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Modern video
game consoles such as the Xbox, Xbox 360, Playstation 2,
Playstation 3, Gamecube, and Wii, have grown steadily in
popularity. Many console gamers have situations requiring
a secure, portable experience allowing them to easily move
from room to room, house to house, or city to city. And
while online multiplayer capability is an important aspect
of modern gaming, there are still times when gamers enjoy
meeting together for a LAN party. In these situations,
console gamers desire an improved portable experience.
Many console
gamers may be in one or more of the following situations
requiring a secure and portable gaming experience:
-
They are part
of a family, dormitory, or barracks where they desire to
protect and secure their console.
-
They are
frequent travelers and desire to game on the road.
-
They
participate in LAN parties with their friends (2 to 16+
players).
These are just
a few examples highlighting the importance of portability
for today’s gamer.
The LAN party scenario further illustrates the
complexities of portable console gaming. Although most
consoles support split-screen functionality, this limits
gamers to sharing only a portion of the screen. They are
also forced to play on their friend’s console, often
lacking their specific profile and configurations. Because
of these limitations, many gamers resort to bringing their
own console and television to the LAN event. But this is
challenging for various reasons:
-
A console,
television, cables, and accessories (games and
controllers) are not very portable. This equipment must be
unconnected, packed up, transported, reconnected, and
setup at the destination. This laborious task must all be
repeated when the equipment is returned home from the LAN
party.
-
Transporting
and setting up the various consoles and televisions can be
a time-consuming task, often using up valuable gaming
time.
-
Finding good
places to set up the equipment at the LAN event can be
difficult.
-
Transporting
and setting up the unprotected equipment puts it at risk
of being damaged.
What is needed
is a special case facilitating transportation and
operation of a video game console with a flat panel
television.
The Ackibox
meets these needs by providing an enclosure allowing for
portability, quick setup, simple cabling options,
equipment safety, equipment security, and a space-saving size. The
case resembles a suitcase and includes mounting hardware
for both a console and a flat panel television. An
alternative to the flat panel television could be an LCD
computer monitor, an LCD projector, or a lightweight LCD panel similar to
those used in laptop computers. The lid may be opened so
that the flat panel screen is easily viewable at various
adjustable viewing angles while still allowing easy access
to all the equipment. All cables are contained within the
case, but may be extended to make any necessary external
connections (i.e. power cord and Ethernet cable). Because
the equipment is securely fastened inside the case, it is
protected from scratches and other damage. The case may
also be secured against tampering and theft. When closed,
the case may be stored under a bed or in a closet. Opened,
it can sit on the floor or on a table for convenient setup
and easy use.
The basic
Ackibox concept allows for various configurations:
-
A flat-panel
LCD television with a modern game console as described
above.
-
A display
panel with a DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-ray or other type of video player.
-
A display
panel with a computer, where the panel provides a larger
viewing area.
In this last
scenario, the computer could be a laptop, tablet PC,
mini-PC, ultra-PC, ultra-mobile PC, handheld, media player, cell
phone, or portable video game system. These computers would dock and undock into
the case, allowing the Ackibox to become a mobile docking
station and carrying case. This would provide a
flexible option for consumers and businesses who today
must often choose between a smaller or larger mobile
computer based on screen size. For example, a
businesswoman might keep her ultra-mobile PC docked within
her Ackibox when moving from room to room at home or at work.
But when she goes to the coffee shop to meet with a
client, she undocks her ultra-mobile PC and takes it with
her.
The Ackibox
has other important distinctions and alternative
configurations which are further detailed in the patent application.
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