Wireless communication game system

• US 8,968,101 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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:
  US13/826,422
• Publication Number:
  US 20130196764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 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;

concurrently send device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device;

receive device type and capability flag information from one or more other devices;

enable selection of at least one other device for which device type and capability flag information has been received; and

request a selected device to provide its associated capability to the device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the capability flag indicates whether the device can provide another device with a service.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the device to at least provide another device with a service.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the device to at least send self-identifying information and a capability flag before the service is started.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the capability flag indicates whether the device is in a state where the service can be provided to another device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the capability flag indicates whether the device can provide another device with a predetermined service.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the enabled selection is a manual selection of at least one other device.

8. 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 at least one other device is enabled while the display is displaying device identifying information.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the display is configured to display capability information concurrently with corresponding device identifying information based on received capability flags.

10. The device of claim 8, 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.

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

accumulate self-identifying information and corresponding capability flags received from a plurality of different devices;

cause the display to display device identifying information and corresponding capability information based on received self-identifying information and received capability, flags; and

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

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

accumulate self-identifying information and corresponding capability flags received from a plurality of different devices;

cause the display to display identifying information whose corresponding capability flag indicates an enabled capability; and

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

13. The device of claim 8,

wherein at least one processor is further configured to control the device to at least:

determine whether a received capability flag is indicative of an enabled capability; and

cause the display to display device-identifying information whose corresponding capability flag is determined to be indicative of an enabled capability.

14. The device of claim 3, further comprising software storage, wherein the device is configured to provide another device with software stored in the software storage.

15. The device of claim 3, 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.

16. The device of claim 3, 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.

17. The device of claim 3, wherein the service is a software download service.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein capability information sendable from the device indicates what software the device is capable of providing.

19. The device of claim 3, wherein the service is a network application service.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein capability information sendable from the device indicates what application service the device is capable of providing.

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

send for another device self-identifying information and a capability flag in a search mode, and

wait to receive self-identifying information and a capability flag on in a search mode.

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

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

receive self-identifying information and a capability flag without establishing a connection with the device from which it as received.

23. 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 a capability flag so that a plurality of unspecified devices are able to receive the self-identifying information and the capability flag without establishing a connection with the device.

24. 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 a capability flag.

25. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the device to least repeatedly and continuously send self-identifying information and a capability flag.

26. The device of claim 1, wherein capability information sendable from the device indicates whether the device is capable of providing predetermined information processing.

27. The device of claim 1, wherein capability information sendable from the device indicates what the device is capable of.

28. The device of claim 1, wherein the sending and receiving are performed without establishing a connection with any other device.

29. The device of claim 1, wherein the selection is of at least one other device that matches a specified device type and of at least one other device for which the associated capability flag indicates that the capability can be provided by the associated device.

30. A device, comprising:

a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication; and

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

concurrently send, without establishing a connection, device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device;

receive, without establishing a connection, device type and capability flag information from one or more other devices;

enable selection of at least one other device for which device type and capability information has been received; and

establish a connection with a selected device.

31. 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 concurrently send, in a search mode, device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the sending and receiving are performed without establishing a connection with any other device.

33. The device of claim 31, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the device to at least enable a selection of at least one other device that matches a specified device type and for which the associated capability flag indicates that the capability can be provided by the associated device.

34. 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 concurrently send, for another device, and without establishing a connection with the another device, device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device.

35. 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 concurrently send device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device, wherein the capability is a service, and wherein the device type information and the capability flag are sent before the service is started.

36. 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 concurrently send device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device so that a plurality of unspecified devices are able to receive the device type information and the capability flag without establishing connections with the device.

37. 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 concurrently broadcast device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device.

38. 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;

provide another device with a service; and

concurrently send device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device, repeatedly and continuously.

39. 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;

provide another device with a service; and

concurrently send, in a search mode, device type information and a capability flag indicates whether capability of the device can be provided to another device, wherein the capability is the service.

40. 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;

provide another device with a service; and

concurrently send for another device, without establishing a connection with the another device, device information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device, wherein the capability is the service.

41. 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;

provide another device with a service; and

concurrently send device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device, wherein the capability is the service, and wherein the device type information and the capability flag are sent before the service is started.

42. 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;

provide other devices with a service; and

concurrently send device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device, so that a plurality of unspecified devices are able to receive the device type information and the capability flag without establishing connections with the device, wherein the capability is the service.

43. 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;

provide another device with a service; and

concurrently broadcast device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device, wherein the capability is the service.

44. 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;

provide another device with a service; and

concurrently send device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether capability of the device can be provided to another device, repeatedly and continuously.

45. 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;

concurrently send device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the first device can be provided to another device;

receive device type information and capability flag information from one or more other devices;

enable selection of at least one other device for which device type and capability flag information has been received; and

request a selected device to provide its associated capability to the first device.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the capability flag indicates whether the first device can provide another device with a service.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the first device to at least provide another device with a service.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the capability flag indicates whether the device is in a state where the service can be provided to another device.

49. 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 concurrently send, in a search mode, device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the first device can be provided to another device.

50. 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 transceiver and control the first device to at least concurrently send, for another device, and without establishing a connection with the another device, device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the first device can be provided to another device.

51. 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 concurrently broadcast device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the first device can be provided to another device.

52. 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;

provide another device with a service; and

concurrently send, in a search mode, device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the first device can be provided to another device, wherein the capability is the service.

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

a transceiver configure to perform wireless radio communication; and

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

provide another device with a service; and

concurrently send, for another device, and without establishing a connection with the another device, device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the first device can be provided to another device, wherein the capability is the service.

54. 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;

provide another device with a service; and

concurrently broadcast device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device, wherein the capability is the service.

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:

concurrently send device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device;

receive device type and capability flag information from one or more other devices;

enable selection of at least one other device for which device type and capability flag information has been received; and

request a selected device to provide its associated capability to the device.

56. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 55, wherein the capability flag indicates whether the device can provide another device with a service.

57. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 55, further comprising instructions configured to at least provide another device with a service.

58. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 57, wherein the capability flag indicates whether the device is in a state where the service can be provided to another device.

59. 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:

concurrently send, in a search mode, device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device.

60. 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:

concurrently send, for another device, and without establishing a connection with the another device, device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device.

61. 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:

concurrently broadcast device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device.

62. 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:

provide another device with a service; and

concurrently send, in a search mode, device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device, wherein the capability is the service.

63. 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:

provide another device with a service; and

concurrently send, for another device, and without establishing a connection with the another device, device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device, wherein the capability is the service.

64. 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:

provide another device with a service; and

concurrently broadcast device type information and a capability that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device, wherein the capability is the service.

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

concurrently sending device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device;

receiving device type and capability a information from one or more other devices;

enabling selection of at least one other device for which device type and capability flag information has been received; and

requesting a selected device to provide its associated capability to the device.

66. A device, comprising:

a transceiver capable of performing wireless radio communication; and

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

concurrently send device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device;

receive device type and capability flag information from one or more other devices;

enable selection of at least one other device for which device type and capability flag information has been received; and

request a selected device to provide its associated capability to the device.

67. The device of claim 66, wherein the at least one processor is further capable of controlling the device to at least:

send for another device self-identifying information and a capability flag in a search mode, and

wait to receive self-identifying information and a capability flag information in a search mode.

68. The device of claim 66, wherein the at least one processor is further capable of controlling the device to at least:

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

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

69. The device of claim 66, wherein the at least one processor further capable of controlling the device to at least broadcast self-identifying information and a capability flag.

70. 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;

concurrently send, without establishing a connection, device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device;

receive without establishing a connection, device type and capability flag information from one or more other devices;

enable selection of at least one other device for which device type and capability flag information has been received; and

establish a connection with a selected device.

71. 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 concurrently send, in a search mode, device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device.

72. 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 concurrently send, for another device, and without establishing a connection with the another device, device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device.

73. 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 concurrently broadcast device type information and a capability flag indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device.

74. 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;

concurrently send device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device;

receive device type and capability flag information from one or more other devices;

enable selection of at least one other device for which device type and capability flag information has been received; and

request a selected device to provide its associated capability to the device.

75. The game device of claim 74, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the device to at least:

send for another device self-identifying information and a capability flag in a search mode, and

wait to receive self-identifying information and a capability flag in a search mode.

76. The game device of claim 74, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the device to at least:

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

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

77. The game device of claim 74, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the device to at least broadcast self-identifying and capability flag information.

78. 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;

concurrently send, without establishing a connection, device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device;

receive, without establishing a connection, device type and capability flag information from one or more other devices;

enable selection of at least one other device for which device type and capability flag information has been received; and

establish a connection with a selected device.

79. A game device, comprising:

a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication; and

at least one processor configured cooperate with the transceiver and control the device to at least concurrently send, in a search mode, device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be to another device.

80. 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 concurrently send, for another device, and without establishing a connection with the another device, device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device.

81. A game device, comprising:

a transceiver configured to perform wireless radio communication; and

at least at one processor configured to cooperate with the transceiver and control the device to at least concurrently broadcast device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device.

82. 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:

concurrently send device type information and a capability flag that indicates whether a capability of the device can be provided to another device; and

receive device type and capability flag information from one or snore other devices.

83. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 82, wherein the capability flag indicates whether the device can provide another device with a service.

84. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 82, further comprising instructions configured to at least provide another device with a service.

85. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 84, wherein the capability flag indicates whether the device is in a state where the service can be provided to another device.