Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – With communication link
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-16
2002-04-16
Harrison, Jessica J. (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
With communication link
C463S040000, C463S043000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06371854
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to combined game systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a combined game system having a video game machine connected to a common display and at least one portable game machine having a discrete display so that they are connected through a communication cable to enable communication of data to be processed for playing a game.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The are conventional combined game systems having two or more game machines connected one to another to enable a game to play, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. S60-119977 (Prior art 1), Japanese Patent Laid-open No. H4-266781 (Prior art 2) and Japanese Utility Model Laid-open No. S61-171992 (Prior art 3).
Prior art 1 and Prior art 2 each use a portable game machine as a peripheral to a personal computer or video game machine so that a game can be controlled using operating switches provided on the portable game machine. Prior art 3 includes four game machines connected to a central processor to enable data transfer or communication for a game to be played on the game machines.
Prior art 1 and Prior art 2 describe a game using a portable and another type of video game machine, but do not disclose details of data transmission and reception to be made between these portable and video game machines. Prior art 3 describes communication through a transmission media but fails to describe data transmission and reception to be made between the game machines.
It is often the case where a player who is absorbed in a game unintentionally but forcefully pulls his or her own portable game machine, or a player who is moving through interconnected video and portable game machines has his or her foot caught, thereby causing a poor connection, or removal of the communication cable connection. However, Prior art 1, 2, and 3 each fail to disclose technology where a player during game play is modified of cable removal, disconnection or the like or includes technology for assuring the reliability of communication or transmission.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a primary feature of the exemplary embodiments to provide a combined game system which is capable of immediately notifying a user as to the occurrence of a poor cable connection.
Another feature of the exemplary embodiments is to provide a combined game system which can enhance the reliability of communication or data transfer made between portable and video game machines.
In accordance with one aspect of the exemplary embodiments, a combined game system is described having a video game machine connected to a common display and at least one portable game machine having a discrete display, which machines are connected through a communication cable to communicate data for game processing, wherein at least one of the portable game machine and the video game machine comprises: a first connection problem detector to detect whether a poor connection occurred on the communication cable; and a first alert message display message generator to display a first alert message on at least one of the discrete display and the common display when the poor connection occurred.
In accordance with a second aspect of the exemplary embodiments, a combined game system is described having a video game machine connected to a common display and at least one portable game machine having a discrete display which machines are connected through a communication cable to communicate data for game processing, wherein the portable game machine comprises: an operating device to play a game; first processing circuitry to perform predetermined processing according to operation of the operating device; first write circuitry to write a first processing result of the first processing circuitry to a buffer memory; first setting means to set a first flag to a first state when the first processing result is written to the buffer memory; a first receiver to receive a transmission request from the video game machine; a first transmitter to transmit to the video game machine the first processing result and state information of the first flag in response to the transmission request; second setting means to set the first flag to a second state when the first processing result is transmitted from the buffer memory to the video game machine; disabling means to disable the first write circuitry when the first flag is in the first state; and enabling means to enable the first write circuitry when the first flag is in the second state.
According to the first aspect of the exemplary embodiments, connection is made through a communication cable between the video game machine connected to the common display and the at least one portable game machine. The data for game processing is communicated between the portable game machine and the video game machine. In at least one of the portable game machine and the video game machine, the first connection problem detector detects whether a poor connection occurred on the communication cable or not. In an event of occurrence of a poor connection, the first alert message display message generator displays a first alert message on at least one of the discrete display and the common display.
In one embodiment of the invention, a first return message display message generator is provided in at least one of the portable game machine and the video game machine. The first return message display message generator displays a first return message on at least one of the discrete display and the common display when the poor connection is eliminated.
In one aspect of the exemplary embodiments, the one game machine is the portable game machine and the one display is the discrete display. In this case, the portable game machine further uses a flag which varies depending upon a connection state of the communication cable. The first connection problem detector detects based upon a state of the flag.
In another aspect of the exemplary embodiments, the one game machine is the video game machine and the one display is the common display. In this case, the video game machine further comprises output circuitry to output a data transmission request to the portable game machine. The first connection problem detector detects based upon transmission data responsive to the data transmission request from the portable game machine.
In one embodiment of the invention, the portable game machine comprises a second connection problem detector and a second alert message display message generator. The second connection problem detector detects whether a poor connection occurred on the communication cable or not, and the second alert message display message generator displays a second alert message on the discrete display when the poor connection occurred.
In another embodiment of the invention, a plurality of portable game machines are connected respectively through plurality of communication cables to the video game machine. The first connection problem detector detects on one portable game machine at a time.
Where an alert message signal transmitter is provided on the video game machine and a third alert message display message generator on the portable game machine is provided, the alert message signal transmitter transmits an alert message signal to a portable game machine in a good connection state when the poor connection occurred to any of the portable game machines. The third alert message display message generator displays an alert message on the discrete display based upon the alert message signal.
Also, where a return message signal transmitter is provided on the video game machine and a third return message display message generator on the portable game machine is provided, the return message signal transmitter transmits a return message signal to a portable game machine in a good connection state when the poor connection is eliminated to any of the portable game machines. The third return message display message generator displays a return message on the discrete display based upon the return message signal.
In another
Ikeda Akio
Tomizawa Toshikazu
Harrison Jessica J.
Ninetendo Co., Ltd.
Rada Alex
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