Messaging service for video game systems

• US 8,727,883 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2006
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Pelkey, Casey J., Smith, Darren C.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US11/338,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20060121986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,037 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/556 Player lists, e.g. online players, buddy list, black list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users

Abstract

A messaging system includes a web server computer and at least two video game systems. Each game system is configured to connect to the web server computer via the Internet and to communicate status data indicative of an activity engaged in by a user thereof. The web server computer generates a session file indicative of user status and the status of each of two or persons on a buddy list of the user.

Claims

1. A non-transitory portable memory medium having stored thereon an application executable by processing circuitry of a video game system connected to a communication network, the application comprising both video game program code for a video game and messaging service program code for a messaging service for communicating messages to other messaging service users connected to the communication network, whereby the messaging service is accessible when the application is executed by the processing circuitry of the video game system in a non-multi-tasking mode.

2. The non-transitory portable memory medium according to claim 1, wherein the portable memory medium comprises an optical memory medium.

3. The non-transitory portable memory medium according to claim 1, wherein the portable memory medium comprises a magnetic memory medium.

4. The non-transitory portable memory medium according to claim 1, wherein the portable memory medium comprises a semiconductor memory medium.

5. The non-transitory portable memory medium according to claim 1, wherein the video game system is a hand-held game system, and the portable memory medium is adapted for operative coupling to the hand-held game system.

6. The non-transitory portable memory medium according to claim 1, wherein the video game system is a video game console connected to a television, and the portable memory medium is adapted for operative coupling to the video game console.

7. The non-transitory portable memory medium according to claim 1, wherein the communication network is the Internet.

8. The non-transitory portable memory medium according to claim 1, wherein the messaging service program code includes a user registration routine for registering a user as a user of the messaging service.

9. The non-transitory portable memory medium according to claim 1, wherein the messaging service program code includes a user profile routine for creating a user profile.

10. The non-transitory portable memory medium according to claim 9, wherein the messaging service program code further includes a preferences routine for setting access limitations to the user profile.

11. The non-transitory portable memory medium according to claim 9, wherein the user profile includes a customized image comprising user-selected features.

12. The non-transitory portable memory medium according to claim 9, wherein the user profile includes a digital image of the user.

13. The non-transitory portable memory medium according to claim 1, wherein the messaging service program code includes a buddy list routine for creating a user buddy list.

14. The non-transitory portable memory medium according to claim 13, wherein the messaging service program code further includes a preferences routine for setting a buddy sign-on alert to provide an alert to the user when a buddy on the buddy list signs onto the messaging service.

15. The non-transitory portable memory medium according to claim 13, wherein the messaging service program code further includes a preferences routine for setting a buddy sign-off alert to provide an alert to the user when a buddy on the buddy list signs off the messaging service.

16. The non-transitory portable memory medium according to claim 1, wherein the messaging service program code includes a preferences routine for setting a message alert to provide an alert to the user when a message is received.

17. The non-transitory portable memory medium according to claim 1, wherein the messaging service program code includes an auto-start routine for automatically logging the user into the messaging service.

18. The non-transitory portable memory medium according to claim 1, wherein the messaging service program code includes a start routine for logging the user into the messaging service as being engaged in a particular activity on the video game system.

19. A video game system, comprising:

processing circuitry for executing applications in a non-multi-tasking mode;

a communication circuit that, in use, connects the video game system to a communication network; and

a connector that, in use, connects to a portable storage medium storing an application that comprises both video game program code for a video game and messaging service program code for a messaging service for communicating messages to other message service users connected to the communication network, whereby the messaging service is accessible when the stored application is executed by the processing circuitry in the non-multi-tasking mode.