Computer game device

• US 5,547,202 A
• Filed: 12/30/1994
• Issued: 08/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Tsumura, Mihoji
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US08/367,686
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 273/439, 273/85 G
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• 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 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/493 Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• 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 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/554 by saving game or status data
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 : for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 : Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 : wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 : Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 : wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 : specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 : Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

Abstract

The invention comprises a transmission device incorporating a database holding numerous game data and a receiving device on which computer games can be played. The receiving device accepts numerous game data transmitted cyclically by the transmission device, selects and stores specified game data and is used to play the game. When the receiving device is used as a commercial game machine, it is fitted with a coin input unit. When a coin is input into the unit, key input is enabled and the game can then be played. If a game calls for more than one player, the host computer at the transmission device end controls the order of input of the terminal devices.

Claims

1. A computer game device comprising:

a host computer for storing game data, a plurality of terminal devices, and means for transmitting data between said host computer and said terminal devices, said host computer having means for registering said terminal devices as participants in a game, said terminal devices being registered in the order in which said terminal devices accessed said host computer, said terminal devices including means for accessing said host computer and means for registering as a participant in said host computer register, said host computer further including means for transmitting said game data to one of said registered terminal devices when a predetermined number of said terminal devices have been registered and, means for accepting uploaded play data from one of said registered terminal devices, and means for transmitting said play data along with said game data to a subsequent one of said registered terminal devices.

2. The computer game device of claim 1 wherein said means for transmitting data from said host computer to said terminal devices is a satellite, said means for transmitting data from said terminal devices to said host computer is telephone lines.

3. The computer game device of claim 1 wherein said transmitting means is telephone lines.

4. The computer game device of claim 1 wherein said host computer disconnects an incoming communication line from any terminal device which has accessed and registered in said host computer register, until a predetermined number of registrations have been made, when said predetermined number of registrations have been made, said host computer transmits a prescribed message to each of said registered terminal devices.