Data communication method for game system

• US 6,406,371 B1
• Filed: 08/03/2000
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
• Inventors: Horita, Eiji, Miyazaki, Hiroyuki, Baba, Yasuhito
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones, Scott E.
• Application Number:
  US09/631,937
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42-44, 463/1, 700/91-92
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 13/335 using Internet
• 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 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/828 Managing virtual sport teams
• 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 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8052 Ball team management

Abstract

Double registration or improper registration of the data of participating teams is prevented in an online-participation game system. Provided is a data communication method for game systems in which game meets are carried out by sending transmission files including data of each team to a server from each of a plurality of game terminal devices, and by thus simulating a competition among the teams, the above-mentioned method comprising: a process wherein the game terminal devices generate transmission files including an identification code (login ID) and game data and send the files to the server; and a process wherein the server checks the identification code of the transmission files received and appends the transmission files received to a registration file for the game meet, in the case when the files do not comprise identification codes identical to those in the accepted transmission file group.

Claims

1. A data communication method for games using a network comprising:

storing in a first storage means of a game terminal device a first identification code assigned in advance to each game terminal device and a second identification code assigned by a server or a network;

storing in a removable second storage means a game data file that includes at least said first identification code; and

forming a transmission data file including said second identification code and communicating the transmission data file over the network based on a condition that said first identification code of the game data file stored in said second storage means matches said first identification code stored in said first storage means.

2. The data communication method for games using a network, according to claim 1, wherein said first identification code includes a unique number of the game terminal device, and said second identification code includes a login ID.

3. The data communication method for games using a network, according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first and second storage means each include a memory card and said second storage means is portable.

14. A program or a storage medium stored with the program, for making at least one of said server and said game terminal perform the data communication method described in one of claims 1, 2, 4, 5, or 7.

15. The game terminal device or the server configured for performing the data communication method described in one of claims 1, 2, 4, 5, or 7.

4. A data communication method for game systems wherein transmission files including game data are sent to a server from each of a plurality of game terminal devices and competitions are carried out on the server based on the transmission files, comprising:

generating in said game terminal devices transmission files which include unique identification codes and game data and sending the files to said server; and

checking, at said server when the unique identification codes in the transmission files do not include identification codes identical to those identification codes previously appended to an accepted transmission file group, the unique identification codes in the transmission files and appending the transmission files to the accepted transmission file group.

6. The data communication method, according to claim 4 or 5, comprising:

performing competitions based on each transmission file in said accepted transmission file group and disclosing a plurality of results of the competitions;

requesting acquisition at said game terminal devices of the transmission files in said transmission file group from said server; and

writing data prohibiting adding said corresponding transmission files to said accepted transmission file group and sending the transmission files to said game terminal devices.

8. The data communication method, according to claim 4 or 7, wherein said identification codes include one of a game device production number, E-mail address, log-in ID or password.

5. A data communication method for game systems wherein transmission files including game data are sent to a server from each of a plurality of game terminal devices and competitions are carried out on the server based on the transmission files, comprising:

generating in each game terminal device transmission files including said game data; and

checking whether the transmission files store information prohibiting registrations and when the information prohibiting registrations are not stored, appending the transmission files to an accepted transmission file group.

7. A data communication method for game systems wherein a plurality of game terminal devices sends transmission files including game data to a server, and the server performs competitions based on the transmission files, comprising:

generating at said game terminal devices transmission files including unique identification codes and game data, and sending the transmission files to said server;

checking, at said server when the transmission files do not include identification codes identical to those in the registration file, the identification codes in the transmission files and appending the transmission files to a registration file comprised of identification codes including an accepted transmission file group and registration prohibiting information;

performing at said server a competition based on the transmission files registered in said registration file and disclosing a result of the competition;

requesting acquisition at said game terminal devices of the transmission files from said server; and

writing registration prohibiting information to the corresponding transmission files and sending the transmission files to said game terminal devices.

9. A data communication method for game systems wherein a plurality of game terminal devices send transmission files including game data to a server and the server performs a plurality of competitions based on the transmission;

files, the method comprising;

performing at the server a plurality of said competitions at the same time and storing final results and intermediate results based on the plurality of competitions; and

providing each of said plurality of game terminal devices with said final and intermediate results of the competitions at predetermined time intervals.

10. A data communication system for game systems, comprising:

a plurality of game terminal devices configured to send transmission files; and

a server for performing a plurality of competitions based on the transmission files,

wherein said server includes

a game performance means for carrying out the plurality of said competitions at the same time,

a storage means for storing final results and intermediate results of the plurality of competitions, and

a data providing means for providing each of the plurality of game terminal devices with said final and intermediate results of the plurality of competitions at a predetermined time interval.

11. The data communication system, according to claim 10, wherein said game performance means carries out a plurality of said competitions at one time and said data provision means provides said game terminal devices with said final and intermediate results of the competitions in a time sequence corresponding to day, week, month, and year intervals.

12. The data communication system, according to claim 10, wherein said game performance means carries out a plurality of preliminary and final competitions, and said data provision means provides said game terminal devices with the final results in a day, week, month, and year time sequence.

13. The data communication system according to claim 10, wherein said storage means of said game performance means stores progress data of said competitions at day, week, month, and year time intervals.