Entertainment system for providing interactive video game responses to the game interrogations to the video game engines without being processed by the host computer

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein each game interrogation includes a plurality of response positions for the responses of the terminals to the game interrogation.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein each of the terminals is assigned a response position in which to respond to each game interrogation at a time prior to the time that a video signal for a video game is provided to the terminal.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 wherein the response position is assigned to the terminal during a system interrogation.

Claim 6

The method of claim 3 wherein the number of response positions in a game interrogation is equal to the number of terminals that are currently being provided with a video signal from the head end system.

Claim 7

The method of claim 3 wherein each of the video game engines is assigned a response position corresponding to the response position assigned to the terminal to which it provides a video game signal and wherein each video game engine processes the game interrogation response information contained in its assigned response position.

Claim 8

The method of claim 6 wherein when a terminal occupying a first response position is taken out of the game-playing mode so that its response position is no longer used and wherein another terminal remaining in the game-playing mode has a second, later response position, the second terminal and a corresponding game engine are reassigned to the first response position.

Claim 9

The method of claim 7 wherein the terminal to be reassigned is first assigned to the first response position so that it responds to game interrogations in both the first and second response positions, and wherein the terminal ceases to respond to game interrogations in the second response position at a later time.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1 wherein system interrogations are not initiated by the host computer while a game interrogation is being provided to the terminals.

Claim 13

The method of claim 10 wherein the host computer provides the game interrogations.

Claim 14

The method of claim 10 wherein each game interrogation includes a plurality of response positions for the responses of the terminals to the game interrogation.

Claim 15

The method of claim 10 wherein system interrogations are not initiated by the host computer while a game interrogation is being provided to the terminals.

Claim 18

The method of claim 14 wherein the host computer provides the game interrogations.

Claim 19

The method of claim 14 wherein each game interrogation includes a plurality of response positions for the responses of the terminals to the game interrogation.

Claim 20

The method of claim 14 wherein system interrogations are not initiated by the host computer while a game interrogation is being provided to the terminals.

Claim 23

An entertainment system for providing video games to a plurality of locations, the entertainment system comprising: a plurality of terminals; a host computer capable of initiating a series of system interrogations to the terminals; a distribution system linking each of the terminals to the host computer; a plurality of video game engines linked to the host computer for providing video game signals to the terminals via the distribution system; and a controller coupled to each of the terminals, wherein the host computer is capable of initiating a series of game interrogations to each of the terminals via the distribution system for obtaining information from the controllers, the game interrogations being interleaved into the series of system interrogations, and wherein the video game engines provide the video game signals as a function of responses to the game interrogations received from the terminals via the distribution system without the responses being provided to the host computer for processing.

Claim 24

An entertainment system for providing video games to a plurality of locations, the entertainment system comprising: a plurality of terminals; a host computer capable of initiating a series of system interrogations to the terminals; a distribution system linking each of the terminals to the host computer; a plurality of video game engines linked to the host computer for providing video game signals to the terminals via the distribution system; and a controller coupled to each of the terminals, wherein the host computer is capable of initiating a series of game interrogations to each of the terminals via the distribution system for obtaining information from the controllers, the game interrogations being interleaved into the series of system interrogations, and wherein the video game engines provide the video game signals as a function of responses to the game interrogations received from the terminals via the distribution system without the responses being provided to the host computer for processing.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein each game interrogation includes a plurality of response positions for the responses of the terminals to the game interrogation.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein each of the terminals is assigned a response position in which to respond to each game interrogation at a time prior to the time that a video signal for a video game is provided to the terminal.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein each of the video game engines is assigned a response position corresponding to the response position assigned to the terminal to which it provides a video game signal and wherein each video game engine processes the game interrogation response information contained in its assigned response position.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the entertainment system further comprises timing means linked to the game engines for providing timing signals enabling each game engine to determine when its assigned response position occurs.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the timing means includes a first microcomputer for receiving the game interrogations and generating a plurality of timing pulses corresponding with each response position and a second microcomputer.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the entertainment system further comprises conversion means linked to the game engines for altering the rate at which game interrogation response information is provided to the game engines.

Claim 31

The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the conversion means comprises a microcomputer.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the entertainment system further comprises routing means linked to the game engines for routing each signal from the host computer to the game engines to the specific game engine to which it is intended to be received.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the routing means comprises signal separation means and a plurality of switches.

Claim 34

The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the signal separation means comprises a microcomputer.

Claim 35

An entertainment system for providing user-selected video entertainment to users at a plurality of locations, the entertainment system comprising: a distribution system; a head end, connected to the distribution system, which includes: a plurality of video players for providing prerecorded video signals; a plurality of video game generators for providing interactive video game signals as a function of user-generated interactive video game inputs and stored digital video game code wherein the video game inputs are not provided to the host computer for processing; a host computer for controlling operation of the video players and the video game generators as a function of user-generated entertainment system command inputs; a terminal at each of the plurality of locations connected to the distribution system for receiving from the head end prerecorded video signals and interactive video game signals and for sending to the head end signals representing user-generated interactive video game inputs and entertainment system command inputs via the distribution system; a video display associated with each terminal for displaying video based upon one of the signals received by the terminal from the head end; user input means associated with each terminal for providing signals to the terminal based upon user-generated interactive video game inputs and entertainment system command inputs the entertainment system command inputs including selecting prerecorded video signals to be played, selecting a video game to be played, and ordering video game playing time.

Claim 36

An entertainment system for providing user-selected video entertainment to users at a plurality of locations, the entertainment system comprising: a distribution system; a head end, connected to the distribution system, which includes: a plurality of video players for providing prerecorded video signals; a plurality of video game generators for providing interactive video game signals as a function of user-generated interactive video game inputs and stored digital video game code wherein the video game inputs are not provided to the host computer for processing; a host computer for controlling operation of the video players and the video game generators as a function of user-generated entertainment system command inputs; a terminal at each of the plurality of locations connected to the distribution system for receiving from the head end prerecorded video signals and interactive video game signals and for sending to the head end signals representing user-generated interactive video game inputs and entertainment system command inputs via the distribution system; a video display associated with each terminal for displaying video based upon one of the signals received by the terminal from the head end; user input means associated with each terminal for providing signals to the terminal based upon user-generated interactive video game inputs and entertainment system command inputs the entertainment system command inputs including selecting prerecorded video signals to be played, selecting a video game to be played, and ordering video game playing time.

Claim 37

The entertainment system of claim 30 wherein the host computer assigns one of the video game generators to one of the terminals as a function of user-generated entertainment system command inputs received from that terminal.

Claim 38

The entertainment system of claim 30 wherein the head end further includes: means for routing user-generated interactive video game inputs from a terminal to the video game generator assigned to that terminal.

Claim 39

The entertainment system of claim 30 wherein the user input means includes a game controller.

Claim 40

The entertainment system of claim 33 wherein the user input means further includes a remote control.

Claim 41

The entertainment system of claim 33 wherein the game controller includes a menu button for accessing an interactive menu.

Claim 42

The entertainment system of claim 33 wherein the game controller includes a select button for making selections from an interactive menu.

Claim 43

The entertainment system of claim 33 wherein the game controller includes a volume control for controlling volume of audio associated with the video display.

Claim 44

The entertainment system of claim 37 wherein the volume control includes a pair of volume buttons.

Claim 45

The entertainment system of claim 33 wherein the game controller includes a reset button for resetting a game being played when the terminal is in a game playing mode.

Claim 46

The entertainment system of claim 33 wherein the game controller includes an order button for purchasing services from an interactive menu.

Claim 47

The entertainment system of claim 33 wherein the game controller includes a plurality of game control buttons.

Claim 48

The entertainment system of claim 30 wherein the head end further includes: a plurality of RF modulators having inputs for receiving prerecorded video signals from the video players and the interactive video game signals from the video game generators; and a combiner for combining outputs of the RF modulators to produce a combined signal representing the prerecorded video signals and the interactive video game signals.

Claim 49

The entertainment system of claim 42 wherein the head end further includes: a modem for sending and receiving digital signals; and a diplexer connected to the combiner, the modem, and the distribution system.

Claim 50

The entertainment system of claim 43 wherein the diplexer routes signals received from the terminals via the distribution system to the modem.

Claim 51

The entertainment system of claim 43 wherein the modem has an output connected to the combiner.

Claim 52

The entertainment system of claim 42 wherein each video game generator has an output electrically connected to an input of one of the RF modulators.

Claim 53

The entertainment system of claim 30 wherein the prerecorded video signals from the video players are baseband video signals.

Claim 54

The entertainment system of claim 30 wherein the interactive video game signals from the video game generators are baseband video signals.

Claim 55

The entertainment system of claim 30 wherein digital signals sent from the head end to the terminals via the distribution system are at a first carrier frequency and digital signals sent from the terminals to the head end are at a second carrier frequency.

Claim 56

The entertainment system of claim 30 wherein the head end further includes: means for producing menu video signals.

Claim 57

An entertainment system for providing user-selected video entertainment to users in a plurality of different rooms, the entertainment system comprising: a head end which includes: a host computer; a modem; a video player system having a plurality of outputs; a video game system having a plurality of outputs; an array of RF modulators having inputs for receiving outputs from the video player system and the video game system and having outputs; a combiner having an output and having a plurality of inputs for connection to the outputs of the RF modulators and an output of the modem; a two-way master antenna television (MATV) distribution system connected to the head end; and an in-room system in each room which includes: a television; a game controller; a remote control; and a terminal connected to the MATV distribution system and to the television for controlling operation of the television based upon signals received via the MATV distribution system from the head end and for sending signals via the MATV distribution system to the head end based upon input signals received from the game controller and the remote control, wherein the video game system includes an array of video game generators; wherein the host computer assigns one of the video game generators to one of the rooms based upon a signal received from that room over the MATV distribution system, and wherein the video game generator assigned to one of the rooms generates interactive video game signals as a function of video game input signals received via the MATV distribution system from that room, without having the interactive video game signals provided to the host computer for processing.

Claim 58

An entertainment system for providing user-selected video entertainment to users in a plurality of different rooms, the entertainment system comprising: a head end which includes: a host computer; a modem; a video player system having a plurality of outputs; a video game system having a plurality of outputs; an array of RF modulators having inputs for receiving outputs from the video player system and the video game system and having outputs; a combiner having an output and having a plurality of inputs for connection to the outputs of the RF modulators and an output of the modem; a two-way master antenna television (MATV) distribution system connected to the head end; and an in-room system in each room which includes: a television; a game controller; a remote control; and a terminal connected to the MATV distribution system and to the television for controlling operation of the television based upon signals received via the MATV distribution system from the head end and for sending signals via the MATV distribution system to the head end based upon input signals received from the game controller and the remote control, wherein the video game system includes an array of video game generators; wherein the host computer assigns one of the video game generators to one of the rooms based upon a signal received from that room over the MATV distribution system, and wherein the video game generator assigned to one of the rooms generates interactive video game signals as a function of video game input signals received via the MATV distribution system from that room, without having the interactive video game signals provided to the host computer for processing.

Claim 59

The entertainment system of claim 51 wherein each of the video game generators has an output connected to an input of a different one of the array of RF modulators.

Claim 60

The entertainment system of claim 51 wherein the head end further includes: a diplexer having an input connected to the output of the combiner, an output connected to an input of the modem, and a two-way port connected to the MATV distribution system.

Claim 65

An entertainment system for providing interactive video games to a plurality of rooms, the entertainment system comprising: a distribution system; a terminal, a television, and a game controller located at each of the plurality of rooms, the television displaying interactive video games as a function of video game signals received by the terminal, the game controller providing interactive video game control information to the terminal, and the terminal connected to the distribution system for receiving the video game signals and for transmitting signals representing the video game control information; and a head end connected to the distribution system and including a host computer and a plurality of video game generators, the host computer controlling which terminal is connected to which video game engine, and each video game generator being capable of generating the video game signals as a function of stored digital video game code and the interactive game control information received from the terminal connected to that video game engine, the interactive game control information is provided to the video game generator without being provided to the host computer for processing.

Claim 66

An entertainment system for providing interactive video games to a plurality of rooms, the entertainment system comprising: a distribution system; a terminal, a television, and a game controller located at each of the plurality of rooms, the television displaying interactive video games as a function of video game signals received by the terminal, the game controller providing interactive video game control information to the terminal, and the terminal connected to the distribution system for receiving the video game signals and for transmitting signals representing the video game control information; and a head end connected to the distribution system and including a host computer and a plurality of video game generators, the host computer controlling which terminal is connected to which video game engine, and each video game generator being capable of generating the video game signals as a function of stored digital video game code and the interactive game control information received from the terminal connected to that video game engine, the interactive game control information is provided to the video game generator without being provided to the host computer for processing.