Virtual Game Controller Touch Synthesis Engine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hardware game controllers struggle to provide seamless touch input to mobile devices, as they lack a physical touch screen, and manual mapping processes are cumbersome and limited for users.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a Touch Synthesis Engine in the game controller, which automatically maps controller inputs to touch screen inputs using pre-curated maps for each game, allowing for intuitive and nuanced control without extensive user configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual mapping is used to map controller inputs to touch screen inputs, then user customization is possible, but the process is cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mapping configuration automatically before the user needs to play the game. The Touch Synthesis Engine pre-curates control maps for supported games, so when the user launches a game, the mapping is already established and no manual configuration is needed during gameplay.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables itself to perform the mapping configuration automatically. The Touch Synthesis Engine self-configures the control maps by detecting the game being played and applying the appropriate pre-curated mapping, eliminating the need for user intervention in the setup process.
2Ease of operation
If a hardware game controller is used, then physical control input is provided, but it lacks a physical touch screen to receive touch input
Solution Approach 1:
The Touch Synthesis Engine acts as an intermediary that translates physical controller inputs into virtual touch screen inputs. The engine receives signals from physical controls (buttons, joysticks, d-pads) and synthesizes corresponding touch events that the mobile device's operating system accepts as if they originated from the device's own touch screen.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual copy of the touch screen interface through software. The Touch Synthesis Engine generates virtual touch events that replicate the functionality of physical touch screen interactions, allowing the hardware controller to interface with games that require touch input without needing a physical touch screen on the controller itself.
3Adaptability or versatility
If prior virtual controllers are used, then controller input can be provided, but manual mapping configuration is required which is frustrating for users
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables itself to perform the mapping configuration automatically. The Touch Synthesis Engine self-configures the control maps by detecting the game being played and applying the appropriate pre-curated mapping, eliminating the need for user intervention in the setup process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary mapping configuration automatically before the user needs to play the game. The Touch Synthesis Engine pre-curates control maps for supported games, so when the user launches a game, the mapping is already established and no manual configuration is needed during gameplay.
Data Source
AI summary
A game controller can provide input to a video game played on a mobile computing device. Some games require a touch input on the touch screen of a mobile computing device, but a game controller may not have its own touch screen to receive and provide the required touch input. The game controller can be manually configured by a user of the game controller to convert an actuation of a control surface (e.g., a button, joystick, etc.) of the game controller to a touch screen input. However, this can be a very cumbersome and frustrating process for the user and has several limitations. The embodiments described herein can overcome this problem by providing a map that is automatically configured, without user configuration, to convert an input representing an actuation of the control surface into a touch screen input.