Game Hub Hybrid Platform for PC-TV Gaming Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional video game consoles are limited in resourcefulness and versatility compared to generic personal computers, and they often require players to be near the console for gaming, lacking the group entertainment and computing resource benefits of a TV and PC combination.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid platform that integrates a game hub with a TV and a generic PC, allowing game controllers to transmit signals to the PC for executing games, which then provides uncompressed digital streams to the TV for display, enabling multi-player support, controller operation of the PC, and quick game startup without booting the traditional operating system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a generic PC is used to run video games, then resourcefulness and versatility are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional components: a PC for computing, a TV for display, and a game hub for game-specific functions. This segmentation allows the PC to maintain its versatility while the game hub handles gaming-specific tasks, reducing the complexity burden on the PC itself.
Solution Approach 2:
A game hub is introduced as an intermediary device between the PC and the TV. The game hub receives game actions from controllers, communicates with the PC, and manages the connection to the TV, simplifying the overall system architecture and user interaction.
2Ease of operation
If a game console is used, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability and resourcefulness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The PC serves multiple functions: it runs video games, provides computing resources for other tasks, and can be controlled via game controllers. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated devices, achieving both ease of operation and versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The game hub acts as an intermediary that enables game controllers to interact with the PC, providing ease of operation for gaming while maintaining the PC's versatility for other purposes.
3Illumination intensity
If players use a TV for gaming, then video and audio quality are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments display and computing functions into separate devices (TV and PC), allowing each to optimize its performance for its specific purpose while reducing the complexity burden on individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
The game hub serves as an intermediary that manages the connection between the PC and TV, handling signal transmission and coordination to improve video and audio quality without requiring complex integration between the PC and TV themselves.
4Reliability
If a traditional operating system is used on a PC, then reliability is improved, but startup time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual machine is pre-configured and pre-loaded with necessary game environments and settings before the traditional operating system boots. This allows games to start quickly within the virtual machine without requiring the full OS to boot completely, reducing startup time while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
A virtual machine is nested within the PC's operating system environment, allowing a lightweight gaming environment to run independently. This nested structure enables fast startup of games without invoking the full traditional operating system, reducing boot time while maintaining system reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for providing a hybrid platform for video games are disclosed. To enjoy the video and audio quality a TV could provide, all game actions with a video game are provided via a TV. However, the video game itself is running on a generic personal computer (PC). In one embodiment, a device is provided to receive various game actions by a game player with the video game. The game hub provides an (wired or wireless) interface for transferring signals representing the game actions to the PC, in return the PC provides digital streams to the TV for display.