Apparatus and method for executing a game program having advertisements therein

• US 5,946,664 A
• Filed: 06/27/1996
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ebisawa, Kan
• Primary Examiner(s): MacDonald, Allen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRECCA, MICHELE S
• Application Number:
  US08/672,116
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 364/410, 364/412
• US Class Current: 705/14.5
• 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 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• 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 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• 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 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/208 Use of an ATM as a switch or hub
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/40 Arrangements for broadcast specially adapted for accumulation-type receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/25 Arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/375 : Commercial
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 : Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

A game system which is operable to update advertisements that are displayed when a game program is executed. The system stores a game program in a memory, receives (i.e., downloads), at predetermined times of operation, for example, on each new day the game program is executed or each time the game program is executed, updated advertising data that relates to at least one advertisement, stores the received advertising data in the memory, executes the game program stored in the memory, and outputs during the execution of the game program display data which corresponds to the stored advertisement data in accordance with the game program code. Further, instead of downloading new advertisements, plural advertisements may be prestored with the game program and only advertisement selection codes are downloaded to update the advertisements that are displayed when the game program is executed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for executing a game program having advertisements therein, comprising:

storage means for storing a game program;

means for receiving advertising data relating to at least one advertisement, and wherein said storage means stores the received advertising data; and

program execution means for executing said game program stored in said storage means and outputting display data incorporating the advertisement data stored in said storage means within an original display data generated by said game program.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for receiving receives new advertising data each new day on which said game program is executed.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for receiving receives new advertising data each time said game program is executed.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for turning on said apparatus;

and wherein said means for receiving receives new advertising data each time said apparatus is turned on.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for receiving receives advertising data relating to a plurality of advertisements;

and said program execution means outputs display data incorporating each of said plurality of advertisements at respective times within said original display data generated by said game program.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for receiving receives said game program with said advertising data when said game program is executed a first time;

and said storage means stores said game program received by said means for receiving.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for receiving receives said game program with said advertising data when said game program is not stored in said storage means;

and said storage means stores said game program received by said means for receiving.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting to a game service provider a game identification code identifying the game program to be executed, and wherein said means for receiving receives from the game service provider advertising data corresponding to the game program identified by said game identification code.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for receiving receives a plurality of advertising data corresponding to a plurality of game programs;

and said storage means stores the received advertising data corresponding to the game program to be executed by said program execution means.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said new advertisement data received by said means for receiving may be the same or different from the advertisement data previously received by said means for receiving and stored in said storage means.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for receiving receives said advertising data from a game transmitting system over a transmission line.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for receiving receives said advertising data from a satellite transmission.

52. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for receiving receives new advertisement data at predetermined times.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, further comprising means for inhibiting said program execution means from executing said game program when said means for receiving does not receive advertisement data at said predetermined times.

13. An apparatus for executing a game program having advertisements therein, comprising:

storage means for storing a game program and advertising data relating to a plurality of advertisements;

means for receiving at predetermined times advertising selection data identifying selected ones of said plurality of advertisements stored in said storage means; and

program execution means for executing said game program stored in said storage means and outputting display data incorporating the selected advertisements identified in said advertising selection data at respective times within an original display data generated by said game program.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said means for receiving receives new advertising selection data each new day on which said game program is executed.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said means for receiving receives new advertising selection data each time said game program is executed.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for turning on said apparatus;

and wherein said means for receiving receives new advertising selection data each time said apparatus is turned on.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said means for receiving receives advertising selection data identifying plural ones of said plurality of advertisements;

and said program execution means outputs display data incorporating each of the identified advertisements at respective times within said original display data generated by said game program.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for inhibiting said program execution means from executing said game program when said means for receiving does not receive advertisement selection data at said predetermined times.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said means for receiving receives said game program and said advertising data with said advertising selection data when said game program is executed a first time;

and said storage means stores the received game program and advertising data.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said means for receiving receives said game program and said advertising data with said advertising selection data when said game program and advertising data is not stored in said storage means;

and said storage means stores the received game program and advertising data.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for transmitting to a game service provider a game identification code identifying the game program to be executed, and wherein said means for receiving receives from the game service provider advertising selection data corresponding to the game program identified by said game identification code.

22. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said means for receiving receives a plurality of advertising selection data corresponding to a plurality of game programs;

and said program execution means displays data incorporating the selected advertisements identified in the advertising selection data within said original display data generated by the executed game program.

23. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said advertisement selection data received by said means for receiving may be the same or different from the advertisement selection data previously received by said means for receiving.

24. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said means for receiving receives said advertising selection data over a transmission line from a game transmitting system.

25. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said means for receiving receives said advertising data from a satellite transmission.

26. A method of executing a game program having advertisements therein, comprising the steps of:

storing a game program in memory;

receiving advertising data relating to at least one advertisement at predetermined times;

storing the received advertising data in the memory;

executing the game program stored in the memory; and

outputting display data incorporating the advertisement data stored in the memory within an original display data generated by the game program.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving new advertising data each new day on which the game program is executed.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving new advertising data each time the game program is executed.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of turning on a game system which executes the game program;

and wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving new advertising data each time the game system is turned on.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving advertising data relating to a plurality of advertisements;

and said step of outputting is carried out by outputting display data incorporating each of the plurality of advertisements at respective times within said original displav data generated by the game program.

31. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of inhibiting the game program from being executed when advertisement data is not received at the predetermined times.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving the game program with the advertising data when the game program is executed a first time.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving the game program with the advertising data when the game program is not stored in the memory.

34. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of transmitting to a game service provider a game identification code identifying the game program to be executed;

and wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving from the game service provider advertising data corresponding to the game program identified by the game identification code.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving a plurality of advertising data corresponding to a plurality of game programs;

and said step of outputting is carried out by outputting display data incorporating the advertisement data within said original display data generated by the game program that is executed.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein the received advertisement data may be the same or different from advertisement data previously received by said step of receiving.

37. The method of claim 26, wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving the advertising data from a game transmitting system over a transmission line.

38. The method of claim 26, wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving the advertising data from a satellite transmission.

39. A method of executing a game program having advertisements therein, comprising the steps of:

storing a game program and advertising data relating to a plurality of advertisements in a memory;

receiving at predetermined times advertising selection data identifying selected ones of the plurality of advertisements stored in the memory;

executing the game program stored in the memory; and

outputting display data incorporating the selected advertisements identified in the advertising selection data at respective times within an original display data generated by the game program.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving new advertising selection data each new day on which the game program is executed.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving new advertising selection data each time the game program is executed.

42. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of turning on a game system which executes the game program;

and wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving new advertising selection data each time the game system is turned on.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving advertising selection data identifying plural ones of the plurality of advertisements;

and said step of outputting is carried out by outputting display data incorporating each of the identified advertisements at respective times within said original display data generated by the game program.

44. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of inhibiting the game program from being executed when advertisement selection data is not received at the predetermined times.

45. The method of claim 39, wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving the game program and the advertising data with the advertising selection data when the game program is executed a first time;

and said step of storing is carried out by storing the received game program and advertising data.

46. The method of claim 39, wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving the game program and the advertising data with the advertising selection data when the game program and advertising data are not stored in the memory;

and said step of storing is carried out by storing the received game program and advertising data.

47. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of transmitting to a game service provider a game identification code identifying the game program to be executed;

and wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving from the game service provider advertising selection data corresponding to the game program identified by the game identification code.

48. The method of claim 39, wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving a plurality of advertising selection data corresponding to a plurality of game programs;

and said step of outputting is carried out by outputting display data incorporating the selected advertisements identified in the advertising selection data within said original display data generated by the executed game program.

49. The method of claim 39, wherein the received advertisement selection data may be the same or different from advertisement selection data previously received by said step of receiving.

50. The method of claim 39, wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving the advertising selection data over a transmission line from a game transmitting system.

51. The method of claim 39, wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving the advertising data from a satellite transmission.