter alia, the detection of the insertion of a game card into and/or removal of a game card from a card dock in order to effect one or more changes in the state of a game that is being played. In yet another embodiment of a game control unit, as shown in Figure 14, the game control unit includes both a peripheral device 1403 and a game console 1401 that preferably executes game control logic and directly provides the audiovisual content for the presentation thereof on television 100, thereby obviating the DVD player. In Figure 14, game console 1401 is a special purpose computer, dedicated to playing video games in accordance with game control logic of a memory device (not shown).

For conventional play of a game implemented in game console 1401, typically defined by code stored on a data storage medium such as a DVD and inserted into game console 1401, the peripheral device 1403 performs as a conventional user controller. In particular, the peripheral device 1403 sends data to game console 1401 representing, for example, any buttons of the peripheral device 1403 pressed by a user. However, in accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the peripheral device 1403 further detects insertion of game card 110 into card dock 1405 and/or removal of game card 110 from card dock 1405, and the peripheral device 1403 effects changes in the state of the game play based on the coupling and/or uncoupling of the game card 110 to the card dock 1405. Three examples of how game play is effected now follow. In a first example, the peripheral device 1403 reads data from game card 110 in a manner directly analogous to that described above with respect to game control unit 103 when the game card 110 is inserted into the card dock 1405. Thus, in accordance with this example, and unlike conventional game play, the peripheral device 1403 communicates the identifier of the game card 110 to game console 1401 and logic within game console 1401 effects one or more changes to the state of game play in response thereto. Furthermore, the full complement of tools available in the configuration of any game for play by game console 1401 are available to effect changes in the play in response to insertion of game card 110 into card dock 1405.

In the second example, the peripheral device 1403 is designed to modify the behavior of games executed by game console 1401 without requiring any adaptation of the game logic in the game console 1405. In other words, games not specifically designed to be modified in response to insertion of game card 110 can be modified in this second example (as well as in the third example described below). In this regard, the peripheral device 1403 may send, for example, "cheat codes" to game console 1401 in response to insertion of the game card 110. Cheat codes are generally undocumented commands that a player can issue through a game controller. A common example of a cheat code is a sequence of button presses to enable direct access to different levels of difficulty implemented in a game. Other examples include undocumented button press sequences to activate features such as super strength for a given game character or super speed or jumping ability. Such cheat codes are often implemented in game code to allow for testing various features during game development. Many cheat codes are left in place in commercially released versions of games either inadvertently, or as small prizes for hackers to hunt.

In this second example, the peripheral device 1403 has access to a number of cheat codes, each preferably associated with an identifier of a game card 110. In response to insertion of a game card 110, the peripheral device 1403 reads the particular identifier of the game card 110 and determines the cheat code associated with the inserted game card 110. The peripheral device 1403 then sends the cheat code to game console 1401, e.g., as signals representing a rapid sequence and/or combination of button presses of the peripheral device 1403. It is preferred that identifiers of game cards be unique across all games associated with the peripheral device 1403 such that game card identifiers will implicitly identify the game to which they pertain. The peripheral device 1403 itself may have access to cheat codes in a number of different ways. For instance, the peripheral device 1403 may be manufactured to include in non-volatile memory within the peripheral device 1403 a large collection of cheat codes for a large collection of games. Such cheat codes further can be upgradeable in the way that firmware is upgraded, including coupling of the peripheral device 1403 to a personal computer for reprogramming of the non-volatile memory of the peripheral device 1403 to include updated cheat codes and/or new cheat codes for new games.

Cheat codes used by the peripheral device 1403 also can be stored in a memory device that is may be removably coupled to the peripheral device 1403. This scenario is illustrated in Figure 14a, wherein memory device 1404 is removably coupled to peripheral device 1403 similar to the removable coupling of memory device 104 to game control unit 103 (Figure 1). In this scenario, a single memory device can correspond to a particular video game. A single memory device alternatively can correspond to a collection of video games whereby a game card is only required to be uniquely identified relative to all other game cards that are associated with the same memory device. The identifier of a game card then can be used by the peripheral device 1403 as an index into a table in the memory device to select the particular cheat code to send to game console 1401.

The cheat code also can be explicitly represented by the data encoded game card 110. For example, the peripheral device 1403 includes the same fifteen (15) buttons as does game control unit 103 (Figure 6). A special character to show either a combination of buttons, i.e., the equivalent of

"and", or a release of any previously pressed buttons, as a sixteenth distinct data value allows the user of just 16 different data values to represent all possible combinations and/or sequences of presses of the buttons of game control unit 103. A nibble can represent any of the 16 data values. Accordingly, a 64-byte RFID tag can represent a combination and/or sequence of up to 128 button presses of the peripheral device 1403.

In some games, a cheat cartridge, sometimes referred to as a "game enhancer," also can be used in conjunction with game consolel401 to effect changes in accordance with game card 110 inserted into card dock 1405. Briefly, a cheat cartridge is a device that connects to a video game system, e.g., game console 1401, and that allows a user to enter special cheat codes to manipulate a game in a way not permitted in its. original programming. In this scenario, the peripheral device 1403 can send cheat codes to a cheat cartridge instead of directly to game console 1401 to effect changes in play associated with game card 110.

The peripheral device 1403 can send the cheat code associated with game card 110 immediately upon reading data from game card 110 through card dock 1405. The peripheral device 1403 also can send a complementary cheat code associated with game card 110 immediately upon detecting removal of game card 110 from card dock 1405. For instance, consider that game card 110 gives the protagonist of the played game super jumping ability. Insertion of game card 110 causes the peripheral device 1403 to send a cheat code giving the protagonist that super jumping ability. In one embodiment, the super jumping ability remains after removal of game card 110. In an alternative embodiment, removal of game card 110 from card dock 1405 causes the peripheral device 1403 to send a complementary cheat code that disables the super jumping ability of the protagonist such that the protagonist only has the super jumping ability while game card 110 remains inserted in card dock 1405.

In a third example, the peripheral device 1403 effects changes in a state of game play by enabling macros predefined within the peripheral device 1403. In some games, pressing multiple buttons simultaneously and/or in quick succession enable advanced actions. Within the peripheral device 1403, data represents a number of predefined macros, i.e., a collection of signals represent a combination and/or sequence of buttons to be transmitted as a group. Insertion of game card 110 into card dock 1405 associates a corresponding macro with one of buttons 1407, thereby enabling an advanced action in response to pressing of a single one of buttons 1407. As described above with respect to cheat codes, such macros can be stored in non-volatile memory in the peripheral device 1403, in a memory device such as memory device 104, or in game card 110.

In addition, the peripheral device 1403 can associate one or more respective macros corresponding to game card 110 with one or more respective regions of a touch-sensitive pad of card dock 1405. Such allows multiple complex abilities, each represented by a respective macro, to be represented by a single game card and to allow each to be individually invoked by the user without modifying the function of any other buttons of the peripheral device 1403.

Figure 16 shows circuitry of card dock 1605, which represents an embodiment of card dock 105 in greater detail. Card dock 1605 includes digital logic circuitry 1602 that places a signal on line 1604 and senses the presence or absence of a corresponding signal on line 1622. Digital logic circuitry 1602 energizes the circuitry of Figure 16 by sending a square wave at line 1602 at a predetermined frequency. When the circuitry of Figure 16 is not in use, e.g., when game card 1610 is determined to not be inserted in card dock 1605, digital logic circuitry 1602 holds line 1604 at a steady level such as a digital zero or a digital one or a high impedance state.

Card dock 1605 includes a capacitor 1606, a resistor 1608, and an inductor 1612 which collectively drive a wave signal in the form of a pulsing magnetic field in inductor 1610. In particular, capacitor 1606, resistor 1608, and inductor 1612 are configured so as to create a substantially sinusoidal waveform at inductor 1612 in response to the square wave of the predetermined frequency. Game card 1610 includes an inductor 1650 that is positioned in close proximity with inductor 1612 to form a loosely coupled transformer of inductors 1612 and 1650 when game card 1610 is inserted into card dock 1605. The pulsing magnetic field of inductor 1612 induces an alternating current in inductor 1650. In this illustrative embodiment, inductors 1650 and 1652, and conductive links there between, are formed of conductive ink deposited between two layers of card stock. Accordingly, game card 1610 is both inexpensive to manufacture and durable.

Within game card 1610, inductor 1650 is coupled to inductor 1652 such that the alternating current induced in inductor 1650 causes a pulsing magnetic field in inductor 1652. Inductor 1652 is positioned in close proximity with an inductor 1614 to form a loosely coupled transformer of inductors 1614 and 1652 when game card 1610 is inserted into card dock 1605. The pulsing magnetic field of inductor 1652 induces an alternating current in inductor 1614.

Inductor 1614 and capacitor 1616 collectively form a resonant load that is tuned to the fundamental frequency of the square wave produced by digital logic circuitry 1602. As a result, successful magnetic coupling between inductors 1612 and 1650 and between inductors 1652 and 1614 creates a large amplitude sinusoidal waveform at an anode of a diode 1618. Diode 1618, resistor 1620, and capacitor 1622 collectively form an envelope detector that converts the sinusoidal •waveform into a direct current voltage level on line 1624. Preferably, the direct current voltage level on line 1624 is sufficient to change the digital state of line 1624 within digital logic circuitry 1602 from one logical state (e.g., a zero) to another logical state (e.g., a one). Digital logic circuitry 1602 detects this direct current voltage level as an indication that game card 1610 includes the magnetically coupled link of inductors 1650-1652.

In the absence of the magnetically coupled link of inductors 1650-1652, line 1624 is biased to ground. Digital logic circuitry 1602 detects the bias of line 1624 to ground as an indication of the absence of the magnetically coupled link of inductors 1650-1652. The presence or absence of the magnetically coupled link of inductors 1650-1652 represents a single binary state, i.e., a single digital bit, encoded within game card 1610. In Figure 17, game card 1710 is shown to include four (4) magnetically coupled links representing four (4) bits.

In particular, game card 1710 includes inductors 1650A-D which are coupled to inductors 1652A-D, respectively, to form four (4) magnetically coupled links whose presence or absence represent respective values of four (4) bits of information. In this illustrative embodiment, the presence of a magnetically coupled link represents a binary one and the absence of the magnetically coupled link represents a binary zero.

When game card 1710 is inserted within card dock 1705, inductors 1650A-D are positioned over inductors 1610A-D, respectively, to form four (4) loosely coupled transformers in the manner described above with respect to inductors 1610 (Figure 16) and 1650. Similarly, when game card

1710 (Figure 17) is inserted within card dock 1705, inductors 1652A-D are positioned over inductors 1612A-D, respectively, to form four (4) loosely coupled transformers in the manner described above with respect to inductors 1612 (Figure 16) and 1652.

The energizing and detection logic described above with respect to Figure 16 is replicated four times in Figure 17 to energize and detect the presence or absence of the four magnetically coupled links of game card 1710. In particular, energize circuits 1702 drive the respective pulsing magnetic fields of inductors 1612A-D in the manner described above with respect to the driving of the pulsing magnetic field of inductor 1612 (Figure 16). Applying a signal at AO (Figure 17) that is analogous to line 1604 energizes inductor 1612A in the manner described above with respect to inductor 1612. In a directly analogous manner, signals at Al, A2, and A3 energize 1612B, 1612C, and 1612D, respectively. A clock signal CLK synchronizes energizing of inductors 1612A-D.

Detection circuits 1704 drive resulting direct current level voltages at respective lines QO, Ql, Q2, and Q3 in the manner described above with respect to line 1624 (Figure 16). The voltages at lines QO, Ql, Q2, and Q3 represent the four bits encoded in game card 1710. In this illustrative embodiment, for each of lines QO, Ql, Q2, and Q3, a voltage indicating the presence of a corresponding magnetically coupled link represents a digital one and a voltage biased to ground represents a digital zero.

Thus, to read data encoded in game card 1710, energize circuits 1702 energize all of inductors 1612A-D simultaneously and voltages at lines QO, Ql, Q2, and Q3 represent the four (4) bits of data encoded in game card 1710.

More distinct values than merely 16 values (represented by four bits) can be represented in game card 1810 (Figure 18) using exactly the same architecture of card dock 1705. In game card 1710 (Figure 17), only magnetically coupled links between corresponding inductors are permitted. For example, inductor 1650A is coupled to inductor 1652A or is not coupled at all (or not present at all). In game card 1810 (Figure 18), inductor 1850D at a top position is coupled to an inductor 1852C at a second, non-analogous position. Energizing of inductor 1850D by application of a signal at A3 when game card 1810 is inserted into card dock 1705 produces a corresponding voltage on Q2, not Q3, through inductor 1852C. Similarly, inductor 1850C at a second position is coupled to an inductor 1852A at a bottom, non-analogous position such that energizing of inductor 1850C by application of a signal at A2 when game card 1810 is inserted into card dock 105 produces a corresponding voltage on QO, not Q2, through inductor 1852A.

Thus, energizing of any one of A0-A3 can produce a corresponding voltage on any one of Q0-Q3. Accordingly, to read data encoded on game card 1810, card dock 105 only energizes one of A0-A3 at a time. By allowing signals applied to any one of A0-A3 to be detected at any of Q0-Q3, seventy (70) possible combinations of magnetically coupled links can be implemented in game card 1810.

The above description is illustrative only and is not limiting. For example, a separate DVD player and television are shown in Figure 1. However other multimedia devices other than a standard DVD player can be used — including integrated DVD player/television devices. In addition, while wireless remote control signals are described in reference to, for example, Figure 1, wired remote control signals — while not currently popular in public use — can also be used as shown, for example, in Figures 13 and 13a. Accordingly, the present invention is defined solely by the claims which follow and their full range of equivalents. Furthermore, the present invention may include use in other contexts outside of the embodiments disclosed and described herein. For example, the present invention may be used to provide an interactive experience with audiovisual content that is related to a board game that is played by the user. In an example of this, consider the well known board game of "Trivial Pursuit." An embodiment of the present invention includes the use of a game control unit, such as game control unit 1303 of Figure 13, wherein game cards 110 represent categories of questions, and wherein memory device 1304 includes both the game control logic as well as audiovisual content for asking the questions in the different categories corresponding to the game cards 110 and for informing the user whether each question was correctly answered by the user. The present invention also has implementations in other than the gaming field. In this regard, the present invention may be used for providing an interactive experience with audiovisual content that is unrelated to any game. For instance, the present invention may be used to provide an interactive experience with audiovisual content in educating or training a user. An example is sensitivity training of employees by employers in order to avoid claims of sexual harassment. In this regard, and with reference to Figure 1, a DVD 106 may be provided containing audio visual content for sensitivity training covering various different positions of employment from chief executive officer to mail room clerk. Memory device 104 further may include media control logic for selecting and controlling presentation of the appropriate audiovisual content of the DVD by the DVD player on the television 100 in response to user input received via the user input components of the media control unit 103.

In this scenario, the object that is removably coupled to the media control unit (previously game control unit 103) may comprise an employee card (previously game card 110) that identifies, inter alia, the employment position of the employee. By removably coupling the employee card with the media control unit, the media control unit presents sensitivity training audiovisual content that is specifically directed to the employment position of the user receiving the sensitivity training.

Examples of various types of sexual harassment thereby may be tailored to likely situations in which such employee may find himself or herself, with specific, relevant examples being presented on the television 100. The employee card further may identify the gender of the employee, which may affect the gender of the "victim" in the position-specific examples that are presented to the particular employee.

The present invention further may be used, for example, in providing an interactive experience with audiovisual content in educating a consumer at a retail store location such as a video rental store. In this scenario, and with reference to Figure 1, a DVD 106 may be provided containing audio visual content for movies that are available for rental. Memory device 104 further may include media control logic for selecting and controlling presentation of the appropriate audiovisual content of the DVD by the DVD player on the television 100 in response to user input received via the user input components of the media control unit 103.

In this scenario, the object that is removably coupled to the media control unit (previously game control unit 103) may comprise a consumer loyalty or rewards card (previously game card 110) that identifies, inter alia, the movie preferences of the consumer, such as ratings or movie categories. By removably coupling the consumer loyalty or reward card with the media control unit, the media control unit presents audiovisual content that is specifically directed to the preferences of the user to inform the user about movies that the user likely would be interested in renting.

Other examples of embodiment of the present invention may be found, for instance, in several of the references incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method performed by a media control unit for providing an interactive experience with audiovisual content of a DVD that is played by a multimedia player, the method comprising: (a) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to a first video sequence of the audiovisual content of the DVD that is presented to the user; (b) in response to the user-generated signal received in said step (a), determining, by the media control unit, in a manner independent of the multimedia player, an appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content of the DVD to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content of the DVD that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence, the determining of the appropriate video sequence dependent upon the detected presence by the media control unit of an object that is removably coupled to the media control unit, and (c) wirelessly communicating, by the media control unit, one or more media control signals to cause the multimedia player to play the video sequence determined to be appropriate in said step (b).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (b) is performed in accordance with logic for navigating the audiovisual content of the DVD based on, (i) the presence of the object removably coupled to the media control unit, and (ii) the user-generated signal received in said step (a), whereby the interactive experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD is provided.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein machine-executable instructions represent the logic for navigating the audiovisual content of the DVD, the machine-executable instructions being specific to the DVD that is played by the multimedia player.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the object comprises a memory device, and wherein the machine- executable instructions representing logic for navigating the audiovisual content of the DVD are read by the media control unit from the memory device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (b) of determining an appropriate video sequence to be presented comprises determining the appropriate one or more media control signals communicated in said step (c).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a removable memory device, and wherein the method further comprises the step of detecting the insertion of the removable memory device into a card reader of the media control unit.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises reading, by the media control unit, data from the removable memory device upon the detected insertion of the removable memory device into the card reader of the media control unit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the object includes computer-executable instructions.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the object includes an identifier.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after performing said steps (a)-(c): (d) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to presentation of the appropriate video sequence of said step (b); (e) based on said received user- generated signal of said step (d), determining by the media control unit, in a manner independent of the multimedia player, an appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content of the DVD to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content of the DVD that are then available for presentation to the user; and (f) wirelessly communicating, by the media control unit, one or more media control signals to cause the multimedia player to play the appropriate video sequence of said step (e).

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of possible video sequences of said step (b) is different from the plurality of possible video sequences of said step (e).

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said received user-generated signal of said step (a) is identical to said received user-generated signal of said step (d), and wherein the one or more media control signals wirelessly communicated in said step (c) are different from the one or more media control signals wirelessly communicated in said step (f).

13. A media control unit that performs the method of claim 1.

14. A remote control unit that performs the method of claim 1.

15. A game control unit that performs the method of claim 1.

16. A handheld game control unit that performs the method of claim 1.

17. A method performed by a media control unit for providing an interactive experience with audiovisual content of a DVD that is played by a multimedia player, the method comprising: (a) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to a first video sequence of the audiovisual content of the DVD that is presented to the user; (b) in response to the user-generated signal received in said step (a), selecting, by the media control unit, in a manner independent of the multimedia player, a video sequence of the audiovisual content of the DVD to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content of the DVD that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence, the selecting of the video sequence dependent upon the detected presence by the media control unit of an object that is removably coupled to the media control unit; and (c) wirelessly communicating by the media control unit one or more media control signals to cause the multimedia player to play the video sequence selected in said step (b); (d) wherein said step (b) is performed by the media control unit in accordance with logic in the media control unit for providing the interactive experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD in response to user-generated signals.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein computer-executable instructions executed within the media control unit represents the logic in the media control unit for providing the interactive experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD in response to user-generated signals, the computer-executable instructions including multiple choice outcome mapping.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said step (b) is performed by referring to information regarding predefined hierarchical relationships between segments of the audiovisual content of the DVD for playing by the multimedia player.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising, after performing said steps (a)-(c): (e) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to presentation of the selected video sequence of said step (b); (f) in response to said received user- generated signal, selecting by the media control unit, in a manner independent of the multimedia player, a video sequence of the audiovisual content of the DVD to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content of the DVD that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence; and (g) wirelessly communicating by the media control unit one or more media control signals to cause the multimedia player to play the video sequence selected in said step (f).

21. A media control unit that performs the method of claim 17.

22. A remote control unit that performs the method of claim 17.

23. A game control unit that performs the method of claim 17.

24. A handheld game control unit that performs the method of claim 17.

25. A method performed by a wireless media control unit for providing an interactive DVD experience to a user of any standard DVD player, the method comprising: (a) receiving a user- generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to a video sequence stored on a DVD that is played by the DVD player; (b) in accordance with logic within the wireless media control unit, and in response to said received user-generated signal of said step (a), selecting a subsequent video sequence stored on the DVD for playback by the DVD player, the selecting of the video sequence being dependent upon the detected presence by the media control unit of an object that is removably coupled to the media control unit, the selecting being performed in a manner that is independent of the DVD player; and (c) mimicking standard infrared remote control signals that are specific to the DVD player for controlling playback, by the DVD player, of the subsequent video sequence selected in said step (b).

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising, after performing said steps (a)-(c): (d) receiving a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to the playing of the video sequence selected in said step (b); (e) in accordance with logic within the wireless media control unit, and in response to said received user-generated signal of said step (d), selecting a subsequent video sequence stored on the DVD for playback by the DVD player, said step (e) being performed in a manner that is independent of the DVD player; and (f) mimicking standard infrared remote control signals that are specific to the DVD player for controlling playback, by the DVD player, of the subsequent video sequence selected in said step (e).

27. A wireless media control unit that performs the method of claim 25.

28. A wireless remote control unit that performs the method of claim 25.

29. A wireless game control unit that performs the method of claim 25.

30. A handheld wireless game control unit that performs the method of claim 25.

31. A method performed by a media control unit for providing an interactive experience with audiovisual content of a DVD that is played by a multimedia player, the method comprising: (a) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to a first video sequence of the audiovisual content of the DVD that is presented to the user; (b) in response to the user-generated signal received in said step (a) determining, by the media control unit, one or more media control signals to communicate to the multimedia device that will result in the multimedia player playing an appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content of the DVD in order to provide to the user an interactive experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD, the appropriate video sequence being one of a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content of the DVD that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence, the appropriate video sequence being dependent upon a detected presence by the media control unit of an object that is removably coupled to the media control unit; and (c) wirelessly communicating, by the media control unit, for receipt by the multimedia device, the one or more media control signals determined in said step (b) for playing of the appropriate video sequence; whereby the appropriate video sequence from the DVD is played by the multimedia player in reply to the response of the user in said step (a) and the interactive experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD is provided to the user.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said step (b) is performed in accordance with logic for navigating the audiovisual content of the DVD based on, (i) the presence of the object removably coupled to the media control unit, and (ii) the user-generated signal received in said step (a), whereby the interactive experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD is provided.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein machine-executable instructions represent the logic for navigating the audiovisual content of the DVD, the machine-executable instructions being specific to the DVD that is played by the multimedia player.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the object comprises a memory device, and wherein the machine-executable instructions representing logic for navigating the audiovisual content of the DVD are read by the media control unit from the memory device.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the object comprises a removable memory device, and wherein the method further comprises the step of detecting the insertion of the removable memory device into a card reader of the media control unit.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the method further comprises reading, by the media control unit, data from the removable memory device upon the detected insertion of the removable memory device into the card reader of the media control unit.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein the object includes computer-executable instructions.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein the object includes an identifier.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein the one or more media control signals determined in said step (b) comprise standard infrared DVD remote control signals.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the one or more media control signals determined in said step (b) are wirelessly communicated via infrared transmissions.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the one or more media control signals determined in said step (b) are wirelessly communicated via radio frequency transmissions.

42. A media control unit that performs the method of claim 31.

43. A remote control unit that performs the method of claim 31.

44. A game control unit that performs the method of claim 31.

45. A handheld game control unit that performs the method of claim 31.

46. The method of claim 31, further comprising, after performing said steps (a)-(c): (d) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to presentation of the appropriate video sequence for which the media control signals were determined in said step (b); (e) in response to the user-generated signal received in said step (d), determining, by the media control unit, one or more media control signals to communicate to the multimedia device that will result in the multimedia player playing a subsequent appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content of the DVD in order to continue to provide to the user an interactive experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD, the subsequent appropriate video sequence being one of a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content of the DVD that are then available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence; and (f) wirelessly communicating, by the media control unit, for receipt by the multimedia device, the one or more media control signals determined in said step (e) for playing the subsequent appropriate video sequence; whereby the subsequent appropriate video sequence from the DVD is played by the multimedia player in reply to the response of the user of said step (d), and the interactive experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD is continued to be provided to the user.

47. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of possible video sequences of said step (b) is different from the plurality of possible video sequences of said step (e).

48. The method of claim 16, wherein said received user-generated signal of said step (a) is identical to said received user-generated signal of said step (d), and wherein the one or more media control signals wirelessly communicated in said step (c) are different from the one or more media control signals wirelessly communicated in said step (f).

49. The method of claim 16, wherein the subsequent appropriate video sequence also is dependent upon the detected presence of said step (b).

50. The method of claim 16, wherein the object comprises data and wherein the subsequent appropriate video sequence is dependent upon the data of the object.

51. A method performed by a game control unit for providing an interactive gaming experience with audiovisual content of a DVD that is played by a multimedia player, the method comprising: (a) receiving, by the game control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of an action of the user in a game; (b) in response to the user-generated signal received in said step (a), determining, by the game control unit, one or more game control signals to communicate to the multimedia device that will result in the multimedia player playing an appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content of the DVD in order to provide to the user an interactive gaming experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD, the appropriate video sequence being one of a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content of the DVD that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence, the appropriate video sequence being dependent upon a detected presence by the game control unit of an object that is removably coupled to the game control unit; and (c) wirelessly communicating, by the game control unit, for receipt by the multimedia device, the one or more game control signals determined in said step (b) for playing of the appropriate video sequence; whereby the appropriate video sequence from the DVD is played by the multimedia player in response to the action of the user in the game in said step (a), and the interactive gaming experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD is provided to the user.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the object of said step (b) comprises a memory device having machine-executable instructions that define an interactive behavior of the game that is played by the user.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the memory device comprises a game cartridge.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the memory device comprises one of the group of a compact flash card, a smart media card, a memory stick, a multimedia card, a secure digital card, a USB portable memory drive, a floppy disk, and an optical disk.

55. The method of claim 51, further comprising, after performing said steps (a)-(c): (d) receiving a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user in the game to presentation of the appropriate video sequence for which the game control signals were determined in said step (b); (e) in response to the user-generated signal received in said step (d), determining, by the game control unit, one or more game control signals to communicate to the multimedia device that will result in the multimedia player playing a subsequent appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content of the DVD in order to continue to provide to the user the interactive gaming experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD, the subsequent appropriate video sequence being one of a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content of the DVD that are then available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence; and (f) wirelessly communicating, by the game control unit, for receipt by the multimedia device, the one or more game control signals determined in said step (e) for playing the subsequent appropriate video sequence; whereby the subsequent appropriate video sequence from the DVD is played by the multimedia player in response to the action of the user in the game in said step (d), and the interactive gaming experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD is continued to be provided to the user.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the plurality of possible video sequences of said step (b) is different from the plurality of possible video sequences of said step (g).

57. The method of claim 55, wherein said received user-generated signal of said step (a) is identical to said received user-generated signal of said step (f), and wherein the one or more media control signals wirelessly communicated in said step (c) are different from the one or more media control signals wirelessly communicated in said step (h).

58. The method of claim 51, wherein said step (b) is performed in accordance with game logic for navigating the audiovisual content of the DVD based on, (i) the presence of the object removably coupled to the media control unit, and (ii) the user-generated signal received in said step (a), whereby the interactive gaming experience with the audiovisual content of the DVD is provided.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein machine-executable instructions represent the game logic for navigating the audiovisual content of the DVD, the machine-executable instructions being specific to the DVD that is played by the multimedia player.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein the object comprises a memory device, and wherein the machine-executable instructions representing game logic for navigating the audiovisual content of the DVD are read by the media control unit from the memory device.

61. The method of claim 51, wherein the object comprises a removable memory device, and wherein the method further comprises the step of detecting the insertion of the removable memory device into a card reader of the game control unit.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the method further comprises reading, by the game control unit, data from the removable memory device upon the detected insertion of the removable memory device into the card reader of the game control unit.

63. The method of claim 51, wherein the object includes computer-executable instructions.

64. The method of claim 51, wherein the object includes an identifier.

65. The method of claim 51, wherein the one or more media control signals determined in said step (b) comprise standard infrared DVD remote control signals.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the one or more media control signals determined in said step (b) are wirelessly communicated via infrared transmissions.

67. The method of claim 65, wherein the one or more media control signals determined in said step (b) are wirelessly communicated via radio frequency transmissions.

68. A game control unit that performs the method of claim 51.

69. A handheld game control unit that performs the method of claim 51.

70. The method of claim 51, wherein the object comprises data and wherein the appropriate video sequence is dependent upon the data of the object.

71. A method performed by a media control unit for providing an interactive experience with audiovisual content that is played by a multimedia player, the method comprising: (a) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to a first video sequence of the audiovisual content that is presented to the user; (b) in response to the user- generated signal received in said step (a), determining, by the media control unit, in a manner independent of the multimedia player, an appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence, the determining of the appropriate video sequence dependent upon the detected presence by the media control unit of an object that is removably coupled to the media control unit, and (c) wirelessly communicating, by the media control unit, one or more media control signals to cause the multimedia player to play the video sequence determined to be appropriate in said step (b); (d) wherein said step (b) is performed by executing, within the media control unit, machine-executable instructions that represent logic for navigating the audiovisual content based on, (i) the presence of the object removably coupled to the media control unit, and (ii) the user-generated signal received in said step (a), the machine-executable instructions being specific to the audiovisual content that is played by the multimedia player, the navigation in accordance with the logic providing the interactive experience with the audiovisual content; and (e) wherein the machine-executable instructions of said step (d) are read by the media control unit from a memory device that is removably coupled to the media control unit, the memory device being separate from the object and containing the machine-executable instructions representing the logic for navigating the audiovisual content.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the machine-executable instructions contained on the memory device of said step (e) define an interactive behavior of a game that is played by the user.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein the memory device of said step (e) comprises a game cartridge.

74. The method of claim 72, wherein the memory device of said step (e) comprises one of the group of a compact flash card, a smart media card, a memory stick, a multimedia card, a secure digital card, a USB portable memory drive, a floppy disk, and an optical disk.

75. The method of claim 71, wherein the object comprises a printed card.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein the printed card comprises a trading card.

77. The method of claim 71, wherein the object comprises an overlay that is removably coupled to the media control unit in disposition over a user input device of the media control unit.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the user input device comprises a touch sensitive pad of the media control unit.

79. The method of claim 71, further comprising, after performing said steps (a)-(c): (f) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to presentation of the appropriate video sequence of said step (b); (g) based on said received user- generated signal of said step (f), determining by the media control unit, in a manner independent of the multimedia player, an appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content that are then available for presentation to the user; and (h) wirelessly communicating, by the media control unit, one or more media control signals to cause the multimedia player to play the appropriate video sequence of said step (g).

80. The method of claim 79, wherein the plurality of possible video sequences of said step (b) is different from the plurality of possible video sequences of said step (g).

81. The method of claim 79, wherein said received user-generated signal of said step (a) is identical to said received user-generated signal of said step (f), and wherein the one or more media control signals wirelessly communicated in said step (c) are different from the one or more media control signals wirelessly communicated in said step (h).

82. A method performed by a media control unit for providing an interactive experience with audiovisual content that is played by a multimedia player, the method comprising: (a) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to a first video sequence of the audiovisual content that is presented to the user; (b) in response to the user- generated signal received in said step (a), selecting, by the media control unit, in a manner independent of the multimedia player, a video sequence of the audiovisual content to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence, the selecting of the video sequence dependent upon the detected presence by the media control unit of an object that is removably coupled to the media control unit; and (c) wirelessly communicating by the media control unit one or more media control signals to cause the multimedia player to play the video sequence selected in said step (b); (d) wherein said step (b) is performed by the media control unit in accordance with logic in the media control unit for providing the interactive experience with the audiovisual content in response to user-generated signals, the logic being based on, (i) the presence of the object removably coupled to the media control unit, and (ii) the user-generated signal received in said step (a); and (e) wherein the logic of said step (d) is obtained by the media control unit from a memory device that is removably coupled to the media control unit and that is separate from the object.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein computer-executable instructions executed within the media control unit represents the logic in the media control unit for providing the interactive experience with the audiovisual content in response to user-generated signals, the computer-executable instructions including multiple choice outcome mapping.

84. The method of claim 82, wherein said step (b) includes referring to information pertaining to hierarchical relationships between video sequences of the audiovisual content that is played by the multimedia player.

85. The method of claim 82, further comprising, after performing said steps (a)-(c): (f) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to presentation of the selected video sequence of said step (b); (g) in response to said received user- generated signal, selecting by the media control unit, in a manner independent of the multimedia player, a video sequence of the audiovisual content to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence; and (h) wirelessly communicating by the media control unit one or more media control signals to cause the multimedia player to play the video sequence selected in said step (g).

86. A media control unit that performs the method of claim 82.

87. A method performed by a wireless media control unit for providing an interactive DVD experience to a user of any standard DVD player, the method comprising: (a) receiving a user- generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to a video sequence stored on a DVD that is played by the DVD player; (b) in accordance with logic within the wireless media control unit, and based on said received user-generated signal of said step (a), selecting a subsequent video sequence stored on the DVD for playback by the DVD player, the selecting of the video sequence dependent upon the detected presence by the media control unit of an object that is removably coupled to the media control unit, said step (b) being performed in a manner that is independent of the DVD player; and (c) mimicking standard infrared media control signals that are specific to the DVD player for controlling playback, by the DVD player, of the subsequent video sequence selected in said step (b); (d) wherein the logic of said step (d) is obtained by the media control unit from a memory device that is removably coupled to the media control unit and that is separate from the object.

88. The method of claim 87, further comprising, after performing said steps (a)-(c): (e) receiving a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to the playing of the video sequence selected in said step (b); (f) in accordance with logic within the wireless media control unit, and in response to said received user-generated signal of said step (e), selecting a subsequent video sequence stored on the DVD for playback by the DVD player, the selecting being performed in a manner that is independent of the DVD player; and (g) mimicking standard infrared media control signals that are specific to the DVD player for controlling playback, by the DVD player, of the subsequent video sequence selected in said step (f).

89. A wireless media control unit that performs the method of claim 87.

90. A method performed by a media control unit for providing an interactive experience with audiovisual content that is played on an external display device, the method comprising: (a) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to a first video sequence of the audiovisual content that is presented to the user; (b) in response to the user-generated signal received in said step (a), determining, by the media control unit, in a manner independent of the external display device, an appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence, the determining of the appropriate video sequence dependent upon the detected presence by the media control unit of an object that is removably coupled to the media control unit, and (c) causing, by the media control unit, the video sequence determined to be appropriate in said step (b) to be displayed on the external display device; (d) wherein said step (b) is performed by executing, within the media control unit, machine-executable instructions that represent logic for navigating the audiovisual content based on, (i) the presence of the object removably coupled to the media control unit, and (ii) the user-generated signal received in said step (a), the machine-executable instructions being specific to the audiovisual content that is played by the external display device, the navigation in accordance with the logic providing the interactive experience with the audiovisual content; and (e) wherein the machine-executable instructions of said step (d) are read by the media control unit from a memory device that is removably coupled to the media control unit, the memory device being separate from the object and containing the machine-executable instructions representing the logic for navigating the audiovisual content.

91. The method of claim 90, wherein the memory device containing the machine-executable instructions representing the logic for navigating the audiovisual content further contains the audiovisual content.

92. The method of claim 90, wherein the media control unit drives the display of the audiovisual content on the external display device.

93. The method of claim 90, wherein the media control unit includes the form factor of a conventional, handheld user game controller.

94. The method of claim 90, wherein the media control unit comprises a game control unit, wherein the logic comprises game control logic, and wherein the object that is removably coupled to the game control unit comprises a trading card.

95. The method of claim 94, wherein the media control unit comprises means for reading data of the trading card.

96. The method of claim 95, wherein the trading card includes means for storing the data that is read by the media control unit.

97. The method of claim 94, wherein the media control unit comprising means for detecting one or more magnetically coupled links of the trading card.

98. A method performed by a media control unit for providing an interactive experience with audiovisual content that is played on an external display device, the method comprising: (a) receiving, by the media control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to a first video sequence of the audiovisual content that is presented to the user; (b) in response to the user-generated signal received in said step (a), determining, by the media control unit, an appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence; and (c) causing, by the media control unit, the video sequence determined to be appropriate in said step (b) to be displayed on the external display device; (d) wherein said step (b) is performed by executing, within the media control unit, machine- executable instructions that represent logic for navigating the audiovisual content based on, (i) data that is read from the object removably coupled to the media control unit, and (ii) the user-generated signal received in said step (a), the machine-executable instructions being specific to the audiovisual content that is played by the external display device, the navigation in accordance with the logic providing the interactive experience with the audiovisual content; and (e) wherein both the machine- executable instructions of said step (d) and the audiovisual content are stored within internal memory of the media control unit.

99. The method of claim 98, wherein the same internal memory contains both the audiovisual content and the machine-executable instructions representing the logic for navigating the audiovisual content.

100. The method of claim 98, wherein the media control unit drives the display of the audiovisual content on the external display device.

101. The method of claim 98, wherein the media control device includes a cable for providing an audio/video signal to the external display device.

102. The method of claim 98, wherein the media control unit includes the form factor of a handheld user game controller.

103. The method of claim 98, wherein the media control unit comprises a game control unit, wherein the logic comprises game control logic, and wherein the object that is removably coupled to the game control unit comprises a trading card.

104. The method of claim 103, wherein the media control unit comprises means for reading data of the trading card.

105. The method of claim 104, wherein the trading card includes means for storing the data that is read by the media control unit.

106. The method of claim 105, wherein the media control unit comprises means for detecting one or more magnetically coupled links of the trading card.

107. A media control unit the performs the method of claim 98.

108. A game control unit that performs the method of claim 98.

109. A handheld game control unit that performs the method of claim 98.

110. A method performed by a game control unit for providing an interactive gaming experience with audiovisual content that is played on an external display device, the method comprising: (a) receiving, by the game control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a user's action in the game; (b) in response to the user-generated signal received in said step (a), determining, by the game control unit an appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content that are then available for presentation to the user; and (c) causing, by the game control unit, the video sequence determined to be appropriate in said step (b) to be displayed on the external display device; (d) wherein said step (b) is performed by executing, within the game control unit, machine-executable instructions that represent logic for navigating the audiovisual content based on, (i) data read from a game card that is removably coupled to the game control unit, and (ii) the user-generated signal received in said step (a), the machine-executable instructions being specific to the audiovisual content that is played by the external display device, the navigation in accordance with the logic providing the interactive gaming experience with the audiovisual content; and (e) wherein both the machine-executable instructions of said step (d) and the audiovisual content are stored within internal memory of the game control unit.

111. The method of claim 110, wherein the game card comprise a trading card.

112. The method of claim 111, wherein the game control unit comprises means for reading data of the trading card.

113. The method of claim 111, wherein the trading card includes means for storing the data that is read by the game control unit.

114. The method of claim 111, wherein the game control unit comprises means for detecting one or more magnetically coupled links of the trading card.

115. A game control unit the performs the method of claim 110.

116. A handheld game control unit that performs the method of claim 110.

117. The handheld game control unit of claim 116, wherein the game control unit comprises the form factor of a user game controller.

118. A method performed by a game control unit for providing an interactive gaming experience with audiovisual content that is played on an external display device, the method comprising: (a) receiving, by the game control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a response of the user to a first video sequence of the audiovisual content that is presented to the user; (b) in response to the user-generated signal received in said step (a), determining, by the game control unit, an appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content that are available for presentation to the user subsequent to the first video sequence, and (c) causing, by the game control unit, the video sequence determined to be appropriate in said step (b) to be displayed on the external display device; (d) wherein said step (b) is performed by executing, within the game control unit, machine-executable instructions that represent game logic for navigating the audiovisual content based on, (i) data that is read from an object that is removably coupled to the game control unit, and (ii) the user-generated signal received in said step (a), the machine-executable instructions being specific to the audiovisual content that is played on the external display device, the navigation in accordance with the logic providing the interactive gaming experience with the audiovisual content; and (e) wherein the game control unit comprises both (i) a game console that includes the audio visual content, and (ii) a peripheral device disposed in electronic communication with the game console, the object being removably coupled to the peripheral device.

119. The method of claim 118, wherein the game console drives the display of the audiovisual content on the external display device.

120. The method of claim 118, wherein the peripheral device includes the form factor of a handheld user game controller.

121. The method of claim 118, wherein the object that is removably coupled to the peripheral device comprises a trading card.

122. The method of claim 118, wherein the peripheral device includes cheat codes stored in internal memory thereof.

123. The method of claim 118, further comprising accessing a cheat code in response to the detection of the presence of the removable object.

124. The method of claim 118, wherein the peripheral device includes macros stored in internal memory thereof.

125. The method of claim 124, further comprising accessing a macro in response to the detection of the presence of the removable object.

126. The method of claim 118, wherein a removable memory device is removably received within the peripheral device.

127. The method of claim 126, wherein the removable memory device includes game cheat codes that are accessible to the peripheral device.

128. The method of claim 127, further comprising accessing a cheat code by the peripheral device in response to the detection of the presence of the removable object.

129. The method of claim 121, wherein the game control unit comprises means for reading data of the trading card.

130. The method of claim 129, wherein the trading card includes means for storing the data that is read by the media control unit.

131. The method of claim 121, wherein the game control unit comprises means for detecting one or more magnetically coupled links of the trading card.

132. The method of claim 118, wherein the machine-executable instructions of said step (d) are disposed within the game console.

133. The method of claim 118, wherein the machine-executable instructions of said step (d) are read from a removable memory device.

134. The method of claim 118, wherein the machine-executable instructions of said step (d) are read from an optical disk that is received within the game console.

135. The method of claim 134, wherein the optical disk comprises a DVD.

136. A method performed by a game control unit for providing an interactive gaming experience with audiovisual content that is played on an external display device, the method comprising: (a) receiving, by the game control unit, a user-generated signal that is representative of a user action in the game; (b) in response to the user-generated signal received in said step (a), determining, by the game control unit, an appropriate video sequence of the audiovisual content to be presented to the user from among a plurality of possible video sequences of the audiovisual content that are then available for presentation to the user, and (c) causing, by the game control unit, the video sequence determined to be appropriate in said step (b) to be displayed on the external display device; (d) wherein said step (b) is performed by executing, within the game control unit, machine-executable instructions that represent game logic for navigating the audiovisual content as a function of, (i) data that is read from a game card that is removably coupled to the game control unit, and (ii) the user-generated signal received in said step (a), the machine-executable instructions being specific to the audiovisual content that is played on the external display device, the navigation in accordance with the logic providing the interactive gaming experience with the audiovisual content; and (e) wherein the game control unit comprises both (i) a game console that includes the audio visual content, and (ii) a peripheral device disposed in electronic communication with the game console, the game card being removably coupled to the peripheral device of the game control unit.

137. The method of claim 136, wherein the peripheral device is detachably connected to the game console by a cable.

138. A method performed by a media control unit for controlling presentation of audiovisual content, comprising the steps of: (a) reading data from a card that is received within a card reader of the media control unit; (b) receiving a user-generated signal; (c) in response to the user-generated signal, determining audiovisual content to be presented as a function of the data read from the card and the received user-generated signal; and (d) causing the audiovisual content determined in said step (c) to be presented.

139. The method of claim 138, wherein the audiovisual content is stored remotely to the media control unit.

140. The method of claim 138, wherein the audiovisual content is displayed on a display device that is external to the media control unit.

141. The method of claim 138, wherein said step (d) comprises wirelessly communicating, by the media control unit, media control signals for effecting presentation of the determined audiovisual content of said step (c).

142. The method of claim 138, wherein the card comprises a game trading card including graphics printed on a surface thereof.

143. A media control unit comprising: (a) a card reader for reading data of a card; and (b) state modifying logic, operatively connected to the card reader, for modifying presentation of audiovisual content as a function of the data of the card; (c) wherein the presentation of audiovisual content is controlled by the media control unit and is responsive to user-generated signals.

144. The media control unit of claim 143, wherein the audiovisual content that is presented is remotely located relative to the media control unit.

145. The media control unit of claim 143, wherein the state modifying logic issues one or more cheat codes for a video game as a function of the data of the card.

146. The media control unit of claim 145, wherein the state modifying logic issues the one or more cheat codes for a video game to a remotely located video game console.

147. The media control unit of claim 145, wherein the state modifying logic issues the one or more cheat codes for a video game to a remotely located video game cheat device.

148. The media control unit of claim 143, wherein the state modifying logic causes, as a function of the data of the card, signals representing a collection of two or more user interface gestures to be issued in response to receipt of a single user input gesture.

149. The media control unit of claim 148, wherein the collection of user interface gestures comprises a combination of at least two simultaneous user input gestures.

150. The media control unit of claim 148, wherein the collection of user interface gestures comprises a combination of at least two sequential user input gestures.

151. The media control unit of claim 143, wherein the card reader includes an insertion detector for detecting insertion of the card into the card reader.

152. The media control unit of claim 143, wherein the card reader includes a removal detector for detecting removal of the card from the card reader.

153. The media control unit of claim 143, wherein the card reader includes a wireless identifier reader for reading the data of the card from a wirelessly readable identifier of the card.

154. The media control unit of claim 153, wherein the wireless identifier reader is a radio frequency identifier reader.

155. The media control unit of claim 143, wherein the card reader includes a barcode reader for reading the data from a barcode of the card.

156. The media control unit of claim 143, wherein the card reader includes an interface for reading the data from logic of the card.

157. The media control unit of claim 143, wherein the card reader includes an interface for detecting one or more magnetically coupled links of the card.

158. The media control unit of claim 143, wherein the presentation of audiovisual content represents a video game.

159. The media control unit of claim 143, wherein the card reader includes means for reading data of the card.

160. The media control unit of claim 143, further comprising a card for reading by the card reader, the card including means for storing the data that is read by the card reader.

161. The media control unit of claim 143, further comprising means for detecting one or more magnetically coupled links of the card.