Cartridge, game machine and bi-directional communication type game system
First Claim
1. A cartridge for connecting a portable game machine to a TV game machine, comprising:
- a case with a first connection terminal for connection to the TV game machine and a second connection terminal for connection to the portable game machine, wherein the case further comprises;
a bus for connecting the first and the second connection terminals;
an interface connected to the bus for enabling bi-directional communication between the portable game machine and the TV game machine;
a ROM connected to the bus for storing a program content of a prescribed game; and
a RAM for storing saved data to be added to the content of the game.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A game which two or more players can play, such as cards and mahjong, is played by connecting a home TV game machine with portable game machines having displays, where images for a common field are displayed on the TV, and private hands of a player, which should be concealed from the other players, are displayed only on a display of the player'"'"'s local machine so that strategies an actual game is enjoyed.
A plurality of portable game machines with displays are connected via a cartridge to a home TV game machine to which a ROM cassette is inserted for playing a game. The cartridge of which one end is inserted to the portable game machine for connection has a connection terminal on the other end, and the connection terminal and a controller connection terminal of the home TV game machine are connected with a communication cable. The cartridge houses a ROM having built-in software, and an interface to enable bi-directional communication of data and S-RAM for storing data so that bi-directional communication between the home TV game machine and the portable game machine is possible. The ROM cassette has a built-in master software for displaying images which all players can see, and the cartridge has a built-in slave software for displaying a player'"'"'s private hand only on the display of the local machine.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A cartridge for connecting a portable game machine to a TV game machine, comprising:
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a case with a first connection terminal for connection to the TV game machine and a second connection terminal for connection to the portable game machine, wherein the case further comprises;
a bus for connecting the first and the second connection terminals;
an interface connected to the bus for enabling bi-directional communication between the portable game machine and the TV game machine;
a ROM connected to the bus for storing a program content of a prescribed game; and
a RAM for storing saved data to be added to the content of the game. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
a selector for selectively connecting the RAM to at least one of the first connection terminal for the TV game machine and the second connection terminal for the portable game machine;
a state register for storing the selected state of the selector;
a buffer for relaying the content of the state register to the first connection terminal for the TV game machine and the second connection terminal for the portable game machine;
a data register for temporarily storing such data as image display instructions and voice output instructions which are input from the first connection terminal for the TV game machine, outputting the data to the second connection terminal for the portable game machine, temporarily storing such data as input information of a control system which is input from the second connection terminal for the portable game machine, and outputting the data to the first connection terminal for the TV game machine; and
a decoder connected to the first and second connection terminals for decoding signals which are input from the first connection terminal for the TV game machine and the second connection terminal for the portable game machine respectively, and generating control signals to be sent to the RAM, the selector, the state register, the data register and the buffer respectively.
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3. A game machines comprising:
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the cartridge according to claim 1;
the portable game machine wherein the cartridge is detachably set; and
a communicator that connects the portable game machine to the TV game machine via the cartridge.
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4. A game machines comprising:
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the cartridge according to claim 2;
the portable game machine wherein the cartridge is detachably set; and
a communicator that connects the portable game machine to the TV game machine via the cartridge.
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5. A bi-directional communication type game system, comprising:
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at least one portable game machine;
a TV game machine to which the at least one the portable game machine is able to be connected;
the cartridge according to claim 1 being detachably set to the portable game machine;
a cassette containing a program content of a game for the TV game machine to be linked to the program content stored in the ROM provided in the cartridge to provide bi-directional communication between the portable game machine and the TV game machine, the cassette being detachably set to the TV game machine; and
a communicator that connects the portable game machine to the TV game machine via the cartridge.
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6. A bi-directional communication type game system, comprising:
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at least one portable game machine;
a TV game machine to which the at least one the portable game machine is able to be connected;
the cartridge according to claim 2 being detachably set to the portable game machine;
a cassette containing a program content of a game for the TV game machine to be linked to the program content stored in the ROM provided in the cartridge to provide bi-directional communication between the portable game machine and the TV game machine, the cassette being detachably set to the TV game machine; and
a communicator which connects the portable game machine to the TV game machine via the cartridge.
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Specification