Game cassette unit with decode controller

• US 6,488,587 B1
• Filed: 02/17/1998
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Megachips Corporation
• Original Assignee: Megachips Corporation
• Inventors: Furuichi, Tetsuo, Kajitani, Tetsuji
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US09/024,452
• Time in Patent Office: 1,750 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29, 463/43, 463/44, 463/45, 463/36, 463/37, 463/7, 463/24, 273/148.B
• US Class Current: 463/44
• 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 13/95 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

Abstract

A game cassette unit which can be connected to a game machine having a CPU for execution of a game selected by a user, including a memory which rewritably stores a plurality of game machine programs and a game selection program that allows a user to select a desired one of these programs. The memory further rewritably stores decode data defining address conversion rules for executing respective of the programs. A decode part executes address conversion based on decode data corresponding to the game selection program after start of power. After the user selects one of the game machine programs, the decode part executes address conversion based on the decode data corresponding to a selected game machine program. Thus, the user can select a desired one from the plurality of game machine programs. As a result, game software is provided to the user at low cost.

Claims

1. A game cassette unit configured to be connected to a game machine having a CPU for a game execution by a user, comprising:

a memory which stores a program group including a game selection program and a plurality of game machine programs, and a plurality of decode data defining address conversion rules for said CPU to execute respective of said game selection program and said game machine programs; and

a decode controller configured to execute address conversion based on a selected decode data from said plurality of decode data so that address signals outputted by said CPU are converted and thereafter transmitted to address inputs of said memory;

wherein;

each program belonging to said program group is capable of being executed by said CPU upon a connection of said unit to said game machine;

said game selection program is configured to make said user select one program of said plurality of game machine programs;

said decode controller selects from said plurality of decode data a game selection decode data corresponding to said game selection program upon said connection of said unit to said game machine in order to execute address conversion based on the selected game selection decode data thereby enabling said CPU to execute said game selection program; and

said decode controller further selects from said plurality of decode data a game decode data corresponding to a respective game machine program selected by said user when said user selects said one of said plurality of game machine programs during execution of said game selection program in order to execute address conversion on the basis of said game decode data thereby allowing an execution of said selected game machine program.

2. The game cassette unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said decode controller comprises;

a power-on controller;

a decode information loader; and

a decode part;

wherein

said decode information loader, when one code of a plurality of codes for identifying a respective of said plurality of decode data is inputted, is configured to selectively read said respective decode data that corresponds to said one code and set the respective decode data on said decode part;

said decode part executes address conversion based on said set decode data;

said power-on controller is configured to input a game selection code of said plurality of codes for identifying said game selection decode data of said plurality of decode data that corresponds to said game selection program into said decode information loader upon said connection of said unit to said game machine; and

said game selection program is configured to cause said CPU to input said one code of said plurality of codes for identifying said selected decode data of said plurality of decode data for said selected game machine program into said decode information loader.

3. The game cassette unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said memory comprises a flash ROM configured to rewritably store said program group and said plurality of decode data.

4. The game cassette unit in accordance with claim 3, wherein said flash ROM comprises:

a special storage area configured to rewritably store said plurality of decode data.

5. The game cassette unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said decode controller comprises a semiconductor integrated circuit that requires no software.

6. The game cassette unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said memory comprises a rewritable memory

configured to rewritably store said program group and said plurality of decode data.

7. The game cassette unit in accordance with claim 6, further comprising a connector

configured to allow said program group and said plurality of decode data to be supplied from exterior of said unit therethrough and to be rewritably stored into said rewritable memory.

8. The game cassette unit in accordance with claim 1, further comprising another memory configured to rewritably store data generated during an execution of any one of said game selection program and said plurality of game machine programs.

9. The game cassette unit in accordance with claim 8, wherein said another memory comprises:

a battery; and

a static RAM backed up by said battery.

10. A game cassette unit configured to be connected to a game machine having a CPU for a game execution by a user, comprising:

a memory configured to store a program group that is configured to be executed by said CPU upon a connection of said unit to said game machine, said program group including a game selection program configured to make said user select one program of a plurality of game machine programs, and said plurality of game machine programs;

a plurality of decode data that define address conversion rules for said CPU for use by the CPU in execution of programs belonging to said program group; and

a decode controller configured to first select from said plurality of decode data a game selection decode data of said plurality of decode data that corresponds to said game selection program upon said connection of said unit to said game machine in order to execute an address conversion based on said game selection decode data so that address signals outputted by said CPU are converted and thereafter transmitted to address inputs of said memory thereby allowing said CPU to execute said game selection program, and to further select a selected decode data corresponding to a selected game machine program selected by said user when said user selects said selected game machine program of said plurality of game machine programs during execution of said game selection program in order to execute address conversion on the basis of said selected decode data so that address signals outputted by said CPU are converted and thereafter transmitted to address inputs of said memory thereby allowing an execution of said selected game machine program.

11. The game cassette unit in accordance with claim 10, wherein said decode controller comprises:

a decode information loader configured to selectively read a respective decode data of said plurality of decode data in correspondence with an inputted code of a plurality of codes that identifies said respective decode data of said plurality of decode data and to set said respective decode data on said decode part when said inputted code is inputted;

a power-on controller configured to input as said inputted code into said decode information loader a game selection code that identifies a game selection decode data of said plurality of decode data that corresponds to said game selection program upon said connection of said unit to said game machine; and

a decode part configured to execute an address conversion based on said respective decode data;

wherein said game selection program is configured to cause said CPU to input into said decode information loader a code of said plurality of codes that identifies the decode data of said plurality of decode data that corresponds to the selected game machine program.