US5350176A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Video game
Assignee: MILTON HAROLD W
•
Filing: 1994-03-07
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Granted: 1994-09-27
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Expires: 2014-03-07
Abstract
Abstract A local video game (310) including a communicating controller (326). The controller (326) receives local command signals created by a set of player controls (316). The controller (326) also receives remote command signals received through a modem (324) which were created by a remote video game (320) through a similar set of player controls. The controller (326) includes a synchronizer (328) which produces synchronizing codes to be sent to the remote video game (320) to synchronize the games. The synchronizer (328) synchronizes the local and remote command signals such that both are received by a game microprocessor (322) simultaneously. Memory (336) stores the player parameters and are retrieved whenever the synchronization codes of the local (310) and remote (320) video games have not matched for a predetermined number of iterations.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Hochstein
- 👤 Jeff Tenenbaum
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:20
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/20; A63F13/22; A63F13/21; A63F13/215; A63F13/30; A63F13/31; A63F13/35; A63F13/358; A63F13/70; A63F13/79; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/10; A63F2300/1018; A63F2300/1081; A63F2300/40; A63F2300/402; A63F2300/50; A63F2300/53; A63F2300/534
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A video game synchronizing assembly (310) adaptable to communicate a local video game (311) with a remote video game (320), the local video game (311) including a game microprocessor (322), at least two player ports (312,314), and a set of player controls (316) electrically connected to one (312) of said two player ports (312, 314), the set of player controls (316) manipulatable to create local command signals to be incorporated in the local video game (311) to define player parameters, said video game synchronizing assembly (310) comprising: a controller (326) for receiving the local command signals from the set of player controls (316) and remote command signals from the remote video game (320) and for transmitting the local and remote command signals to the local video game (311); a data link (324) for transmitting the local command signals to the remote video game (320) and for receiving a remote synchronization code and the remote command signals from the remote video game (320), said video game synchronizing assembly (310) characterized by synchronizing means for synchronizing the transmission of the local and remote video command signals by said controller to the game microprocessor (322) of the video game (311).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A video game synchronizing assembly (310) adaptable to communicate a local video game (311) with a remote video game (320), the local video game (311) including a game microprocessor (322), at least two player ports (312,314), and a set of player controls (316) electrically connected to one (312) of said two player ports (312, 314), the set of player controls (316) manipulatable to create local command signals to be incorporated in the local video game (311) to define player parameters, said video game synchronizing assembly (310) comprising: a controller (326) for receiving the local command signals from the set of player controls (316) and remote command signals from the remote video game (320) and for transmitting the local and remote command signals to the local video game (311); a data link (324) for transmitting the local command signals to the remote video game (320) and for receiving a remote synchronization code and the remote command signals from the remote video game (320), said video game synchronizing assembly (310) characterized by synchronizing means for synchronizing the transmission of the local and remote video command signals by said controller to the game microprocessor (322) of the video game (311).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An assembly (310) as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said synchronizing means (328) including synchronization code generating means (330) for generating a synchronization code.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An assembly (310) as set forth in claim 2 further characterized by comparing means (332) for comparing said local synchronization code and the remote synchronization code.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An assembly (310) as set forth in claim 3 further characterized by memory means (336) for storing the player parameters and said local synchronization code associated therewith.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
An assembly (310) as set forth in claim 4 further characterized by counting means (334) for counting the number of times said comparing means (330) compares said local synchronization code which does not match the remote synchronization code.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An assembly (310) as set forth in claim 5 further characterized by retrieving means (340) for retrieving said local command signals, the remote command signals, and said local synchronization code when said counting means (334) exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
An assembly (310) as set forth in claim 6 further characterized by resetting means (38) for resetting said counting means (334) when said retrieving means (340) retrieves said local synchronization code.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
175 words
A local video game assembly (310) adaptable to communicate with a remote video game (320), said local video game assembly (310) comprising: a video game (310) having a game microprocessor (322), at least two player ports (312, 314), and a set of player controls (316) electrically connected to one (312) of said two player ports (312, 314), said set of player controls (316) manipulatable to create local command signals to be incorporated in said video game (310); a data link circuit (324) for transmitting said local command signals to the remote video game (310) and for receiving remote synchronization code and remote command signals from the remote video game (320); a controller (326) for receiving said local command signals and the remote command signals and for sending said local command signals and the remote command signals to the game microprocessor (322) to create player parameters, said local video game assembly (310) characterized by synchronizing means (328) for synchronizing the transmission of said local command signals and the remote command signals to said game microprocessor (322).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
175 words
A local video game assembly (310) adaptable to communicate with a remote video game (320), said local video game assembly (310) comprising: a video game (310) having a game microprocessor (322), at least two player ports (312, 314), and a set of player controls (316) electrically connected to one (312) of said two player ports (312, 314), said set of player controls (316) manipulatable to create local command signals to be incorporated in said video game (310); a data link circuit (324) for transmitting said local command signals to the remote video game (310) and for receiving remote synchronization code and remote command signals from the remote video game (320); a controller (326) for receiving said local command signals and the remote command signals and for sending said local command signals and the remote command signals to the game microprocessor (322) to create player parameters, said local video game assembly (310) characterized by synchronizing means (328) for synchronizing the transmission of said local command signals and the remote command signals to said game microprocessor (322).
Claim 11
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for playing a video game between a local video game (311) and at least one remote video game (320), the method comprising the steps of: starting a video game; initializing a local synchronizing code; receiving local command signals; receiving remote command signals and a remote synchronizing code; comparing the local and remote synchronizing codes; sending the synchronized local and remote command signals to the local video game (311).
Claim 12
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for playing a video game between a local video game (311) and at least one remote video game (320), the method comprising the steps of: starting a video game; initializing a local synchronizing code; receiving local command signals; receiving remote command signals and a remote synchronizing code; comparing the local and remote synchronizing codes; sending the synchronized local and remote command signals to the local video game (311).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as set forth in claim 9 further characterized by storing player parameters of the local and remote video games when the local and remote synchronizing codes match.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as set forth in claim 10 further characterized by retrieving the stored player parameters when the local and remote synchronizing codes do not match.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as set forth in claim 11 further characterized by counting the number of times the local and remote synchronizing codes do not match.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as set forth in claim 12 further characterized by resetting the counting when the stored player parameters are retrieved.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-09-26 | 1998-03-28 | 1998-09-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-26 | 2002-03-28 | 2002-09-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-26 | 2006-03-28 | 2006-09-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |