U.S. patent application number 11/965234 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-01 for amusement device shared resource system and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to MERIT INDUSTRIES, INC.. Invention is credited to Malcolm J. Harwood, Dean Hedin.
Application Number | 20080102961 11/965234 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34274380 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080102961 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hedin; Dean ; et
al. |
May 1, 2008 |
AMUSEMENT DEVICE SHARED RESOURCE SYSTEM AND METHOD
Abstract
An amusement device system includes a first amusement device
having a controller and a memory, a shared resource device
operatively connected to the first amusement device and a second
amusement device having a controller and a memory. The second
amusement device is in communication with the first amusement
device and is configured to access and control the shared resource
device through the first amusement device.
Inventors: |
Hedin; Dean; (Hatboro,
PA) ; Harwood; Malcolm J.; (Bensalem, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PANITCH SCHWARZE BELISARIO & NADEL LLP
ONE COMMERCE SQUARE
2005 MARKET STREET, SUITE 2200
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Assignee: |
MERIT INDUSTRIES, INC.
2525 State Road
Bensalem
PA
19020
|
Family ID: |
34274380 |
Appl. No.: |
11/965234 |
Filed: |
December 27, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10663456 |
Sep 16, 2003 |
7314412 |
|
|
11965234 |
Dec 27, 2007 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 13/32 20140902;
A63F 13/215 20140902; A63F 2300/1075 20130101; A63F 13/31 20140902;
A63F 13/33 20140902; A63F 13/2145 20140902; A63F 13/12 20130101;
A63F 2300/402 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/042 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A digital jukebox comprising: a controller and a memory, the
digital jukebox being configured to communicate with a first
amusement device operatively connected to a shared resource device,
the digital jukebox being configured to access the shared resource
device through the first amusement device, the controller of the
digital jukebox being configured to control the shared resource
device by commanding inputs/outputs of a controller of the first
amusement device.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Application is a continuation of copending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/663,456, filed Sep. 16, 2003, entitled,
"Amusement Device Shared Resource System and Method."
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to an amusement
device sharing system and, more particularly, relates to an
amusement device shared resource system for sharing a shared
resource device between a plurality of amusement devices. Amusement
devices, such as game machines, which allow a user to select games
from a video display are well known in the art such as those
disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,856,787 (Itkis); 5,575,717 (Houriet,
Jr. et al.); 5,743,799 (Houriet, Jr. et al.), the contents of which
are incorporated by reference herein, each of which shows a
touchscreen display for making a game selection from a menu of
games. Such game machines or amusement devices typically operate
upon input of currency (i.e., coin, token, paper money,
credit/debit cards and the like) and are installed in bars,
restaurants, airports, shopping malls, video arcades and the like.
The game choices may include card games, sports games, games of
skill, games of chance, action games, trivia games and the
like.
[0003] In some instances, such games are configured to be played
either against another competitor or in a competition or
tournament. In more advanced systems, the games machines are
connected either peer to peer by a direct cable connection or on a
hardwired network, such as a hardwired local area network (LAN),
allowing a player at one game machine to play against a competitor
at a different game machine or to participate in a competition or
tournament that tracks players at a plurality of game machines and
possibly at a plurality of locations.
[0004] Often, such game machine systems installed in one location
or a location with multiple areas, floors or rooms requires that
network cabling or other network communication systems, in addition
to the power supply cabling, be run between game machines and/or to
network hubs, routers, modems and/or gateways and the like.
[0005] What is needed but not presently provided by the prior art
devices is an amusement device system capable of sharing a resource
over a communication system.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Briefly stated, the present invention comprises an amusement
device system including a first amusement device having a
controller and a memory, a shared resource device operatively
connected to the first amusement device and a second amusement
device having a controller and a memory. The second amusement
device is in communication with the first amusement device and is
configured to access and control the shared resource device through
the first amusement device. The present invention also comprises a
method of controlling a shared resource in a network system of
amusement devices. The network system includes at least a first
amusement device having a controller and a memory, a shared
resource device operatively connected to the first amusement device
and a second amusement device having a controller and a memory. The
second amusement device is in communication with the first
amusement device and is configured to access and control the shared
resource device through the first amusement device. The method
includes using the second amusement device controller to make a
request that the first amusement device controller run a terminal
server software application. The terminal server software
application is configured to accept commands to control the
inputs/outputs (I/O) of the first amusement device controller. The
method further includes controlling the shared resource device
using the second amusement device controller by commanding the I/O
of the first amusement device using the terminal server
application.
[0007] In another aspect, the present invention comprises an
amusement device system including a first amusement device having a
controller and a memory, a shared resource device operatively
connected to the first amusement device and a second amusement
device having a controller and a memory. The controller of the
first amusement device is configured to run a terminal server
software application and the terminal server application is
configured to accept commands to control the I/O of the first
amusement device controller. The second amusement device is in
communication with the first amusement device and is configured to
access and control the shared resource device through the first
amusement device. The first amusement device controller is
configured to run terminal server application upon the request of
the second amusement device controller. The second amusement device
controller thereby controls the shared resource device by
commanding the I/O of the first amusement device using the terminal
server application and all data processing for controlling the
shared resource while the terminal server application is running
and occurs in the second amusement device controller and
memory.
[0008] In yet another aspect, the present invention is an amusement
device system comprising a first amusement device having a
controller and a memory, a first shared resource device operatively
connected to the first amusement device and a second amusement
device having a controller and a memory. The second amusement
device is in communication with the first amusement device and is
configured to access and control the first shared resource device
through the first amusement device. The amusement device system
also includes a second shared resource device operatively connected
to the second amusement device. The first amusement device is in
communication with the second amusement device and is configured to
access and control the second shared resource device through the
second amusement device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed
description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be
better understood when read in conjunction with the appended
drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are
shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It
should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to
the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the
drawings:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an amusement device shared
resource system in accordance with the first preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an amusement device shared
resource system in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a third preferred embodiment of
an amusement device shared resource system in accordance with the
present invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary video jukebox
for use with the first preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
and
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary amusement
device for use with the preferred embodiments shown in FIGS.
1-3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like
elements throughout. Referring to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1
shows a first preferred embodiment of an amusement device shared
resource system 10 in accordance with the present invention. The
amusement device system includes a first amusement device 11 having
a controller U1 and a memory U2. The amusement device system 10
further includes a shared resource device 13 such a touchscreen
video display device type shared resource which is operatively
connected to the first amusement device 11. The amusement device
system further includes a second amusement device 12 also having a
controller U3 and a memory U4. The second amusement device 12 is in
communication with the first amusement device and is configured to
access and control the shared resource device 13 through the first
amusement device 11. While described in this example as being a
touchscreen video display device type shared resource 13, the
shared resource 13 can be any one of a modem, a printer, a currency
accepter, a magnetic card reader, a video display or other input
device. Other input devices which may be a shared resource device
13 include a trac-ball, a mouse, a voice recognition system, a
keypad, a keyboard and the like.
[0016] The system includes a first amusement device 11, which in
the present case is a video game controller having a touchscreen
video display device shared resource. The touchscreen video display
device 13 is directly connected to the first amusement device 11.
The amusement device shared resource system 10 further includes a
communications hub 18 such as an Ethernet hub or switch and a
second amusement device 12. The second amusement device 12, which
in the present case is a music source such as a "digital jukebox."
The first amusement device 11 is a stand-alone computer system
having a microprocessor U1, a memory U2, a communications driver
(not labeled) and touchscreen video (not labeled) display driver
(not labeled). Likewise, the second amusement device 12 is also a
stand-alone computer system having a microprocessor U3, a memory U5
and a communications driver (not labeled). The second amusement
device 12 does not have its own video display device or any other
input device. As configured, the touchscreen display video device
shared resource 13 is directly attached to first amusement device
11 and is configured to be accessed by the second amusement device
12 through the communications hub 18. For example, the touchscreen
video display device shared resource 13 includes a screen 18 (FIG.
4) having an access software button SB to the second amusement
device 12 such that when a user presses the access software button
SB, a terminal server (or "term serv") software application is
initiated on both the first amusement device 11 and the second
amusement device 12. The second amusement device 12 then functions
as a master controller to the first amusement device 11 taking over
the shared resource 13 in this case, the touchscreen video display
device shared resource 13. The user can then access all the
features and functionality of the second amusement device 12
through the touchscreen video display shared resource 13 that is
physically and electrically connected directly to the first
amusement device 11. The first amusement device 11 in this
embodiment functions as a "dumb terminal" or pass-through device,
and the second amusement device 12 acts as the master. As shown,
the first amusement device 11 (the video game controller), the
second amusement device 12 (the music source), the touchscreen
video display device shared resource 13 and the communications hub
18 are all disposed in a single housing forming a video jukebox 26
(FIG. 4). It is transparent to the user that there are first and
second amusement devices 11, 12 installed within the video jukebox
apparatus 26. However, the communications hub 18 need not be a
separate device external to the first and second amusement devices
11, 12, but instead may merely be an additional communications port
(i.e., a gateway) in either the first or second amusement device
11, 12.
[0017] In an alternate of the embodiment of FIG. 1, the
communications hub provides a network to a plurality of amusement
devices 14, 15, 16, n each having their own dedicated touchscreen
video display device shared resource 17 (phantom in FIG. 1 with
amusement device 14), such as shown with amusement device 14 in
FIG. 5, which allows access to the second amusement device 12 via
the communications hub 18 as described above regarding the first
amusement device 11. Thus, a user in a location that is remote from
the video jukebox 26 can use the touchscreen video display device
shared resource 13. For example, a user in one end of a building
using the touchscreen video display device shared resource 17 of
the third amusement device 14 can access the second amusement
device 12 (the music source) and use the functions of the second
amusement device 12 which is located at another end of the building
or on a separate floor in the building. The second amusement device
12 (the music source) may have a large capacity of stored music
files such as MP3 files and the like, and the second amusement
device 12 can be directly connected to an audio amplifier 20 and
speakers 22a, 22b. Thus, a user can select one of the music files
to play on the second amusement device 12 from any of the amusement
devices 11, 14, 15, 16 and n to the audio amplifier 20.
[0018] In another alternate of the first preferred embodiment, the
amusement device system 10 also includes a second shared resource
device 17 operatively connected to the third amusement device 14.
The second amusement device 12 is in communication with the third
amusement device 14 and is configured to access and control the
second shared resource device 17 through the third amusement device
14. Additionally, the amusement device system 10 also includes a
third amusement device shared resource 30 (phantom in FIG. 1
connected to the fourth amusement device 15), or in this case a
modem shared resource device 30. The fourth amusement device 15 is
in communication with the first, second and third amusement devices
11, 12 and 14 and the first, second and third amusement devices 11,
12 and 14 are also in communication with each other. The first
amusement device 11 can access and control the modem shared
resource 30 through the third amusement device while simultaneously
the second amusement device 12 can access the first or second
amusement device shared resource 13, 17. Obviously, any combination
of shared resource devices 13, 17, 30 may be linked to any number
of amusement devices 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, n. Further, it is
contemplated that a single amusement device 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, or
n may include a plurality of shared resource devices 13, 17, 30
which are individually or in combination selectively accessed by
another or a plurality of other amusement devices 11, 12, 14, 15,
16.
[0019] FIG. 2 shows a second preferred embodiment of an amusement
device shared resource system 110 wherein the second amusement
device 12 (the music source) is a separate, standalone entity
remotely mounted away from the first amusement device 11 (a video
game controller). Similar to the embodiment described above in FIG.
1, any of the Amusement Devices Nos. 1 and 3-n can access the
second amusement device 12 (the music source) via the
communications hub 18. The communications platform connecting the
amusement devices 11, 14, 15, 16 and n may be Ethernet, wireless
(RF, IR, etc.), power line, superimposed telephone line, and the
like. Similar to the first preferred embodiment, any combination of
shared resource devices 13, 17, 30 may be linked to any number of
amusement devices 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, n. Further, it is
contemplated that a single amusement device 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, or
n may include a plurality of shared resource devices 13, 17, 30
which are individually or in combination selectively accessed by
another or a plurality of other amusement devices 11, 12, 14, 15,
16.
[0020] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of an Amusement Device
Shared Resource System 210. In the third embodiment, the first
amusement device 11 (a video game controller) also includes a modem
shared resource 30 which is directly connected thereto or embedded
therein. Any of the amusement devices Nos. 2-n, in addition to the
first amusement device 11, can access the modem shared resource
through the communications platform and communications hub by using
a terminal server application running on both controllers. For
example, if the second amusement device 12 (the music source),
requires access to a dial-up source to download additional music,
the second amusement device 12 executes a terminal server
application and becomes a master taking over the first amusement
device 11 and then utilizes the modem shared resource 30 to access
the dial-up source over the phone line 32. Accordingly, a single
site having such an amusement device shared resource system 210
requires only one modem shared resource 30 for the entire network.
Additionally, first amusement device 11 which is directly connected
to the modem shared resource 30 does not have to have additional
overhead and code other than the terminal serve application for the
other amusement devices 12, 14 and n to access the modem shared
resource 30.
[0021] From the foregoing it can be seen that the present invention
comprises an amusement device shared resource system and method
therefor. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
changes could be made to the embodiments described above without
departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is
understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the
particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover
modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention
as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *