VIBRATION CONTROL SYSTEM, VIBRATION CONTROL METHOD, VIBRATION OUTPUT APPARATUS, GAME CONTROLLER, STORAGE MEDIUM HAVING STORED THEREIN VIBRATION OUTPUT PROGRAM, VIBRATION OUTPUT METHOD, VIBRATION CONTROL APPARATUS, AND STORAGE MEDIUM HAVING STORED THEREIN VIBRATION CONTROL PROGRAM

• US 20170300022A1
• Filed: 02/28/2017
• Published: 10/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: YAMASHITA, Kei, AOKI, Takafumi
• Granted Patent: US 10,983,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39241 Force and vibration control
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/30032 Movement instructions, e.g. MOVE, SHIFT, ROTATE, SHUFFLE

Abstract

Vibration instruction data transmitted from another apparatus is received, data related to the vibration instruction data is stored in a memory, and a vibration apparatus is vibrated using the data stored in the memory. On the other hand, vibration state data indicating a vibration state of the vibration apparatus is generated, and the vibration state data is transmitted to the other apparatus.

Claims

1. A vibration control system, including at least a first apparatus and a second apparatus, for vibrating a vibration apparatus,

the first apparatus comprising a computer processor configured to:

receive vibration instruction data transmitted from the second apparatus;

generate vibration state data indicating a vibration state of the vibration apparatus;

store data related to the received vibration instruction data in a memory;

vibrate the vibration apparatus using the data stored in the memory; and

transmit the vibration state data to the second apparatus,

the second apparatus comprising a computer processor configured to;

receive the vibration state data transmitted from the first apparatus;

based on the received vibration state data, determine vibration instruction data to be transmitted next to the first apparatus; and

transmit the determined vibration instruction data to the first apparatus.

2. The vibration control system according to claim 1, wherein

in the generation of the vibration state data, information indicating a state of the data related to the vibration instruction data stored in the memory is generated as the vibration state data.

3. The vibration control system according to claim 2, wherein

in the vibration of the vibration apparatus, the data related to the vibration instruction data stored in the memory to vibrate the vibration apparatus is output to the vibration apparatus, and the data is also deleted from the memory, and

in the generation of the vibration state data, information indicating a remaining amount of the data related to the vibration instruction data stored in the memory is generated as the vibration state data.

4. The vibration control system according to claim 3, wherein

in the determination of the vibration instruction data, the vibration instruction data indicating a vibration for a vibration time corresponding to the remaining amount indicated by the received vibration state data is determined.

5. The vibration control system according to claim 4, wherein

in the determination of the vibration instruction data, when the remaining amount indicated by the received vibration state data is larger than a predetermined amount, the vibration instruction data indicating a vibration for a relatively short vibration time is determined.

6. The vibration control system according to claim 1, wherein

in the determination of the vibration instruction data, the vibration instruction data indicating a vibration for a vibration time corresponding to the vibration state of the vibration apparatus indicated by the received vibration state data is determined.

7. The vibration control system according to claim 1, wherein

the computer processor of the first apparatus is further configured to output operation data corresponding to a user operation on the first apparatus, and

in the transmission of the vibration state data, the vibration state data is transmitted together with the operation data to the second apparatus.

8. The vibration control system according to claim 1, wherein

in the generation of the vibration state data, data indicating the vibration state of the vibration apparatus at a time before the data related to the received vibration instruction data is stored in the memory is generated as the vibration state data.

9. The vibration control system according to claim 1, wherein

in the reception of the vibration instruction data, the vibration instruction data is received through wireless communication,

in the transmission of the vibration state data, the vibration state data is transmitted through wireless communication,

in the reception of the vibration state data, the vibration state data is received through wireless communication, and

in the transmission of the vibration instruction data, the vibration instruction data is transmitted through wireless communication.

10. The vibration control system according to claim 1, wherein

in the determination of the vibration instruction data, modulation information indicating changes in an amplitude and/or a frequency is encoded in a vibration waveform for vibrating the vibration apparatus, thereby generating the vibration instruction data, and

in the storage of the data in the memory, every time the vibration instruction data is received, data obtained by decoding the vibration instruction data is stored in the memory.

11. The vibration control system according to claim 1, wherein

the first apparatus includes the vibration apparatus within the first apparatus.

12. The vibration control system according to claim 1, wherein

in the generation of the vibration state data, as the vibration state data, first vibration state data and second vibration state data different from the first vibration state data are generated.

13. A vibration control method for vibrating a vibration apparatus, the vibration control method comprising:

receiving vibration instruction data transmitted from another apparatus;

generating vibration state data indicating a vibration state of the vibration apparatus;

storing data related to the received vibration instruction data in a memory;

vibrating the vibration apparatus using the data stored in the memory;

transmitting the vibration state data to the other apparatus;

receiving the vibration state data in the other apparatus;

based on the received vibration state data, determining vibration instruction data to be transmitted next; and

transmitting the determined vibration instruction data from the other apparatus.

14. A vibration output apparatus for vibrating a vibration apparatus, the vibration output apparatus comprising a computer processor configured to:

receive vibration instruction data transmitted from another apparatus;

generate vibration state data indicating a vibration state of the vibration apparatus;

store data related to the received vibration instruction data in a memory;

vibrate the vibration apparatus using the data stored in the memory; and

transmit the vibration state data to the other apparatus.

15. A game controller configured to wirelessly communicate with a game apparatus, and including a vibration apparatus within the game controller, the game controller comprising a computer processor configured to:

output operation data corresponding to a user operation on the game controller;

receive, from the game apparatus through wireless communication, vibration instruction data for instructing the vibration apparatus to vibrate;

store, in a memory, data related to the vibration instruction data received from the game apparatus;

vibrate the vibration apparatus using the data stored in the memory;

using the data stored in the memory, generate vibration state data indicating a state of the data related to the vibration instruction data; and

transmit the vibration state data together with the operation data to the game apparatus through wireless communication.

16. The game controller according to claim 15, wherein

in the generation of the vibration state data, information indicating the state of the data related to the vibration instruction data stored in the memory is generated as the vibration state data.

17. The game controller according to claim 16, wherein

in the vibration of the vibration apparatus, the data related to the vibration instruction data stored in the memory to vibrate the vibration apparatus is output to the vibration apparatus, and the data is also deleted from the memory, and

in the generation of the vibration state data, information indicating a remaining amount of the data related to the vibration instruction data stored in the memory is generated as the vibration state data.

18. The game controller according to claim 16, wherein

in the generation of the vibration state data, data indicating a vibration state of the vibration apparatus at a time before the data related to the received vibration instruction data is stored in the memory is generated as the vibration state data.

19. The game controller according to claim 16, wherein

in the generation of the vibration state data, as the vibration state data, first vibration state data and second vibration state data different from the first vibration state data are generated.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a vibration output program executed by a computer included in a vibration output apparatus for vibrating a vibration apparatus, the vibration output program causing the computer to execute:

receiving vibration instruction data transmitted from another apparatus;

generating vibration state data indicating a vibration state of the vibration apparatus;

storing data related to the received vibration instruction data in a memory;

vibrating the vibration apparatus using the data stored in the memory; and

transmitting the vibration state data to the other apparatus.

21. A vibration output method executed by a processor or cooperation of a plurality of processors, the processor or the plurality of processors included in a system including at least one apparatus for vibrating a vibration apparatus, the vibration output method comprising:

receiving vibration instruction data transmitted from another apparatus;

generating vibration state data indicating a vibration state of the vibration apparatus;

storing data related to the received vibration instruction data in a memory;

vibrating the vibration apparatus using the data stored in the memory; and

transmitting the vibration state data to the other apparatus.

22. A vibration control apparatus for, in another apparatus for vibrating a vibration apparatus, controlling the vibration, the vibration control apparatus comprising a computer processor configured to:

receive vibration state data indicating a vibration state of the vibration apparatus from the other apparatus;

based on the received vibration state data, determine vibration instruction data for vibrating the vibration apparatus to be transmitted next to the other apparatus; and

transmit the determined vibration instruction data to the other apparatus.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a vibration control program executed by a computer included in a vibration control apparatus for, in another apparatus for vibrating a vibration apparatus, controlling the vibration, the vibration control program causing the computer to execute:

receiving vibration state data indicating a vibration state of the vibration apparatus from the other apparatus;

based on the received vibration state data, determining vibration instruction data for vibrating the vibration apparatus to be transmitted next to the other apparatus; and

transmitting the determined vibration instruction data to the other apparatus.

24. A vibration control method executed by a processor or cooperation of a plurality of processors, the processor or the plurality of processors included in a system including at least one apparatus for, in another apparatus for vibrating a vibration apparatus, controlling the vibration, the vibration control method comprising:

receiving vibration state data indicating a vibration state of the vibration apparatus from the other apparatus;

based on the received vibration state data, determining vibration instruction data for vibrating the vibration apparatus to be transmitted next to the other apparatus; and

transmitting the determined vibration instruction data to the other apparatus.