GAME SYSTEM, IMAGE OUTPUT DEVICE, AND IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD

• US 20110190049A1
• Filed: 01/31/2011
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Mae, Kenichi, Kawai, Eizi, Watanabe, Atsushi
• Granted Patent: US 8,613,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/203 Image generating hardware
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/538 for performing operations on behalf of the game client, e.g. rendering
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization

Abstract

A game system includes an image output device connected to a display device via wiring and a game apparatus capable of wirelessly communicating with the image output device. The game apparatus performs a game process and generates an image based on the game process. The generated image is transmitted to the image output device. The image output device receives the image transmitted by the game apparatus. The received image is outputted from the image output device to the display device and displayed on the display device.

Claims

1. A game system comprising an image output device connected to a display device via wiring and a game apparatus capable of wirelessly communicating with the image output device, wherein,

the game apparatus includes:

a game process section for performing a game process;

an image generation section for generating an image based on the game process; and

a first communication section for transmitting the image to the image output device, and

the image output device includes;

a second communication section for receiving the image from the game apparatus, and

a first image output section for displaying the image on the display device.

2. The game system according to claim 1, wherein,

the game apparatus further includes an image compression section for compressing the image generated by the image generation section,

the first communication section transmits the compressed image,

the image output device further includes an image expansion section for expanding the image received by the second communication section, and

the first image output section outputs the expanded image to the display device.

3. The game system according to claim 1, wherein,

the image output device is further connected to an audio output device,

the game apparatus further includes an audio generation section for generating audio based on the game process,

the first communication section further transmits the audio to the image output device,

the second communication section further receives the audio from the game apparatus, and

the image output device further includes an audio output section for outputting the audio from the audio output device.

4. The game system according to claim 1, further comprising an operating device capable of generating operation information based on a player'"'"'s operation and wirelessly outputting the operation information, wherein the game process section performs the game process based on the operation information outputted by the operating device or based on information generated from the operation information.

5. The game system according to claim 4, wherein,

the image output device further includes a first operation information reception section for receiving the operation information outputted by the operating device,

the second communication section transmits to the game apparatus the operation information received by the first operation information reception section or information generated from the operation information,

the first communication section receives the information transmitted by the second communication section, and

the game process section performs the game process based on the information received by the first communication section.

6. The game system according to claim 4, wherein,

the game apparatus further includes a second operation information reception section for receiving the operation information outputted by the operating device, and

the game process section performs the game process based on the operation information received by the second operation information reception section.

7. The game system according to claim 4, wherein the operating device includes at least one detector selected from among an acceleration sensor, an image pickup device and a gyroscope, and outputs a detection result by the detector as the operation information.

8. The game system according to claim 1, wherein,

the image output device further includes a predetermined imaging subject,

the game system further includes an operating device equipped with an image pickup section capable of detecting the imaging subject, the operating device being capable of outputting an imaging result by the image pickup section, and

the game process section performs the game process based on the imaging result by the image pickup section.

9. The game system according to claim 1, wherein,

the game apparatus further includes a readout section for reading information from an external storage medium having a game program stored therein, and

the game process section performs the game process based on the game program being read by the readout section.

10. The game system according to claim 9, wherein the readout section is a disk drive device for reading information from a disk storage medium loadable into the game apparatus.

11. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the game apparatus further includes a network communication section capable of connecting to a network and communicating with an information processing device capable of communication via the network.

12. The game system according to claim 1, wherein,

the game apparatus is connected via wiring to another display device different from the display device connected to the image output device, and

the game apparatus further includes a second image output section for displaying the image generated by the image generation section on the other display device.

13. An image output device capable of connecting to a display device via wiring and wirelessly communicating with a game apparatus, comprising:

a communication section for receiving an image from the game apparatus, the image being generated based on a game process by the game apparatus; and

an image output section for displaying the image on the display device.

14. The image output device according to claim 13, wherein,

the image is subjected to a predetermined compression process before transmission by the game apparatus,

the image output device further includes an image expansion section for expanding the image received by the communication section, and

the image output section outputs the expanded image to the display device.

15. The image output device according to claim 13, being further connectable to an audio output device, wherein,

the communication section further receives an image generated based on the game process from the game apparatus, and

the image output device further includes an audio output section for outputting audio from the audio output device.

16. The image output device according to claim 13, capable of wirelessly communicating with an operating device capable of generating operation information for use in the game process based on a player'"'"'s operation and wirelessly outputting the operation information, the image output device further comprising an operation information reception section for receiving the operation information outputted by the operating device, wherein the communication section transmits to the game apparatus the operation information received by the operation information reception section or information generated from the operation information.

17. An image display method for use in a game system including an image output device connected to a display device via wiring and a game apparatus capable of wirelessly communicating with the image output device, wherein,

the game apparatus performs:

a game process step for performing a game process;

an image generation step for generating an image based on the game process; and

a first communication step for transmitting the image to the image output device, and

the image output device performs;

a second communication step for receiving the image from the game apparatus;

a first image output step for displaying the image on the display device.