Image processing apparatus

• US 6,146,275 A
• Filed: 10/17/1997
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD.
• Original Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD.
• Inventors: Suzuki, Toshinori, Asai, Toshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BINH AN DUC
• Application Number:
  US08/875,683
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 463/31, 463/32, 463/1, 463/40, 700/91, 700/92, 345/121, 345/131, 345/133, 345/132
• US Class Current: 463/31
• 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 13/5375 for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6018 where the game content is authored by the player, e.g. level editor or by game device at runtime, e.g. level is created from music data on CD
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44 Arrangements for executing specific programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/00 General purpose image data processing

Abstract

An image processing apparatus capable of displaying guidance and of setting the operating environment for an application program when the capability of a computer system is different from the operating environment expected by the application program. The image processing apparatus comprises: a CD-ROM drive 8 for loading an application program; a main processing unit 2 for forming graphic signals by executing the application program; and a display 3 for displaying the graphic signals. The main processing unit comprises: a determining unit 211 for determining whether or not the main processing unit 2 has provided the operating environment expected by the application program; a display control unit 212 for displaying guidance on the display 3 based on the results of the determination of the determining unit 211; and a setting unit 213 for allowing the operating environment of the application program to be set by the main processing unit 2.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus equipped with means for allowing an application program to be adapted, and a main processing unit for forming graphic signals by executing the application program, said graphic signals from the main processing unit being displayed on a display means, wherein the main processing unit comprises:

determining means for determining whether or not the main processing unit has provided the operating environment expected by the application program; and

output control means for outputting guidance basic on the results of determination by said determining means;

wherein said guidance contains a plurality of options for user'"'"'s changing operation to change load for executing the application program.

2. An image processing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the main processing unit further comprises:

setting means for allowing the operating environment of the application program to be set by the main processing unit; and

operating means for allowing operations to be added to said setting means based on guidance.

3. An image processing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said determining means comprises means for determining whether or not the number of display frames formed from said graphic signals from the main processing unit is the same as the number of display frames expected by the application program.

4. An image processing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the guidance is a warning display for displaying the current number of display frames per a certain period of time and the expected number of display frames per said period of time.

5. An image processing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the application program is a game program.

6. A medium in which is recorded a program for activating a computer system as an image processing apparatus as defined in claim 1.

7. An image processing apparatus equipped with means for allowing an application program to be adapted to a general-purpose computer, and a main processing unit for forming graphic signals by executing the application program, said graphic signals from the main processing unit being displayed on a display means, wherein the main processing unit comprises:

determining means for determining whether or not the main processing unit has provided the operating environment expected by the application program; and

output control means for outputting guidance based on the results of determination by said determining means;

wherein the guidance is a warning display for displaying the current number of display frames per a certain period of time and the expected number of display frames per said period of time.