System for remote game access

A remote console server for providing remote access to a game console comprising:

• an audio input unit configured to receive audio signals from a game console;
• a video input unit configured to receive video signals from the game console;
• a console virtualization engine configured to allow access to a game console to be managed, to allow a remote console client to communicate with various types of game consoles, and to allow a game console to receive game control signals from a plurality of different types of devices, the console virtualization engine comprising:
• an audio and video encoder configured to convert the audio and video signals to network packets to be sent to a remote console client;
• a game controller emulation unit configured to:
• receive a game control signal from the remote console client through a network packet;
• convert the game control signal to a controller input signal expected by a game controller port for the game console;
• and
• send the controller input signal to the game controller port for the game console;
• and
• a network interface coupled to the console virtualization engine, the network interface being configured to send network packets to a remote console client and to receive network packets from a remote console client.

A method for allowing a user to remotely access a game, comprising:

• providing a remote console server including a console virtualization engine configured to allow access to a game console to be managed through the remote console server, to allow a remote console client to communicate with various types of game consoles, and to allow a game console to receive game control signals from a plurality of different types of devices;
• receiving with the remote console server an audio output and a video output from a game console;
• using the console virtualization engine to convert the audio output and the video output to network packets;
• sending the network packets with the audio output and video output from the remote console server to a remote console client via a network interface;
• receiving with the remote console server a game control signal in a network packet from the remote console client via the network interface;
• using a game controller emulation unit within the console virtualization engine to convert the game control signal to a controller input signal expected by a game controller port for the game console;
• and
• sending the controller input signal to the game controller port for the game console.