Apparatus and method for executing a game program having advertisements therein

• US 20040219977A1
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ebisawa, Kan
• Granted Patent: US 7,379,892 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• 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 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• 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 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/208 Use of an ATM as a switch or hub
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/40 Arrangements for broadcast specially adapted for accumulation-type receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/25 Arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/375 : Commercial
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 : Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

A game system which is operable to update advertisements that are displayed when a game program is executed. The system stores a game program in a memory, receives (i.e., downloads), at predetermined times of operation, for example, on each new day the game program is executed or each time the game program is executed, updated advertising data that relates to at least one advertisement, stores the received advertising data in the memory, executes the game program stored in the memory, and outputs during the execution of the game program display data which corresponds to the stored advertisement data in accordance with the game program code. Further, instead of downloading new advertisements, plural advertisements may be prestored with the game program and only advertisement selection codes are downloaded to update the advertisements that are displayed when the game program is executed.

Claims

1-52. -52. (Canceled).

53. Apparatus for executing an executable program displaying updatable data therein, comprising:

storage means for storing an executable program;

means for receiving updatable data relating to updatable data to be displayed and wherein said storage means stores the received updatable data; and

execution means for executing said executable program stored in said storage means and outputting display data incorporating the updatable data stored in said storage means within an original display data generated by said executable program.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein said means for receiving receives updatable data relating to a plurality of updatable display data;

and said program execution means outputs display data incorporating each of said plurality of updatable display data at respective times within said original display data generated by said executable program.

55. The apparatus of claim 53, further comprising means for transmitting to a program service provider a program identification code identifying the executable program to be executed, and wherein said means for receiving receives from the program service provider updatable data corresponding to the executable program identified by said program identification code.

56. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein said means for receiving receives a plurality of updatable data corresponding to a plurality of executable programs;

and said storage means stores the received updatable data corresponding to the executable program to be executed by said program execution means.

57. An apparatus for executing an executable program displaying data having updatable data therein, comprising:

storage means for storing an executable program and updatable data relating to a plurality of updatable display data;

means for receiving at predetermined times updatable data identifying selected ones of said plurality of updatable display data stored in said storage means; and

program execution means for executing said executable program stored in said storage means and outputting display data incorporating the selected updatable display data identified in said updatable data at respective times within said original display data generated by said executable program.

58. Apparatus for executing an executable program displaying updatable data therein, comprising:

a memory for storing an executable program;

a receiver for receiving updatable data relating to updatable data to be displayed and wherein said memory stores the received updatable data; and

an execution apparatus for executing said executable program stored in said memory and outputting display data incorporating the updatable data stored in said memory within an original display data generated by said executable program.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein said receiver receives updatable data relating to a plurality of updatable display data;

and said execution apparatus outputs display data incorporating each of said plurality of updatable display data at respective times within said original display data generated by said executable program.

60. The apparatus of claim 58, further comprising a transmitter to a program service provider a program identification code identifying the executable program to be executed, and wherein said receiver receives from the program service provider updatable data corresponding to the executable program identified by said program identification code.

61. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein said receiver receives a plurality of updatable data corresponding to a plurality of executable programs;

and said memory stores the received updatable data corresponding to the executable program to be executed by said program execution means.

62. An apparatus for executing an executable program displaying data having updatable data therein, comprising:

a memory for storing an executable program and updatable data relating to a plurality of updatable display data;

a receiver for receiving at predetermined times updatable data identifying selected ones of said plurality of updatable display data stored in said memory; and

an execution apparatus for executing said executable program stored in said memory and outputting display data incorporating the selected updatable display data identified in said updatable data at respective times within said original display data generated by said executable program.

63. A method of executing an executable program displaying updatable data therein, comprising the steps of:

storing an executable program in memory;

receiving updatable data relating to at least one updatable display data at predetermined times;

storing the received updatable data in the memory;

executing the executable program stored in the memory; and

outputting display data incorporating the updatable data stored in the memory within an original display data generated by the executable program.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving updatable data relating to a plurality of updatable display data;

and said step of outputting is carried out by outputting display data incorporating each of the plurality of updatable display data at respective times within said original display data generated by the executable program.

65. The method of claim 63, further comprising the step of transmitting to a program service provider a program identification code identifying the executable program to be executed;

and wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving from the program service provider updatable data corresponding to the executable program identified by the program identification code.

66. The method of claim 63, wherein said step of receiving is carried out by receiving a plurality of updatable data corresponding to a plurality of executable programs;

and said step of outputting is carried out by outputting display data incorporating the updatable data within said original display data generated by the executable program that is executed.

67. A method of executing an executable program displaying updatable data therein, comprising the steps of:

storing an executable program and updatable data relating to a plurality of updatable display data in a memory;

receiving at predetermined times updatable data selection data identifying selected ones of the plurality of updatable display data stored in the memory;

executing the executable program stored in the memory; and

outputting display data incorporating the selected updatable display data identified in the updatable data selection data at respective times within an original display data generated by the executable program.

68. An apparatus for exchanging information with an apparatus for executing an executable program having updatable data therein, comprising:

storage means for storing updatable data;

means for transmitting said updatable data relating to at least updatable data to be displayed to said apparatus for executing an executable program, said means for transmitting transmits new updatable data at predetermined times; and

wherein said apparatus for executing an executable program stores the received updatable data, executes an executable program, and outputs display data incorporating the stored updatable data within an original display data generated by said executable program.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein said means for transmitting transmits updatable data related to a plurality of updatable data to be displayed;

and said apparatus for executing an executable program outputs display data incorporating each of said plurality of updatable data to be displayed at respective times within said original display data generated by said executable program.

70. The apparatus of claim 68, further comprising means for receiving a program identification code identifying the executable program to he executed at said apparatus for executing an executable program;

and wherein said means for transmitting transmits updatable data corresponding to the executable program identified by said program identification code.

71. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein said means for transmitting transmits a plurality of updatable data corresponding to a plurality of executable programs;

and said apparatus for executing an executable program stores the received updatable data corresponding to the executable program to be executed.

72. An apparatus for exchanging information with an apparatus for executing an executable program having updatable data therein, comprising:

storage means for storing updatable data relating to a plurality of updatable data to be displayed;

means for transmitting at predetermined times selected ones of said plurality of updatable data to be displayed stored in said storage means in accordance with updatable selection data received from said apparatus for executing an executable program;

said apparatus for executing an executable program executing said executable program and outputting display data incorporating the selected updatable data to be displayed identified in said updatable data selection at respective times within said original updatable data generated by said executable program.

73. An apparatus for exchanging information with an apparatus for executing an executable program having updatable data therein, comprising:

a memory for storing updatable data;

a transmitter for transmitting said updatable data relating to at least updatable data to be displayed to said apparatus for executing an executable program, said transmitter transmits new updatable data at predetermined times; and

wherein said apparatus for executing an executable program stores the received updatable data, executes an executable program, and outputs display data incorporating the stored updatable data within an original display data generated by said executable program.

74. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein said transmitter transmits updatable data related to a plurality of updatable data to be displayed;

and said apparatus for executing an executable program outputs display data incorporating each of said plurality of updatable data to be displayed at respective times within said original display data generated by said executable program.

75. The apparatus of claim 73, further comprising a receiver for receiving a program identification code identifying the executable program to be executed at said apparatus for executing an executable program;

and wherein said transmitter transmits updatable data corresponding to the executable program identified by said program identification code.

76. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein said transmitter transmits a plurality of updatable data corresponding to a plurality of executable programs;

and said apparatus for executing an executable program stores the received updatable data corresponding to the executable program to be executed.

77. An apparatus for exchanging information with an apparatus for executing an executable program having updatable data therein, comprising:

a memory for storing updatable data relating to a plurality of updatable data to be displayed; and

a transmitter for transmitting at predetermined times selected ones of said plurality of updatable data to be displayed stored in said memory in accordance with updatable selection data received from said apparatus for executing an executable program;

said apparatus for executing an executable program executing said executable program and outputting display data incorporating the selected updatable data to be displayed identified in said updatable data selection at respective times within said original updatable data generated by said executable program.

78. A method of exchanging information with an apparatus for executing an executable program having updatable data therein, comprising the steps of:

storing updatable data in memory; and

transmitting said updatable data relating to at least one updatable data to be displayed at predetermined times to said apparatus for executing an executable program;

wherein an executable program is executed at said apparatus for executing an executable program by outputting display data incorporating the transmitted updatable data to be displayed executable within an original display data generated by the program.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein said step of transmitting is carried out by transmitting updatable data relating to a plurality of updatable data to be displayed;

and said step of outputting is carried out by outputting display data incorporating each of the plurality of updatable data to be displayed at respective times within said original display data generated by the executable program.

80. The method of claim 78, further comprising the step of receiving a program identification code identifying the executable program to be executed at said apparatus for executing an executable program;

and wherein said step of transmitting is carried out by transmitting updatable data corresponding to the executable program identified by the program identification code.

81. The method of claim 78, wherein said step of transmitting is carried out by transmitting a plurality of updatable data corresponding to a plurality of executable programs;

and said apparatus for executing an executable program outputs display data incorporating the updatable data within said original display data generated by said executable program that is to be executed by said apparatus for executing an executable program.

82. A method of exchanging information with an apparatus for executing an executable program having updatable data therein, comprising the steps of:

transmitting updatable data relating to a plurality of updatable data to be displayed to said apparatus for executing an executable program; and

transmitting to said apparatus for executing an executable program at predetermined times updatable data selection data identifying selected ones of the plurality of updatable data to be displayed stored in the memory;

wherein said apparatus for executing an executable program executes an executable program by outputting display data incorporating the selected updatable data to be displayed identified in the updatable data selection data at respective Limes within an original display data generated by the executable program.