WIRELESS COMMUNICATION GAME SYSTEM

• US 20130196764A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: TANAKA, Shoya, KUWAHARA, Masato, OE, Toru, YOSHIOKA, Teruyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,968,101 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 13/12 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 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• 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 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM

Abstract

A wireless communication game system includes a plurality of mobile game apparatuses, which function as a parent device or a child device and are capable of making a communication with each other, and broadcasts from the parent device a parent device packet including a parent device PID, a user name UserName, a game name GameName, an OC flag, an E slot, a U slot, and a payload. All the parent device packets are received from the parent device existing within a communicationable range of a user'"'"'s own apparatus, and the user'"'"'s own apparatus creates a parent device list, and displays the parent device list on an LCD. Therefore, a user or a player of his own apparatus looks at the game name of the parent device list, for example, and operates a cross key included in an operation key so as to select one desired parent device. Then, transmitting a child device number CID of the user'"'"'s own apparatus at the E slot designated by the parent device packet, the user'"'"'s own apparatus transmits a connection request to the parent device.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication;

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit for sending self-identifying information and capability information which indicates a capability of the device;

a receiving unit cooperating with the communication unit for receiving self-identifying information and capability information;

a selecting unit for selecting at least one device which self-identifying information received by the receiving unit indicates; and

a requesting unit cooperating with the communication unit for requesting the at least one device which is selected by the selecting unit to provide its service.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the capability information indicates whether the device can provide another device with a service.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a service providing unit cooperating with the communication unit for providing another device with a service.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the capability information indicates whether the service providing unit is in a state where the service providing unit can provide another device with a service.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the capability information indicates whether the device can provide another device with a predetermined service.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the selecting unit is used to manually select at least one device.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising,

a display unit;

and

a display control unit for displaying on the display unit at least device identifying information based on self-identifying information which is received by the receiving unit;

wherein,

the selecting unit enables a user to select at least one device while the display unit is displaying the device identifying information.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the display control unit displays corresponding capability information concurrently with device identifying information based on the capability information which is received by the receiving unit.

9. The device of claim 7, further comprising an accumulating unit for accumulating self-identifying information that is received by the receiving unit from a plurality of different devices;

wherein the display control unit displays device identifying information based on the self-identifying information, and wherein the selecting unit selects at least one device using the device identifying information displayed by the display control unit.

10. The device of claim 7, further comprising an accumulating unit for accumulating self-identifying information and corresponding capability information that is received by the receiving unit from a plurality of different devices;

wherein the display control unit displays device identifying information and the corresponding capability information based on the self-identifying information and the capability information, and wherein the selecting unit selects at least one device using the device identifying information displayed by the display control unit.

11. The device of claim 7, further comprising an accumulating for accumulating self-identifying information and corresponding capability information received by the receiving unit from a plurality of different devices;

wherein the display control unit displays identifying information whose corresponding capability information indicates an enabled capability, and wherein the selecting unit selects at least one device using the device identifying information displayed by the display control unit.

12. The device of claim 7, further comprising a determining unit for determining whether capability information received by the receiving unit indicates an enabled capability;

and

the display control unit displays device-identifying information whose corresponding capability information the determining unit indicates as being an enabled capability.

13. The device of claim 3, further comprising a software storage unit, wherein the service providing unit provides another device with software stored in the software storage unit.

14. The device of claim 3, further comprising a software storage unit, wherein the service providing unit provides another device with software stored in the software storage unit, and wherein the software enables the another device to communicate with the device.

15. The device of claim 3, further comprising a software storage unit, wherein the service providing unit provides another device with software stored in the software storage unit in advance of starting the service, and wherein the software enables the another device to utilize the service.

16. The device of claim 3, wherein the service providing unit provides a software download service.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the capability information indicates what software the service providing unit is capable of providing.

18. The device of claim 3, wherein the service providing unit provides a network application service.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the capability information indicates what application service the service providing unit is capable of providing.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the sending unit sends for another device self-identifying information the capability information in a search mode, and

the receiving unit waits to receive self-identifying information and capability information in a search mode.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the sending unit sends for another device self-identifying information and capability information without establishing a connection with the another device, and

the receiving unit receives self-identifying information and capability information without establishing a connection with the another device.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein the sending unit sends self-identifying information and capability information before the service providing unit starts the service.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein the sending unit sends self-identifying information and service availability information so that a plurality of unspecified devices are able to receive the self-identifying information and the capability information without establishing a connection.

25. The device of claim 1, wherein the sending unit broadcasts self-identifying information and capability information.

26. The device of claim 1, wherein the sending unit repeatedly and continuously sends self-identifying information and capability information.

60. The device of claim 1, wherein the capability information indicates whether the device is capable of providing predetermined information processing.

61. The device of claim 1, wherein the capability information indicates what the device is capable of.

20. A device, comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication;

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit for sending, without establishing a connection, self-identifying information and service availability information which indicates a capability of the device;

a receiving unit cooperating with the communication unit for receiving, without establishing a connection, self-identifying information and capability information;

a selecting unit for selecting at least one device which self-identifying information received by the receiving unit indicates; and

a connection establishing unit cooperating with the communication unit for establishing a connection with the at least one device which is selected by the selection unit.

27. A device, comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication; and

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit for sending, in a search mode, self-identifying information and capability information indicating a capability of the device.

28. A device, comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication; and

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit for sending for another device, without establishing a connection with the another device, self-identifying information and capability information indicating a capability of the device.

29. A device, comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication; and

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit for sending, before the service providing unit starts the service, self-identifying information and capability information indicating a capability of the device.

30. A device, comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication; and

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit for sending self-identifying information and capability information indicating a capability of the device so that a plurality of unspecified devices are able to receive the self-identifying information and capability information without establishing connections.

31. A device, comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication; and

a broadcasting unit cooperating with the communication unit for broadcasting self-identifying information and capability information indicating a capability of the device.

32. A device, comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication;

a service providing unit cooperating with the communication unit for providing another device with a service; and

a sending unit that repeatedly and continuously sends self-identifying information and capability information indicating a capability of the device.

33. A device, comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication;

a service providing unit cooperating with the communication unit for providing another device with a service; and

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit for sending, in a search mode, self-identifying information and service availability information indicating service availability of the service providing unit.

34. A device, comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication;

a service providing unit cooperating with the communication unit for providing another device with a service; and

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit for sending for another device, without establishing connection with the another device, self-identifying information and service availability information which indicates service availability of the service providing unit.

35. A device, comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication;

a service providing unit cooperating with the communication unit for providing another device with a service; and

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit for sending, before the service providing unit starts the service, self-identifying information and service availability information which indicates service availability of the service providing unit.

36. A device, comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication;

a service providing unit cooperating with the communication unit for providing other devices with a service; and

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit for sending self-identifying information and service availability information which indicates service availability of the service providing unit so that a plurality of unspecified devices are able to receive the self-identifying information and service availability information without establishing connection.

37. A device, comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication;

a service providing unit cooperating with the communication unit for providing another device with a service; and

a broadcasting unit cooperating with the communication unit for broadcasting self-identifying information and service availability information which indicates service availability of the service providing unit.

38. A device, comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication;

a service providing unit cooperating with the communication unit for providing another device with a service; and

a sending unit that repeatedly and continuously sends the self-identifying information and the service availability information which indicates service availability of the service providing unit.

39. A system comprising first and second devices, the first device comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication;

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit for sending self-identifying information and capability information which indicates a capability of the device;

a receiving unit cooperating with the communication unit for receiving self-identifying information and capability information;

a selecting unit for selecting at least one device which self-identifying information received by the receiving unit indicates; and

a requesting unit cooperating with the communication unit for requesting the at least one device which is selected by the selecting unit to provide its service.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the capability information indicates whether the device can provide another device with a service.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the first device further comprises a service providing unit cooperating with the communication unit for providing another device with a service.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the capability information indicates whether the service providing unit is in a state where the service providing unit can provide another device with a service.

43. A system comprising first and second devices, the first device comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication; and

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit for sending, in a search mode, self-identifying information and capability information indicating a capability of the device.

44. A system comprising first and second devices, the first device comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication; and

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit for sending for another device, without establishing a connection with the another device, self-identifying information and capability information indicating a capability of the device.

45. A system comprising first and second devices, the first device comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication; and

a broadcasting unit cooperating with the communication unit for broadcasting self-identifying information and capability information indicating a capability of the device.

46. A system comprising first and second devices, the first device comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication;

a service providing unit cooperating with the communication unit for providing another device with a service; and

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit for sending, in a search mode, self-identifying information and service availability information indicating service availability of the service providing unit.

47. A system comprising first and second devices, the first device comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication;

a service providing unit cooperating with the communication unit for providing another device with a service; and

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit for sending for another device, without establishing connection with the another device, self-identifying information and service availability information which indicates service availability of the service providing unit.

48. A system comprising first and second devices, the first device comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication;

a service providing unit cooperating with the communication unit for providing another device with a service; and

a broadcasting unit cooperating with the communication unit for broadcasting self-identifying information and service availability information which indicates service availability of the service providing unit.

49. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing a program executable on a device comprising at least one processor and a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication, the program comprising instructions configured to at least:

send self-identifying information and capability information which indicates a capability of the device;

receive self-identifying information and capability information;

select at least one device which received self-identifying information indicates; and

request the selected at least one device to provide its service.

50. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the capability information indicates whether the device can provide another device with a service.

51. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the device further comprises a service providing unit cooperating with the communication unit for providing another device with a service.

52. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 51, wherein the capability information indicates whether the device is in a state where the another device can be provided with a service.

53. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing a program executable on a device comprising at least one processor and a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication, the program comprising instructions configured to at least:

send, in a search mode, self-identifying information and capability information indicating a capability of the device.

54. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing a program executable on a device comprising at least one processor and a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication, the program comprising instructions configured to at least:

send for another device, without establishing a connection with the another device, self-identifying information and capability information indicating a capability of the device.

55. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing a program executable on a device comprising at least one processor and a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication, the program comprising instructions configured to at least:

broadcast self-identifying information and capability information indicating a capability of the device.

56. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing a program executable on a device comprising at least one processor and a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication, the program comprising instructions configured to at least:

provide another device with a service via a service providing unit; and

send, in a search mode, self-identifying information and service availability information indicating service availability of the service providing unit.

57. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing a program executable on a device comprising at least one processor and a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication, the program comprising instructions configured to at least:

provide another device with a service via a service providing unit; and

send for another device, without establishing connection with the another device, self-identifying information and service availability information which indicates service availability of the service providing unit.

58. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing a program executable on a device comprising at least one processor and a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication, the program comprising instructions configured to at least:

provide another device with a service via a service providing unit; and

broadcast self-identifying information and service availability information which indicates service availability of the service providing unit.

59. A method for performing short-distance radio communication, the method comprising:

sending self-identifying information and capability information which indicates a capability of the device;

receiving self-identifying information and capability information;

selecting at least one device which received self-identifying information indicates; and

requesting the selected at least one device to provide its service.

62. A device, comprising:

a communication unit capable of performing short-distance radio communication;

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit capable of sending self-identifying information and capability information which indicates a capability of the device;

a receiving unit cooperating with the communication unit capable of receiving self-identifying information and capability information;

a selecting unit capable of selecting at least one device which self-identifying information received by the receiving unit indicates; and

a requesting unit cooperating with the communication unit capable of requesting the at least one device which is selected by the selecting unit to provide its service.

64. The device of claim 62, wherein:

the sending unit sends for another device self-identifying information the capability information in a search mode, and

the receiving unit waits to receive self-identifying information and capability information in a search mode.

65. The device of claim 62, wherein:

the sending unit sends for another device self-identifying information and capability information without establishing a connection with the another device, and

the receiving unit receives self-identifying information and capability information without establishing a connection with the another device.

66. The device of claim 62, wherein the sending unit broadcasts self-identifying information and capability information.

63. A device, comprising:

a communication unit capable of performing short-distance radio communication;

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit capable of sending, without establishing a connection, self-identifying information and service availability information which indicates a capability of the device;

a receiving unit cooperating with the communication unit capable of receiving, without establishing a connection, self-identifying information and capability information;

a selecting unit capable of selecting at least one device which self-identifying information received by the receiving unit indicates; and

a connection establishing unit cooperating with the communication unit capable of establishing a connection with the at least one device which is selected by the selection unit.

67. A device, comprising:

a communication unit capable of performing short-distance radio communication; and

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit capable of sending, in a search mode, self-identifying information and capability information indicating a capability of the device.

68. A device, comprising:

a communication unit capable of performing short-distance radio communication; and

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit capable of sending for another device, without establishing a connection with the another device, self-identifying information and capability information indicating a capability of the device.

69. A device, comprising:

a communication unit capable of performing short-distance radio communication; and

a broadcasting unit cooperating with the communication unit capable of broadcasting self-identifying information and capability information indicating a capability of the device.

70. A game device, comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication;

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit for sending self-identifying information and capability information which indicates a capability of the device;

a receiving unit cooperating with the communication unit for receiving self-identifying information and capability information;

a selecting unit for selecting at least one device which self-identifying information received by the receiving unit indicates; and

a requesting unit cooperating with the communication unit for requesting the at least one device which is selected by the selecting unit to provide its service.

72. The game device of claim 70, wherein:

the sending unit sends for another device self-identifying information the capability information in a search mode, and

the receiving unit waits to receive self-identifying information and capability information in a search mode.

73. The game device of claim 70, wherein:

the sending unit sends for another device self-identifying information and capability information without establishing a connection with the another device, and

the receiving unit receives self-identifying information and capability information without establishing a connection with the another device.

74. The game device of claim 70, wherein the sending unit broadcasts self-identifying information and capability information.

71. A game device, comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication;

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit for sending, without establishing a connection, self-identifying information and service availability information which indicates a capability of the device;

a receiving unit cooperating with the communication unit for receiving, without establishing a connection, self-identifying information and capability information;

a selecting unit for selecting at least one device which self-identifying information received by the receiving unit indicates; and

a connection establishing unit cooperating with the communication unit for establishing a connection with the at least one device which is selected by the selection unit.

75. A game device, comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication; and

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit for sending, in a search mode, self-identifying information and capability information indicating a capability of the device.

76. A game device, comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication; and

a sending unit cooperating with the communication unit for sending for another device, without establishing a connection with the another device, self-identifying information and capability information indicating a capability of the device.

77. A game device, comprising:

a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication; and

a broadcasting unit cooperating with the communication unit for broadcasting self-identifying information and capability information indicating a capability of the device.

78. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing a program executable on a device comprising at least one processor and a communication unit for performing short-distance radio communication, the program comprising instructions configured to at least:

send self-identifying information and capability information which indicates a capability of the device; and

receive self-identifying information and capability information.

79. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 78, wherein the capability information indicates whether the device can provide another device with a service.

80. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 78, wherein the device further comprises a service providing unit cooperating with the communication unit for providing another device with a service.

81. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 80, wherein the capability information indicates whether the device is in a state where the another device can be provided with a service.