Network game system

• US 9,452,361 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2004
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Nakai, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOSSER, ROBERT E
• Application Number:
  US10/870,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20040224774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,484 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/537 for exchanging game data using a messaging service, e.g. e-mail, SMS, MMS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5566 by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games

Abstract

A network game system includes a game server in which a plurality of players respectively operating a plurality of portable communication terminals are registered in advance. When any one of the players logs in the game server through a communication network, a game is supplied to the portable communication terminal of the player. A game screen is shown on a display, and both characters in the course of logging-in and logging out are displayed on the game screen. If the player selects the logging-out character, a selection signal is transmitted to the game server. The game server transmits a log-in operation request to the portable communication terminal of the player operating the selected character.

Claims

1. A game management method of a game server which provides a game for a first game apparatus that is logged-in through a communication network, said first game apparatus being of a first player out of a plurality of players that are registered in said game server, wherein for each player first transmission identifying information indicating whether log-in operation requests are transmittable to the respective player is registerable with the game server, the method comprising:

transmitting to said first game apparatus information identifying a second player out of the plurality of players that is not logged-in;

transmitting, in response to user input on said first game apparatus requesting the second player to log-in, a log-in operation request to a second game apparatus of the second player, conditioned on any first transmission identifying information associated with the second player registered with the game server indicating that log-in requests for the second player are transmittable, the user input being received on said first game apparatus via a user interface that is displayed during a game play mode of the game; and

returning a first message to said first game apparatus without transmitting the log-in operation request to said second game apparatus, conditioned on any first transmission identifying information associated with the second player registered with the game server indicating that log-in requests for the second player are not transmittable.

2. A game management method according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission identifying information is indicative of a prohibition.

3. A game management method according to claim 2, wherein for each player second transmission identifying information indicating whether log-in operation requests from each of the other players of the plurality of players are transmittable to the respective player is registerable with the game server, and further comprising returning the first message to said first game apparatus without transmitting said log-in operation request to said second game apparatus, conditioned on there being second transmission identifying information associated with the second player registered with the game server indicating that log-in requests from the first player are not transmittable.

4. A game management method according to claim 1, further comprising returning a second message to said first game apparatus in response to a log-in operation denial being returned from said second game apparatus responding to the log-in operation request.

5. A game management method according to claim 1, further comprising including identification information specifying the first player into the log-in operation request.

6. A game management method according to claim 1, wherein personal information is registerable in said game server for each player, and further comprising returning the personal information of the second player to said first game apparatus in response to a second selection signal for selecting the second player being received from said first game apparatus.

7. A game management method according to claim 1, further comprising:

reading from a memory a first character signal representing a first character operated by the first player, a second character signal representing a second character operated by the second player, and a third character signal representing a third character operated by a third player already having logged-in at a time of the first player'"'"'s log-in;

adding the information identifying the second player to said second character signal such that a display manner of the second character in said first game apparatus is made different from display manners of the first character and the third character; and

transmitting to said first game apparatus the first character signal, the second character signal to which said information identifying the second player is added, and said third character signal.

8. A game management method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting to the first game apparatus information identifying a given player that is registered in said game server but that is not logged-in, the information identifying the given player being displayable via the user interface on the first game apparatus in the form of a guide that is configured to enable the first player to select the given player based on the displayed information identifying the given player; and

transmitting a log-in operation request to the game apparatus of the given player in response to a selection of the given player by the first player using the guide.

9. A game management method according to claim 8, wherein

the log-in operation request is transmitted to the game apparatus of the given player using the game server and using the same communication network through which the first player logged-in, and

the log-in operation request is receivable by the game apparatus of the given player from said game server through the same communication network through which the first player logged-in and through which the given player can log in, responsive to the log-in operation request.

10. A game management method according to claim 9, wherein the first game apparatus comprises a display device configured to display a game image formed by graphic data, wherein:

the graphic data includes first character data of a first character indicative of a player that is logged-in to the game server and second character data of a second character indicative of a player that is not logged-in to the game server, and

the game image includes the first character and the second character respectively formed by the first character data and the second character data.

11. A game management method according to claim 10, wherein the first character data and the second character data indicate logged-in and not logged-in statuses, respectively, by being displayed images that are different from one another.

12. A game management method according to claim 8, wherein the user interface is configured to display a game image formed by graphic data of the game, wherein:

the graphic data includes first character data of a first character indicative of a player being logged-in and second character data of a second character indicative of a player being not logged-in,

the game image includes the first character and the second character respectively formed by the first character data and the second character data, and

the first character data and the second character data indicate logged-in and not logged-in statuses, respectively, by being displayed images that are different from one another.

13. A game management method according to claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of game apparatuses, including the first and second game apparatuses, are connectable to the game server,

each game apparatus in the plurality of game apparatuses is configured to display a game image formed by graphic data on a display device thereof,

the graphic data includes first character data of a first character indicative of a player that is logged-in to the game system and second character data of a second character indicative of a player that is not logged-in to the game system, and

the game image includes the first character and the second character respectively formed by the first character data and the second character data.

14. A game management method according to claim 13, wherein:

in order to request the second game apparatus to join the game, the first game apparatus is configured to send a joining request to the game server, and

said game server is configured to perform functionality including;

identifying the second player based on information included in the joining request; and

sending the log-in operation request to the second game apparatus of the identified second player, and

said second game apparatus is configured to perform functionality including;

displaying, when the log-in operation request information is received, a calling screen including a menu item enabling the second player to indicate whether the game is to be started for the second game apparatus; and

sending a log-in request to said game server based on user input made with respect to the menu item.

15. A game management method according to claim 13, wherein:

in order to request the second game apparatus to join the game, the first game apparatus is configured to send a joining request to the game server, and wherein said game server is configured to perform functionality comprising;

identifying the second player based on information included in the joining request; and

sending a mail to request a log-in operation to the second game apparatus of the identified second player.

16. A game management method according to claim 1, wherein the players are registered in said game server in advance of the game.

17. A game management method according to claim 1, wherein the information identifying the second player is transmittable to said first game apparatus player, and the log-in operation request is transmittable to the second game apparatus, via said game server and over the same communication network through which the first game apparatus logged-in.

18. A game management method according to claim 17, wherein the communication network is an IP-based network and the log-in operation request is sent in an electronic mail transmission over the IP-based network.

19. A game management method according to claim 1, wherein the user input is a first selection signal indicative of the first player having selected the second player.

20. A game management method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting operations are performed within one game application.

21. A game management method according to claim 1, wherein the user interface is integrated in a game world.

22. A game management method according to claim 1, wherein an email message for the second game apparatus of the second player is displayable to the second player via a user interface integrated with a game world of the game.

23. A game server which provides a game for a first game apparatus that is logged-in through a communication network, said first game apparatus being of a first player out of a plurality of players that are registered in said game server, wherein for each player first transmission identifying information indicating whether log-in operation requests are transmittable to the respective player is registerable with the game server, the game server comprising:

at least one processor coupled to a memory; and

a transceiver;

wherein the at least one processor is configured to cooperate with the transceiver and control the game server to at least;

transmit to said first game apparatus information identifying a second player out of the plurality of players that is not logged-in;

transmit, in response to user input on said first game apparatus requesting the second player to log-in, a log-in operation request to a second game apparatus of the second player, conditioned on any first transmission identifying information associated with the second player registered with the game server indicating that log-in requests for the second player are transmittable, the user input being received on said first game apparatus via a user interface that is displayed during a game play mode of the game; and

return a first message to said first game apparatus without transmitting the log-in operation request to said second game apparatus, conditioned on any first transmission identifying information associated with the second player registered with the game server indicating that log-in requests for the second player are not transmittable.

24. A game server according to claim 23, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the game server to at least:

transmit to the first game apparatus information identifying a given player that is registered in said game server but that is not logged-in, the information identifying the given player being displayable via the user interface on the first game apparatus in the form of a guide that is configured to enable the first player to select the given player based on the displayed information identifying the given player; and

transmit a log-in operation request to the game apparatus of the given player in response to a selection of the given player by the first player using the guide.

25. A game server according to claim 23, wherein the log-in operation request is transmitted to the second game apparatus in response to a selection signal for selecting the second player being received from said first game apparatus, such that the log-in operation request is receivable by the second game apparatus from said game server and from said communication network.

26. A game server according to claim 23, wherein the information identifying the second player and the log-in operation request are transmitted without having to switch between applications.

27. A game system to which a plurality of game apparatuses can log-in through a communication network, the plurality of game apparatuses belonging to respective registered game players, the game system comprising:

a game server that provides a game for game apparatuses that are logged-in through the communication network, wherein for each player first transmission identifying information indicating whether log-in operation requests are transmittable to the respective player is registerable with the game server;

a first game apparatus that is logged-in through the communication network, said first game apparatus being of a first player and comprising an integrated user interface through which the game is playable and being configured to receive user input indicating that a request for another player to log-in should be sent; and

a second game apparatus that is not logged-in through the communication network, said second game apparatus being of a second player;

wherein the game server comprises at least one processor and a transceiver, the game server being operable to at least;

transmit to said first game apparatus information identifying the second player,

transmit, in response to user input received through the integrated user interface on said first game apparatus, a log-in operation request to the second game apparatus of the second player, conditioned on any first transmission identifying information associated with the second player registered with the game server indicating that log-in requests for the second player are transmittable, the user input being received on said first game apparatus via a user interface that is displayed during a game play mode of the game, and

return a first message to said first game apparatus without transmitting the log-in operation request to said second game apparatus, conditioned on any first transmission identifying information associated with the second player registered with the game server indicating that log-in requests for the second player are not transmittable.

28. A game system according to claim 27, wherein the game server is further operable to at least:

transmit to the first game apparatus information identifying a given player that is registered in said game server but that is not logged-in, the information identifying the given player being displayable via the user interface on the first game apparatus in the form of a guide that is configured to enable the first player to select the given player based on the displayed information identifying the given player; and

transmit a log-in operation request to the game apparatus of the given player in response to a selection of the given player by the first player using the guide.

29. A game system according to claim 27, wherein:

game apparatuses logged-in to the game system can join the game,

each game apparatus is configured to display a game image formed by graphic data on a display device associated therewith,

the graphic data includes first character data of a first character indicative of the first player that is logged-in to the game system and second character data of a second character indicative of the second player that is not logged-in to the game system, and

the game image includes the first character and the second character respectively formed by the first character data and the second character data.

30. A game system according to claim 29, wherein:

in order to request the second game apparatus to join the game, the first game apparatus is configured to send a joining request to the game server,

the game server is further operable to identify the second player based the information included in the joining request and transmit, using the transceiver, the log-in operation request to the second game apparatus of the second player identified based on the information included in the joining request,

said display device associated with said second game apparatus is configured to display a calling screen display that displays, responsive to the log-in operation request being received by the second game apparatus, a menu item enabling the second player to indicate whether the game is to be started for the second player, and

said second game apparatus is controllable to transmit a log-in request to said game server based on user input made with respect to the menu item.

31. A game system according to claim 30, wherein:

said game server is further operable to send map data as the graphic data to the second game apparatus to which the log-in operation request is sent, and

the display device associated with said second game apparatus is further configured to display the game image based on the map data.

32. A game system according to claim 30, wherein the log-in operation request information includes information of the first player of the first game apparatus that sent the joining request, and the calling screen includes the first player'"'"'s information together with the menu item.

33. A game system according to claim 30, wherein said game server stores in advance mail addresses of the game apparatuses, and said first game apparatus is configured to cause the log-in operation request information to be sent to a mail address of the second game apparatus of the second player.

34. A game system according to claim 33, wherein the log-in operation request information is sent via a game dedicated mail message generated by the first game apparatus.

35. A game system according to claim 29, wherein:

in order to request the second game apparatus to join the game, the first game apparatus is configured to send a joining request to the game server, and

said game server is further operable to;

identify the second player based on information included in the joining request; and

send a mail including the log-in operation request for the second game apparatus of the second player identified based on the information included in the joining request.

36. A game system according to claim 35, wherein said second game apparatus is controllable to determine whether the second game apparatus is to join the game when the mail is received.

37. A game system according to claim 29, wherein the graphic data is transmittable from said game server to said game apparatuses.

38. A game system according to claim 29, wherein the first character data and the second character data indicate logged-in and not logged-in statuses, respectively, by being displayed images that are different from one another.