Reconfigurable video game system

A method of reconfiguring a video game/simulator system comprising a personal computer having a microprocessor operable under control of a system reconfiguration program during a reconfiguration mode and under a video game/simulator program during a functional mode, the computer having a keyboard interface port, a display coupled to the personal computer for displaying images produced by the programs, a computer keyboard, and a first video game/simulator controller coupled to the keyboard through a keyboard input port and coupled to the computer keyboard interface port through a controller keyboard input/output port, the controller having a plurality of input devices, the method comprising:

• inputting reconfiguration keycodes into the computer, each reconfiguration keycode corresponding to one of the controller input devices;
• downloading the reconfiguration keycodes from the computer to the controller via the keyboard interface port during the reconfiguration mode;
• and
• reconfiguring each of the controller inputs devices responsive to receiving the reconfiguration keycodes such that the controller transmits a predetermined reconfiguration keycode corresponding to an input device when the input device is actuated in the functional mode.

A method of reconfiguring a video game/simulator system comprising a personal computer having a microprocessor operable under control of a system reconfiguration program during a reconfiguration mode and under a video game program during a functional mode, the computer having a keyboard interface port, a display coupled to the personal computer for displaying images produced by the programs, a computer keyboard, and a video game/simulator controller coupled to the keyboard through a keyboard input port and coupled to the computer keyboard interface port through a controller keyboard input/output port, the controller having a plurality of input devices and a switch having a first state corresponding to the reconfiguration mode and a second state corresponding to the functional mode, the method comprising:

• setting the controller switch to the first state corresponding to the reconfiguration mode;
• invoking the reconfiguration program on the computer;
• displaying a graphical representation of the controller on the display;
• inputting reconfiguration keycodes into the computer during the reconfiguration mode, each reconfiguration keycode corresponding to one of the controller input devices;
• downloading the reconfiguration keycodes from the computer to the controller across the keyboard interface port;
• reconfiguring each of the controller input devices responsive to receiving the reconfiguration keycodes such that the controller transmits a predetermined reconfiguration keycode corresponding to an input device when the input device is actuated in the functional mode;
• and
• storing the reconfiguration keycodes in a non-volatile memory within the controller for use in the functional mode.

A method of reconfiguring a video game/simulator system comprising:

• a personal computer having a microprocessor operable under control of a system reconfiguration program during a reconfiguration mode and under a video game/simulator program during a functional mode, the computer having a keyboard interface port, a display coupled to the personal computer for displaying images produced by the programs, a computer keyboard, and a first video game/simulator controller coupled to the keyboard through a keyboard input port and coupled to the computer keyboard interface port through a controller keyboard input/output port, the controller having a plurality of input devices, the method comprising:
• inputting reconfiguration keycodes into the computer, each reconfiguration keycode corresponding to one of the controller input devices;
• downloading the reconfiguration keycodes from the computer to the controller via the keyboard interface port during the reconfiguration mode;
• reconfiguring each of the controller input devices responsive to receiving the reconfiguration keycodes such that the controller transmits a predetermined reconfiguration keycode corresponding to an input device when the input device is actuated in the functional mode;
• coupling a second video game/simulator controller having a plurality of input devices to the video game/simulator controller;
• inputting reconfiguration keycodes into the computer corresponding to the second controller input devices, each reconfiguration keycode corresponding to one of the second controller input devices;
• downloading the reconfiguration keycodes corresponding to the second controller input devices from the computer to the controller;
• and
• reconfiguring each of the second controller input devices responsive to receiving the reconfiguration keycodes corresponding to the second controller input devices such that the controller transmits a predetermined reconfiguration keycode corresponding to an input device of the second controller when the input device of the second controller is actuated in the functional mode.

A reconfigurable video game system comprising:

• a personal computer having a microprocessor operable under control of a system reconfiguration program during a reconfiguration mode and under control of a video game/simulator program during a functional mode, an input/output bus for connecting peripheral input and output devices to the microprocessor, and a keyboard interface port;
• a display coupled to the personal computer for displaying images produced by the reconfiguration and video game programs;
• a first video game/simulator controller having a plurality of input devices, a keyboard input port, a game port, and a keyboard input/output port coupled to the computer keyboard interface port;
• a second video game/simulator controller having a plurality of input devices, the second controller coupled to the game port of the first controller;
• computer keyboard coupled to the controller keyboard input port for inputting reconfiguration keycodes and input keycodes;
• means within the first controller for transmitting the input keycodes from the keyboard to the computer;
• means within the first controller for generating one of said predetermined reconfiguration keycodes responsive to actuation of a corresponding controller input device during the functional mode;
• means within the computer for receiving keycodes transmitted from the first controller;
• means within the computer for transmitting reconfiguration keycodes from the computer to the first controller during the reconfiguration mode;
• means within the first controller for receiving the reconfiguration keycodes from the computer during the reconfiguration mode;
• means within the first controller for reconfiguring the first and second controllers responsive to receiving the reconfiguration keycodes such that the first controller transmits a reconfiguration keycode when a corresponding controller input device is actuated;
• and
• means for transmitting a keycode from the first controller to the computer responsive to actuation of a corresponding one of the second controller input devices.

A reconfigurable video game system comprising:

• a personal computer having a microprocessor operable under control of a system reconfiguration program during a reconfiguration mode and under control of a video game/simulator program during a functional mode, an input/output bus for connecting peripheral input and output devices to the microprocessor, a game port, and a keyboard interface port;
• a display coupled to the personal computer for displaying images produced by the reconfiguration and video game programs;
• a first video game/simulator controller having a plurality of input devices, a keyboard input port, a game port, and a keyboard input/output port coupled to the computer keyboard interface port;
• a second video game/simulator controller having a plurality of input devices, the second controller coupled to the game port of the first controller;
• a computer keyboard coupled to the controller keyboard input port for inputting reconfiguration keycodes and input keycodes;
• means within the first controller for transmitting the input keycodes from the keyboard to the computer;
• means within the first controller for generating a predetermined reconfiguration keycode responsive to actuation of a corresponding controller input devices during the functional mode;
• means within the computer for receiving keycodes transmitted from the first controller;
• means within the computer for transmitting reconfiguration keycodes from the computer to the first controller during the reconfiguration mode;
• means within the first controller for receiving the reconfiguration keycodes from the computer during the reconfiguration mode;
• means within the first controller for reconfiguring the first and second controllers responsive to receiving the reconfiguration keycodes such that the first controller transmits a reconfiguration keycode when a corresponding controller input device is actuated;
• and
• means for transmitting from the first controller to the computer game port an analog signal responsive to actuation of a corresponding one of the second controller input devices.