Game system

• US 20040185935A1
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Folio Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Junichi Yamagishi, Unirec Company Limited
• Inventors: Yamagishi, Junichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,341,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 13/323 between game devices with different hardware characteristics, e.g. hand-held game devices connectable to game consoles or arcade machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM

Abstract

A game system correlates games played on cellular phones with games played on arcade game machines.

The game system includes a game machine installed in an amusement arcade, to run a game based on at least points, a floor management unit installed in the amusement arcade, to manage the game machine and be connectable to the Internet, a game content providing unit to provide game content via the Internet, a mobile communication terminal to receive the game content via the Internet and run a game based on the received game content, and a point data management unit to store and update data on points to be won or lost by playing the game on the mobile communication terminal. The floor management unit receives points related to an authenticated person from the point data management unit and enables the game machine for the authenticated person.

Claims

1. A game system comprising:

a game machine installed in an amusement arcade, to run a game based on at least points;

a floor management unit installed in the amusement arcade, to manage the game machine and be connectable to the Internet;

a game content providing unit to provide game content via the Internet;

a mobile communication terminal to receive the game content via the Internet and run a game based on the received game content; and

a point data management unit to store and update data on points to be won or lost by playing the game on the mobile communication terminal, the floor management unit receiving points related to an authenticated person from the point data management unit and enabling the game machine for the authenticated person.

2. The game system of claim 1, wherein:

the authentication of a person is based on data input to the game machine through the mobile communication terminal.

3. The game system of claim 1, wherein:

the point data management unit is a master management unit to store application software for managing operation of the game machine; and

the floor management unit downloads an appropriate piece of the application software from the master management unit via the Internet, and according to the downloaded application software, manages operation of the game machine as and when required.

4. The game system of claim 2, wherein:

the point data management unit is a master management unit to store application software for managing operation of the game machine; and

the floor management unit downloads an appropriate piece of the application software from the master management unit via the Internet, and according to the downloaded application software, manages operation of the game machine as and when required.

5. The game system of claim 1, wherein:

points are purchasable with the mobile communication terminal; and

an accounting server is provided to charge for the purchased points.

6. The game system of claim 2, wherein:

points are purchasable with the mobile communication terminal; and

an accounting server is provided to charge for the purchased points.

7. The game system of claim 3, wherein:

points are purchasable with the mobile communication terminal; and

an accounting server is provided to charge for the purchased points.

8. A game system that allows, in an amusement arcade, a player to borrow tokens, play token-based game machines with the borrowed tokens, deposit tokens left after playing the token-based game machines, receive the deposited tokens, and play the token-based game machines with the received tokens, the game system comprising:

a floor management unit installed in the amusement arcade, to manage game machines installed in the amusement arcade and be connectable to the Internet; and

a point data management unit to store and update data on points related to tokens deposited by players,

the floor management unit receiving points related to an authenticated person from the point data management unit and enabling a game machine for the authenticated person.