Portable information terminal, recording medium and program

• US 6,540,606 B1
• Filed: 02/07/2000
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Matsukata, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOTALING, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US09/499,340
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1-8, 463/30-53, 463/43
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/323 between game devices with different hardware characteristics, e.g. hand-held game devices connectable to game consoles or arcade machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/34 using peer-to-peer connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/53 involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 : Role playing or strategy games

Abstract

A portable information terminal has, as its functions, a path display unit for successively displaying a path depending on operation of direction keys, a character display unit for displaying at least one imaginary character on a display unit, a comparing unit for comparing the input timing of a control signal and the output timing based on a predetermined sequence with each other, an influence determining unit for determining the magnitude of an influence on the imaginary character based on the result of comparison from the comparing unit, and a table registering unit for registering information of the imaginary character in an information table.

Claims

1. A portable information terminal comprising:

character display means for displaying at least one imaginary character during a battle mode in which a player challenges said imaginary character on a display screen;

comparing means for comparing an input timing of a control signal and an output timing based on a predetermined sequence with each other, said comparing means having a bar display means for displaying the output timing based on the predetermined sequence as an extensible/contractible bar, wherein said bar expands and contracts at a variable speed in response to conditions that are independent of user input; and

influence determining means for determining the magnitude of an influence as an assessment of damage caused to the imaginary character based on the result of comparison from said comparing means, said influence determining comprising means for determining the magnitude of the influence based on the length of the bar when said control signal is inputted.

2. A portable information terminal according to claim 1, further comprising sound output means for outputting a sound a signal whose sound varies as the displayed bar extends and contracts.

3. A portable information terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a manual control pad having a button operable to control the input timing of the control signal.

4. A portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein said comparing means comprises:

mark display means for displaying a mark capable of being successively operated with respect to said influence, in an arbitrary position in a display area of the bar before said bar display means displays the output timing as said bar; and

successive operation permitting means for allowing successive operation to be executed if the time when the tip end of the bar displayed by said bar display means touches the display area of the mark agrees with said input timing of the control signal.

5. A portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein said influence comprises a numerical value for reducing a level of said imaginary character.

6. A portable information terminal according to claim 5, wherein said influence is calculated on the basis of a calculating value based on the length of the bar displayed when said control signal is inputted on an attack side, a calculating value based on the length of the bar displayed when said control signal is inputted on a defense side, and a variable derived from the difference between statuses of the attack and defense sides.

7. A portable information terminal according to claim 6, wherein an element for deriving said variable includes time information.

8. A portable information terminal according to claim 5, further comprising table registering means for effectively registering information of said imaginary character in an information table or canceling information of said imaginary character effectively registered in said information table when the level of said imaginary character becomes “

0”

.

9. A portable information terminal according to claim 8, wherein said table registering means comprises means for effectively registering information of said imaginary character in the information table when the level of said imaginary character becomes “

0”

if said imaginary character is an imaginary enemy.

10. A portable information terminal according to claim 8, wherein said table registering means comprises:

preparing means for preparing for effectively registering information of said imaginary character in the information table when the level of said imaginary character becomes “

0”

if said imaginary character is an imaginary enemy; and

means for effectively registering information of said imaginary character in the information table which has been prepared by said preparing means when the completion of a predetermined process is detected.

11. A portable information terminal according to claim 8, wherein said table registering means comprises:

means for canceling information of said imaginary character effectively registered in said information table when the level of said imaginary character becomes “

0”

if said imaginary character is an imaginary ally.

12. A portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein said influence comprises a numerical value for suppressing a reduction in a level of said imaginary character.

13. A portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein said character display means comprises means for displaying an image depending on a level of said imaginary character.

14. A portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein said character display means comprises means for, if said imaginary character is an imaginary enemy, managing the type of the imaginary enemy to be displayed and/or the probability with which to display the imaginary enemy, based on time information.

15. A portable information terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

a manual control pad having a direction control key; and

path display means for displaying a path for the imaginary character depending on an entry from said direction control key.

16. A portable information terminal according to claim 15, wherein said path display means comprises means for displaying a path different from a predetermined ordinary path based on time information.

17. A portable information terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

data sending/receiving means for sending and receiving, by way of wireless communications, at least information with respect to said imaginary character and information of the bar displayed by said bar display means.

18. A portable information terminal according to claim 17, wherein said data sending/receiving means comprises means for sending and receiving at least information with respect to said imaginary character and a value for calculating said influence, the arrangement being such that an image including said bar is displaying by reading image information based on the information with respect to said imaginary character which has been sent and received.

19. A portable information terminal according to claim 17, wherein said comparing means comprises mark display means for displaying a mark capable of being successively operated with respect to said influence, in an arbitrary position in a display area of the bar before said bar display means displays the output timing as said bar, said data sending/receiving means comprising means for sending and receiving a display width and a display position for said mark which have been determined by said mark display means.

20. A recording medium storing a program having the steps of:

displaying at least one imaginary character during a battle mode in which a player challenges said imaginary character on a display screen;

comparing an input timing of a control signal and an output timing based on a predetermined sequence with each other;

displaying the output timing based on the predetermined sequence as an extensible/contractible bar, wherein said bar expands and contracts at a variable speed in response to conditions that are independent of user input;

determining a magnitude of an influence as an assessment of damage caused to the imaginary character based on the result of comparison from said comparing means; and

determining the magnitude of the influence based on the length of the bar when said control signal is inputted.

21. A recording medium according to claim 20, wherein said program has the step of outputting a sound signal whose sound varies as the displayed bar extends and contracts.

22. A recording medium according to claim 20, wherein the input timing of the control signal is controlled by a button of a manual control pad.

23. A recording medium according to claim 20, wherein said comparing step comprises the steps of:

displaying a mark capable of being successively operated with respect to said influence, in an arbitrary position in a display area of the bar before said bar display step displays the output timing as said bar; and

allowing successive operation to be executed if the time when the tip end of the bar displayed by said bar display means touches the display area of the mark agrees with said input timing of the control signal.

24. A recording medium according to claim 20, wherein said influence comprises a numerical value for reducing a level of said imaginary character.

25. A recording medium according to claim 24, wherein said influence is calculated on the basis of a calculating value based on the length of the bar displayed when said control signal is inputted on an attack side, a calculating value based on the length of the bar displayed when said control signal is inputted on a defense side, and a variable derived from the difference between statuses of the attack and defense sides.

26. A recording medium according to claim 25, wherein an element for deriving said variable includes time information.

27. A recording medium according to claim 24, wherein said program further has the step of effectively registering information of said imaginary character in an information table or canceling information of said imaginary character effectively registered in said information table when the level of said imaginary character becomes “

0”

.

28. A recording medium according to claim 27, wherein said step of effectively registering information comprises the step of effectively registering information of said imaginary character in the information table when the level of said imaginary character becomes “

0”

if said imaginary character is an imaginary enemy.

29. A recording medium according to claim 27, wherein said step of effectively registering information comprises the steps of:

preparing for effectively registering information of said imaginary character in the information table when the level of said imaginary character becomes “

0”

if said imaginary character is an imaginary enemy; and

effectively registering information of said imaginary character in the information table which has been prepared by said preparing step when the completion of a predetermined process is detected.

30. A recording medium according to claim 27, wherein said step of effectively registering information comprises the step of canceling information of said imaginary character effectively registered in said information table when the level of said imaginary character becomes “

0”

if said imaginary character is an imaginary ally.

31. A recording medium according to claim 20, wherein said influence comprises a numerical value for suppressing a reduction in a level of said imaginary character.

32. A recording medium according to claim 20, wherein said displaying step comprises the step of displaying an image depending on a level of said imaginary character.

33. A recording medium according to claim 20, wherein said displaying step comprises the step of, if said imaginary character is an imaginary enemy, managing the type of the imaginary enemy to be displayed and/or the probability with which to display the imaginary enemy, based on time information.

34. A recording medium according to claim 20, wherein said program further comprises the step of displaying a path for the imaginary character depending on an entry of said control signal.

35. A recording medium according to claim 20, wherein said step of displaying a path comprises the step of displaying a path different from a predetermined ordinary path based on time information.

36. A recording medium according to claim 20, wherein said program further comprises the step of sending and receiving, by way of wireless communications, at least information with respect to said imaginary character and information of the bar displayed by said bar display step.

37. A recording medium according to claim 36, wherein said sending and receiving step comprises the step of sending and receiving at least information with respect to said imaginary character and a value for calculating said influence, the arrangement being such that an image including said bar is displaying by reading image information based on the information with respect to said imaginary character which has been sent and received.

38. A recording medium according to claim 36, wherein said comparing step comprises the step of displaying a mark capable of being successively operated with respect to said influence, in an arbitrary position in a display area of the bar before said bar display means displays the output timing as said bar, said sending and receiving step comprising the step of sending and receiving a display width and a display position for said mark which have been determined by said mark display step.

39. A program readable and executable by a computer, comprising the steps of:

displaying at least one imaginary character during a battle mode in which a player challenges said imaginary character on a display screen;

comparing an input timing of a control signal and an output timing based on a predetermined sequence with each other;

displaying the output timing based on the predetermined sequence as an extensible/contractible bar, wherein said bar expands and contracts at a variable speed in response to conditions that are independent of user input;

determining a magnitude of an influence as an assessment of damage caused to the imaginary character based on the result of comparison from said comparing means; and

determining the magnitude of the influence based on the length of the bar when said control signal is inputted.

40. An entertainment system comprising:

a display screen;

means for displaying at least one object together with a bar on said display screen, wherein said bar expands and contracts at a variable speed in response to conditions that are independent of user input;

means for determining a result of an input signal inputted from a user to said entertainment system through said input controls, based on a timing indicated by said bar,

wherein said result of said input signal is determined based on a length of said bar at a point in time when said input signal is inputted by said user to said entertainment system.

41. An entertainment system according to claim 40, wherein said conditions depend on a state of said object, for indicating an input timing for which input controls of said entertainment system should be manipulated.

42. An entertainment system according to claim 40, further comprising sound output means for outputting a sound signal whose sound varies as the displayed bar expands and contracts.

43. An entertainment system according to claim 40, further comprising a manual control pad having a button operable to control the input timing of the control signal.

44. An entertainment system according to claim 40, further comprising:

a manual control pad having a direction control key; and

path display means for displaying a path for said object depending on an entry from said direction control key.

45. An entertainment system according to claim 44, wherein said path display means comprising means for displaying a path different from a predetermined ordinary path based on time information.

46. A recording medium storing a program having the steps of:

displaying at least one object together with a bar on a display screen, wherein said bar expands and contracts at a variable speed in response to conditions that are independent of user input;

determining a result of an input signal inputted from a user to an entertainment system through input controls, based on a timing indicated by said bar,

wherein said result of said input signal is determined based on a length of said bar at a point in time when said input signal is inputted by said user to said entertainment system.

47. A recording medium according to claim 46, wherein said conditions depend on a state of said object, for indicating an input timing for which input controls of said entertainment system should be manipulated.

48. A recording medium according to claim 46, wherein said program has a further step of outputting a sound signal whose sound varies as the displayed bar extends and contracts.

49. A recording medium according to claim 46, wherein the input timing of the control signal is controlled by a button of a manual control pad having a direction control key.

50. A recording medium according to claim 46, wherein said program has a further step of displaying a path for said object depending on an entry of said direction control key.

51. A recording medium according to claim 50, wherein said step of displaying a path further comprises a step of displaying a path different from a predetermined ordinary path based on time information.

52. A program readable and executable by a computer, comprising the steps of:

displaying at least one object together with a bar on a display screen, wherein said bar expands and contracts at a variable speed in response to conditions that are independent of user input;

determining a result of an input signal inputted from a user to an entertainment system through input controls, based on a timing indicated by said bar,

wherein said result of said input signal is determined based on a length of said bar at a point in time when said input signal is inputted by said user to said entertainment system.

53. The program according to claim 52, wherein said conditions depend on a state of said object, for indicating an input timing for which input controls of said entertainment system should be manipulated.