Wireless communication game system

• US 8,956,233 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2002
• 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): RENWICK, REGINALD A
• Application Number:
  US13/826,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20130196763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM

Abstract

A wireless communication game system includes a plurality of mobile game apparatuses, which function as a parent device or a child device and are capable of making a communication with each other, and broadcasts from the parent device a parent device packet including a parent device PID, a user name UserName, a game name GameName, an OC flag, an E slot, a U slot, and a payload. All the parent device packets are received from the parent device existing within a communicationable range of a user'"'"'s own apparatus, and the user'"'"'s own apparatus creates a parent device list, and displays the parent device list on an LCD. Therefore, a user or a player of his own apparatus looks at the game name of the parent device list, for example, and operates a cross key included in an operation key so as to select one desired parent device. Then, transmitting a child device number CID of the user'"'"'s own apparatus at the E slot designated by the parent device packet, the user'"'"'s own apparatus transmits a connection request to the parent device.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication; and

at least one processor configured to cooperate with the transceiver and control the device to at least;

send self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the device to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the device;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices;

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided; and

request a selected device to provide its associated service.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the selected device is manually selected.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a display configured to display at least device identifying information based on received self-identifying information;

wherein user selection of the at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information is enabled while the display is displaying the device identifying information.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the display is further configured to display available service information concurrently with corresponding device identifying information, based on received available service information.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the device to at least:

accumulate self-identifying information received from a plurality of different devices;

cause the display to display device identifying information based on received self-identifying information; and

enable selection of at least one other device based on device identifying information displayed by the display.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the device to at least:

accumulate self-identifying information and corresponding available service information received from a plurality of different devices;

cause the display to display device identifying information and corresponding available service information based on received self-identifying information and received available service information; and

enable selection of at least one other device based on device identifying information displayed by the display.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the device to at least:

accumulate self-identifying information and corresponding available service information received from a plurality of different devices;

cause the display to display device identifying information whose corresponding available service information is indicative of a predetermined service; and

enable selection of at least one other device based on device identifying information displayed by the display.

8. The device of claim 3, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the device to at least:

determine whether received available service information is indicative of a predetermined service; and

cause the display to display device identifying information whose corresponding available service information is determined to be indicative of the predetermined service.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising software storage, wherein the device is configured to provide another device with software stored in the software storage.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising software storage, wherein the device is configured to provide another device with software stored in the software storage, and wherein the software is configured to enable the another device to communicate with the device.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising software storage, wherein the device is configured to provide another device with software stored in the software storage in advance of the service being started, and wherein the software is configured to enable the another device to utilize the service.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the service is a software download service.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the service is a network application service.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the device to at least:

send, for another device, self-identifying information and available service information in a search mode, and

wait to receive self-identifying information and available service information in a search mode.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the device to at least:

send, for another device, self-identifying information and available service information without establishing a connection with the another device, and

receive self-identifying information and available service information without establishing a connection with the device from which it was received.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the device to at least send self-identifying information and available service information before the service is started.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the device to at least send self-identifying information and available service information so that a plurality of unspecified devices are able to receive it without establishing connections with the device.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the device to at least broadcast self-identifying information and available service information.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the device to at least repeatedly and continuously send self-identifying information and available service information.

14. A device, comprising:

a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication; and

at least one processor configured to cooperate with the transceiver and control the device to at least;

send, without establishing a connection, self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the device to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the device;

receive, without establishing a connection, self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices;

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided; and

establish a connection with a selected device.

21. A device, comprising:

a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication; and

at least processor configured to cooperate with the transceiver and control the device to at least;

send, in a search mode, self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the device to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the device;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices; and

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided.

22. A device, comprising:

a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication; and

at least one processor configured o cooperate with the transceiver and control the device to at least;

send, for another device, and without establishing a connection with the another device, self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the device to the another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the device;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices; and

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided.

23. A device, comprising:

a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication; and

at least one processor configured to cooperate with the transceiver and control the device to at least;

send self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the device to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the device, prior to the service being started;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices; and

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided.

24. A device, comprising:

a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication; and

at least one processor configured to cooperate with the transceiver and control the device to at least;

send self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the device to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the device, wherein the self-identifying information, available service information, and capability flag are sendable to, and receivable by, a plurality of unspecified devices through wireless radio communication without establishing connections with them;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices; and

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided.

25. A device, comprising:

a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication; and

at least one processor configured to cooperate with the transceiver and control the device to at least;

broadcast self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the device to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the device;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices; and

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided.

26. A device, comprising:

a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication; and

at least one processor configured to cooperate with the transceiver and control the device to at least;

repeatedly and continuously send self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the device to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the device;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices; and

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided.

27. A system comprising first and second devices, the first device comprising:

a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication; and

at least one processor configured to cooperate with the transceiver and control the first device to at least;

send self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the first device to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the first device;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices;

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the t of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided; and

request a selected device to provide its associated service.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the first device to at least:

accumulate self-identifying information and corresponding available service information received from a plurality of different devices;

cause a display of the first device to display device identifying information and corresponding available service information based on received self-identifying information and received available service information; and

enable selection of at least one other device based on device identifying information displayed by the display.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the first device to at least:

accumulate self-identifying information and corresponding available service information received from a plurality of different devices;

cause a display of the first device to display identifying information whose corresponding available service information is indicative of a predetermined service; and

enable selection of at least one other device based on identifying information displayed by the display.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the first device to at least:

determine whether received available service information is indicative of a predetermined service; and

cause a display of the first device to display device identifying information whose corresponding available service information is determined to be indicative of the predetermined service.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the first device further comprises software storage, and wherein the first device is configured to provide another device with software stored in the software storage.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the first device further comprises software storage, wherein the first device is configured to provide another device with software stored in the software storage, and wherein the software is configured to enable the another device to communicate with the first device.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the first device further comprises software storage, wherein the first device is configured to provide another device with software stored in the software storage in advance of the service being started, and wherein the software is configured to enable the another device to utilize the service.

34. The system of claim 27, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the first device to at least:

send, for another device, self-identifying information and available service information in a search mode, and

wait to receive self-identifying information and available service information in a search mode.

35. The system of claim 27, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the first device to at least:

send, for another device, self-identifying information and available service information without establishing a connection with the another device, and

receive self-identifying information and available service information without establishing a connection with the device from which it was received.

36. The system of claim 27, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the first device to at least send self-identifying information and available service information before the service is started.

37. The system of claim 27, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the first device to at least send self-identifying information and available service information so that a plurality of unspecified devices are able to receive it without establishing connections with the first device.

38. A system comprising first and second devices, the first device comprising:

a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication; and

at least one processor configured to cooperate with the transceiver and control the first device to at least;

send, in a search mode, self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the first device to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the first device;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices; and

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided.

39. A system comprising first and second devices, the first device comprising:

a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication; and

at least one processor configured to cooperate with the transceiver and control the first device to at least;

send, for another device, and without establishing a connection with the another device, self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the first device to the another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the first device;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices; and

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided.

40. A system comprising first and second devices, the first device comprising:

a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication; and

at least one processor configured to cooperate with the transceiver and control the first device to at least;

send self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the first device to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the first device, prior to the service being started;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices; and

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided.

41. A system comprising first and second devices, the first device comprising:

a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication; and

at least one processor configured to cooperate with the transceiver and control the first device to at least;

send self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable b the first device to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the first device, wherein the self-identifying information, available service information, and capability flag are sendable to, and receivable by, a plurality of unspecified devices through wireless radio communication without establishing connections with the first device;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices; and

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided.

42. A system comprising first and second devices, the first device comprising:

a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication; and

at least one processor configured to cooperate with the transceiver and control the first device to at least;

broadcast self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the first device to another device, and capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the first device;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices; and

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided.

43. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing a program executable on a device comprising at least one processor and a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication, the program comprising instructions configured to at least:

send self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the device to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the device;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices;

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided; and

request a selected device to provide its associated service.

44. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the program further comprises instructions to at least:

accumulate self-identifying information and corresponding available service information received from a plurality of different devices;

cause a display of device identifying information and corresponding available service information based on received self-identifying information and received available service information; and

enable selection of at least one other device based on displayed device identifying information.

45. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the program further comprises instructions to at least:

accumulate self-identifying information and corresponding available service information received from a plurality of different devices;

cause a display of identifying information whose corresponding available service information is indicative of a predetermined service, and

enable selection of at least one other device based on displayed identifying information.

46. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the program further comprises instructions to at least:

determine whether received available service information is indicative of a predetermined service; and

cause a display of device identifying information whose corresponding available service information is determined to be indicative of the predetermined service.

47. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the device further comprises software storage, and wherein the program further comprises instructions to at least provide another device with software stored in the software storage.

48. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the device further comprises software storage, and wherein the program further comprises instructions to at least provide another device with software stored in the software storage, wherein the software is configured to enable the another device to communicate with the device.

49. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the device further comprises software storage, and wherein the program further comprises instructions to at least provide another device with software stored in the software storage in advance of the service being started, and wherein the software is configured to enable the another device to utilize the service.

50. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the program further comprises instructions to at least:

send for another device self-identifying information and available service information in a search mode, and

wait to receive self-identifying information and available service information in a search mode.

51. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the program further comprises instructions to at least:

send for another device self-identifying information and available service information without establishing a connection with the another device, and

receive self-identifying information and available service information without establishing a connection with the device from which it was received.

52. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the program further comprises instructions to at least send self-identifying information and available service information before the service is started.

53. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the program further comprises instructions to at least send self-identifying information and available service information so that a plurality of unspecified devices are able to receive it without establishing connections with the device.

54. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing a program executable on a device comprising at least one processor and a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication, the program comprising instructions configured to at least:

send, in a search mode, self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the device;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices; and

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided.

55. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing a program executable on a device comprising at least one processor and a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication, the program comprising instructions configured to at least:

send, for another device, and without establishing a connection with the another device, self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the device;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices; and

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided.

56. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing a program executable on a device comprising at least one processor and a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication, the program comprising instructions configured to at least:

send self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the device to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the device, prior to the service being started;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices; and

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided.

57. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing a program executable on a device comprising at least one processor and a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication, the program comprising instructions configured to at least:

send self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the device to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the device, wherein the self-identifying information, available service information, and capability flag are sendable to, and receivable by, a plurality of unspecified devices through wireless radio communication without establishing connections with them;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices; and

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided.

58. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing a program executable on a device comprising at least one processor and a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication, the program comprising instructions configured to at least:

broadcast self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the device to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the device;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices; and

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided.

59. A method for performing wireless radio communication, the method comprising:

using a processor, in cooperation with a transceiver of a device,

sending self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the device to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the device;

receiving self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices;

enabling selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided; and

requesting a selected device to provide its associated service.

60. A device, comprising:

a transceiver capable of performing wireless radio communication; and

at least one processor capable of cooperating with the transceiver and controlling the device to at least;

send, without establishing a connection, self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the device to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the device;

receive, without establishing a connection, self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices;

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided; and

establish a connection with a selected device.

61. The device of claim 60, further comprising:

a display capable of displaying at least device identifying information based on received self-identifying information

wherein user selection of at least one other device is capable of being enabled while the display is displaying the device identifying information.

62. The device of claim 61, wherein the at least one processor is further capable of controlling the device to at least:

accumulate self-identifying information and corresponding available service information that is received from a plurality of different devices;

cause the display to display device identifying information and corresponding available service information based on received self-identifying information and received available service information; and

enable selection of at least one other device based on device identifying information displayed by the display.

63. The device of claim 61, wherein the at least one processor is further capable of controlling the device to at least:

accumulate self-identifying information and corresponding available service information received from a plurality of different devices;

cause the display to display identifying information whose corresponding available service information is indicative of a predetermined service, and

enable selection of at least one other device based on device identifying information displayed by the display.

64. The device of claim 60, further comprising software storage, wherein the device is capable of providing another device with software stored in the software storage.

65. The device of claim 60, wherein the at least one processor is further capable of controlling the device to at least broadcast self-identifying information and available service information.

66. A device, comprising:

a transceiver capable of performing wireless radio communication; and

at least one processor capable of cooperating with the transceiver and controlling the device to at least;

send, for another device, and without establishing a connection with the another device, self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the device to the another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the device;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices; and

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided.

67. A device, comprising:

a transceiver capable of performing wireless radio communication; and

at least one processor capable of cooperating with the transceiver and controlling the device to at least;

broadcast self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the device to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the device;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices; and

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided.

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

send self-identifying information of the device, available service information indicative of a service that the device is capable of providing to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the device;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices; and

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided.

69. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 68, wherein the program further comprises instructions to at least:

determine whether received available service information indicates a predetermined service; and

enable selection of device identifying information whose corresponding available service information is determined to be indicative of the predetermined service.

70. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 68, wherein the program further comprises instructions to at least:

send for another device self-identifying information and available service information in a search mode, and

wait to receive self-identifying information and available service information in a search mode.

71. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 68, wherein the program further comprises instructions to at least:

send for another device self-identifying information and available service information without establishing a connection with the another device, and

receive self-identifying information and available service information without establishing a connection with the device from which it was received.

72. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 68, wherein the program further comprises instructions to at least send self-identifying information and available service information before the service is started.

73. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 68, wherein the program further comprises instructions to at least send self-identifying information and available service information so that a plurality of unspecified devices are able to receive it without establishing connections with the device.

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

broadcast self-identifying information of the device, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the device to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the device;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices; and

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided.

75. A game device, comprising:

a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication; and

at least one processor configured to cooperate with the transceiver and control the device to at least;

send, without establishing a connection, self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the device to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the device;

receive, without establishing a connection, self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices;

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided; and

establish a connection with a selected device.

76. The game device of claim 75, further comprising:

a display configured to display identifying information based on received self-identifying information;

wherein user selection of the at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information is enabled while the display is displaying the device identifying information.

77. The game device of claim 76, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the device to at least:

accumulate self-identifying information and corresponding available service information received from a plurality of different devices;

cause the display to display device identifying information and corresponding available service information based on received self-identifying information and received available service information; and

enable selection of at least one other device based on the device identifying information displayed by the display.

78. The game device of claim 76, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the device to at least:

accumulate self-identifying information and corresponding available service information received from a plurality of different devices;

cause the display to display identifying information whose corresponding available service information is indicative of a predetermined service; and

enable selection of at least one other device based on the device identifying information displayed by the display.

79. The game device of claim 75, further comprising software storage, wherein the device is configured to provide another device with software stored in the software storage.

80. The game device of claim 75, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the device to at least broadcast self-identifying information and available service information.

81. A game device, comprising:

a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication; and

at least one processor configured to cooperate with the transceiver and control the device to at least;

send, for another device, without establishing a connection with the another device, self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the device to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service be provided by the device;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices; and

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided.

82. A game device, comprising:

a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication; and

at least one processor configured to cooperate with the transceiver and control the device to at least;

broadcast self-identifying information, available service information indicative of a service that is providable by the device to another device, and a capability flag indicative of whether the service can be provided by the device;

receive self-identifying information, available service information, and a capability flag from one or more other devices; and

enable selection of at least one other device identified by received self-identifying information, wherein the capability flag of the at least one other device indicates that its service can be provided.