Portable interactive game system between master/slave units containing detachable memories wherein a master unit downloads a master program to slave units respective detachable memories

• US 5,428,528 A
• Filed: 08/28/1991
• Issued: 06/27/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wakamoto, Setsunobu, Takenouchi, Norio, Masui, Katsuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Sang Hui
• Application Number:
  US07/750,865
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• Field of Search: 273/473, 273/237, 273/269, 273/138, 395/200, 395/275, 395/200, 364/410, 364/411, 364/412
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers

Abstract

A communication processing system provided with one parent communication unit, at least one child communication unit, and at least one first detachable unit detachable from the at least one child unit, the system being operated in accordance with an operation program stored in a second detachable unit detachable from the parent unit, includes a transfer unit for transferring the operation program to the at least one child unit, a first storage unit for storing the operation program transferred from the parent unit by the transfer unit when the second detachable unit is mounted on the parent unit, the first storage unit being provided in the first detachable unit, and a second storage unit for storing a receiving program for receiving data sent from the parent unit, the second storage unit being provided in the first detachable unit. The first storage unit is provided in the first detachable unit. The second storage unit is provided in the first detachable unit.

Claims

1. A communication processing system for coordinating play of an interactive, plural player game, comprising:

a portable parent communication game unit having a parent processor and a first detachable memory for storing an interactive, plural player game program including game instructions and game data and a transfer program for transferring the interactive, plural player game program to another game unit, said game and transfer programs being executed by the parent processor;

a portable child communication game unit connected to the parent game unit via an electric cable and having a child processor and a second detachable memory for storing a receiving program for receiving and storing the interactive, plural player game program transferred from the parent game unit, the receiving and game programs being executed by the child processor;

wherein when the communication processing system is activated and the first and second detachable memories are inserted into the parent and child communication game units, respectively, the parent processor permits the parent game unit to transfer the interactive, plural player game program to the second detachable memory of the child game unit in accordance with the transfer program and the child processor permits the child game unit to receive and store the interactive, plural player game program transferred in the second detachable memory in accordance with the receiving program, and wherein the parent and child processors both execute the interactive, plural player game program to permit a player interactively operating the parent communication game unit and another player interactively operating the child communication game unit to participate in an interactive, plural player game.

2. The communication processing system according to claim 1, wherein only the first detachable memory permanently stores the interactive, plural player game program.

3. The communication processing system according to claim 1, further comprising:

plural child communication game units connected to the parent game unit, each child communications game unit having a corresponding second detachable memory.

4. The communication processing system according to claim 1, wherein each of the parent and child game units is held in a player'"'"'s hand during game play.

5. The communication processing system according to claim 1, wherein the parent and child game units each further include a display and keys operable by a player to simultaneously participate in the interactive, plural player game.