Security systems and methods for a videographics and authentication game/program fabricating device

• US 5,599,231 A
• Filed: 10/31/1994
• Issued: 02/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Hibino, Toshiro, Yamato, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHAAF, JAMES CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US08/332,812
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 273/434, 273/435, 273/437, 273/460, 273/148 B, 364/410, 380/4
• 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 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• 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 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/201 Playing authorisation given at platform level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/123 by using dedicated hardware, e.g. dongles, smart cards, cryptographic processors, global positioning systems [GPS] devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2109 Game systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect

Abstract

A videographics/video game fabricating system includes a multiprocessor based game processor console which includes a main central processing unit (CPU) which controls editing operations and operating system task execution and a game CPU for executing the model video game which is loaded into a pluggable RAM cartridge. The model video game provides a starting point from which a user can readily create an original video game including desired aspects of the model software. The system includes security features to prevent unauthorized use and copying of proprietary data and program software files. The security features include a unique ID card for insertion into the system console having stored ID DATA corresponding to matching ID DATA associated with certain files stored on floppy disks. In addition, the ID card and a game cartridge may include customized security circuits that authenticate one another.

Claims

1. A method for restricting the playing and copying of video games to authorized users, wherein users have access to interactive computer systems having a display screen, an identification device interface, a removable disk drive and a game cartridge interface, comprising the following steps:

a. initially inhibiting the computer systems from copying or editing game program files;

b. reading an identification code stored on an identification device inserted into the identification device interface of one of said computer systems;

c. comparing the identification code read from the identification device to an identification code read from a game program file stored on a removable disk inserted in the removable disk drive of the computer system receiving the identification device in step (b);

d. if a predetermined relationship exists between the identification codes read from the identification device and from the game program file stored on the removable disk, enabling the computer system receiving the identification device in step (b) to copy and edit the game program file;

e. editing the game program file to create an edited game program derived from the game program file;

f. authenticating a game cartridge inserted in the game cartridge interface of the computer system receiving the identification device in step (b) and, if the game cartridge is authentic, copying at least a portion of the edited game program to the game cartridge; and

g. playing the edited game program stored on the authenticated game cartridge on any of the computer systems, regardless of whether the computer system receiving the authenticated game cartridge is enabled to copy and edit the game program file in step (d).

2. A method for restricting the play and copying of video games as in claim 1 further comprising step (h) of inhibiting the playing of game program if the game cartridge is not authenticated in step (f).

3. A method for restricting the playing and copying of video games as in claim 2 wherein step (b) further includes authenticating the identification device through the execution of security programs executed by matching security circuits in the identification device and identification device interface.

4. A method for restricting the play and copying of video games to authorized users of an interactive computer system having a display screen, an identification device interface, a removable disk drive and a game cartridge interface, comprising the following steps:

a. reading an identification code stored on an identification device inserted into the identification device interface;

b. comparing the identification code read from the identification device to an identification code read from a related game program file stored on a removable disk inserted in the removable disk drive;

c. enabling the computer system to copy the game program file, if a predetermined relationship exists between the identification codes read from the identification device and from the related game program filed stored on the removable disk;

d. editing the game program file to create an edited game program derived from the game program file;

e. authenticating a game cartridge inserted in the game cartridge interface and, if the game cartridge is authentic, copying at least a portion of the edited game program to the game cartridge;

f. playing the edited game program stored on the game cartridge; and

g. inhibiting the editing of the game program file in step (d) if the identification codes do not match in step (c) while permitting game play if the game cartridge is authenticated in step (e).

5. A videographics program editing system for use in editing and playing new interactive videographics programs for generating displays on a display screen having a computer comprising:

a first processor operable to execute a videographics program stored in a program cartridge, said first processor being inhibited from executing a videographics program until the program cartridge is authenticated by a security circuit associated with the first processor;

a second processor operable to edit the videographics program to be stored in the first processor, said second processor being inhibited from generating displays until an authentic ID card is inserted in the program editing system.

6. A videographics program editing system as is in claim 5 wherein said second processor matches an ID code associated with data and program files stored on an external disk with an ID code stored in the ID card before copying the files.

7. A videographics program editing system as in claim 5 wherein said first processor is operable to execute the videographics program stored in the game cartridge regardless whether the second processor is inhibited from generating displays.

8. A videographics program editing system as in claim 5 wherein said first processor communicates with said second processor.

9. A videographics program editing system for use in editing and playing new interactive videographics programs for generating displays on a display screen comprising:

a first processor operable to execute a videographics program stored in a program cartridge, said first processor being inhibited from executing a videographics program until the program cartridge is authenticated by a security circuit associated with the first processor;

a second processor operable to edit the videographics program to be stored in the first processor, said second processor being inhibited from generating displays until an authentic ID card is inserted in the program editing system, and

wherein said first processor and said second processor communicate via a gate array.

10. A method for restricting the displaying and copying of videographics to authorized users of an interactive computer system having a display screen, an identification device interface, a memory drive device and a read only videographics program storage interface, comprising the following steps:

a. reading an identification code stored on an identification device inserted into the identification device interface;

b. comparing the identification code read from the identification device to an identification code read from a related videographics program file stored on a memory unit inserted in the memory drive device;

c. if a predetermined relationship exists between the identification codes stored in the identification device and memory unit, enabling the computer system to copy the videographics program file,

d. editing the videographics program file to create an edited videographics program derived from the videographics program file;

e. authenticating a videographics program storage device inserted in the videographics program storage interface and, if the videographics storage device is authentic, copying at least a portion of the edited videographics program to the videographics storage device, and

f. executing the portion of the edited videographics program stored in the videographics storage device to display videographics generated by the edited videographics program, regardless of whether a predetermined relationship was found to exist in step (c).

11. A method for restricting the displaying and copying of videographics as in claim 10 further comprising step (g) of inhibiting the displaying of the videographics if the videographics storage device is not authenticated in step (e).

12. A method for restricting the displaying and copying of videographics as in claim 10 wherein step (a) further includes authenticating the identification device through the execution of security programs executed by matching security circuits in the identification device and identification device interface.

13. A method for restricting the displaying and copying of video games to authorized users of a computer system having a display screen, an identification device interface, a memory drive device and a read only videographics program storage interface, comprising the following steps:

a. reading an identification code stored on an identification device inserted into the identification device interface;

b. comparing the identification code read from the identification device to an identification code read from a related videographics program file stored on a memory unit inserted in the memory drive device;

c. if a predetermined relationship exists between the identification codes stored in the identification device and memory unit, enabling the computer system to copy the videographics program file, and

d. editing the videographics program file to create a videographics program derived from the videographics program file,

e. authenticating a read only videographics program storage device inserted in the videographics program storage interface and, if the videographics storage device is authentic, copying at least a portion of the videographics to the videographics storage device,

f. displaying the videographics, and

g. inhibiting the editing of videographics in step (d) if the identification codes do not match in step (c) while permitting the display of videographics if the videographics storage device is authenticated in step (e).

14. A videographics computer for editing, copying and displaying videographics on a display comprising:

a. a first processor for editing and copying a videographics program stored on a removable disk inserted into a removable disk drive operatively coupled to said first processor;

b. an ID-card interface for inhibiting said first processor from editing or copying the program stored on the removable disk until an ID-card having an ID-code matching an ID-code associated with the program is inserted in said interface and the ID-card;

c. a second processor for executing the videographics program and generating videographics display signals, and incapable of editing or copying the program, and

d. a housing containing the first and second processors.

15. A videographics computer system as in claim 14 wherein said first processor copies the program to memory unit, and said second processor executes the program by reading the program from the memory unit.

16. A videographics computer system as in claim 15 wherein said memory unit includes an authentication circuit that is authenticated by a corresponding authentication unit associated with said second processor, and said second processors executes programs only after the memory unit is authenticated.

17. A videographics computer system as in claim 16 wherein the memory unit is a cartridge.

18. A videographics computer system as in claim 14 wherein the videographics program is a video game program.

19. A videographics program editing system for use in editing and playing new interactive videographics programs for generating displays on a display screen having a computer comprising:

a first processor operable to execute a videographics program stored in a program cartridge, said first processor being inhibited from executing a videographics program until the program cartridge is authenticated by a security circuit associated with the first processor;

a second processor operable to edit the videographics program to be stored in the first processor, said second processor being inhibited from generating displays from the execution of the videographics program until an authentic ID card is inserted in the program editing system.

20. A videographics program editing system as is in claim 19 wherein said second processor matches an ID code associated with data and program files stored on an external disk with an ID code stored in the ID card before copying the files.

21. A videographics program editing system as in claim 19 wherein said first processor is operable to execute the videographics program stored in the game cartridge regardless of whether the second processor is inhibited from generating displays.

22. A videographics program editing system as in claim 19 wherein said first processor communicates with said second processor.

23. A videographics program editing system as in claim 22 wherein said processors communicate via a gate array.

24. A videographics program editing system for use in editing and playing new interactive videographics programs for generating displays on a display screen having a computer comprising:

a first processor operable to execute a videographics program stored in a program cartridge, said first processor being inhibited from executing a videographics program until the program cartridge is authenticated by a security circuit associated with the first processor;

a second processor operable to edit the videographics program to be stored in the first processor, said second processor being inhibited from executing the videographics program until an authentic ID card is inserted in the program editing system.

25. A videographics program editing system as is in claim 24 wherein said second processor matches an ID code associated with data and program files stored on an external disk with an ID code stored in the ID card before copying the files.

26. A videographics program editing system as in claim 24 wherein said first processor is operable to execute the videographics program stored in the game cartridge regardless of whether the second processor is inhibited from generating displays.

27. A videographics program editing system as in claim 24 wherein said first processor communicates with said second processor.

28. A videographics program editing system as in claim 27 wherein said processors communicate via a gate array.