Dual-radio gaming headset

Abstract

A gaming machine having an audio channel outputting game sound and an audio channel intaking microphone sound and outputing chat sound is coupled with a headset having earpieces and a microphone and a Bluetooth transceiver in the headset for sending and receiving the microphone and chat sounds. A radio receiver or wired connection in the headset receives the game sounds. Circuitry in the headset is connected between the transceiver and receiver for mixing the microphone, chat, and game sounds and feeding them all to the earpieces.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a headset used in the field of computer games played on personal computers or gaming consoles and, in particular, to multi-player games which are played over a local area network or the Internet.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]A typical computer game console, such as the Microsoft Xbox™ or Sony PlayStation™, provides three primary sources of sound. The first is the game audio. The second is the chat voices of other players communicating in multiplayer games that allow two or more players to compete against each other via a local network or over the Internet. The third is the voice of the player wearing the headset and speaking into a microphone attached to the headset. The game sounds and chat sounds are separately adjustable so the sounds of game and chat can be balanced against each other.[0003]On a PlayStation™ game console, the chat and microphone sounds are transmitted via a Bluetooth radio signal. This requires that...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]The instant invention thus provides a means for wireless delivery of chat and microphone signals and can eliminate the need for a wired connection on an Xbox™ controller. Furthermore the invention integrates the Bluetooth radio in a gaming headset to combine the sound of game and chat on the PlayStation™ game console without the need for wires or other means to carry the chat and microphone signals. The result is an enhanced audio experience in a multiplayer game by providing a wireless chat and microphone connection to both the Xbox™ and PlayStation™ game consoles via a Bluetooth radio that is combined with the normal wireless game signal in the headset. On an Xbox™ game console, this invention eliminates the wire connection between the headset and Xbox™ controller to connect the chat signals between these devices. On both the Xbox™ and PlayStation™ game consoles, this invention combines the game and chat signals via two radios to provide a completely wireless experience.

[0015]Another benefit of this invention is the ability for the Bluetooth radio used for chat and microphone communication to also be used for communicating with a mobile phone and Bluetooth audio streaming device, such as a digital audio player that is Bluetooth enabled. This additional functionality allows the player to make and receive phone calls, and listen to music, while playing the game.

Problems solved by technology

This inhibits enjoyment of the game by making it difficult to hear the game in full stereo or surround sound.

In addition, wearing the Bluetooth ear piece interferes with the use of a stereo headset to reproduce the game sound from the console.

This method, however, ties the headset to the controller device via the cable that to some degree defeats the purpose of using a wireless headset to hear the game sound from the console.

Thus, when using the connection cable between the headset and controller, the wire interferes with the unencumbered playing style expected of a headset wireless system.

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