Program executing system, relay device, manual controller, recording medium, program, and program executing apparatus

• US 6,514,143 B1
• Filed: 09/06/2000
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Makoto, Akazawa, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): RADA, ALEX P
• Application Number:
  US09/656,463
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 463/39, 463/40, 463/45, 463/47, 345/156-158, 345/161, 345/169, 273/148.R, 273/148.B
• 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 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards

Abstract

The time required to perform communications between an entertainment apparatus and a manual controller having complex and sophisticated functions which is connected to the entertainment apparatus is reduced. A type of control data to be outputted from a manual controller when control units including direction keys are operated is defined (limited) according to an application program that is recorded in an optical disk and read by the entertainment apparatus. The manual controller has a setting register for setting such a type of control data. After a type of control data is defined in the setting register of the manual controller from the entertainment apparatus, a CPU of the manual controller transmits only control data of the type set in the setting register for each frame of image. By thus limiting types of control data to be transmitted, the time required to perform communications between the entertainment apparatus and the manual controller is shortened.

Claims

1. A program executing system, comprising:

a program executing apparatus for reading and executing a program stored in a recording medium; and

a manual controller connected to said program executing apparatus and having a plurality of control units for sending control data to said program executing apparatus in response to operation by a user of at least one of said control units;

wherein said program executing apparatus detects, during execution of said program, a command issued by said program to change transmission definition indication data, said transmission definition indication data limiting data transmission from said manual controller by defining which control units from among said plurality of control units are operable during a portion of said program following issuance of said command;

and wherein said program executing apparatus sends said transmission definition indication data to said manual controller for assigning control data to be sent from said manual controller to said program executing apparatus while said program executing apparatus is executing said program.

2. A program executing system according to claim 1, wherein said manual controller has a storage unit for storing said transmission definition indication data.

3. A program executing system according to claim 1, wherein said program executing apparatus sends updated transmission definition indication data to update content of said transmission definition indication data while said program executing apparatus is executing said program.

4. A program executing system according to claim 1, wherein said program executing apparatus comprises an entertainment apparatus for reading and executing a program stored in a recording medium detachably loaded in the entertainment apparatus.

5. A program executing system, comprising:

a program executing apparatus for reading and executing a program stored in a recording medium;

a relay device connected to said program executing apparatus and having a first wireless communication unit; and

a manual controller having a plurality of control units and a second wireless communication unit for communicating with said first wireless communication unit for sending control data to said program executing apparatus via said relay device in response to operation by a user of at least one of said control units;

wherein said program executing apparatus detects, during execution of said program, a command issued by said program to change transmission definition indication data, said transmission definition indication data limiting data transmission from said manual controller by defining which control units from among said plurality of control units are operable during a portion of said program following issuance of said command;

and wherein said program executing apparatus sends said transmission definition indication data to said manual controller via said relay device for assigning control data to be sent from said manual controller to said program executing apparatus while said program executing apparatus is executing said program.

6. A program executing system according to claim 5, wherein said manual controller has a storage unit for storing said transmission definition indication data.

7. A program executing system according to claim 5, wherein said program executing apparatus sends updated transmission definition indication data to update content of said transmission definition indication data while said program executing apparatus is executing said program.

8. A program executing system according to claim 5, wherein said program executing apparatus comprises an entertainment apparatus for reading and executing a program stored in a recording medium detachably loaded in the entertainment apparatus.

9. A program executing system, comprising:

a program executing apparatus for reading and executing a program stored in a recording medium;

a relay device connected to said program executing apparatus and having a first wireless communication unit; and

a manual controller having a plurality of control units and a second wireless communication unit for communicating with said first wireless communication unit for sending control data to said relay device in response to operation by the user of at least one of said control units,

wherein said program executing apparatus detects, during execution of said program, a command issued by said program to change transmission definition indication data, said transmission definition indication data limiting data transmission from said manual controller by defining which control units from among said plurality of control units are operable during a portion of said program following issuance of said command;

and wherein said program executing apparatus sends said transmission definition indication data to said manual controller via said relay device for assigning control data to be sent from said manual controller to said program executing apparatus while said program executing apparatus is executing said program.

10. A program executing system according to claim 9, wherein said relay device has a storage unit for storing said transmission definition indication data.

11. A program executing system according to claim 9, wherein said program executing apparatus has means for sending updating transmission definition indication data to update a content of said transmission definition indication data defining a type of control data to be sent from said manual controller via said relay device to said program executing apparatus, to said relay device when said program executing apparatus is executing said program.

12. A program executing system according to claim 9, wherein said program executing apparatus comprises an entertainment apparatus for reading and executing a program stored in a recording medium detachably loaded in the entertainment apparatus.

13. A relay device that provides communications between a program executing apparatus and a manual controller having a plurality of control units, comprising:

a connector for detachably connecting said relay device to the program executing apparatus for reading and executing a program stored in a recording medium, and for allowing data communications between said relay device and the program executing apparatus when said relay device is connected to the program executing apparatus; and

a wireless communication unit for outputting and transmitting transmission definition indication data to the manual controller while the program executing apparatus is executing said program, said transmission definition indication data limiting data transmission from the manual controller by defining which control units from among the plurality of control units are operable during a portion of said program.

14. A relay device according to claim 13, wherein said program executing apparatus comprises an entertainment apparatus for reading and executing a program stored in a recording medium detachably loaded in the entertainment apparatus.

15. A relay device according to claim 13, further comprising:

a processor for processing control data transmitted from the manual controller to said relay device via said wireless communication unit according to transmission definition indication data for indicating which control units, from among said plurality of control units, are operable during a portion of said program for transmitting processed control data to said program executing apparatus,

wherein said processor is operable subsequent to the transmission of said transmission definition indication data from said program executing apparatus to said relay device while said program executing apparatus is executing said program.

16. A manual controller having a plurality of control units for sending control data in response to operation by the user of at least one of said control units, comprising:

a memory for storing an instruction from an external device;

a communication unit for sending said control data to said external device; and

a processor for limiting data transmission from said communication unit by controlling which control units, from among said plurality of control units, are operable according to said instruction.

17. A manual controller according to claim 16, wherein said memory stores default transmission definition indication data transmitted from said external device when said manual controller is turned on.

18. A recording medium storing a program, said program comprising the steps off:

confirming an electric connection between a program executing apparatus and a manual controller having a plurality of control units for sending control data in response to operation by the user of at least one of said control units;

issuing a command, during execution of said program, to change transmission definition indication data, said transmission definition indication data limiting data transmission from said manual controller by defining which control units, from among said plurality of control units, are operable during a portion of said program following issuance of said command; and

transmitting said transmission definition indication data to said manual controller, said transmission definition indication data assigning control data to be sent from said manual controller to said program executing apparatus.

19. A program executing apparatus for connection to a manual controller having a plurality of control units, wherein said manual controller sends control data in response to operation by the user of at least one of said control units, said program executing apparatus comprising:

a processor for reading and executing a program stored in a recording medium, and detecting, during execution of said program, a command issued by said program to change transmission definition indication data, said transmission definition indication data limiting data transmission from said manual controller by defining which control units, from among said plurality of control units, are operable during a portion of said program following issuance of said command; and

a data communication unit for sending said transmission definition indication data to said manual controller for assigning the control data, and for receiving control data assigned according to said transmission definition indication data from said manual controller.