Systems and methods for providing security in a video game system

• US 6,394,905 B1
• Filed: 09/12/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Kato, Shuhei, Takeda, Genyo, Nishiumi, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): PARADISO, JOHN ROGER
• Application Number:
  US09/660,586
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29,36,43,44,45,46,47
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/843 involving concurrently two or more players on the same game device, e.g. requiring the use of a plurality of controllers or of a specific view of game data for each player
• 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 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 : User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/51 : at application loading time, e.g. accepting, rejecting, starting or inhibiting executable software based on integrity or source reliability
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 : in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/85 : interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0382 : Plural input, i.e. interface arrangements in which a plurality of input device of the same type are in communication with a PC
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2109 : Game systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 : Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 : Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/10 : Geometric effects

Abstract

A video game system includes a game cartridge which is pluggably attached to a main console having a main processor, a 3D graphics generating coprocessor, expandable main memory and player controllers. A multifunctional peripheral processing subsystem external to the game microprocessor and coprocessor is described which executes commands for handling player controller input/output to thereby lessen the processing burden on the graphics processing subsystem. The player controller processing subsystem is used for both controlling player controller input/output processing and for performing game authenticating security checks continuously during game play. The peripheral interface includes a micro-processor for controlling various peripheral interface functions, a read/write random access memory, a boot ROM, a coprocessor command channel interface, a player controller channel interface, etc., which components interact to efficiently process player controller commands while also performing other important functions without requiring significant main processor processing time. A peripheral interface macro may be executed to start a read or write transaction with each peripheral device and thereafter transfer the transaction results stored in the random access memory to the game microprocessor main memory. The peripheral interface performs security in addition to input/output functions. The peripheral interface interacts with a security microprocessor chip within an external storage unit. The video game system authenticates the security microprocessor chip, and also authenticates the video game program stored on a storage medium within the external storage unit.

Claims

1. A method of operating a video game system comprising:

inserting a portable device at least partially within the system to thereby allow the system to read from the portable device;

transmitting data signals between the portable device and the system via a bus conductive pathway;

generating, with the system, three-dimensional images for display at least in part in response to the transmitted data signals; and

authenticating the portable device through use of an authenticating processor.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein said portable device includes a memory storing at least some security information, and the authenticating step is performed based at least in part on the security information stored by the memory.

3. A method of claim 1 wherein said authenticating processor includes an internal read-only memory storing a security program and an authentication code, and the authenticating step includes executing said security program and verifying the authentication code.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said authentication processor stores security information that corresponds to information stored by the portable device.

5. A method of claim 1 wherein the authenticating step includes authenticating at least some contents of a memory within the portable device.

6. A method of claim 1 wherein the authenticating step includes transforming at least a portion of information provided by the portable device.

7. A method of claim 1 wherein the authenticating step includes testing for correspondence between at least one characteristic of the authentication processor and at least one characteristic of information provided by the portable device.

8. A method of claim 1 wherein the authenticating step includes cooperating with a further authenticating processor to authenticate information stored by the portable device.

9. A method of claim 1 wherein the authenticating step includes storing an authentication code on an authentication key.

10. A method of claim 1 wherein the portable device stores an authentication code, and the authenticating step includes testing the authentication code based at least in part of information said authentication processor supplies to said system.

11. A method of claim 1 wherein the authentication processor supplies an authentication code to the system, and the authenticating step includes independently developing a corresponding authentication code within the system.

12. The method of claim 1 further including:

providing, within said portable device, a semiconductor device capable of supplying at least some 3-D display instructions, at least some audio instructions, and an authentication code, a cryptographic checksum being derivable from said authentication code; and

providing a mechanism for electrically coupling said semiconductor device to said system.

13. The method of claim 1 further including providing, within said portable device, a storage device including:

a first storage section that stores an at least partially self-authenticating 3D display program; and

a second storage section that stores the results of a one-way transformation of at least a part of said display program.