Interactive Game Controller Using Audio Video Watermarks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interactive game systems require continuous communication between the player's controller and central unit, imposing constraints on controller design, infrastructure, and authentication protocols, limiting the flexibility and accuracy of real-time game interactions.
Innovation Solution
An interactive game system utilizing controllers that receive synchronization signals via audio or video outputs to correlate user inputs with pre-stored timing information, allowing for accurate game-play results determination without continuous communication, using audio or video watermarks and multiple input devices like accelerometers and touch-screens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous communication between controller and central unit is implemented, then real-time game interaction is enabled, but controller design constraints and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-loads timing information and game data into the controller's local memory before gameplay begins. This allows the controller to operate independently during gameplay, comparing user inputs against pre-stored timing data without requiring continuous communication with the central unit, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining real-time interaction reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The game system is divided into independent components: the central unit handles game logic and data generation, while the controller handles input reception and local timing comparison. This segmentation allows each component to function independently with minimal communication, reducing both infrastructure requirements and controller design constraints
2Reliability
If continuous communication protocol with authentication is implemented, then secure game interaction is enabled, but system infrastructure requirements and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Authentication and authorization are performed in advance before gameplay begins. The controller receives and validates authentication tokens or credentials prior to the game session, storing only the necessary gameplay data locally. This eliminates the need for continuous authentication protocols during gameplay, reducing infrastructure complexity while maintaining security
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses local copies of timing information and game data stored in the controller's memory, rather than requiring continuous real-time synchronization with the central unit. This copying approach reduces communication overhead and infrastructure requirements while maintaining game integrity through local validation against pre-stored data
3Productivity
If real-time correlation of user input to game results is implemented, then immediate feedback is provided, but communication latency is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
All timing information, reference data, and game logic parameters are pre-loaded into the controller's local memory before gameplay begins. During gameplay, the controller performs local real-time correlation of user inputs against this pre-stored data, eliminating the need for network communication during critical gameplay moments and thus removing communication latency while maintaining immediate feedback
Solution Approach 2:
The controller is designed to independently perform timing correlation and game result determination using its own local resources and pre-stored data. This self-service capability allows the controller to provide immediate feedback without external communication, eliminating communication latency while maintaining productivity
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an interactive game system, including an audio output device; a video output device; and one or more controllers configured for receiving a synchronization signal via audio or video from the audio or video output device, for receiving input from a user of the controller responding to audio or video generated by the audio or video output device, and correlating the input to timing information pre-stored at the controller using the synchronization signal to determine game-play results. A method for providing an interactive game is also disclosed.