Method and apparatus for displaying information regarding stored data in a gaming system

• US 6,716,102 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2001
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Whitten, Jon Marcus Randall, Pirich, Christopher M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dolinar, Andrew M.
• Application Number:
  US09/802,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20020142845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 463/37, 463/38, 463/43, 463/44
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/164 File meta data generation

Abstract

A gaming system includes a hard disk drive for storing applications and other data. The hard disk drive has multiple storage areas for storing different types of data. Each application executed on the gaming system has an associated data storage area and is prevented from using data storage areas associated with other applications. When saving a game, the saved game data may include a descriptive name of the saved game, a graphic representation of the state of the game when the game was saved, a description of the game state when the game was saved, and a date and time that the game was saved.

Claims

1. A game console, comprising:

a processor; and

a non-removable hard disk drive coupled to the processor, the hard disk drive including a first subdirectory configured to store data associated with a first application, and the hard disk drive including a second subdirectory configured to store data associated with a second application.

2. A game console as recited in claim 1 wherein the first application is a game.

3. A game console as recited in claim 1 wherein the first subdirectory includes a third subdirectory associated with the first application, wherein the third subdirectory is configured to store saved game data associated with the first application.

4. A game console as recited in claim 1 wherein the second subdirectory includes a fourth subdirectory associated with the second application, wherein the fourth subdirectory is configured to store saved game data associated with the second application.

5. A game console as recited in claim 1 further including a third subdirectory associated with the first application, wherein the third subdirectory is configured to store data generated by the first application.

6. A game console as recited in claim 1 further including a third subdirectory associated with the first application, wherein the third subdirectory is configured to store persistent game data generated by the first application.

7. A game console as recited in claim 1 wherein the first application is stored on a storage disc inserted into a portable media drive coupled to the processor.

8. A game console as recited in claim 1 further including a console application stored on the hard disk drive and executable on the processor, the console application configured to prevent the first application from accessing data from the second subdirectory.

9. A game console as recited in claim 1 further including a console application stored on the hard disk drive and executable on the processor, the console application configured to prevent the first application from accessing data associated with the second application.

10. A game console, comprising:

a processor; and

a non-removable hard disk drive coupled to the processor, wherein the hard disk drive includes a first storage area configured to store user data associated with a first application, and wherein the hard disk drive includes a second storage area configured to store application data associated with the first application.

11. A game console as recited in claim 10 wherein the first application is a game and the user data is saved game data.

12. A game console as recited in claim 10 wherein the first application is a game and the application data is persistent game data used by the first application.

13. A game console as recited in claim 10 wherein the first storage area includes a plurality of additional storage areas, each of the plurality of additional storage areas configured to store data associated with a particular saved game.

14. A game console as recited in claim 13 wherein the data associated with a particular saved game includes a graphic representation of the state of the game when the game was saved.

15. A game console as recited in claim 13 wherein the data associated with a particular saved game includes a description of the game state when the game was saved.

16. A game console as recited in claim 13 wherein the data associated with a particular saved game includes a date and time that the game was saved.

17. A game console as recited in claim 13 wherein the data associated with a particular saved game includes a descriptive name of the saved game.

18. A game console as recited in claim 10 further including a memory unit coupled to the game console and configured to store saved game data.

19. A game console as recited in claim 10 further including a console application stored on the hard disk drive, wherein the console application is configured to prevent other applications from accessing the first storage area, and wherein the console application is further configured to prevent other applications from accessing the second storage area.

20. A gaming system, comprising:

a game console;

a controller coupled to the game console; and

a memory unit coupled to the controller, wherein the memory unit is configured to store saved game data, and wherein the game console prevents storage of non-saved game data in the memory unit.

21. A gaming system as recited in claim 20 wherein the game console includes a hard disk drive, and wherein the hard disk drive is configured to store configuration data associated with the game console.

22. A gaming system as recited in claim 20 wherein the memory unit is detachably mounted to the controller.

23. A gaming system as recited in claim 20 wherein the controller is a game controller.

24. A gaming system, comprising:

a game console having a hard disk drive configured to store data associated with a first application in a first subdirectory and to store data associated with a second application in a second subdirectory; and

a memory unit coupled to the game console, wherein the memory unit is configured to store saved game data derived by the game console executing a game that can be loaded from other than the hard disk drive or the memory unit, and wherein the game console prevents storage of non-saved game data in the memory unit.

25. A gaming system as recited in claim 24 wherein the memory unit is detachably mounted to the game console.

26. A gaming system as recited in claim 24 further including a controller coupled to the game console, wherein the controller is configured to detachably receive at least one memory unit.

27. A method comprising:

receiving a request to save a game being executed by a gaming system;

saving a graphic representation of the saved game;

saving a descriptive name of the saved game; and

saving a date and time that the game was saved.

28. A method as recited in claim 27 further including ensuring that the graphic representation, the descriptive name, and the date and time are saved by the game.

29. A method as recited in claim 27 wherein the graphic representation, the descriptive name, and the date and time are stored on a hard disk drive contained in the gaming system.

30. A method as recited in claim 27 wherein the graphic representation, the descriptive name, and the date and time are stored in a particular storage area of a hard disk drive contained in the gaming system.

31. A method as recited in claim 27 wherein the descriptive name of the saved game includes a current game level when the game was saved.

32. A method as recited in claim 27 wherein the graphic representation of the saved game represents the state of the game when saved.

33. A method as recited in claim 27 wherein the descriptive name of the saved game includes a description of the state of the game when saved.

34. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform the method as recited in claim 27.

35. A method comprising:

accessing, with a first application, data stored in a first subdirectory of a hard disk drive in a game console;

accessing, with a second application, data stored in a second subdirectory of the hard disk drive;

preventing the first application from accessing data stored in the second subdirectory of the hard disk drive; and

preventing the second application from accessing data stored in the first subdirectory of the hard disk drive.

36. A method as recited in claim 35 further including creating a third subdirectory when a third application is first executed on the game console.

37. A method as recited in claim 36 further including preventing the third application from accessing data stored in the first subdirectory and the second subdirectory of the hard disk drive.

38. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform the method as recited in claim 35.

39. A method comprising:

receiving a request to save a game being executed on a game console;

saving data related to the saved game in a first storage area of the game console with an application;

saving data related to the saved game in a second storage area of the game console with the application; and

preventing, other than with the application, access to data in the first storage area or the second storage area.

40. A method as recited in claim 39 wherein saving data related to the saved game includes:

saving a graphic representation of the saved game;

saving a descriptive name of the game; and

saving a date and time that the game was saved.

41. A method as recited in claim 39 wherein the request to save a game being executed on a game console is received from a user of the game console.

42. A method as recited in claim 39 wherein the first storage area and the second storage area are created when the game is first executed on the game console.

43. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform the method as recited in claim 39.

44. A computer-readable medium for a game console comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct the game console to:

store data associated with a first application in a first storage area of the game console;

store data associated with a second application in a second storage area of the game console; and

prevent the first application from accessing data in the second storage area.

45. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 44 further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct the game console to prevent the second application from accessing data in the first storage area.

46. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 44 wherein the first storage area and the second storage area are located on a hard disk drive in the game console.

47. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 44 further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct the game console to create a third storage area when a third application is first executed on the game console.