System for preventing the use of an unauthorized external memory

• US 5,134,391 A
• Filed: 01/08/1990
• Issued: 07/28/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Okada, Saturo
• Primary Examiner(s): Weldon, Ulysses
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chow, Doom Yue
• Application Number:
  US07/462,397
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.34, 340/825.31, 340/799, 340/798, 273/85 G, 273/148 B
• US Class Current: 345/467
• 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 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/201 Playing authorisation given at platform level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories

Abstract

A hand-held electronic game machine includes a computer accommodated in a case and a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel provided at an upper portion of a front surface of the case. When an external memory is inserted to a receiving port formed on a rear surface of the case at a portion opposite to the LCD panel, a first character data being set in advance in the computer is compared with a second character data stored in a predetermined area of the external memory. Prior to such comparison, the computer displays the characters represented by the second character data on the LCD panel. If the first and second character data are coincident with each other, the computer can access to the external memory. During the progression of the game in accordance with a game program of the external memory, the game character can be moved by operating a direction designating key provided at the left side in a portion below the LCD panel of the front surface of the case, and the action manner of the game character can be determined by operating an action key provided at the right side in the portion below the LCD panel. A start key and select key are arranged between the direction designating key and the action key.

Claims

1. An authentication system for preventing an unauthorized external memory unit from being used in an information processing system which utilizes a removable external memory unit, said information processing system being capable of displaying a predetermined image by a display means in accordance with a program stored in said external memory unit when the external memory unit is attached thereto, said authentication system comprising:

a central processing unit in said information processing system capable of accessing a predetermined maximum address space, an internal memory coupled to said central processing unit having a first memory area corresponding to a first memory space, relatively smaller than said maximum address space, for storing first character data and an authenticity determining program for determining the authenticity of said external memory unit based upon said first character data, and a memory selecting circuit coupled to said internal memory, said central processing unit, and coupled in use to said external memory unit for selecting any one of said internal memory and said external memory unit;

said external memory unit being coupled in use to said central processing unit and said memory selecting circuit and having an external memory including a second memory area having a memory space corresponding to said first memory space and a third memory area having a relatively larger second memory space;

said external memory including means for storing second character data having a predetermined relationship with respect to said first character data stored in said internal memory, said second character data being stored in a portion of said third memory area of said external memory, said program stored in said external memory unit for controlling the display of predetermined images and being stored in at least the remaining memory area of said third memory area of said external memory;

said memory selecting circuit including a first means, responsive to predetermined memory access related signals received from said central processing unit, for selecting said first memory space such that said central processing unit can access said internal memory and a second means for selecting said second memory space such that said central processing unit can access said external memory when the said external memory unit is loaded into said information processing system;

said central processing unit including means for executing said authenticity determining program for determining whether said first character data which is read from said internal memory and said second character data which is read from said third memory area of said external memory have a predetermined relationship based upon said authenticity determining program stored in said internal memory and for generating an authenticating indicating signal if said predetermined relationship exists;

wherein said central processing unit includes a display controlling means for controlling the display of said second character data stored in said external memory prior to determining whether said first character data and said second character data have said predetermined relationship, and wherein said memory selecting circuit is responsive to said authenticity indicating signal for selecting said second memory space, whereby said central processing unit can access said program stored in said external memory when said first character data and said second character data have said predetermined relationship.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, said display controlling means including enlargement processing means for displaying said second character data in an enlarged fashion.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said display controlling means includes scrolling means for scrolling said second character data on said display means.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first character data and said second character data are identical, and wherein if said central processing unit determines that said first character data and said second character data do not have said predetermined relationship, said central processing unit inhibits said memory selecting circuit from selecting said second memory space such that said central processing unit cannot access said external memory.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said information processing system is a hand-held video game system.

6. A system for preventing an unauthorized external memory unit from being used in an information processing system including an external memory unit being attachable or detachable to or from said information processing system, said information processing system being capable of displaying a predetermined image in accordance with a program stored in the external memory unit when the external memory is attached thereto, comprising:

said information processing system including central processing means for executing program instructions and internal memory means for storing first character data;

said external memory unit including external memory means for storing second character data;

memory bank selecting means for enabling access by said central processing means to one of said external memory unit and said internal memory means, said memory bank selecting means including first means for enabling access to said first character data stored in said internal memory means, and

second means for enabling access to said second character data stored in said external memory unit;

determining means for determining whether said first character data and said second character data have a predetermined relationship;

display means for displaying an image;

means for controlling said display means to display character data in accordance with the second character data stored in said external memory unit prior to said determining means determining whether said predetermined relationship exists;

said memory bank selecting means including third means for allowing said central processing means access to said external memory unit when it is determined that said first character data and said second character data have said predetermined relationship; and

inhibiting means for inhibiting said central processing means from accessing said external memory unit when it is determined that said first character data and said second character data do not have said predetermined relationship.

7. A system for preventing an unauthorized external memory unit from being used in a game machine which utilizes a removable external memory unit including external memory means for storing a game program, said system comprising:

main game processing means for executing said game program;

internal memory means coupled to said main game processing means for storing first character data and an authenticating program;

said removable external memory unit including external memory means for storing said game program, second character data, auxiliary data, and a predetermined value which has a predetermined mathematical relation to said auxiliary data;

a display means for displaying an image;

said main game processing means including;

a memory select circuit for enabling one of said external memory means and said internal memory means,

first means for comparing said first character data with said second character data and for generating a first signal if a predetermined relationship exists between said first character data and said second character data;

means for controlling said display means to display said second character data prior to said first means for comparing determining whether said predetermined relationship exists;

means responsive to said first signal for performing a predetermined calculation using said auxiliary data; and

second means for comparing the results of said predetermined calculation with said predetermined value;

wherein said memory select circuit includes means for enabling said game program to be executed when said first signal is generated and if the results of said predetermined calculation has a predetermined relationship with said predetermined value.

8. A system according to claim 7, further including means for vertically scrolling said second character data across said display means.

9. A system according to claim 7, further including means for processing said second character data to permit an enlarged display of said second character data.

10. A system according to claim 7, further including means for transferring said second character data from said external memory means to a character memory means, means for processing said second character data, means for writing said processed second character data to a video memory means;

and means for displaying said processed second character data.

11. A system according to claim 7, wherein said means for enabling includes memory bank switching means responsive to said second means for comparing to operatively couple said main game processing means to said external memory unit.

12. A system according to claim 7, wherein said predetermined calculation involves taking the complement of the sum of at least a portion of said auxiliary data.

13. A system according to claim 7, wherein said auxiliary data includes data indicative of the manufacturer and the name of the game.

14. A system according to claim 7, wherein said auxiliary data includes data indicative of the cartridge type and the memory characteristics.

15. A system according to claim 7, wherein said first means for comparing includes;

means for setting the starting addresses of the first character data and the second character data in registers associated with said main game processing means and means for incrementing said addresses.

16. A method for preventing an unauthorized external memory unit from being used in a hand-held game machine having a game processing means for executing a game program and a removable external memory unit having an external memory means for storing said game program, said method comprising the steps of:

storing first character data in an internal memory means coupled to said main game processing means;

storing second character data, predetermined auxiliary data, and a predetermined value which has a predetermined mathematical relation to said auxiliary data in said removable external memory unit;

accessing said first character data and said second character data in response to enable signals generated by a memory selecting circuit;

comparing said first character data with said second character data and generating a first signal if a predetermined relationship exists between said first character data and said second character data;

displaying said second character data prior to said comparing step determining whether said predetermined relationship exists;

performing in response to said first signal a predetermined calculation using said auxiliary data;

comparing the results of said predetermined calculation with said predetermined value;

providing a predetermined authenticity indicating signal to said memory select circuit to thereby enable said game program to be executed by said game processing means if said first signal is generated and if the results of said predetermined calculation has a predetermined relationship with said predetermined value.

17. A method according to claim 16, further including the step of vertically scrolling said second character data across said display means.

18. A method according to claim 16, further including the step of processing said second character data to permit an enlarged display of said second character data.

19. A method according to claim 16, further including the steps of transferring said second character data from said external memory means to a character memory means, processing said second character data, writing said processed second character data to a video memory means;

and displaying said processed second character data.

20. A method according to claim 16, wherein said step of enabling includes the step of switching from one memory bank to another responsive to said results comparison to operatively couple said main game processing means to said external memory unit.

21. A method according to claim 16, wherein said predetermined calculation includes taking the complement of the sum of at least a portion of said auxiliary data.

22. A method according to claim 16, wherein said auxiliary data includes data indicative of the manufacturer and the name of the game.

23. A method according to claim 16, wherein said auxiliary data includes data indicative of the cartridge type and the memory characteristics.

24. A system according to claim 16 wherein said step of comparing said first character data with said second character data includes setting the starting addresses of the first character data and the second character data in registers associated with said main game processing means and incrementing said addresses.