MSFT Patents Dual, Wired and Wireless Controller

[JMcEntegart]

Microsoft has patented a type of dual controller that is both wired and wireless.

MSFT Patents Dual, Wired and Wireless Controller : Read more

 

[jdubsbooth]

So it's just like the PS3 controller...?

 

[kyeana]

Why not just have it be wireless, and let you charge it to plug it in while playing?

This seems overly complex to me 😛

 

[nonameworks]

This is standard on PS3, look out Sony

 

[CoderDunn]

Isn't the patent system awesome? /s

 

[pharge]

Hope SONY does have its own patents on PS3 controller.... or... it will be the rise of another patent war!

 

[maigo]

[citation][nom]kyeana[/nom]Why not just have it be wireless, and let you charge it to plug it in while playing?This seems overly complex to me[/citation]
Exactly this
It seems pointless unless you know solar flares are about to knock out your wireless

 

[maestintaolius]

Well, it's a continuation of the 2004 application, so it's not like it was JUST submitted. My guess is it's another defensive patent to block the NPEs that have sued sony, nintendo and ms in the past over fairly obvious designs hoping for a settlement (Fenner Investments, Eleven Engineering, Immerson, Anascape and so on and on and on). MS would never use this to go after Sony or Nintendo because: 1 - there's plenty of prior art that any company with decent lawyers could use, 2 - it's generally not a good use of capital to sue someone else who also has lots of capital on a case you'd be unlikely to win (see 1), 3 - if they sue sony or nintendo it'll be likely they'd come back with their own patent infringement suits because, as well all know, there's nothing new under the sun (man is just a hairless ape who figured out round things roll and how to put fire in a box and most everything invented has been permutations on those ideas 😛). This stuff is as silly as the patent on "slide to unlock" (heck, the Predator had "slide to unlock" on his wrist computer self destruct dealie when he tried to kill Arnie).

 

[jaysbob]

can't you already buy an accessory that will let you do just this?

 

[lukeeu]

[citation][nom]kyeana[/nom]Why not just have it be wireless, and let you charge it to plug it in while playing?This seems overly complex to me[/citation]
Already patented.

 

[Blessedman]

I think the next big thing will be an external charge/wired station that can transmit over longer distances having a true wired power source. Though I am not sure about delays of having a separate station to receive and then retransmit to the console itself. Still though, that is what I would want.

 

[scione]

It seems like what microsoft has with its controllers being wireless but being able to be plugged in with a usb connector

 

[subgum]

Why is this news?

 

[NathanTR]

The wireless controllers for the 360 have done this since launch. The controller changes power source when plugged into a USB port, but it still transmits in wireless mode, uninterrupted.

 

[Aionism]

This is just a way for them to charge you the same amount of money for a controller whether you want wired or wireless.

 

[False_Dmitry_II]

[citation][nom]NathanTR[/nom]The wireless controllers for the 360 have done this since launch. The controller changes power source when plugged into a USB port, but it still transmits in wireless mode, uninterrupted.[/citation]

Yeah, but that's saying it can send the game data over the wire while plugged in.

The only thing that this stops (if you like it going over the wire anyway) is the ability to plug the controller into a closer laptop for power. You can even not use any sort of battery pack that way. For some reason people are surprised when I do this...

 

[baracubra]

They should be rolling out a new console! not some stupid new controller

 

[zachary k]

didn't the 360 and PS3 come out with this from the beginning? and how long ago was this patent? that is the diagram for the original X-box.

 

[mrmez]

Yeah, what i was thinking... Just like a ps3 controller.

BUT WAIT!!!! You wont have to pause the game!
So now you can race your racing car game, get up, pickup your cable, plug in into the controller, all while shaving a full second off your lap time and most importantly, not having to waste a critical 10 seconds of gaming time!

 

[Trueno07]

[citation][nom]jdubsbooth[/nom]So it's just like the PS3 controller...?[/citation]

Lol with that tiny cable?

 

[Jazza2400]

[citation][nom]lukeeu[/nom]Already patented.[/citation]

Was the first TV remote control ever patented? Or having to stop changing channels to pull the back off use a corner of the plastic back bit to wedge between the batteries and throw in a new set only to find out it uses AAA and in your third draw down you only have AA so you find another remote in the house that uses AAA and use the batteries out of that hoping no one notices.

 

[tacoslave]

[citation][nom]Trueno07[/nom]Lol with that tiny cable?[/citation]

so buy the six ten or 30 foot mini usb to usb cable. Shit i have a 12 foot cable that i bought at frys.

 

[dEAne]

lately its hp on palmtap now its msft.

 

[Mark Heath]

So, they finally figured out that you don't have to hard-wire a wire (no pun intended) into the controller? Let's see.. we can already unplug network cables, audio cables HDMI cables, power cables...

So it's taken them HOW long to catch up?

 

[eyemaster]

[citation][nom]Trueno07[/nom]Lol with that tiny cable?[/citation]

There is a cable that is about 10 feet long.