Center device

• US 8,229,359 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2011
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• 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: Hino, Mariko, Hashimoto, Satoshi, Kutaragi, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US13/269,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20120026089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/3.03, 455/3.06, 455/556.1, 455/557, 725/31, 725/25, 725/133, 463/29, 463/42, 713/150, 713/153, 348/14.1, 348/211.12
• 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, the center device comprising:

a device for obtaining the controller identifier which is radio communication interface identification information;

a device for associating the controller identifier with a player on a game program;

a device for receiving the instructing operation carried out via the controller device, associated with the controller identifier of the controller device via which the instructing operation is carried out; and

a device for conducting the required processing as the received instructing operation concerns the instructing operation regarding the player associated with the received controller identifier.

2. 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 controller identifier which is radio communication interface identification information;

associating the controller identifier with a player on a game program;

receiving the instructing operation carried out via the controller device, associated with the controller identifier of the controller device via which the instructing operation is carried out; and

conducting the required processing as the received instructing operation concerns the instructing operation regarding the player associated with the received controller identifier.

3. 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 controller identifier which is radio communication interface identification information;

a device for associating the controller identifier with a player on a game program;

a device for receiving the instructing operation carried out via the controller device, associated with the controller identifier of the controller device via which the instructing operation is carried out; and

a device for conducting the required processing as the received instructing operation concerns the instructing operation regarding the player associated with the received controller identifier.

4. A controller device comprising:

wired and radio communication interfaces;

a device for storing a controller identifier which is radio communication interface identification information; and

a device for sending the information regarding an instructing operation to the center device in which each player on a game program is associated with a controller identifier,

wherein the required processing is conducted as the received instructing operation concerns the instructing operation regarding the player associated with the received controller identifier by the center device.