Center device

• US 8,064,827 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Satoshi, Hino, Mariko, Kutaragi, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord; Marceau
• Application Number:
  US11/912,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20090075687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,035 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/3.03, 455/3.06, 725/133, 725/25, 725/31, 463/37, 463/29, 463 42- 43, 713150-153, 348/14.1, 348/211.12, 710/107, 710/63
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/355 Performing operations on behalf of clients with restricted processing capabilities, e.g. servers transform changing game scene into an encoded video stream for transmitting to a mobile phone or a thin client
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/201 Playing authorisation given at platform level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/208 for storing personal settings or data of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/109 by using specially-adapted hardware at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/305 by remotely controlling device operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/445 by mutual authentication, e.g. between devices or programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2109 Game systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 : based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 : Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

To provide a center device for accommodating a variety of situations which may occur when a home-use game machine, or the like, is used, in which a plurality of users use their own controller devices such as an input device. A center device communicates between a plurality of controller devices, receives an instructing operation carried out by the user of each controller device, and executes processing according to the instructing operation. The center device selects at least one of the controller devices as a controller device to be authenticated from among the plurality of controller devices by utilizing communication with each of the plurality of controller devices, and conducts authentication processing relative to each of the controller devices while communicating with each of the selected controller device.

Claims

1. A center device having wired and radio communication interfaces, for communicating with a plurality of controller devices in either a wired or radio manner to receive an instruction operation from a user of each controller device, and for carrying out a process based on the instruction operation, the plurality of controller devices each having unique wired communication interface identification information and radio communication interface identification information, comprising:

a device for obtaining the wired communication interface identification information and the radio communication interface identification information of the controller devices so that the wired communication interface identification information of at least one controller device is associated with the respective radio communication interface identification information, when each of the plurality of controller devices is connected in a wired manner,

wherein when a communication interface of one of the plurality of controller devices which is used in communication between the controller device and the center device is changed during a game, the center device facilitates continuation of the game with the controller device using an identification code of the communication interface and wherein a user who inputs an operating instruction is identified.

2. The center device of claim 1, further comprising a memory section that stores therein a sequential table that respectively associates the unique wired communication interface identification information of each of the plurality of controller devices with corresponding radio communication interface identification information and a local ID that uniquely identifies each of the plurality of controller devices.

3. The center device of claim 1 that facilitates seamless switching between wired and wireless modes of communication between the center device at least one of the plurality of controller devices.

4. The center device of claim 1, wherein the center device facilitates continuation of the game with the controller device using the identification code of a communication interface used after the change.

5. A method for controlling a center device, using the center device having wired and radio communication interfaces, for communicating with a plurality of controller devices in either a wired or radio manner to receive an instruction operation from a user of each controller device, and for carrying out a process based on the instruction operation, the plurality of controller devices each having unique wired communication interface identification information and radio communication interface identification information, the method comprising:

obtaining the wired communication interface identification information and the radio communication interface identification information of the controller devices, when each of the plurality of controller devices is connected in a wired manner,

associating the wired communication interface identification information of one or more of the controller devices with respective radio communication identification information in the center device,

determining that communication interface of one of the plurality of controller devices which is used in communication between the controller device and the center device is changed during a game,

obtaining an identification code of the communication interface,

facilitating continuation of the game between the controller device and the center device via the identification code, and

identifying a user playing a game on the center device who inputs an operating instruction.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

facilitating seamless switching between wired and wireless modes of communication between the center device at least one of the plurality of controller devices.

7. The method of claim 5,

wherein the identification code of is associated with a communication interface used after the change.

8. A system, comprising:

at least one controller device having wired and radio communication interfaces and unique wired communication interface identification information and radio communication interface identification information; and

a center device for communicating with the controller device in either a wired or radio manner to receive an instruction operation from a user of each controller device, and for carrying out a process based on the instruction operation,

wherein

the center device comprises;

a device for obtaining the wired communication interface identification information and the radio communication interface identification information of the controller device so that the wired communication interface identification information of the controller device is associated with the respective radio communication interface identification information, when the controller device is connected in a wired manner,

wherein when a communication interface of the controller device which is used in communication between the controller device and the center device is changed during a communication, the center device continues communication with the controller device using an identification code of the communication interface and wherein a user playing a game on the center device who inputs an operating instruction is identified.

9. The system of claim 8 that facilitates seamless switching between wired and wireless modes of communication between the center device the at least one controller device.

10. The system of claim 8, the center device continues communication with the controller device using the identification code of a communication interface used after the change.

11. A controller device comprising:

wired and radio communication interfaces;

a device for storing unique wired communication interface identification information and radio communication interface identification information; and

a device that communicates with a center device via a selected one of said wired communication interface or said radio communication interface, by outputting said wired communication interface identification information and radio communication interface identification information to be associated with each other to said center device when said center device is connected in a wired manner,

wherein when a communication interface of the controller device which is used in communication between the controller device and the center device is changed during a game, the center device facilitates continuation of the game with the controller device using an identification code of the communication interface and wherein a user playing a game on the center device who inputs an operating instruction is identified.

12. The controller device of claim 11 that facilitates seamless switching between wired and wireless modes of communication between the center device and the controller device.

13. The controller device of claim 11, the center device facilitates continuation of the game with the controller device using the identification code of a communication interface used after the change.