Encouraging exercise whilst playing electronic games

This invention was conceived in order to encourage exercise whilst playing electronic games and relates to a method of operation of an electronic games machine, a device for use with an electronic games machine, and a game controller having such a device.

Many people have fun playing on electronic games machines, such as the Microsoft® X-Box®, Nintendo® Gamecube® and the Sony® Playstation®. Some people, particularly parents, consider that other people, such as their children, spend far too long playing on games machines and do not get enough exercise.

Also, many people use exercise machines, such as exercise cycles, step machines and thigh trainers in order to improve or maintain their physical fitness. Many exercise regimes involve exercising at a steady rate. While using exercise machines, some people simultaneously play a game on an electronic games machine.

Causing the playing of a game to be dependent on exercise has been proposed in the past. Patent documents U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,897 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,605 each describe a purpose-built games and exercise machine arranged so that the user cannot control the game unless they are exercising at a particular rate. WO0/64542A1 describes an exercise machine connected to a game port of a computer running a game such that the exercise machine acts as a throttle control for the game. U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,746B1 describes a switch box controlled by an exercise machine and connected to an RF input of a television set so that the television set can receive RF input only if the exercise machine is being operated fast enough. The RF signal can be supplied by a games machine.

An aim of the present invention, or at least of specific embodiments of it, is to provide an improved way of encouraging people who are playing a games machine also to take exercise, and of encouraging users of exercise machines who simultaneously play a games machine to exercise at a particular rate.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of modifying operation of an electronic games machine having a game controller which is arranged to be connected to the games machine by an existing connection to control the games machine, the method comprising: adding an interrupter system to the existing connection so as to provide a modified connection between the game controller and the games machine; providing an exercise machine; detecting operation of the exercise machine; and using the interrupter system selectively to enable and interrupt the modified connection between the game controller and the games machine to enable and interrupt normal operation of the games machine in dependence upon the detected operation of the exercise machine.

The method can therefore be applied be an existing games machine and existing exercise machine without requiring a purpose-built combined machine as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,897 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,605. The interrupter system used in the method of the invention is operable to interrupt the normal operation of the games machine, whereas in WO0/64542A1 the exercise machine plays a part in the normal operation of the games computer (i.e. acts as the throttle control), and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,746B1 the exercise machine has no effect on the normal operation of the games machine.

The normal operation of the games machine may be interrupted if the rate of operation of the exercise machine is detected as being below a predetermined threshold. Additionally or alternatively, normal operation of the games machine may be interrupted if the rate of operation of the exercise machine is detected as being above a predetermined threshold. Accordingly, a parent can arrange it such that their child cannot play normally on a games machine unless the child also exercises on the exercise machine. Also, a user of an exercise machine and games machine can be encouraged to exercise in a particular manner, otherwise their game will be interrupted. The invention can be put into effect without modifying the games machine and possibly invalidating its warranty as a result.

The predetermined threshold, or at least one of the predetermined thresholds, is preferably adjustable to take account of different exercise regimes.

The normal operation of the games machine is preferably interrupted simply by disconnecting a power supply connection from the games machine to the game controller.

In one example of the invention, in the case where the existing connection includes a first connector of the game controller that is releasably connectable to a complementary second connector of the games machine, the interrupter system is added by connecting a third connector of the interrupter system to the first connector of the game controller and by connecting a fourth connector of the interrupter system to the second connector of the games machine. In another example of the invention, the interrupter system is added by permanently wiring the interrupter system to the game controller.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one magnet is attached (for example by a double-sided sticky pad) to a moving part of the exercise machine, and operation of the exercise machine is detected magnetically. The invention can therefore be put into effect without any significant modification to the exercise machine.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a game controller in combination with an interrupter system, for use with an electronic games machine and an exercise machine, the game controller having a first connector for releasable connection to a complementary second connector of the games machine, and the interrupter system comprising means for detecting operation of the exercise machine, and means for changing, in dependence upon the detected operation of the exercise machine, an electrical connection between the game controller and the games machine selectively to enable and interrupt normal operation of the games machine.

In one embodiment, the interrupter system includes a third connector connected to the first connector of the game controller and a fourth connector for connection to the second connector of the games machine so that the interrupter system is connected between the first and second connectors. In this case, the invention can be put into effect without modifying the games machine or the game controller and possibly invalidating their warranties as a result. In another embodiment, the interrupter system is permanently wired to the game controller.

Further aspects of the invention relate to the game controller and interrupter system in combination with a games machine and/or an exercise machine.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional games machine system;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the system of FIG. 1, to which a game interrupter system of the present invention has been added;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the game interrupter system of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4A-4D are diagrams illustrating operation of the circuit of FIG. 3 in one phase of its cycle;

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