The patent shows a “console” (presumably an XBox 360 or a next-gen XBox) being the central hub of the network, communicating with dozens of handheld devices. What’s interesting is that Microsoft doesn’t restrict what these devices are, and lists handheld gaming devices, mobile phones, PDAs and PMPs as possibilities.
A gaming system including handheld devices and console devices has variable functionality and processing performance as determined by the number of components in the system. Gaming components can be combined wirelessly, by wired connections (e.g., via a docking station), or a combination thereof. The processing capabilities and functionality of each gaming component in a combination are augmented by the processing capabilities and functionality of other gaming components in the combination. To take advantage of another gaming components processing capabilities and memory capacity, each gaming component is capable of utilizing another gaming component to process gaming applications. Further, each gaming component is capable of rendering audio and/or video information provided by another gaming component. Also, a gaming component is capable of utilizing another gaming component as an adjunct processor.

Microsoft gives a number of very interesting examples how this system can be used:1. A gaming system comprising at least one gaming component, each gaming component being capable of stand alone operation, each gaming component being capable of operating in combination with other gaming components, wherein gaming performance of each gaming component is augmented in accordance with functionality of other gaming component in combination therewith.

2. A gaming system in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one gaming component comprises a console gaming device and at least one gaming component comprises a handheld gaming device.

3. A gaming system in accordance with claim 1, said system comprising at least two combined gaming components operational in a master/slave relationship.

4. A gaming system in accordance with claim 1, wherein any one gaming component is capable of operating software of any other gaming component.

5. A gaming system in accordance with claim 1, wherein a processing speed of a gaming component is effectively increased when combined with another gaming component combined therewith.

6. A gaming system in accordance with claim 1, wherein memory capacity of a gaming component is effectively increased when combined with another gaming component.

7. A gaming system in accordance with claim 1, wherein a gaming component renders a display for another game component combined therewith.

8. A gaming system in accordance with claim 1, wherein a gaming component is capable of utilizing at least one other gaming component combined therewith as an adjunct processor.

9. A gaming system in accordance with claim 1, wherein processing of a game application is distributed across at least two combined gaming components.

10. A gaming system in accordance with claim 1, wherein software residing in a gaming component is updatable via at least one other gaming component combined therewith.

11. A method for providing a multi-component gaming experience, said method comprising: providing at least one of audio gaming feature and video gaming features via at least one gaming component, each gaming component being capable of stand alone operation, each gaming component being capable of operating in combination with other gaming components, wherein gaming performance of each gaming component is augmented in accordance with functionality of other gaming component in combination therewith.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising effectively increasing a memory of a gaming component in accordance with memory capacity of another gaming component combined therewith.

13. A method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising effectively increasing a processing speed of gaming component in accordance with a processing speed of another gaming component combined therewith.

14. A method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising rendering at least one of video information and audio information of a gaming component via another gaming component combined therewith.

15. A method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising a gaming component utilizing another gaming component combined therewith as an adjunct processor.

16. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the acts of: providing gaming features via at least one gaming component, each gaming component being capable of stand alone operation, each gaming component being capable of operating in combination with other gaming components, wherein gaming performance of each gaming component is augmented in accordance with functionality of other gaming component in combination therewith.

17. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 16, wherein at least one of a processing speed and a memory capacity of a gaming component is effectively increased when combined with another gaming component.

18. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 16, wherein any one gaming component is capable of operating software of any other gaming component.

19. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 16, wherein a gaming component is capable of utilizing at least one other gaming component combined therewith as an adjunct processor.

20. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 16, said computer-readable medium having further computer-executable instructions for rendering by a gaming component at least one of video information and audio information of another gaming component combined therewith.
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