System, apparatus, storage medium storing program and data broadcasting method

• US 8,851,997 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2013
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Tanaka, Shoya, Kuwahara, Masato, Oe, Toru, Yoshioka, Teruyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US14/074,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20140066211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: 463 39- 42
• US Class Current: 463/39
• 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 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/34 using peer-to-peer connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/24 for communication between two or more posts wireless communication networks H04W

Abstract

A game system including a plurality of mobile game apparatuses, and a mobile game apparatus that can communicate with another game apparatus that exists within a communicable range by use of a radio communications unit. When a communicated state is established, exchanging conditions for exchanging game data are received and transmitted, and in a case the exchange conditions are coincident with each other, the game data are exchanged.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a transceiver for performing direct wireless radio communication, the transceiver being operable in a first mode for broadcasting data, and a second mode for waiting to receive such broadcasted data; and

a cycling circuit cooperating with the transceiver for alternately repeating the first and second modes, at least one of the first and second modes being performable for a randomized length of time, wherein the randomized length of time is determined by the device itself.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the randomized length of time varies across cycles.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the randomized length of time varies in a predetermined sequence.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the randomized length of time varies periodically.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the randomized length of time varies with a predetermined cycle.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the randomized length of time varies with each cycle of the cycling circuit.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second modes alternate consecutively.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second modes is performed for a fixed length of time and the other of the first and second modes is performed for a randomized length of time.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the first mode is performed for a fixed length of time and the second mode is performed for a randomized length of time.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the randomized length of time is determined so that the randomized length of time does not exceed a predetermined maximum duration.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the randomized length of time is determined so that the randomized length of time exceeds a predetermined minimum duration.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver operating in the second mode sends responding data, in response to receiving broadcasted data, to another device that sent the received broadcasted data.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein responding data is automatically sent to another device in response to broadcasted data being received from the another device that sent the received broadcasted data.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein responding data is automatically sent to another device in response to broadcasted data being received from the another device that sent the received broadcasted data if the received broadcasted data satisfies a predetermined condition.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the transceiver operating in the first mode receives responding data from another device in response to the device'"'"'s own broadcasted data.

16. The device of claim 12, further comprising a first connection interface for, after receiving broadcasted data via the transceiver in the second mode, executing a first connection process with another device that sent the received broadcasted data.

17. The device of claim 15, further comprising a second connection interface for, after receiving responding data, executing a second connection process with another device that sent the responding data.

18. The device of claim 12, further comprising:

a first connection interface for, after receiving broadcasted data via the transceiver in the second mode, executing a first connection process with another device that sent the received broadcasted data; and

a second connection interface for, after receiving responding data, executing a second connection process with another device that sent the responding data.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the first connection interface executes the first connection process automatically after receiving broadcasted data.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the second connection interface executes the second connection process automatically after receiving responding data.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein the first connection interface executes the first connection process automatically after receiving broadcasted data and the second connection interface executes the second connection process automatically after receiving responding data.

22. The device of claim 18, wherein the first connection interface executes the first connection process automatically after receiving broadcasted data and the second connection interface executes the second connection process automatically after receiving responding data if a condition is satisfied.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein the randomized length of time varies with a predetermined cycle and is determined on the device independently from other devices.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein each alternation between the first and second modes is automatic.

25. The device of claim 1, wherein the first mode intermittently broadcasts the data plural times during a period.

26. The device of claim 1, further comprising a randomizer for randomizing the length of time for at least one of the first mode and the second mode, wherein the cycling circuit alternates between the first mode and the second mode based on the length of time randomized by the randomizer.

27. The device of claim 1, wherein the length of time for at least one of the first mode and the second mode is determined on the device and is randomized, the device further comprising:

a timer,

wherein the cycling circuit alternates between the first mode and the second mode based on the determined of time and based on the timer.

28. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless radio communication is short distance wireless radio communication.

29. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is handheld.

100. The device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver and the cycling circuit are separate elements.

30. A device, comprising:

a transceiver for performing direct wireless radio communication, the transceiver being operable in a first mode for sending data without specifying a destination address, and a second mode for waiting to receive such data; and

a cycling circuit cooperating with the transceiver of the device for alternately repeating the first and second modes, at least one of the first and second modes being performable for a randomized length of time, wherein the randomized length of time is determined by the device itself.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the randomized length of time varies periodically.

32. The device of claim 30, wherein the randomized length of time varies with a predetermined cycle.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the randomized length of time varies with each cycle of the cycling circuit.

34. The device of claim 30, wherein one of the first and second modes is performed for a fixed length of time and the other of the first and second modes is performed for a randomized length of time.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein the first mode is performed for a fixed length of time and the second mode is performed for a randomized length of time.

36. The device of claim 30, wherein each alternation between the first and second modes is automatic.

37. The device of claim 30, wherein the first mode intermittently sends the data without specifying a destination address plural times during a period.

38. The device of claim 30, further comprising a randomizer for randomizing the length of time for at least one of the first mode and the second mode, wherein the cycling circuit alternates between the first mode and the second mode based on the length of time randomized by the randomizer.

39. The device of claim 30, wherein the length of time for at least one of the mode and the second mode is determined on the device and is randomized, the device further comprising:

a timer,

wherein the cycling circuit alternates between the first mode and the second mode based on the determined length of time and based on the timer.

40. The device of claim 30, wherein the wireless radio communication is short distance wireless radio communication.

41. The device of claim 30, wherein the device is handheld.

101. The device of claim 30, wherein the transceiver and the cycling circuit are separate elements.

42. A system comprising first and second devices,

the first device comprising:

a first transceiver for performing direct wireless radio communication, the first transceiver being operable in a first mode for broadcasting data, and a second mode for waiting to receive such broadcasted data; and

a first cycling circuit cooperating with the first transceiver for alternately repeating the first and second modes, at least one of the first and second modes being performable for a first randomized length of time, wherein the first randomized length of time is determined by the first device itself;

the second device comprising;

a second transceiver for performing direct wireless radio communication, the second transceiver being operable in a first mode for broadcasting data, and a second mode for waiting to receive such broadcasted data; and

a second cycling circuit cooperating with the second transceiver for alternately repeating the first and second modes, at least one of the first and second modes being performable for a second randomized length of time, wherein the second randomized length of time is determined by the second device itself

43. The system of claim 42, wherein at least one of the first and second randomized lengths of time varies across cycles.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein at least one of the first and second randomized lengths of time varies in a predetermined sequence.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein at least one of the first and second randomized lengths of time varies periodically.

46. The system of claim 42, wherein at least one of the first and second randomized lengths of time varies with a predetermined cycle.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein at least one of the first and second randomized lengths of time varies with each cycle of the cycling circuit.

48. The system of claim 42, wherein for at least one of the first and second devices, the first and second modes alternate consecutively.

49. The system of claim 42, wherein for at least one of the first and second devices, one of the first and second modes is performed for a fixed length of time and the other of the first and second modes is performed for a randomized length of time.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein for at least one of the first and second devices, the first mode is performed for a fixed length of time and the second mode is performed for a randomized length of time.

51. The system of claim 42, wherein for at least one of the first and second devices, each alternation between the first and second modes is automatic.

52. The system of claim 42, wherein for at least one of the first and second devices, the first mode intermittently broadcasts the data plural times during a period.

53. The system of claim 42, wherein the first device further comprises a first randomizer for randomizing the first length of time for at least one of the first mode and the second mode, and wherein the first cycling circuit of the first device alternates between the first mode and the second mode based on the first length of time randomized by the first randomizer of the first device, and

wherein the second device further comprises a second randomizer for randomizing the second length of time for at least one of the first mode and the second mode, and wherein the second cycling circuit of the second device alternates between the first mode and the second mode based on the second length of time randomized by the second randomizer of the second device.

54. The system of claim 42, wherein

the first device further comprises a first timer, a first length of time for at least one of the first mode and the second mode being determined on and for the first device to randomize the first length of time, the first cycling circuit of the first alternating between the first mode and the second mode based on the determined first length of time and based on the first timer of the first device;

and

the second device further comprises second timer, a second length of time for at least one of the first mode and the second mode being determined on and for the second device to randomize the second length of time, the second cycling circuit of the second device alternating between the first mode and the second mode based on the determined second length of time and base on the second timer of the second device.

55. A system comprising first and second devices,

the first device comprising:

a first transceiver for performing direct wireless radio communication, the first transceiver being operable in a first mode for sending data without specifying a destination address, and a second mode for waiting to receive such data; and

a first cycling circuit cooperating with the first transceiver of the first device for alternately repeating the first and second modes, at least one of the first and second modes being performable for a first randomized length of time, wherein the first randomized length of time is determined by the first device itself;

the second device comprising;

a second transceiver for performing direct wireless radio communication, the second transceiver being operable in a first mode for sending data without specifying a destination address, and a second mode for waiting to receive such data; and

a second cycling circuit cooperating with the second transceiver of the second device for alternately repeating the first and second modes, at least one of the first and second modes being performable for a second randomized length of time, wherein the second randomized length of time is determined by the second device itself.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein at least one of the first and second randomized lengths of time varies across cycles.

57. The system of claim 55, wherein at least one of the first and second randomized lengths of time varies in a predetermined sequence.

58. The system of claim 55, wherein at least one of the first and second randomized lengths of time varies periodically.

59. The system of claim 55, wherein at least one of the first and second randomized lengths of time varies with a predetermined cycle.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein at least one of the first and second randomized lengths of time varies with each cycle of the cycling circuit.

61. The system of claim 55, wherein for at least one of the first and second devices, the first and second modes alternate consecutively.

62. The system of claim 55, wherein for at least one of the first and second devices, one of the first and second modes is performed for a fixed length of time and the other of the first and second modes is performed for a randomized length of time.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein for at least one of the first and second devices, the first mode is performed for a fixed length of time and the second mode is performed for a randomized length of time.

64. The system of claim 55, wherein for at least one of the first and second devices, each alternation between the first and second modes is automatic.

65. The system of claim 55, wherein for at least one of the first and second devices, the first mode intermittently broadcasts the data plural times during a period.

66. The system of claim 55, wherein the first device further comprises a first randomizer for randomizing the first length of time for at least one of the first mode and the second mode, and wherein the first cycling circuit of the first device alternates between the first mode and the second mode based on the first length of time randomized by the first randomizer of the first device, and

wherein the second device further comprises a second randomizer for randomizing the second length of time for at least one of the first mode and the second mode, and wherein the second cycling circuit of the second device alternates between the first mode and the second mode based on the second length of time randomized by the second randomizer of the second device.

67. The system of claim 55, wherein

the first device further comprises a first timer, a first length of time for at least one of the first mode and the second mode being determined on and for the first device to randomize the first length of time, the first cycling circuit of the first device alternating between the first mode and the second mode based on the determined first length of time and based on the first timer of the first device;

and

the second device further comprises a second timer, a second length of time for at least one of the first and the second mode being determined on and for the second device to randomize the second length of time, the second cycling circuit of the second device to between the first mode and the second mode based on the determined second length of time and based on the second timer of the second device.

68. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing instructions performable on a device comprising at least one processor and a transceiver for performing direct wireless radio communication, the instructions being configured to at least:

cause the transceiver to operate in a first mode for broadcasting data;

cause the transceiver to operate in a second mode for waiting to receive such broadcasted data; and

cycle the transceiver so that the transceiver alternately repeats the first and second modes, at least one of the first and second modes being performable for a randomized length of time, wherein the randomized length of time is determined by the device itself.

69. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 68, wherein the randomized length of time varies across cycles.

70. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 68, wherein the randomized length of time varies in a predetermined sequence.

71. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 68, wherein the randomized length of time varies periodically.

72. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 68, wherein the randomized length of time varies with a predetermined cycle.

73. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 72, wherein the randomized length of time varies with each cycle.

74. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 68, wherein the first and second modes alternate consecutively.

75. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 68, wherein one of the first and second modes is performed for a fixed length of time and the other of the first and second modes is performed for a randomized length of time.

76. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 75, wherein the first mode is performed for a fixed length of time and the second mode is performed for a randomized length of time.

77. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 68, wherein each alternation between the first and second modes is automatic.

78. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 68, wherein the first mode intermittently broadcasts the data plural times during a period.

79. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 68, wherein the instructions are further configured to at least randomize the length of time for at least one of the first mode and the second mode, and cause alternations between the first mode and the second mode based on the randomized length of time.

80. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 68, wherein the instructions are further configured to at least randomize the length of time for at least one of the first mode and the second mode, and cause alternations between the first mode and the second mode based on the randomized length of time and based on a timer of the device.

81. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing a instructions performable on a device comprising at least one processor and a transceiver performing direct wireless radio communication, the instructions being configured to at least:

cause the transceiver to operate in a first mode for sending data without specifying a destination address;

cause the transceiver to operate in second mode for waiting to receive such data; and

cycle the transceiver of the device so that the transceiver alternately repeats the first and second modes, at least one of the first and second modes being performable for a randomized length of time, wherein the randomized length of time is determined by the device itself.

82. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 81, wherein the randomized length of time varies across cycles.

83. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 81, wherein the randomized length of time varies in a predetermined sequence.

84. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 81, wherein the randomized length of time varies periodically.

85. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 81, wherein the randomized length of time varies with a predetermined cycle.

86. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 85, wherein the randomized length of time varies with each cycle.

87. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 81, wherein the first and second modes alternate consecutively.

88. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 81, wherein one of the first and second modes is performed for a fixed length of time and the other of the first and second modes is performed for a randomized length of time.

89. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 88, wherein the first mode is performed for a fixed length of time and the second mode is performed for a randomized length of time.

90. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 81, wherein each alternation between the first and second modes is automatic.

91. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 81, wherein the first mode intermittently broadcasts the data plural times during a period.

92. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 81, wherein the instructions are further configured to at least randomize the length of time for at least one of the first mode and the second mode, and cause alternations between the first mode and the second mode based on the randomized length of time.

93. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 81, wherein the instructions are further configured to at least randomize the length of time for at least one of the first mode and the second mode, and cause alternations between the first mode and the second mode based on the randomized length of time and based on a timer of the device.

94. A device, comprising:

a transceiver capable of performing direct wireless radio communication, the transceiver being operable in a first mode for broadcasting data, and a second mode for waiting to receive such broadcasted data; and

a cycling circuit cooperating with the transceiver capable of alternately repeating the first and second modes, at least one of the first and second modes being performable for a randomized length of time, wherein the randomized length of time is determined by the device itself.

102. The device of claim 94, wherein the transceiver and the cycling circuit are separate elements.

95. A device, comprising:

a transceiver capable of performing direct wireless radio communication, the transceiver being operable in a first mode for sending data without specifying a destination address, and a second mode for waiting to receive such data; and

a cycling circuit cooperating with the transceiver of the device capable of alternately repeating the first and second modes, at least one of the first and second modes being performable for a randomized length of time, wherein the randomized length of time is determined by the device itself.

103. The device of claim 95, wherein the transceiver and the cycling circuit are separate elements.

96. A game device, comprising:

a transceiver for performing direct wireless radio communication, the transceiver being operable in a first mode for broadcasting data, and a second mode for waiting to receive such broadcasted data; and

a cycling circuit cooperating with the transceiver for alternately repeating the first and second modes, at least one of the first and second modes being performable for a randomized length of time, wherein the randomized length of time is determined by the game device itself.

97. A game device, comprising:

a transceiver for performing direct wireless radio communication, the transceiver being operable in a first mode for sending data without specifying a destination address, and a second mode for waiting to receive such data; and

a cycling circuit cooperating with the transceiver of the game device for alternately repeating the first and second modes, at least one of the first and second modes being performable for a randomized length of time, wherein the randomized length of time is determined by the game device itself.

98. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing instructions for a device comprising at least one processor and a transceiver capable of performing direct wireless radio communication, the instructions configured to at least:

cause the transceiver to operate in a first mode for broadcasting data;

cause the transceiver to operate in a second mode for waiting to receive such broadcasted data; and

cycle the transceiver so that the transceiver alternately repeats the first and second modes, at least one of the first and second modes being performable for a randomized length of time, wherein the randomized length of time is determined by the device itself.

99. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing instructions for a device comprising at least one processor and a transceiver capable of performing direct wireless radio communication, the instructions configured to at least:

cause the transceiver to operate in a first mode for sending data without specifying a destination address;

cause the transceiver to operate in second mode for waiting to receive such data; and

cycle the transceiver of the device so that the transceiver alternately repeats the first and second modes, at least one of the first and second modes being performable for a randomized length of time, wherein the randomized length of time is determined by the device itself.