Game apparatus, communication apparatus, wireless game controller, and game system

• US 8,574,078 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2007
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Yoshio, Shimizu, Takanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Pandya, Sunit
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kamal, Shahid
• Application Number:
  US11/789,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20070287542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,388 Days
• Field of Search: 463/37, 463/39, 463/40, 463/43, 455/63.1, 455/63.3, 455/574
• US Class Current: 463/39
• 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 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/10 characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals

Abstract

A technology of realizing wireless communication between a parent station and child stations with efficiency. In a game system according to the present invention, a game apparatus sets the maximum number of times of transmission for wireless game controllers, in accordance with the number of wireless game controllers that are communicating at a predetermined communication cycle. Here, time for establishing connection with a new wireless game controller is reserved within each communication cycle, thereby allowing new users to join the game. The maximum number of times of transmission is re-set when the number of wireless game controllers connected changes.

Claims

1. A game apparatus which performs wireless communication in a predetermined communication cycle with at least one wireless game controller which transmits operation input data, the game apparatus comprising:

a monitoring unit which monitors the number of wireless game controllers connected; and

a communication control unit which sets a maximum number of times of transmission or maximum transmission time available within a duration of one communication cycle for each individual wireless game controller to transmit operation input data, in accordance with the communication cycle and the number of wireless game controllers connected.

2. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication control unit sets the maximum number of times of transmission or the maximum transmission time of the operation input data from the wireless game controller while reserving time for establishing connection with a new wireless game controller other than the connected wireless game controller within the communication cycle.

3. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication control unit re-sets the maximum number of times of transmission or the maximum transmission time when the number of wireless game controllers connected changes.

4. The game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication device which transmits a data transfer request to the wireless game controller and receives operation input data transmitted from the wireless game controller, and wherein

after the wireless communication device successfully receives the operation input data transmitted from the wireless game controller within a maximum number of times of transmission or the maximum transmission time set by the communication control unit, it does not retransmit a data transfer request to the wireless game controller in the same communication cycle.

5. A game system comprising a game apparatus and at least one wireless game controller which perform wireless communication with each other in a predetermined communication cycle, wherein:

the wireless game controller has the function of transmitting operation input data in response to a data transfer request from the game apparatus; and

the game apparatus includes

a monitoring unit which monitors the number of wireless game controllers connected, and

a communication control unit which sets a maximum number of times of transmission or maximum transmission time available within a duration of one communication cycle for each individual wireless game controller to transmit operation input data, in accordance with the communication cycle and the number of wireless game controllers connected.

6. A wireless game controller which performs wireless communication with a game apparatus in accordance with a predetermined communication cycle, the wireless game controller comprising a wireless communication device and a processing device,

the wireless communication device including

a transmission buffer which retains data to be transmitted, and

a wireless communication unit which transmits the data, retained in the transmission buffer, within a maximum number of times of transmission or maximum transmission time in a duration of one communication cycle when the wireless communication unit receives a data transfer request from the game apparatus, the communication cycle and the maximum number of times of transmission or maximum transmission time being set by the game apparatus,

the processing device including

an operation input unit from which a user makes a game operation,

an input buffer which retains operation input data input from the operation input unit, and

a control unit which overwrites operation input data to the input buffer when a game operation is made by the user,

the wireless communication unit supplying the control unit with a request for output of the operation input data when the wireless communication unit receives the data transfer request from the game apparatus,

the control unit supplying the transmission buffer with the operation input data retained in the input buffer when the control unit receives the request for output,

the wireless communication unit transmitting, to the game apparatus, the operation input data that is supplied from the input buffer to the transmission buffer, and wherein

when the wireless communication unit receives a data retransmission request from the game apparatus within the same communication cycle, the wireless communication unit resupplies the control unit with a request for output and retransmits, to the game apparatus, the operation input data that is supplied from the input buffer to the transmission buffer in response to the output request resupplied.

7. The wireless game controller according to claim 6, wherein the control unit monitors an operation input from the operation input unit at sampling speed faster than an interval at which the wireless communication unit transmits the operation input data.

8. A communication apparatus which performs wireless communication with a plurality of child stations in a predetermined communication cycle,

wherein the communication apparatus monitors a number of child stations connected;

and

wherein a maximum number of times of transmission or maximum transmission time available within a duration of one communication cycle for each individual child station to transmit data is set in accordance with the number of child stations connected.

9. A program stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium executed by a processor for use with a computer for making a wireless communication device perform wireless communication in a predetermined communication cycle with at least one wireless game controller which transmits operation input data, the program making the computer perform the functions of:

monitoring the number of wireless game controllers connected; and

setting a maximum number of times of transmission or maximum transmission time available within a duration of one communication cycle for each individual wireless game controller to transmit operation input data, in accordance with the communication cycle and the number of wireless game controllers connected.