Wireless communication game system

• US 9,320,972 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• 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:
  US13/830,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20130203505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. An information system including a plurality of devices, wherein:

at least one of the devices includes;

a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly send self-identifying information and application identifying information identifying an application which is being executed on the respective device, wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to send the self-identifying information and the application identifying information before the respective device has established a connection with any other devices, and

at least one other of the devices includes;

a wireless receiver configured to wirelessly receive, from the plurality of devices existing within a communication range, said self-identifying information and said application identifying information from said wireless transmitter, and

at least one processor configured to;

generate a display of indications of devices existing within the communications range that are communicative with an application which is being executed on the other of the devices, based on the application identifying information received by said wireless receiver,

allow a user to select at least one of the devices displayed, and

cause transmission of a connection request toward the selected at least one device.

2. A wireless communication system including a plurality of mobile devices, wherein

each said device in the system is configured to:

send information identifying the respective device and information identifying an application being run on the respective device, wherein the self-identifying information and the application identifying information is sent before the respective device has established a connection with any other devices,

receive information identifying other devices that are in communications range therewith, as well as information identifying which applications are being run on those other devices,

display the devices existing within the communication range, based on the received information,

enable a user to select at least one of the devices existing within the communication range following the displaying, and

transmit a connection request to the selected at least one device, and

wherein the devices that are displayed on a given device are those that are running applications suitable for communicating with the application being run by the given device, as determined by the given device in consultation with the application identifying information received by the given device.

3. A wireless handheld device comprising:

a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly send self-identifying information and application identifying information identifying at least one application on the device, wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to send the self-identifying information and the application identifying information before the device has established a connection with any other devices,

a wireless receiver configured to wirelessly receive self-identifying information and application identifying information from other devices, and

at least one processor configured to;

generate a display of indications of other devices existing within a communications range that are communicative with an application on the device based on the application identifying information received by the wireless receiver, wherein established connections are not prerequisites to generation of the display,

allow a user to select at least one of the displayed other devices, and

cooperate with the wireless transmitter to transmit a connection request toward the selected other device(s).

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the device is a game device, and the at least one application comprises a communicative game.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the application identifying information identifies an application which is being executed on the device.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the application identifying information identifies an application which is being activated on the device.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein the application identifying information identifies an application which has already been executed but has not started a communicative state in the application with any other devices.

8. The device of claim 3, wherein the wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver are implemented in a wireless transceiver.

10. The device of claim 3, wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to send the self-identifying information and the application identifying information before any opponent to connect with has been determined.

11. The device of claim 3, wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to send the self-identifying information and the application identifying information before the user has selected any opponent to connect with.

12. The device of claim 3, wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to send the self-identifying information and the application identifying information to at least two devices within communications range.

13. The device of claim 3, wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to send the self-identifying information and the application identifying information so that undetermined other devices within communications range can get them.

14. The device of claim 3, wherein the wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver are further configured to send and receive said information among unspecified devices.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the application identifying information identifies an application which is being executed thereon.

16. The device of claim 3, wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to send the self-identifying information and the application identifying information on the device for a plurality of other devices without establishing a connection with the other devices.

17. The device of claim 3, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute communication information processing with another device.

9. A wireless handheld device comprising:

a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly send self-identifying information and application identifying information identifying at least one application on the device, wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to send the self-identifying information and the application identifying information before the device has started a communicative state with any other devices,

a wireless receiver configured to wirelessly receive self-identifying information and application identifying information from other wireless devices, and

at least one processor configured to;

generate a display of indications of other devices existing within a communications range that are communicative with an application on the device based on the application identifying information received by the wireless receiver, wherein established connections are not prerequisites to generation of the display,

allow a user to select at least one of the displayed wireless devices, and

cooperate with the wireless transmitter to transmit a connection request toward the selected wireless device(s).

18. The device of claim 9, wherein the wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver are implemented in a wireless transceiver.

19. A wireless handheld device comprising:

a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly send self-identifying information and application identifying information identifying at least one application on the device,

a wireless receiver configured to wirelessly receive self-identifying information and application identifying information from other wireless devices, and

at least one processor configured to;

generate a display of indications of other devices existing within a communications range that are communicative with an application on the device based on the application identifying information received by the wireless receiver,

allow a user to select at least one of the displayed wireless devices, and

cooperate with the wireless transmitter to transmit a connection request toward the selected wireless device(s),

wherein the application identifying information identifies an application which has already been executed but has not started a communicative state in the application with any other devices.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver are implemented in a wireless transceiver.

21. At least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing program instructions executable by at least one processor of a wireless information device in an information system including a plurality of wireless information devices, the instructions configured to cause the wireless information device in the information system to at least:

wirelessly send self-identifying information and application identifying information identifying an application on the device, wherein the self-identifying information and the application identifying information is sent before that device has established a connection with any other devices,

wirelessly receive self-identifying information and application identifying information,

display indications of devices existing within the communication range that are communicative with an application on the device, without having to establish connections with any other devices, and based on said information received,

allow a user to select at least one of the devices displayed, and

transmit a connection request toward the selected at least one device.

22. At least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing program instructions for use with a mobile device, the program instructions configured to cause the mobile device to at least:

send information identifying the device and information identifying an application being run on the device, wherein the information identifying the device and the information identifying the application being run on the device is sent before the device has established a connection with any other devices,

receive information identifying other devices that are in communications range, as well as information identifying which applications are running on those other devices,

display the devices existing within the communications range, based on the received information,

enable a user to select at least one of the devices existing within the communications range following the displaying, and

transmit a connection request to the selected device(s), and

wherein the devices that are displayed on a given device are those that are running applications suitable for communicating with the application being run by the given device, as determined by the given device in consultation with the application identifying information received by the given device.

23. At least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing program instructions for execution by at least one processor of a wireless handheld information display device, the instructions causing the at least one processor to provide operations that at least:

wirelessly send self-identifying information and application identifying information identifying at least one application on the device, wherein the self-identifying information and the application identifying information is sent before the device has established a connection with any other devices,

wirelessly receive self-identifying information and application identifying information from at least one other wireless device,

display indications of other wireless devices existing within a communications range that are communicative with an application on the wireless handheld information display device, wherein established connections are not prerequisites to generation of the display,

allow a user to select at least one of the displayed wireless devices, and

transmit a connection request toward the selected wireless device(s).

24. A wireless handheld game device comprising:

a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly send self-identifying information and application identifying information identifying at least one application on the game device, wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to send the self-identifying information and the application identifying information before the device has established a connection with any other devices,

a wireless receiver configured to wirelessly receive self-identifying information and application identifying information from other game devices, and

at least one processor configured to;

generate a display of indications of other game devices existing within a communications range that are communicative with an application on the wireless handheld game device based on the application identifying information received by the wireless receiver, wherein established connections are not prerequisites to generation of the display,

allow a user to select at least one of the displayed wireless game devices, and

cooperate with the wireless transmitter to transmit a connection request toward the selected wireless game device(s).

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver are implemented in a wireless transceiver.

26. A wireless handheld device comprising:

a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly send self-identifying information and application identifying information identifying at least one application on the device,

a wireless receiver configured to wirelessly receive self-identifying information and application identifying information from other devices, and

at least one processor configured to;

generate a display of indications of other devices that are communicative with an application on the wireless handheld device based on the application identifying information received by the wireless receiver,

allow a user to select at least one of the displayed wireless devices, and

cooperate with the wireless transmitter to transmit a connection request toward the selected wireless device(s),

wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to send the self-identifying information and application identifying information, and generate the display, when the device has not yet established a connection with any other devices.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver are implemented in a wireless transceiver.

28. A wireless handheld device comprising:

a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly send self-identifying information and application identifying information identifying at least one application on the device,

a wireless receiver configured to wirelessly receive self-identifying information and application identifying information from other devices, and

at least one processor configured to;

generate a display of indications of other devices that are communicative with an application on the wireless handheld device based on the application identifying information received by the wireless receiver,

allow a user to select at least one of the displayed wireless devices, and

cooperate with the wireless transmitter to transmit a connection request toward the selected wireless device(s),

wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to send the self-identifying information and application identifying information, and generate the display, when any opponent to connect with is not yet determined.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver are implemented in a wireless transceiver.

30. A wireless handheld device comprising:

a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly send self-identifying information and application identifying information identifying at least one application on the device,

a wireless receiver configured to wirelessly receive self-identifying information and application identifying information from other devices, and

at least one processor configured to;

generate a display of indications of other devices when the other devices'"'"' application identifying information identifies a predetermined application, wherein established connections are not prerequisites to generation of the display,

allow a user to select at least one of the displayed wireless devices, and

cooperate with the wireless transmitter to transmit a connection request toward the selected wireless device(s).

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver are implemented in a wireless transceiver.

32. A wireless handheld device comprising:

a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly send self-identifying information and application identifying information, wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to send the self-identifying information and the application identifying information before the device has established a connection with any other wireless devices,

a wireless receiver configured to wirelessly receive self-identifying information and application identifying information from other wireless devices, and

at least one processor configured to;

generate a display of indications of other devices that are communicative with an application on the device based on the application identifying information received by the wireless receiver, wherein established connections are not prerequisites to generation of the display,

allow a user to select at least one of the displayed wireless devices, and

cooperate with the wireless transmitter to transmit a connection request toward the selected wireless device(s).

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the application identifying information identifies an application on the device.

34. The device of claim 32, wherein the application identifying information identifies an application being executed on the device.

35. The device of claim 32, wherein the application identifying information identifies an application being activated on the device.

36. The device of claim 32, wherein the wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver are implemented in a wireless transceiver.

37. An information system including a plurality of devices, wherein:

at least one of the devices includes;

a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly send self-identifying information and application identifying information identifying an application which is being executed on the respective device, wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to send the self-identifying information and the application identifying information without the respective device establishing a connection with any other devices,

at least one other of the devices includes;

a wireless receiver configured to wirelessly receive, from the plurality of devices, said self-identifying information and said application identifying information from said wireless transmitter, and

at least one processor configured to;

generate a display of indications of devices that are communicative with an application which is being executed on the other of the devices, based on the application identifying information received by said wireless receiver,

allow a user to select at least one of the devices displayed, and

cause transmission of a connection request toward the selected at least one device.

38. A wireless handheld device comprising:

a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly send self-identifying information and application identifying information identifying at least one application on the device, wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to send the self-identifying information and the application identifying information without the device establishing a connection with any other devices,

a wireless receiver configured to wirelessly receive self-identifying information and application identifying information from other devices, and

at least one processor configured to;

generate a display of indications of other devices that are communicative with an application on the device based on the application identifying information received by the wireless receiver, without having to establish connections with any other devices,

allow a user to select at least one of the displayed other devices, and

cooperate with the wireless transmitter to transmit a connection request toward the selected other device(s).

39. The device of claim 38, wherein the wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver are implemented in a wireless transceiver.

40. A wireless handheld device comprising:

a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly send self-identifying information and application identifying information identifying at least one application on the device, wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to send the self-identifying information and the application identifying information without the device establishing a connection with any other devices,

a wireless receiver configured to wirelessly receive self-identifying information and application identifying information from other devices, and

at least one processor configured to;

generate a display of indications of other devices that are communicative with an application on the wireless handheld device based on the application identifying information received by the wireless receiver, without having to establish connections with any other devices,

allow a user to select at least one of the displayed wireless devices, and

cooperate with the wireless transmitter to transmit a connection request toward the selected wireless device(s).

41. The device of claim 40, wherein the wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver are implemented in a wireless transceiver.

42. A wireless device comprising:

a wireless receiver configured to wirelessly receive, from at least one other unspecified device, self-identifying information of the unspecified device and application identifying information identifying at least one application being executable on the unspecified device; and

at least one processor configured to;

extract devices that are communicative with the wireless device using the application identifying information received by said wireless receiver and generate a display of indications of the extracted devices without having to establish connections with any other devices;

allow a user to select at least one of the devices displayed; and

cause transmission of a connection request toward the selected at least one device.

43. The device of claim 42, wherein the wireless receiver is implemented in a wireless transceiver.