14 Apr Alexa, Siri and Linket gaming
Linket Corp’s founder will get a patent on a digital helper promoting interactions between people at different locations. A digital helper could be Amazon Alexa , Apple Siri or Google Assistant. Suppose Jane is into esports. The patent shows how she asks Alexa or Siri to watch a gamer. This is esports. They reply to her phone with a list of gamers. Each is described by a linket, like [Gamer Tim]. When Jane picks one, that gamer’s app is downloaded to Jane’s phone and Jane watches by connecting to the gamer’s instance of the app. The patent is an easy way for the company (Amazon, Apple etc) who runs the helper to add value to its interactions with the end user at her home.
a) Siri and Google Assistant interact with users via their cellphones.
b) Alexa is inside an Amazon Echo. Currently, the Echo is perhaps the most common hardware digital assistant.
EXAMPLE
a. A user, Jane, has a helper device Ann in her home.
b. Jane speaks commands that are converted into actions by Ann and a remote server.
c. Ann might play music directly, or control other devices in Jane’s home.
d. Jane can also order items from a supermarket or shop.
Figure A shows Jane with her phone, near digital helper Ann.
Figure A. User near a digital helper
a. Jane asks Ann to show a list of gamers in her town.
Figure B shows Ann returning this on Jane’s phone. There are 3 gamers nearby. Jane picks Tim.
b. Tim’s game is installed automatically on Jane’s phone.
c. Jane’s game connects directly to Tim’s game
d. They play.
Figure B. Jane interacting with remote Tim
When Jane watches Tim, her game app can be in read-only mode. She sees on her game what Tim sees on his machine. But she can’t shoot his guns or throw his spears.
Of course, instead of Jane just watching someone play a game (this is esports), she might want to play him. Then her version of the game can be a full version. The patent applies to both esports and game playing.
Nor is this restricted to gaming. The patent can be used for remote tutoring. Or indeed any 2 person (or more) interaction.
Notice that Jane and the person she watches or plays are in different places. With the rise of Covid, esports and gaming are fundamentally immune. People do not have to gather together.
This week, Linket got a Notice of Allowance from the Patent and Trademark Office for this patent pending. The patent will issue in 2 months.
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