IP Library Granted Patent US 8,678,895
Granted Patent B2
US 8,678,895 · App. 12/140,000 · Granted Mar 25, 2014

Systems and methods for online band matching in a rhythm action game

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,678,895
App. No.
12/140,000
Granted
Mar 25, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for matching suitable remote players to one or more local players of a rhythm-action game includes identifying one or more local players to participate in a networked session of a rhythm action game corresponding to a predetermined band template, each local player associated with a type of simulated musical. A first type of simulated musical instrument represented in the predetermined band template and not associated with any of the one or more local players may then be identified, along with a remote player associated with the first type of simulated musical instrument. A game session may then be provided including the one or more local players and the identified remote player.

Claims (39)

1. A method for providing a networked session of a rhythm action game on a game console, the method comprising:

identifying at least one local input device configured to participate in the networked session of the rhythm action game corresponding to a band template, wherein the band template includes a plurality of slots, each slot is associated with a particular type of simulated musical instrument, and wherein each of the at least one local input device is i) a game controller coupled to the game console, ii) associated with a particular simulated musical instrument controller type, and iii) configured to be associated with one of the plurality of slots;

for each of the at least one local input device, determining an associated one of the plurality of slots based on the simulated musical instrument controller type of the at least one local input device;

determining that a first slot of the plurality of slots is not associated with any of the at least one local input device configured to participate in the networked session of the rhythm action game;

determining a first simulated musical instrument controller type associated with the first slot;

providing information to search for and identify a remote input device associated with the first simulated musical instrument controller type, wherein the remote input device is coupled to a remote game console in communication with the game console over a network; and

providing the networked session of the rhythm action game with the at least one local input device and the remote input device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying an additional local input device, coupled to the game console, after identifying the remote input device.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the additional local input device is coupled to the game console after identifying the remote input device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of slots is associated with one of a guitar, a drum set, and a microphone.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the band template includes four slots, two of which are associated with guitars, one of which is associated with a microphone, and one of which is associated with a drum set.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying an option to identify candidate input devices for the first slot.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying an option to allow the remote input device to join.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying an option to invite a specific input device, coupled to the remote game console, to the networked session of the rhythm action game.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a second slot of the plurality of slots is not associated with any of the at least one local input device configured to participate in the networked session of the rhythm action game;

determining a second simulated musical instrument controller type associated with the second slot; and

searching for a second remote input device associated with the second simulated musical instrument controller type.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying an additional remote input device that is coupled to the remote game console.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the remote input device includes receiving an identification of the remote input device over the network.

12. A non-transitory computer readable media comprising machine-readable executable code for providing a networked session of a rhythm-action game on a game console, the computer readable media comprising:

executable code for identifying at least one local input device configured to participate in the networked session of the rhythm action game corresponding to a band template, wherein the band template includes a plurality of slots, each slot is associated with a particular type of simulated musical instrument, and wherein each of the at least one local input device is i) a game controller coupled to the game console, ii) associated with a particular simulated musical instrument controller type, and iii) configured to be associated with one of the plurality of slots;

executable code for determining, for each of the at least one local input device, an associated one of the plurality of slots based on the simulated musical instrument controller type of the at least one local input device;

executable code for determining that a first slot of the plurality of slots is not associated with any of the at least one local input device configured to participate in the networked session of the rhythm action game;

executable code for determining a first simulated musical instrument controller type associated with the first slot;

executable code for providing information to search for and identify a remote input device associated with the first simulated musical instrument controller type, wherein the remote input device is coupled to a remote game console in communication with the game console over a network; and

executable code for providing the networked session of the rhythm action game with the at least one local input device and the remote input device.

13. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 12 , further comprising executable code for identifying an additional local input device, coupled to the game console, after identifying the remote input device coupled to the remote game console.

14. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of slots is associated with one of a guitar, a drum set, and a microphone.

15. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 12 , wherein the band template includes four slots, two of which are associated with guitars, one of which is associated with a microphone, and one of which is associated with a drum set.

16. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 12 , further comprising executable code for displaying an option to identify candidate input devices for the first slot.

17. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 12 , further comprising executable code for displaying an option to allow the remote input device to join.

18. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 12 , further comprising executable code for displaying an option to invite a specific input device, coupled to the remote game console, to the networked session of the rhythm action game.

19. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 12 , further comprising:

executable code for determining a second slot of the plurality of slots is not associated with any of the at least one local input device;

executable code for determining a second simulated musical instrument controller type associated with the second slot; and

searching for a second remote input device associated with the second simulated musical instrument controller type.

20. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 12 , further comprising executable code for identifying an additional remote input device that is coupled to the remote game console.

21. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 12 , wherein the executable code for identifying the remote input device associated with the first type of a simulated musical instrument includes executable code for receiving an identification of the remote input device over the network.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2021
From: COLBECK PARTNERS II, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: HARMONIX MUSIC SYSTEMS, INC.; HARMONIX PROMOTIONS & EVENTS INC.; HARMONIX MARKETING INC.
Reel/Frame 057984/0087 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 11, 2011
From: HARMONIX MUSIC SYSTEMS, INC.; HARMONIX PROMOTIONS & EVENTS INC.; HARMONIX MARKETING INC.
To: COLBECK PARTNERS II, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 025764/0656 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2008
From: TEASDALE, DANIEL CHARLES; PITSCH, GEOFF; BRAKELEY, DANIEL ASHER; SCHMIDT, DANIEL
To: HARMONIX MUSIC SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 021906/0178 →