Multiple Console Video Gaming System and Method

Abstract

A system and method for receiving a request to initiate console based video game play in which the automated session is based upon a specified period of time related to a cash or credit based purchase, providing for activation of a player specific gaming location, and/or gaming control device, and for later deactivation of player location, and/or gaming control device after expiration of purchased time. Also presented is a system to support a plurality of video display devices, audio and video management, distribution and control devices, plurality of console devices, management/control hardware and software, video game participant control devices.

1 . A system for interconnecting a plurality of video game devices to facilitate play among a plurality of players comprising: 
 (a) a video interconnection for providing simultaneous video display of the output of the video game devices;    (b) an audio interconnection for providing simultaneous audio output of the video game devices;    (c) a control interconnection for providing control signals from each of the players to one or more of the video game devices;    (d) a data interconnection for communicating information among the video game devices;    (e) a switching means for controlling which of the video game devices are interconnected at a particular time;    (f) a payment means for completing a financial transaction in related to the use of the system; and    (g) a control means for controlling each of the elements (a) through (f) to permit play.    
   
   
       2 . A support structure for a plurality of video game devices, power connections, control connections, audio connections, video connections, audio processing means, video processing means, audio output means, video output means, interconnection means, and transaction processing means, comprising a cabinet, wiring channels, one or more video displays, one or more audio transducers, and one or more control inputs.  
   
   
       3 . A method for operating a pay-for-play multiuser video gaming system comprising: 
 (a) collecting funds from a plurality of players;    (b) enabling one video game console for each player from whom funds have been collected for a predetermined period;    (c) disabling the video game console after the predetermined period.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the period is a time interval.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the period is one game cycle.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the period is the last-to-end game cycle from among all of the players in the plurality of players.  
   
   
       7 . A method of controlling a plurality of video game consoles comprising switching data, control, video and audio signals in response to an enabling signal representative of permission to use each video game console.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the funds collected are selected from the group of actual currency, credit transaction, debit transaction, decrease in stored value, or a token representative of any of these.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the enabling and disabling steps comprise communication via a TCP/IP link.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein any of the interconnection means, switching means, and control means are via a TCP/IP link.