Electronic apparatus having game and telephone functions

• US 20030100347A1
• Filed: 11/27/2001
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Okada, Satoru, Ishizuka, Masahiro, Matsunada, Takuma, Kiyuna, Tsuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,069,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/493 Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events

Abstract

An electronic apparatus includes a phone CPU and a game CPU. When a *key is operated during execution of a game, the phone CPU sets a specified bit of a game key register to “1”. The phone CPU is set “1” into the specified bit when there is an incoming call of a phone during the execution of the game. The game CPU pauses the game being in execution when the specified bit is renewed to “1” and restores the specified bit from “1” to “0”. When the *key is operated in a state the game is interrupted, the phone CPU sets “1” into the specified bit. The game CPU restarts the game by canceling the pause.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus having a game function and a phone function, comprising:

an interruption key to instruct an interruption of a game being in execution;

a first register to which a first predetermined value is set in response to an operation of said interruption key;

interrupting means for interrupting said game when a setting of said first register indicates said first predetermined value;

detecting means for detecting an incoming call of a phone; and

setting means for setting said first predetermined value in said into first register in response to a detection of said incoming call.

2. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising storing means for storing current game data into a memory when said first register indicates said first predetermined value.

3. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising determination means for determining whether said game is in execution or not, wherein said setting means sets said first predetermined value into said first register when said game is in execution.

4. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a restart key to instruct a restart of said game;

a second register to which a second predetermined value is set in response to an operation of said restart key; and

restart means for restarting said game when setting of said second register indicates said second predetermined value.

5. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

display means for displaying a game screen; and

modifying means for modifying a tone of said game screen in response to a detection of said incoming call.

6. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said game is executed according to a program downloaded from an outside by said phone function.

7. A processing method of an electronic apparatus having a game function and a phone function, and provided with an interruption key, comprising steps of:

(a) interrupting a game being in execution in response to an operation of said interruption key;

(b) setting operation data of said interruption key when there is an incoming call of a phone.

8. A processing method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of (c) storing current game data in response to the operation of said interruption key or the incoming call of said phone.

9. A processing method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of (d) modifying a tone of a game screen being in execution in response to the incoming call of said phone.

10. A program executed by an electronic apparatus having a game function and a phone function, and provided with an interruption key, comprising steps of:

(a) interrupting a game being in execution in response to an operation of said interruption key;

(b) setting operation data of said interruption key when there is an incoming call of a phone.

11. A storage medium storing a program executed by an electronic apparatus having a game function and a phone function, and provided with an interruption key, comprising steps of:

(a) interrupting a game being in execution in response to an operation of said interruption key;

(b) setting operation data of said interruption key when there is an incoming call of a phone.