Wireless communication systems

Abstract

A wireless game controller communicates with a corresponding wireless receiver attached to a video game console. The wireless game controller accommodates a headset such that game control signals and audio signals between the wireless controller and the wireless receiver are integrated and transmitted on a single Bluetooth wireless data link.

1 . A wireless game control system for use with a video game console, the wireless control system comprising: 
 a wireless communicating means operable for connection to said video game console; and    a wireless game controlling means operable to accept gaming instructions from a game participant,    said wireless communicating means operable to communicate wirelessly with said wireless game controlling means, said wireless communicating means including a signal combining means operable to combine audio data signals and key control signals from said video game console into a single data stream for transmission to said wireless game controlling means,    said wireless game controlling means operable to receive the single data stream and to recover the audio data signals and key control signals therefrom.    
   
   
       2 . A wireless game control system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said wireless game controlling means comprises means for connecting an audio headset for dispatching said audio data signals thereto.  
   
   
       3 . A wireless game control system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said wireless game controlling means comprises means for connecting an audio headset for exchanging audio data signals therewith.  
   
   
       4 . A wireless game control system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said wireless communicating means further comprises a first wireless transceiving means and wherein said wireless game controlling means further comprises a second wireless transceiving means, such that said first and second wireless transceiving means are operable to communicate wirelessly with each other.  
   
   
       5 . A wireless game control system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said first and second wireless transceiving means each comprise a radio frequency (RF) transceiving means.  
   
   
       6 . A wireless game control system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said first and second wireless transceiving means are operable to communicate using Bluetooth protocols.  
   
   
       7 . A wireless game control system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said signal combining means accepts said key control signals in SPI format.  
   
   
       8 . A wireless game controller system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said signal combining means accepts said audio data signals in USB format.  
   
   
       9 . A wireless game control system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said wireless game controlling means further includes game effects generating means for generating one or more game effects according to one or more game effects data values, said wireless game controlling means being operable to identify one or more game effects data values in the key control signal.  
   
   
       10 . A wireless game control system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said game effects generating means comprises vibrating means.  
   
   
       11 . A video game device, comprising: 
 a portable game controller operable to receive gaming instructions from at least one game participant, the portable game controller including: 
 one or more effects generators for generating one or more game effects;  
 an audio headset operable to establish a first data link with the portable game controller for exchanging an audio data signal therebetween,  
 the portable game controller being operable to exchange operational data with a game console station, the operational data including game instructions for controlling the one or more game effects; and  
   an interface unit including a data port to connect with a complementary data port on the game console station, the interface unit including a first RF transceiver,    the game controller including a second RF transceiver,    the first and second RF transceivers being operable for establishing a wireless data link between the interface unit and the portable game controller to exchange both the audio data and operational data.    
   
   
       12 . A device as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the interface unit includes: 
 a first data processor portion operable to receive the audio data and the operational data from the game console; and    a second data processor portion operable to exchange the audio data with the first data processor portion over a first data path, the second data processor portion operable to exchange the operational data with the first data processor portion over a second data path, the second data processor portion operable to encode the audio data and operational data on a third data path,    the first RF transceiver operable to receive encoded data on the third data path and to exchange the encoded data with the second RF transceiver in the portable game controller over a carrier signal.    
   
   
       13 . A device as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the portable game controller further comprises a third data processor portion which is operable to exchange the encoded data with the second RF transceiver over a fourth data path, the third data processor portion being operable to decode the encoded data to deliver the operational data over a fifth data path and the audio data over a sixth data path.  
   
   
       14 . A device as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the portable game controller further comprises a fourth data processor portion operable to exchange the operational data with the third data processor portion over the fifth data path and to exchange the operational data with a register portion, the register portion being operable to exchange data with one or more game effects generators over a corresponding one or more data paths.  
   
   
       15 . A device as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising an audio data processor portion for exchanging audio data with the third data processor over the sixth data path.  
   
   
       16 . A device as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the audio data processor portion is operable to exchange the audio data with the audio headset over the first data link, the audio data being representative of an analog audio signal.  
   
   
       17 . A device as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the audio data includes the analog audio signal.  
   
   
       18 . A device as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the audio head set includes a microphone, the audio processor portion being operable to receive the audio data representative of an analog signal from the microphone.  
   
   
       19 . A device as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the first and second processor portions are included in a dongle unit.  
   
   
       20 . A wireless game control system for use with a video game console, the wireless controller system comprising: 
 a wireless communicator operable for connection to said video game console; and    a wireless game controller operable to accept gaming instructions from a game participant,    said wireless communicator operable to communicate wirelessly with said wireless game controller, said wireless communicator including a signal integrator to combine audio data signals and key control signals from said video game console into a single data stream for transmission to said wireless game controller,    said wireless game controller operable to receive the single data stream and to recover the audio data signals and key control signals therefrom.    
   
   
       21 . A method of controlling a wireless game system comprising the steps of: 
 providing a wireless communicator which is configured to communicate with a game console;    providing a wireless game controller to accept gaming instructions from a game participant;    providing head set to communicate with the wireless game controller;    establishing a first data link between the game console and the wireless communicator for transferring operational data and audio signal data therebetween;    establishing a second wireless data link between the wireless communicator and the wireless game controller;    establishing a third data link between the wireless game controller and the head set;    providing the carrier signal with a payload including data values from both the operational data and the audio signal data;    enabling the wireless communicator, in a first mode, to assemble a first payload for dispatching operational data and audio signal data to the wireless controller;    enabling the wireless game controller, in a second mode, to recover the operational data and audio signal data from the first payload;    enabling the wireless game controller, in a third mode, to assemble a second payload for dispatching operational data and audio signal data to the wireless communicator; and    enabling the wireless communicator, in a fourth mode, to recover the operational data and the audio signal data from the second payload.    
   
   
       22 . A method of controlling a wireless game system comprising: 
 a step for providing a wireless communicator which is configured to communicate with a game console;    a step for providing a wireless game controller to accept gaming instructions from a game participant;    a step for providing head set to communicate with the wireless game controller;    a step for establishing a first data link between the game console and the wireless communicator for transferring operational data and audio signal data therebetween;    a step for establishing a second wireless data link between the wireless communicator and the wireless game controller;    a step for establishing a third data link between the wireless game controller and the head set;    a step for providing the carrier signal with a payload including data values from both the operational data and the audio signal data;    a step for enabling the wireless communicator, in a first mode, to assemble a first payload for dispatching operational data and audio signal data to the wireless controller;    a step for enabling the wireless game controller, in a second mode, to recover the operational data and audio signal data from the first payload;    a step for enabling the wireless game controller, in a third mode, to assemble a second payload for dispatching operational data and audio signal data to the wireless communicator; and    a step for enabling the wireless communicator, in a fourth mode, to recover the operational data and the audio signal data from the second payload.