Game Controller Adapting Interface for Touch and Physical Buttons

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gaming machines face challenges in providing user interfaces that accommodate various games, especially when connected to networks offering thousands of games, as touch screens are less reliable and more expensive than physical buttons, leading to player frustration and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A programmed game controller that detects the type of console it's operating on and configures the user interface accordingly, using a combination of physical buttons and touch screen inputs to provide all necessary selectors, ensuring seamless gameplay across different games and console types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If touch screens are used to provide user interface for multiple games, then adaptability is improved, but reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by making the game controller compatible with multiple types of gaming consoles (first type with physical selectors, second type with touch screen). The controller automatically detects the console type and configures itself to work with either interface, allowing one controller to serve multiple functions across different game platforms without sacrificing reliability on either system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If touch screens are used to reduce device complexity, then device complexity is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The game controller applies self-service by automatically detecting whether it is connected to a first-type or second-type gaming console and autonomously configuring its input handling accordingly. This eliminates the need for manual setup or user intervention, allowing the controller to adapt itself to the appropriate interface type (physical selectors or touch screen) based on the detected console, thereby maintaining ease of operation while reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If touch screens are used to accommodate more games, then adaptability is improved, but cost deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a single game controller that can operate with both first-type consoles (using physical selectors) and second-type consoles (using touch screens). This multi-functional design eliminates the need to manufacture separate controllers for different console types, reducing production costs while maintaining the ability to accommodate multiple games across different platforms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of operation

If multiple physical selectors are provided for all game options, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the controller's input handling flexible and adaptive rather than static. The controller dynamically adjusts its operation mode based on the detected console type - using physical selector inputs for first-type consoles and touch screen inputs for second-type consoles. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain ease of operation for each specific console type while avoiding the need for excessive physical selectors on all controllers, thereby reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP1860622B1Configurable user interface for a gaming apparatus
Publication Date: 2015.09.02 ARISTOCRAT TECH AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
  • EP1860622B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1860622B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP1860622B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A programmed controller (101) of a gaming console (10) is disclosed. The controller (101) controls play of a game in which a plurality of symbols are selected to form one or more outcomes and selectively operates in a first mode and a second mode of operation. In the first mode of operation a user interface (107) comprises a combination of a touch screen (106A) on the display (106) and physical buttons (22) on the gaming apparatus. In the second mode of operation the user interface (107) comprises only physical buttons (22). Also disclosed is a gaming system (200) including a network (201) and a method of configuring a gaming machine.