Game apparatus having general-purpose remote control function

• US 9,878,236 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2014
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Sawano, Takao, Yamazaki, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S
• Application Number:
  US14/449,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20140340584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 463 37, 463 39
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games

Abstract

A game apparatus is capable of controlling infrared radiation emitters for radiating infrared light. The game apparatus executes game processing using imaging information on the infrared light obtained from an input device. The input device takes an image of the infrared light radiated by the infrared radiation emitters, and also receives an input from a user. The game apparatus comprises pattern storage means; selection means; and radiation control means. The pattern storage means stores at least one signal pattern of an infrared signal usable by a control target device. The selection means selects at least one of the at least one signal pattern stored by the pattern storage means, using the input received by the input device. The radiation control means causes the infrared radiation emitters to output an infrared signal of the signal pattern selected by the selection means.

Claims

1. A game system including an input device and a separately housed game apparatus comprising:

an input user interface configured to accept an input operation to the input device from a user;

a transmitter configured to transmit input operation data based on the input operation that is accepted by the input device to the game apparatus;

wherein

the separately housed game apparatus includes therein;

a game processor configured to output a game image based on game processing that is executed based on the input operation data accepted by the input device when the game apparatus is set in a game mode to play a game; and

a television controlling processor configured to control a signal outputted to a separately housed television set based on the input operation data accepted by the same input device when the game apparatus is set in a television mode to control the television set, wherein

the separately housed game apparatus performs game processing based on a game program stored exclusively in a memory in the separately housed game apparatus.

2. The game system according to claim 1, wherein

the game apparatus is set either in the game mode or in the television mode based on a predetermined condition.

3. The game system according to claim 2, wherein

the game apparatus is set either in the game mode or in the television mode based on a user'"'"'s instruction.

4. The game system according to claim 3, wherein

the game apparatus is set either in the game mode or in the television mode based on the user'"'"'s input operation.

5. The game system according to claim 1, wherein

for each mode, a different input operation is assigned to a different part of the input user interface.

6. The game system according to claim 1, wherein

the transmitter transmits the input operation data wirelessly.

7. The game system according to claim 1, wherein

the television controlling processor controls a tuner that controls the output of the television set.

8. The game system according to claim 1, wherein

the television controlling processor controls the display of a channel of the television set.

9. The game system according to claim 1, wherein

the television controlling processor controls a volume of the television of the television set.

10. The game system according to claim 1, wherein

the television controlling processor controls a power of the television set.

11. The game system according to claim 10, wherein

when a power of the game apparatus is in stand-by status, if the power of the television set is turned on, the power of the game apparatus is also turned on.

12. The game system according to claim 1, wherein

the television controlling processor controls the output of the television set wirelessly.

13. The game system according to claim 1, wherein

the television controlling processor controls the output of the television set based on signal data that is previously selected in a plurality of signal data based on the kind of the television set.

14. The game system according to claim 1, wherein

the television controlling processor converts the input operation data into the signal data.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable physical storage medium having tangibly recorded thereon an information processing program executable by a computer of a game system, the game system comprising an input device and a separately housed game apparatus including the computer therein, the information processing program causing the computer of the separately housed game apparatus to execute:

accepting an input operation to the input device from a user transmitting input operation data based on the input operation that is accepted by the input device to the game apparatus;

outputting a game image based on game processing that is executed based on the input operation data accepted by the input device when the game apparatus is set in a game mode to play a game; and

controlling a signal outputted to a separately housed television set based on the input operation data accepted by the same input device when the game apparatus is set in a television mode to control the television set, wherein

the separately housed game apparatus performs game processing based on a game program stored exclusively in a memory in the separately housed game apparatus.

16. A method of operating a game system for use with a television set, the game system comprising a computer processor, an input device and a separately housed game apparatus including the computer processor therein, the method comprising:

accepting an input operation to the input device from a user;

transmitting input operation data based on the input operation that is accepted by the input device to the game apparatus; and

the computer processor;

outputting a game image based on game processing that is executed based on the input operation data accepted by the input device when the game apparatus is set in a game mode to play a game; and

controlling a signal outputted to a separately housed television set based on the input operation data accepted by the same input device when the game apparatus is set in a television mode to control the television set, wherein

the separately housed game apparatus performs game processing based on a game program stored exclusively in a memory in the separately housed game apparatus.

17. An information processing system including a game system which comprises an input device and a separately housed game apparatus, the input device comprising:

an input user interface configured to accept an input operation to the input device from a user;

wherein

the separately housed game apparatus includes therein;

a game processor configured to output a game image based on game processing that is executed based on the input operation accepted by the input device when the game system is set in a game mode to play a game;

a television controlling processor configured to control a signal outputted to a separately housed television set based on the input operation accepted by the same input device when the game system is set in a television mode to control the television set, wherein

the separately housed game apparatus performs game processing based on a game program stored exclusively in a memory in the separately housed game apparatus.

18. The game system according to claim 17, wherein

the game apparatus is set either in the game mode or in the television mode based on a predetermined condition.

19. The game system according to claim 18, wherein

the game apparatus is set either in the game mode or in the television mode based on a user'"'"'s instruction.

20. The game system according to claim 19, wherein

the game apparatus is set either in the game mode or in the television mode based on the user'"'"'s input operation.

21. The game system according to claim 17, wherein

for each mode, a different input operation is assigned to a different part of the input user interface.

22. The game system according to claim 17, wherein

the television controlling processor controls a tuner that controls the output of the television set.

23. The game system according to claim 17, wherein

the television controlling processor controls the display of a channel of the television set.

24. The game system according to claim 17, wherein

the television controlling processor controls a volume of the television of the television set.

25. The game system according to claim 17, wherein

the television controlling processor controls a power of the television set.

26. The game system according to claim 25, wherein

when a power of the game apparatus is in stand-by status, if the power of the television set is turned on, the power of the game apparatus is also turned on.

27. The game system according to claim 17, wherein

the television controlling processor controls the output of the television set wirelessly.

28. The game system according to claim 17, wherein

the television controlling processor controls the output of the television set based on signal data that is previously selected in a plurality of signal data based on the kind of the television set.

29. The game system according to claim 17, wherein

the television controlling processor converts the input operation data into the signal data.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable physical storage medium having tangibly recorded thereon an information processing program executable by a computer of an information processing system, the information processing system including a game system which comprises an input device and a separately housed game apparatus including the computer therein, the information processing program causing the computer of the separately housed game apparatus to execute:

accepting an input operation to the input device from a user;

outputting a game image based on game processing that is executed based on the input operation accepted by the input device when the game system is set in a game mode to play a game;

controlling a signal outputted to a separately housed television set based on the input operation accepted by the same input device when the game system is set in a television mode to control the television set, wherein

the separately housed game apparatus performs game processing based on a game program stored exclusively in a memory in the separately housed game apparatus.

31. A method of operating an information processing system for use with a television set, the information processing system including a game system which comprises a computer processor, an input device and a separately housed game apparatus including the computer processor therein, the method comprising the computer processor of the separately housed game apparatus performing:

accepting an input operation to the input device from a user;

outputting a game image based on game processing that is executed based on the input operation accepted by the input device when the game system is set in a game mode to play a game;

controlling a signal outputted to a separately housed television set based on the input operation accepted by the same input device when the game system is set in a television mode to control the television set, wherein

the separately housed game apparatus performs game processing based on a game program stored exclusively in a memory in the separately housed game apparatus.