Game machine system, broadcasting system, data distribution system and method, program executing apparatus and method

• US 6,640,336 B1
• Filed: 04/09/2001
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ebisawa, Kan
• Primary Examiner(s): INGBERG, TODD D
• Application Number:
  US09/828,775
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 717/11, 717/173
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• 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 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/201 Playing authorisation given at platform level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• 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 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/106 Receiver-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/375 Commercial
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

This game machine system includes a set top box 51 as a receiving unit for receiving digital data distributed using a broadcast system or a communication system. In a game dedicated device 52, starting of a game software item is inhibited until a software start enable signal is received by the receiving unit. Next to the software start enable signal, data for substitution or insertion for data of part of the game software is sent. This data can be commercial ads. The game dedicated machine 52 can judge whether or not the commercial ads have been introduced into and are in operation in the game software and, if the commercial ads are not in the game software, the game dedicated machine 52 can be made so as to be out of operation.

Claims

1. A communication system for receiving digital data from, and transmitting digital data to, a receiving system having game software, comprising a transmitting unit for transmitting software start signals comprising time information and data for substitution or insertion into said game software, such that when an identification signal is received by the communication system from the receiving system, the software start signal along with the data for substitution or insertion are transmitted to the receiving system, whereby the data for substitution or insertion represent a number of commercial advertisements.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit comprises a modem.

3. The communication system according to claim 1, whereby the software start signal is randomly varied.