Game apparatus, game machine manipulation device, game system and interactive communication method for game apparatus

• US 6,422,943 B2
• Filed: 04/22/1999
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shinohara, Satoshi, Honda, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROCKETTI, JULIE K
• Application Number:
  US09/284,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20010003101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 463/37, 463/47, 463/38, 463/39, 463/30, 463/7, 463/36, 463/43, 463/44, 463/46, 273/85.G, 273/148.B, 273/434-438, 273/442, 273/454, 273/460, 273/DIG.28, 345/156-163, 345/167-169, 345/173, 710/63
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• 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 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit

Abstract

By transmitting function information indicative of functions of a game machine manipulation device CT10, previously stored therein, to a game machine main body 27 with a command from the game machine main body 27, it is possible to retrieve functions of the game machine manipulation device CT10 required for the game machine main body 27 and to set the retrieved functions of the game machine manipulation device CT10 in the game machine manipulation device CT10. Further, by transmitting function information indicative of consumed power of respective response means 21, 51 of the game machine manipulation device CT10, which is previously stored in the game machine manipulation device CT10, to the game machine main body 27 with a command from the game machine main body 27, it is possible to determine response means 21, 51 required for the game machine main body 27 and a power value to be applied to the response means, and to set the determined information to the response means 21, 51 of the game machine manipulation device CT10.

Claims

1. A game apparatus having a reproducing function for a recording medium and having bidirectional communication means for receiving data of manipulations performed by a plurality of manipulation members from a game machine manipulation device and for transmitting predetermined control data to said game machine manipulation device, wherein:

function information regarding a function of said game machine manipulation device is fetched, the function information being stored in a nonvolatile storing means possessed by said game machine manipulation device and the function information being able to be set from said game apparatus, and

said function of said game machine manipulation device is set based on said function information.

2. The game apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

said function information includes identification information of said game machine manipulation device.

3. A game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said function information includes information representing one of an analogue mode and a digital mode, which are communication control modes for said game machine manipulation device, and

said game machine manipulation device is set to one of said analogue mode and said digital mode.

4. A game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said function information includes one of operation information and pause information for a communication control mode switching manipulation member of said game machine manipulation device; and

said function information is selectively set on said game machine manipulation device so as to set said communication control mode switching manipulation member of said game machine manipulation device in an operative state or in a pause state.

5. A game apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

a function represented by said function information is transmitted as an exclusive command for setting a function of said game machine manipulation device at an arbitrary timing.

6. A game machine manipulation device being connected to a game apparatus and having bidirectional communication means for transmitting data of manipulations performed by a plurality of manipulation members to said game apparatus and for receiving predetermined control data from said game apparatus, wherein:

a nonvolatile storing means is provided to store function information regarding a function of said game machine manipulation device, the function being able to be set from the game apparatus,

said function information stored in said nonvolatile storing means is transmitted to the game apparatus in accordance with an information request command from the game apparatus, and

the function is set by the game apparatus which receives the function information.

7. A game system comprising

a game machine manipulation device being connected to a game apparatus and having bidirectional communication means for transmitting data of manipulations performed by a plurality of manipulation members to said game apparatus and for receiving predetermined control data from said game apparatus,

said game apparatus having a reproducing function for a recording medium and having bidirectional communication means for receiving data of manipulations performed by a plurality of manipulation members from said game machine manipulation device and for transmitting predetermined control data to said game machine manipulation device, wherein:

said game machine manipulation device is provided with a nonvolatile storing means where function information regarding functions of the game machine manipulation device which are able to be set by the game apparatus is stored,

and transmits the function information to the game apparatus in accordance with an information request command from the game apparatus, and

the game apparatus transmits the information request command to the game machine manipulation device, fetches the function information based on the information request command from the game machine manipulation device, and sets a function of the game machine manipulation device based on the function information.

8. A game system according to claim 7, wherein:

said function information includes information representing one of an analogue mode and a digital mode, which are communication control modes for said game machine manipulation device, and

said game machine manipulation device is set to one of said analogue mode and said digital mode.