Interactive communication system for communicating video game and karaoke software

• US 6,488,508 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2000
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ADC Technology Inc. (Republic Services Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ADC Technology Inc. (Republic Services Incorporated)
• Inventors: Okamoto, Takeya
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US09/733,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20020127527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 434/118, 434/307-R-3, 434/350, 434/365, 844/77.R, 846/10, 386/105, 386/126, 463/16, 463/25, 463/40-46, 463/48, 455/6.3, 455/39, 455/66, 379/88.02, 379/114.01, 379/114.21, 348/552, 707/500.1, 725/37, 725/60, 725/61, 725/82, 725/83, 725/85, 725/104, 705/16, 705/26, 705/37, 705/44, 380/242, 235/380, 235/381
• US Class Current: 434/307.00A
• 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 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• 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 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• 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 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/365 the accompaniment information being stored on a host computer and transmitted to a reproducing terminal by means of a network, e.g. public telephone lines
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/026 for games, e.g. videogames
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/125 Library distribution, i.e. distributing musical pieces from a central or master library
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/181 Billing, i.e. purchasing of data contents for use with electrophonic musical instruments; Protocols therefor; Management of transmission or connection time therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/211 Wireless transmission, e.g. of music parameters or control data by radio, infrared or ultrasound beam G10H2220/405
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/261 Satellite transmission for musical instrument purposes, e.g. processing for mitigation of satellite transmission delays
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/265 CATV transmission, i.e. electrophonic musical instruments connected to community antennas or cable television networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/814 comprising emergency warnings arrangements specially adapted for emergency or urgency in broadcast systems H04H20/59; arrangements for providing alarms, notifications, alerts to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A communication system is proposed for transmitting at least one of the data, the program, and a combination of them from a host facility to a communicator such as a communication terminal device. In this communication system, the data or the program becomes unable to be used when a predetermined time has elapsed after it is transmitted from the host facility to the communicator. This communication system is provided with the function of giving a warning before the use of the transmission becomes unable and the function of resuming the use in accordance with the user'"'"'s instruction even after the use becomes unable.

Claims

1. A software distributing system for transmitting at least one of the program, the data, and a combination of the program and data stored in a database provided in a distribution center to a requested communication terminal device via communication lines, storing the transmitted program, the data, and the combination of the program and data in a memory provided in the communication terminal device, and enabling execution of the program or data processing according to the program, the data, and the combination of the program and data in the memory,

said distribution center comprising:

means for transmitting the program, the data, or the combination of the program and data at the request of said communication terminal device to said communication terminal device; and

means for charging a use fee on the use of the transmitted program, the data, or the combination of the program and data in said communication terminal device and for direct debit against an account in a banking institution.

2. The software distributing system according to claim 1, wherein said charging of the use fee is varied in accordance with the newness of the program, the data, and the combination of the program and data.

3. A game information distribution system for transmitting game information stored in a game software database provided in a distribution center to a requested communication terminal device via communication lines, storing the game information in a memory provided in the communication terminal device, and enabling game play in accordance with the game information stored in the memory,

said distribution center comprising:

means for transmitting the game information at the request of said communication terminal device to said communication terminal device; and

means for charging a use fee on the use of the transmitted game information in said communication terminal device and for direct debit against an account in a banking institution.

4. A karaoke information distribution system for transmitting karaoke information stored in a karaoke database provided in a distribution center to a requested communication terminal device via communication lines, storing the karaoke information in a memory provided in the communication terminal device, and enabling karaoke music play in accordance with the karaoke information stored in the memory,

said distribution center comprising:

means for transmitting the karaoke information at the request of said communication terminal device to said communication terminal device; and

means for charging a use fee on the use of the transmitted karaoke information in said communication terminal device and for direct debit against an account in a banking institution.

5. A method of software distribution for transmitting at least one of the program, the data, and a combination of the program and data stored in a database provided in a distribution center to a requested communication terminal device via communication lines, storing the transmitted program, the data, and the combination of the program and data in a memory provided in the communication terminal device, and enabling execution of the program or data processing according to the program, the data, and the combination of the program and data in memory, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting the program, the data, or the combination of the program and data at the request of said communication terminal device to said communication terminal device; and

charging a use fee on the use of the transmitted program, the data, and the combination of the program and data in said communication terminal device and for direct debit against an account in a banking institution.

6. A method for game information distribution for transmitting game information stored in a game software database provided in a distribution center to a requested communication terminal device via communication lines, storing the game information in a memory provided in the communication terminal device, and enabling game play in accordance with the game information stored in the memory, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting the game information at the request of said communication terminal device to said communication terminal device; and

charging a use fee on the use of the transmitted game information in said communication terminal device and for direct debit against an account in a banking institution.

7. A method for karaoke information distribution for transmitting karaoke information stored in a karaoke database provided in a distribution center to a requested communication terminal device via communication lines, storing the karaoke information in a memory provided in the communication terminal device, and enabling karaoke music play in accordance with the karaoke information stored in the memory, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting the karaoke information at the request of said communication terminal device to said communication terminal device; and

charging a use fee on the use of the transmitted karaoke information in said communication terminal device and for direct debit against an account in a banking institution.