Game device provided with touch panel, game control program, and method for controlling game

• US 9,017,164 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2010
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sakai, Masaharu
• Primary Examiner(s): HOANG, BACH V
• Application Number:
  US13/387,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20120231884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,790 Days
• Field of Search: 463/31, 463/33, 463/36, 463/67, 345173-178, 345619-689
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A game device includes: a display device; a rear touch panel provided on the other side of a surface on which the display device is mounted; an activation control unit operative, when the rear touch panel detects an operation of bringing an input means into contact with the rear touch panel and moving the input means in a predetermined direction, to activate a function determined in accordance with the direction; and a screen image managing unit operative to display a screen image displayed by the function activated by the activation control unit on the display device so that the screen image slides from an edge of the screen of the display device in the direction.

Claims

1. A game device comprising:

a display configured to display a basic screen image and a virtual screen image, wherein the virtual screen image at least partially overlays the basic screen image when the virtual screen image is activated;

a front touch panel provided in association with the display and configured to receive front touch input from a user;

a rear touch panel provided on an opposite side of the game device from the display and configured to receive rear touch input from the user;

an application operative to provide a predetermined function;

a function control unit operative to control a function that is activated when the rear touch panel is operated, including activating the virtual screen image on the display device when the rear touch panel is operated by the user;

an input device operative to allow the user to input instructions to the application via the front touch input from the front touch panel and to allow the user to input instructions to the function control unit via the rear touch input from the rear touch panel, such that a user may provide the front touch input to the basic screen image via the front touch panel;

(i) without providing the front touch input through the virtual screen image when the front touch input is made in a region of the front touch panel corresponding to where the virtual screen image does not overlap the basic screen image on the display, and (ii) by providing the front touch input through the virtual screen image when the front touch input is made in a region of the front touch panel corresponding to where the virtual screen image overlaps the basic screen image on the display; and

an event control unit operative, when the basic screen image displayed in accordance with the application and the virtual screen image displayed in accordance with the function control unit are displayed on the display device, to determine to which of the application or the function control unit to notify of the front touch input or rear touch input, and operative to notify a determined target of the front touch input or the rear touch input,

wherein the event control unit notifies the application that the front touch input is made to the basic screen image through the virtual screen image when the front touch input is received in the region corresponding to where the virtual screen image and the basic screen image overlap on the display.

2. A game device, comprising:

a display configured to display a basic screen image and a virtual screen image, wherein the virtual screen image at least partially overlays the basic screen image when the virtual screen image is activated;

a front touch panel provided in association with the display and configured to receive front touch input from a user;

a rear touch panel provided on an opposite side of the game device from the display and configured to receive rear touch input from the user;

an application operative to provide a predetermined function;

a function control unit operative to control a function that is activated when the rear touch panel is operated, including activating the virtual screen image on the display device when the rear touch panel is operated by the user;

an input device operative to allow the user to input instructions to the application via the front touch input from the front touch panel and to allow the user to input instructions to the function control unit via the rear touch input from the rear touch panel;

an event control unit operative, when the basic screen image displayed in accordance with the application and the virtual screen image displayed in accordance with the function control unit are displayed on the display device, to determine to which of the application or the function control unit to notify of the front touch input or rear touch input, and operative to notify a determined target of the front touch input or the rear touch input; and

a screen image managing unit configured to;

(i) determine whether the front touch input from the front touch panel is provided at a position corresponding to an area of the basic screen on the display;

(ii) allow the virtual screen image to be displayed overlying the basic screen on the display irrespective of whether or not the virtual screen image overlaps with the position corresponding to the front touch input, when the virtual screen image is set not to receive rear touch input; and

(iii) allow the virtual screen image to be displayed overlying the basic screen on the display only to an extent that the virtual screen image does not overlap with the position corresponding to the front touch input, if the virtual screen image is set to receive rear touch input.

3. A method for controlling a game comprising:

displaying, by an application providing a predetermined function, a basic screen image on a display device, where a front touch panel is provided in association with the display and configured to receive front touch input from a user;

displaying a virtual screen image on the display device by a function control unit that controls a function activated when a rear touch panel, which is provided on an opposite side of the game device from the display and configured to receive rear touch input from the user, is operated, wherein the virtual screen image at least partially overlays the basic screen image when the virtual screen image is activated;

receiving input instructions from the user to the application via the front touch input from the front touch panel and to allow the user to input instructions to the function control unit via the rear touch input from the rear touch panel, such that a user may provide the front touch input to the basic screen image via the front touch panel;

(i) without providing the front touch input through the virtual screen image when the front touch input is made in a region of the front touch panel corresponding to where the virtual screen image does not overlap the basic screen image on the display, and (ii) by providing the front touch input through the virtual screen image when the front touch input is made in a region of the front touch panel corresponding to where the virtual screen image overlaps the basic screen image on the display;

determining, when the basic screen image and the virtual screen image are displayed on the display device, to which of the application or the function control unit to notify of the front touch input or the rear touch input;

notifying a determined target of the front touch input or the rear touch input; and

notifying the application that the front touch input is made to the basic screen image through the virtual screen image when the front touch input is received in the region corresponding to where the virtual screen image and the basic screen image overlap on the display device.

4. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium containing a computer program, the computer program comprising:

a module configured to allow an application that provides a predetermined function to display a basic screen image on a display device, where a front touch panel is provided in association with the display and configured to receive front touch input from a user;

a module configured to allow a function control unit to display a virtual screen image on the display device, the function control unit controlling a function activated when a rear touch panel, which is provided on an opposite side of the game device from the display and configured to receive rear touch input from the user, is operated, wherein the virtual screen image at least partially overlays the basic screen image when the virtual screen image is activated;

a module configured to receive input instructions from the user to the application via the front touch input from the front touch panel and to allow the user to input instructions to the function control unit via the rear touch input from the rear touch panel, such that a user may provide the front touch input to the basic screen image via the front touch panel;

(i) without providing the front touch input through the virtual screen image when the front touch input is made in a region of the front touch panel corresponding to where the virtual screen image does not overlap the basic screen image on the display, and (ii) by providing the front touch input through the virtual screen image when the front touch input is made in a region of the front touch panel corresponding to where the virtual screen image overlaps the basic screen image on the display;

a module configured to determine, when the basic screen image and the virtual screen image are displayed on the display device, to which of the application or the function control unit to notify of the front touch input or the rear touch input;

a module configured to notify a determined target of the front touch input or the rear touch input; and

a module configured to notify the application that the front touch input is made to the basic screen image through the virtual screen image when the front touch input is received in the region corresponding to where the virtual screen image and the basic screen image overlap on the display device.

5. A method for controlling a game comprising:

displaying, by an application providing a predetermined function, a basic screen image on a display device, where a front touch panel is provided in association with the display and configured to receive front touch input from a user;

displaying a virtual screen image on the display device by a function control unit that controls a function activated when a rear touch panel, which is provided on an opposite side of the game device from the display and configured to receive rear touch input from the user, is operated, wherein the virtual screen image at least partially overlays the basic screen image when the virtual screen image is activated;

receiving input instructions from the user to the application via the front touch input from the front touch panel and to allow the user to input instructions to the function control unit via the rear touch input from the rear touch panel;

determining, when the basic screen image and the virtual screen image are displayed on the display device, to which of the application or the function control unit to notify of the front touch input or the rear touch input;

notifying a determined target of the front touch input or the rear touch input; and

determine whether the front touch input from the front touch panel is provided at a position corresponding to an area of the basic screen on the display;

allowing the virtual screen image to be displayed overlying the basic screen on the display irrespective of whether or not the virtual screen image overlaps with the position corresponding to the touch input, if the virtual screen image is set not to receive rear touch input; and

allowing the virtual screen image to be displayed overlying the basic screen on the display only to an extent that the virtual screen image does not overlap with the position corresponding to the front touch input, if the virtual screen image is set to receive rear touch input.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium containing a computer program, the computer program comprising:

a module configured to allow an application that provides a predetermined function to display a basic screen image on a display device, where a front touch panel is provided in association with the display and configured to receive front touch input from a user;

a module configured to allow a function control unit to display a virtual screen image on the display device, the function control unit controlling a function activated when a rear touch panel, which is provided on an opposite side of the game device from the display and configured to receive rear touch input from the user, is operated, is operated, wherein the virtual screen image at least partially overlays the basic screen image when the virtual screen image is activated;

a module configured to receive input instructions from the user to the application via the front touch input from the front touch panel and to allow the user to input instructions to the function control unit via the rear touch input from the rear touch panel;

a module configured determine, when the basic screen image and the virtual screen image are displayed on the display device, to which of the application or the function control unit to notify of the front touch input or the rear touch input;

a module configured to notify a determined target of the front touch input or the rear touch input; and

a module configured to;

(i) determine whether the front touch input from the front touch panel is provided at a position corresponding to an area of the basic screen on the display, (ii) allow the virtual screen image to be displayed overlying the basic screen on the display irrespective of whether or not the virtual screen image overlaps with the position corresponding to the touch input, if the virtual screen image is set not to receive rear touch input, and (iii) allow the virtual screen image to be displayed overlying the basic screen on the display only to an extent that the virtual screen image does not overlap with the position corresponding to the front touch input, if the virtual screen image is set to receive rear touch input.