System for and method of processing data, and entertainment system

• US 6,540,610 B2
• Filed: 09/14/1999
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Chatani, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US09/396,090
• Publication Number:
  US 20020065135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 463/40, 463/41, 463/42, 463/43, 463/44, 463/46, 463/47, 463/48, 463/31, 273/148.B
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0034 Details of the connection, e.g. connector, interface

Abstract

A portable computer is removably connected to a video game machine which processes data, and a digital camera is connected to the video game machine. Image data supplied from the portable computer or the digital camera to the video game machine is processed or combined by the video game machine, and the processed or combined image data is outputted to the portable computer or the digital camera. The portable computer and the digital camera, which are difficult to connect directly to each other, are simultaneously connected to the video game machine for sending and receiving image data between the portable computer and the digital camera.

Claims

1. An entertainment system, comprising:

a digital imaging device, comprising;

an imaging unit for capturing multi-color, high-resolution image data; and

a memory for storing the captured image data;

a video game machine for playing video games, comprising;

a first connector for connection to said imaging device for receiving the captured image data from said imaging device;

a graphics processor for converting in real-time the captured image data from multi-color, high-resolution image data into fewer-color, low-resolution image data; and

a second connector for connection to a personal digital assistant (PDA) for outputting the converted image data and an image processing application program for processing the converted image data to the PDA;

the digital imaging device and the PDA being simultaneously connected to said first and second connectors, respectively; and

the PDA, comprising;

a control unit for executing said image processing application program to process the converted image data into processed image data;

the control unit supplying the processed image data to said video game machine via the second connector; and

a wireless communication unit for transmitting the processed image data to another PDA via wireless communication.

2. A data communication method for an entertainment system, comprising the steps of:

capturing multi-color, high-resolution image data with an imaging device;

transmitting said captured image data from said imaging device through a first connector to a video game machine for playing video games;

converting in real-time the captured image data from multi-color, high-resolution image data into fewer-color, low-resolution image data using a graphics processor in said video game machine; and

outputting the converted image data and an image processing application program for processing the converted image data through a second connector to a personal digital assistant (PDA);

the digital imaging device and the PDA being simultaneously connected to said first and second connectors, respectively; and

executing said image processing application program to process the converted image data into processed image data and supplying the processed image data to said video game machine via the second connector.