IP Library Granted Patent US 8,535,133
Granted Patent B2
US 8,535,133 · App. 12/894,011 · Granted Sep 17, 2013

Video game with controller sensing player inappropriate activity

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,535,133
App. No.
12/894,011
Granted
Sep 17, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A video game system is operable to receive user touch location information while a first user is holding a game controller and to determine a first user ID for the first user based upon the user touch location information. Thereafter, the video game system is operable to measure an instant acceleration of the game controller, to compare the instant acceleration to a first threshold value and to lock the game controller for use by the first user corresponding to the first user ID based on the comparison of the instant acceleration and the first threshold value.

Claims (53)

1. A method for operating a gaming system, comprising:

determining an identity of a user of a game controller of the gaming system;

selecting an acceleration threshold value based on the identity of the user;

measuring an instant acceleration of the game controller of the gaming system;

comparing the instant acceleration to the acceleration threshold value;

disabling use of the game controller based on the comparison of the instant acceleration to the acceleration threshold value producing an unfavorable comparison; and

after elapse of a delay period corresponding to a specified amount of time, enabling use of the game controller.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting the delay period corresponding to the specified amount of time based upon the identity of the user.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving touch pad input from at least one touch sensitive pad of the game controller that has a plurality of touch sensitive elements, the touch pad input corresponding to a user's touch of at least some of the plurality of touch sensitive elements; and

processing the touch pad input to identify the user via pattern recognition.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the instant acceleration from the game controller to a game console of the gaming system for processing by the game console for disabling use of the game controller.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

receiving user input via a user interface;

comparing the user input to at least one unlock code; and

upon a favorable comparison, enabling use of the game controller.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising disabling use of the game controller based upon a plurality of instant accelerations of the game controller exceeding the acceleration threshold value a specified number of times.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acceleration threshold value is selected based upon a game being played.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the acceleration threshold value is selected based upon a gaming point of a game being played.

9. A game controller, comprising:

a communications interface that supports communications between the game controller and a game console;

an accelerometer module that determines an instant acceleration of the game controller; and

processing circuitry coupled to the communications interface and to the accelerometer module, the processing circuitry operable to:

determine an identity of a user of the game controller;

select an acceleration threshold value based on the identity of the user;

compare the instant acceleration to the acceleration threshold value;

disable use of the game controller when the comparison of the instant acceleration to the acceleration threshold value produces an unfavorable comparison; and

after elapse of a delay period corresponding to a specified amount of time, enable use of the game controller.

10. The game controller of claim 9 , wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to select the delay period corresponding to the specified amount of time based upon the identity of the user.

11. The game controller of claim 9 wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to:

receive touch pad input from at least one touch pad of the game controller; and

process the touch pad input to determine the identity of the user of the game controller via pattern recognition.

12. The game controller of claim 9 , wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to transmit the instant acceleration from the game controller to the came console for processing by the game console for disabling use of the game controller.

13. The game controller of claim 9 , wherein the processing circuitry is operable to:

receive user input via a user interface;

compare the user input to at least one unlock code; and

upon a favorable comparison, enable use of the game controller.

14. The game controller of claim 9 , wherein the processing circuitry is operable to disable use of the game controller when a plurality of instant accelerations of the game controller exceed the acceleration threshold value a specified number of times.

15. The game controller of claim 9 , wherein the processing circuitry is operable to select the acceleration threshold value based upon a game being played.

16. The game controller of claim 9 wherein the processing circuitry is operable to select the acceleration threshold value based upon a gaming point of a game being played.

17. A game console of a video game system, comprising:

a communications interface for communicating with a game controller; and

processing circuitry coupled to the communications interface, the processing circuitry configured to:

determine an identity of a user of the game controller;

select an acceleration threshold value based upon the identity of the user;

receive an instant acceleration value from the game controller via the communications interface;

compare the instant acceleration value to the acceleration threshold value; and

disable use of the game controller based upon the comparison of the instant acceleration value to the acceleration threshold value for a delay period corresponding to a specified amount of time.

18. The game console of claim 17 , wherein the processing circuitry is operable to enable the game controller for use after elapse of the delay period corresponding to the specified amount of time.

19. The game console of claim 17 , wherein the processing circuitry is operable to:

receive an unlock code from the game controller; and

enable the game controller for use after receiving the unlock code.

20. The game console of claim 17 , wherein the processing circuitry is operable to select from a plurality of acceleration threshold values according to at least one of user identification, a controller identification, a controller type, or a game being played.

Assignments (7)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ERROR IN RECORDING THE MERGER IN THE INCORRECT US PATENT NO. 8,876,094 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 047351 FRAME 0384. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Mar 8, 2019
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 049248/0558 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE MERGER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 047230 FRAME: 0910. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Oct 29, 2018
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 047351/0384 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 4, 2018
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 047230/0910 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 3, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BROADCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041712/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2017
From: BROADCOM CORPORATION
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 041706/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: BROADCOM CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037806/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2011
From: FU, QIANG
To: BROADCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025681/0577 →