| Multiplayer interactive video gaming device -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Multiplayer interactive video gaming deviceRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), In A Chance ApplicationMultiplayer interactive video gaming device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060281517, Multiplayer interactive video gaming device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/754,598, filed Jan. 12, 2004, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/901,135, filed Jul. 10, 2001, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/885,276, filed Jun. 30,1997, now abandoned. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to video gaming systems and, more particularly, to improvements in a video gaming machine that permit a plurality of players to simultaneously participate in a game. [0003] Many video gaming machines are configured for single players. For example, a video blackjack or poker game machine may have one player station from which a player participates in an independent game executed by the machine's game processor. While popular, such games do not provide the group interaction found in live casino games. [0004] Moreover, single player games are often located in establishments frequented by groups of customers and thus may be unattractive of customers not wishing to separate from their companions. [0005] Video gaming machines typically include a cabinet housing at least a player station, a game processor assembly and a video monitor. The player stations include at least one input device by which a player inputs commands to the game processor. Generally, these input devices are push-buttons that, when depressed and/or released, trigger switches that send a signal to the game processor. However, any suitable input device, for example a joystick or touch screen, may be utilized. The player station also typically includes a currency acceptor by which a player deposits coins or paper currency for betting or for paying a fee to play the game. The currency acceptor is often, but is not necessarily, located proximate the input devices. [0006] The game processor assembly is, generally, a computer assembly including an integrated circuit computer device that executes a video gaming program responsively to the commands input by the player at the player station. Often, this processor is a device which is custom programmed to execute only the video gaming program or related functions. The device may be mounted on a custom built circuit board that may include various peripheral devices as needed or desired. The circuit board is constructed specifically to operate in conjunction with the video gaming machine and is typically capable of receiving the input signals directly from each input device. [0007] Multiplayer video games are known which utilize custom circuitry. Development and manufacture of systems including custom circuitry may, however, be expensive, particularly in the early stages. Thus, some gaming programs are developed on conventional personal computers. These devices employ components such as a central processing unit (CPU), memory, and an input/output system. The CPU is an integrated circuit "chip" that can perform a multitude of operations. The input/output system manages data handling among the CPU and other internal or external components. Thus, the personal computer is a general purpose computer, as opposed to single-program "embedded" systems, which may include a dedicated processor device mounted on a printed circuit board and configured to perform a single function. Personal computers are, typically, relatively small devices, for example as opposed to main frame computers. A personal computer assembly may be a board including a processor and an input/output system. It may also include a cabinet and/or various external and internal components, as should be understood in this art. [0008] Because it is a multipurpose device, the personal computer assembly typically has no permanent input or output device having direct communication to the circuit board or, if there is more than on board, to the main circuit board. Instead, data is conveyed between input and output devices and the input/output system by data ports. These ports may have predetermined uses, for example to receive input from a keyboard or a mouse or to direct output to a printer or monitor. Personal computers also often include expansion slots for additional circuit boards which may, in turn, include their own data ports. [0009] Computer software games are known which dedicate certain keys on a keyboard to individual players. However, a keyboard is inadequate for a video gaming machine, for example because of its physical awkwardness, its tendancy to detract from game realism, and its lack of a mechanism to receive currency for wagers or game fees. Additionally, keyboards are generally unable to accept simultaneous inputs from a plurality of keys. [0010] Video gaming machines employing personal computer components without the addition of custom circuit boards or ports include means for conveying player input data to the CPU through existing components. However, multiplayer games include a relatively greater number of input devices, such as push-buttons, and, consequently, include a correspondingly greater number of communication lines than required for a single player game. Because the existing input ports in a typical computer configuration are inadequate to directly accommodate these communication lines, an interface system coordinates data transfer between the player stations and the data port(s). For example, multiplayer interactive video gaming machines are known that, applicants believe, employ a network arrangement. Players play individual games from individual player stations, each having a keypad, a personal computer circuit board, and a monitor. In a blackjack game, for example, input from the keypads is conveyed to the player station circuit board, which may execute the individual player blackjack game responsively to this input data and data relating to the dealer's hand provided by a central file server computer. The server computer may execute the entire game, with the player station computers operating the player station input and output devices responsively to the server computer. OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] The present invention recognizes and addresses disadvantages of prior art construction and methods. [0012] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved multiplayer interactive video gaming device having a plurality of independent player stations and utilizing personal computer hardware. [0013] More particularly, it is an object to the present invention to provide such a gaming device incorporating an improved interface assembly. [0014] It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved interface assembly capable of simultaneously processing multiplayer input messages. [0015] Some of these objects are achieved by a multiplayer interactive video gaming device comprising a computer workstation assembly including an input/output system and at least one data port, the workstation assembly including a game processor device configured to receive input signals by the input/output system from one or more of the at least one data ports and to execute a video gaming program responsively to the input signals. The device includes at least one player station including at least one data input device and configured to output player input messages in response to activation of the the at least one data input device. The device includes an interface assembly in operative communication with the one-or more at least one data port and configured to receive the player input messages from a plurality of the player stations and to output the player input messages to the computer workstation assembly by the one or more at least one data port. The interface assemby and the at least one player station are operably associated with each other to route the player input messages from the at least one player station to the computer workstation assembly according to a predetermined protocol so that player input messages generated from simultaneous activation of a plurality of input devices are output to the computer workstation assembly without information loss. [0016] In a preferred embodiment, the system uses a single command entry port to service the player stations in such a fashion that all player station input devices are serviced in a prioritized manner that may be arbitrarily defined. All inputs are formatted into messages and queued so that no information is lost when multiple simultaneous inputs occur. [0017] Preferably, a specialized input device processor is used that services each player station. A variety of input devices, for example joysticks, keypads, buttons, currency acceptors, coin/token acceptors, etc. may be attached. Each player station processor is designed to accept inputs, formulate messages regarding each input, and transmit those messages to a message concentrator. The player stations may communicate with the message concentrator directly, for example in a "star" arrangement, indirectly, for example in a "daisy-chain" configuration, or through a mixture of the two. The message concentrator acts as a buffer for incoming messages from a plurality of player stations which may be locally or remotely connected. The concentrator prioritizes the passing of messages to a workstation using a suitable algorithm, for example round robin, first-in first-out, rotating priority, random priority, etc. The queues on the message concentrator buffer all incoming messages and prevent the loss of input data in situations where multiple messages arrive simultaneously. The speed of message transfer allows the message concentrator processor to support multiple simultaneous input messages. Because most or all input messages may be directed to the workstation through a single input port, the concentrator queues input messages, in some prioritized fashion, into an output queue connected to this port. Thus, no messages are lost, and the workstation receives most or all messages through a single input port, providing increased security and testability. [0018] The message concentrator extends the workstation input port into multiple input ports while allowing the workstation to communicate with the player stations through a single output port. Thus, in a star arrangement, the message concentrator acts as a game network hub managing both input and output messages. In a daisy-chain arrangement, the concentrator is the head of the chain which directs messages to the workstation input port. [0019] The interface assembly is operably associated with the player stations to route the player input messages to the game computer. In the star arrangement of an exemplary video blackjack game, for example, the player stations output the input messages directly to a concentrator. Each player station generates and outputs player input messages according to a predetermined protocol so that input messages resulting from simultaneous button activations at that player station are routed to the concentrator without information loss. The concentrator, in turn, receives the player input messages from a plurality of player stations and routes these messages to the game computer according to its protocol so that player input messages simultaneously received from a plurality of player stations are routed to the game computer without information loss. Thus, the concentrator and the player stations are operably associated with each other to route the input messages to the game computer so that player input messages generated from simultaneous activation of a plurality of buttons are output to the game computer without information loss. [0020] In an exemplary daisy-chain arrangement of the same game, only one player station communicates directly with the concentrator. The remaining player stations are linked downstream from the concentrator in tandem from the first player station. As in the star arrangement, each player station generates and outputs player input messages according its protocol so that input messages resulting from simultaneous button activations at that player station are output from the player station without information loss. The player stations in this arrangement, however, include an additional serial port to receive player input messages from downstream player stations. These downstream player input messages are received by a player station and passed on to the next upstream player station or, if the player station is the first in line, the concentrator without interfering with the processing and routing of its own input messages. Thus, the concentrator and the player stations are operably associated with each other to route the input messages to the game computer so that player input messages generated from simultaneous activation of a plurality of buttons are output to the game computer without information loss. [0021] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Continue reading about Multiplayer interactive video gaming device... Full patent description for Multiplayer interactive video gaming device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Multiplayer interactive video gaming device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Multiplayer interactive video gaming device or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Method for providing a feature game Next Patent Application: Post play bingo Industry Class: Amusement devices: games ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Multiplayer interactive video gaming device patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.68256 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
