Communication method and communication apparatus

• US 6,398,649 B1
• Filed: 04/21/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sugaya, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/553,768
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/30-31, 463/36-38, 463/40, 463/42, 700/91, 700/92, 273/148.B, 273/148.R, 709/200, 709/201, 340/286.01, 340/286.02, 340/323.R, 340/825, 340/825.06, 340/825.14, 340/825.2
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet

Abstract

Connection used when a video game is executed among several persons is simplified, by a communication apparatus that includes a execution unit (10), a number of display units (21A, 22A, . . . ) for displaying a video image based on the program executed by the execution unit (10), a number of operation units (21B, 22B, . . . ) for instructing execution of the game program in the execution unit, and a communication control unit (11) for performing data communication between the execution unit, the display units, and the operation units, defining predetermined frame cycles as data communication states, setting a period in which isochronous transfer is performed in each frame cycle and a period in which asynchronous transfer is performed in each frame cycle, performing communication in divided slots for transmitting video data to the respective display units in the period in which isochronous transfer is performed in each frame cycle, and independently communicating operation data from the respective operation units by the respective slots in the period in which asynchronous transfer is performed in each frame cycle.

Claims

1. A communication method comprising the steps of:

communicating game program execution means for executing a game program having at least a video image with a plurality of display means and a plurality of operation means through a predetermined interface;

setting, for communication between the interface, the respective display means, and the respective operation means, a first period in which isochronous transfer is performed and a second period in which asynchronous transfer is performed every predetermined cycle;

dividing the first period in which isochronous transfer is performed into regions for transmitting video data to the respective display means to independently execute transmitting operations;

transmitting operation data from the respective operation means in the respective regions in the period in which asynchronous transfer is performed; and

causing the display means and the operation means to independently communicate with the game program execution means by using a same communication path and performing independent operations in the respective operation means and independent display operations in the respective display means for a game program executed by the game program execution means.

2. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein

each respective display means receives and decodes only video data of a region allocated to a corresponding display means.

3. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein

the step of communicating between the interface, the respective display means, and the respective operation means is presented by wireless communication.

4. A communication apparatus comprising:

game program execution means for executing a game program having at least a video image;

a plurality of display means for displaying a video image based on the game program executed by the game program execution means;

a plurality of operation means for instructing execution of the game program in the game program execution means; and

communication control means for controlling data communication between the game program execution means, the plurality of display means, and the plurality of operation means, for controlling communication in a predetermined cycle as a data communication state, for setting a first period in which isochronous transfer is performed in the cycle and a second period in which asynchronous transfer is performed in the cycle, for performing communication in divided regions for transmitting video data to the respective display means in the first period in which isochronous transfer is performed, and independently communicating operation data from the respective operation means in the second period in which asynchronous transfer is performed.

5. The communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

each respective display means receives and decodes only video data of a region transmitted from the communication control means and allocated to the corresponding display means.

6. The communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the communication control means controls radio communication between the game program execution means, the respective display means, and the respective operation means.