Game machine having a communication terminal for playing games over a network service system

• US 5,984,783 A
• Filed: 12/19/1995
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Saito, Yoshinori, Kawasaki, Kenji, Yago, Kiyotaka, Hayasaka, Hisayoshi, Tahara, Tadayuki, Imasono, Kunimasa, Kikuchi, Misao, Noma, Kenji, Kitagawa, Yasushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TZENG, FRED
• Application Number:
  US08/575,162
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/29, 463/41, 379/95, 235/380, 395/200.06, 370/409, 348/6
• US Class Current: 463/25
• 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 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• 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: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A network service system capable of providing economical services comprises a plurality of host computers connected to a network for providing services through the network and an information processing terminal connected to the network. The information processing terminal identifies a service identifier, provided in a storage medium for network service, for identifying a type of a network service when the storage medium is attached, connects the line to the host computer which corresponds to the identified service identifier and receives the network service from the line-connected host computer.

Claims

1. A game machine for playing games stored on network game modules and on stand-alone game modules comprising:

an external terminal for connecting a communication terminal unit;

an application section for attaching one of a network application medium in which an application software for network service is stored and executed when a network game module is inserted and a stand-alone application medium in which an application software for stand-along service is stored and executed when a stand-alone game module is inserted, said network application medium contains a process for discriminating whether the communication terminal unit is attached and contains a processing for connecting a line to a network and host computer by itself to carry out a processing of network services when said communication terminal unit does not have a communication application software for connecting to the host computer which provides the network service via the network; and

a processor for executing a processing related to said one of network application medium and said stand-alone application medium connected to said application section and a processing related to said external terminal being executed in linkage.

2. A game machine for playing games stored on network game modules and on stand-alone game modules comprising:

an external terminal for connecting a communication terminal unit;

an application section for attaching one of a network application medium in which an application software for network service is stored and executed when a network game module is inserted and a stand-alone application medium in which an application software for stand-along service is stored and executed when a stand-alone game module is inserted, said network application medium contains a process for discriminating whether the communication terminal unit is attached and connecting a line to said network and host computer by utilizing said communication terminal unit when said communication terminal unit has a communication application software for connecting to the host computer which provides the network service via the network; and

a processor for executing a processing related to said one of network application medium and said stand-alone application medium connected to said application section and a processing related to said external terminal being executed in linkage.