Game apparatus and storage medium storing a game program for conducting data communications with a network

• US 10,391,407 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2015
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Hirose, Kazuki, Sasaki, Tetsuya, Araki, Tsutomu, Adachi, Hiroaki, Tamaki, Shinichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carter, Kevin M
• Application Number:
  US14/645,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20150182859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,630 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/513 server hierarchy, e.g. local, regional, national or dedicated for different tasks, e.g. authenticating, billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/537 for exchanging game data using a messaging service, e.g. e-mail, SMS, MMS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/556 Player lists, e.g. online players, buddy list, black list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking

Abstract

A game apparatus includes an input-output processor, and by following an instruction from the input-output processor, messages are transmitted and received with other game apparatus 12 connected via a network. The messages are transmitted and received in an electronic mail format, and has identification information of an application being a creation source of the message as well as general information, such as a transmission source, a destination and a subject as header information.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first radio communication unit configured to receive data associated with a gaming application;

a second radio communication unit; and

a processing unit including at least one processor configured to execute one or more applications, at least one of the one or more applications including the gaming application, the processing unit configured to;

communicate, via the first radio communication unit, with a server and/or another system to send and/or receive data associated with the one or more applications; and

communicate, via the second radio communication unit, with a remote control device over a short range wireless radio communication connection, the remote control device to control switching of the system between a first mode and a second mode, wherein the first radio communication unit and the second radio communication unit are outside the processing unit, and wherein the system;

in the first mode;

powers the processing unit to execute the one or more applications; and

powers the processing unit to communicate, via the first radio communication unit, with at least one of the server or the other system; and

in the second mode;

powers the processing unit to communicate, via the first radio communication unit, with at least one of the server or the other system;

powers the processing unit to communicate, via the second radio communication unit, with the remote control device; and

restricts power to the processing unit such that the processing unit is unable to execute the one or more applications.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system, in the first mode, is further configured to

power the processing unit to communicate, via the second radio communication unit, with the remote control device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the processing unit includes at least a first processor and a second processor;

the first processor is at least configured to execute the one or more applications;

the second processor is at least configured to communicate, via the first radio communication unit, with the server and/or the other system; and

the system, in the first mode, powers at least the first processor and, in the second mode, powers the second processor and restricts power to the first processor.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the second processor is at least configured to:

communicate, via the first radio communication unit, with the server and/or the other system to send and/or receive data associated with the one or more applications; and

communicate, via the second radio communication unit, with the remote control device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first radio communication unit and the second radio communication unit are outside the processing unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to periodically and automatically communicate with the server and/or the other system to send and/or receive data associated with the one or more applications.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to automatically communicate, based on a predetermined schedule, with the server and/or the other system to send and/or receive data associated with the one or more applications.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to:

communicate, via the first radio communication unit, with the server and/or the other system in a first communication manner; and

communicate, via the second radio communication unit, with the remote control device in a second communication manner.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to:

communicate, via the first radio communication unit, with the server and/or the other system over a network connection; and

communicate, via the second radio communication unit, directly with the remote control device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the second radio communication unit employs Bluetooth®

wireless technology standards.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to make the second mode unusable, the system restricting power to the processing unit such that the processing unit is unable to communicate via the first radio communication unit at least partly in response to the second mode being unusable.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is a video game console and the remote control device is a remote video game controller for operating the video game console.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fan configured to remove, from the system, heat generated by the processing unit, wherein the fan operates in the first mode and stops in the second mode.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fan configured to remove, from the system, heat generated by the processing unit, wherein operation of the fan is restrained in the second mode.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is a video game console, and the processing unit is unable to process data for the game application in the second mode.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit includes at least:

a graphics processor unit (GPU) or a digital signal processor (DSP) for executing the one or more applications, and

an input/output processor for communicating via the first radio communication unit and the second radio communication unit.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit includes at least a central processing unit (CPU) for executing the one or more applications.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit includes at least two processors that are integrated on a large scale integration (LSI) chip.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the LSI chip includes internal memory that is powered on in the first mode and powered off in the second mode; and

the system includes memory that is external of the LSI chip, the memory being powered on in the first mode and the second mode.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to download, while the system is in the second mode, a communication message for a user of the system.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the communication message is an e-mail message.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to send an outgoing message to an additional system and/or receive an incoming message from the additional system via a network in the first mode, the outgoing message indicating that a user of the system desires to establish a friend relationship with an additional user of the additional system, and the incoming message indicating that the additional user of the additional system desires to establish the friend relationship with the user of the system.

23. A method comprising:

operating a first system in a standby mode such that;

(i) a processing unit is powered to communicate, via a first radio communication unit configured to receive data associated with a gaming application, with a server and/or a second system, (ii) the processing unit is powered to communicate, via a second radio communication unit, with a device configured to control switching of the first system between the standby mode and a normal mode, and (iii) the processing unit is unable to execute one or more applications of the first system when power to the processing unit is restricted, wherein at least one of the one or more applications includes the gaming application;

receiving, from the device, over a short range wireless radio communication connection, a communication to switch the first system from the standby mode to the normal mode;

operating the first system in the normal mode such that;

(i) the processing unit is powered to communicate, via the first radio communication unit, with at least one of the server or the second system, (ii) the processing unit is powered to communicate, via the second radio communication unit, with the device, and (iii) the processing unit is powered to execute the one or more applications; and

operating the first system in the standby mode such that (i) the processing unit is powered to communicate, via the first radio communication unit, with at least one of the server or the second system, (ii) the processing unit is powered to communication, via the second radio communication unit, with a remote control device, and (iii) power to the processing unit is restricted such that the processing unit is unable to execute the one or more applications.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the device is a remote control for operating the first system.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the first system is a video game console and the device is a remote video game controller for operating the video game console.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein:

operating the first system in the normal mode further comprises powering a fan that removes heat generated by the processing unit; and

operating the first system in the standby mode further comprises restricting power to the fan.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein operating the first system in the standby mode further comprises restraining operation of a fan that removes heat generated by the processing unit.

28. One or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform operations comprising:

operating a first system in a standby mode such that;

(i) a processing unit is powered to communicate, via a first radio communication unit configured to receive data associated with a gaming application, with at least one of a server or a second system, (ii) the processing unit is powered to communicate, via a second radio communication unit, with a device configured to control switching of the first system between the standby mode and a normal mode, and (iii) the processing unit is unable to execute one or more applications of the first system when power to the processing unit is restricted, wherein the one or more applications includes the gaming application;

receiving, from the device, over a short range wireless radio communication connection, a communication to switch the first system from the standby mode to the normal mode; and

operating the first system in the normal mode such that;

(i) the processing unit is powered to communicate, via the first radio communication unit, with the at least one of the server or the second system, (ii) the processing unit is powered to communicate, via the second radio communication unit, with the device, and (iii) the processing unit is powered to execute the one or more applications.

29. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 28, wherein the device is a remote control for operating the first system.

30. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 28, wherein the first system is a video game console and the device is a remote video game controller for operating the video game console.

31. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 28, wherein:

operating the first system in the normal mode further comprises powering a fan that removes heat generated by the processing unit; and

operating the first system in the standby mode further comprises restricting power to the fan.

32. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 28, wherein operating the first system in the standby mode further comprises restraining operation of a fan that removes heat generated by the processing unit.

33. A system, comprising:

a first radio communication unit configured to receive data associated with one or more gaming applications;

a second radio communication unit; and

a processing unit associated with a gaming console including at least one processor configured to execute the one or more gaming applications, the processing unit configured to;

communicate, via the first radio communication unit, with at least one of a server or another gaming console to at least one of send or receive data associated with the one or more gaming applications; and

communicate, via the second radio communication unit, with a remote control device over a short range wireless radio communication connection, the remote control device configured to control switching of the system between a first mode and a second mode, the remote control device comprising a gaming remote, wherein the system;

in the first mode;

powers the processing unit to execute the one or more gaming applications; and

powers the processing unit to communicate, via the first radio communication unit, with at least one of the server or the other gaming console; and

in the second mode;

powers the processing unit to communicate, via the first radio communication unit, with the server and/or the other gaming console;

powers the processing unit to communicate, via the second radio communication unit, with the gaming remote; and

restricts power to the processing unit such that the processing unit is unable to execute the one or more gaming applications.