Coded data generation or conversion – Digital code to digital code converters – To or from run length limited codes
Patent
1995-07-10
1997-11-11
Young, Brian K.
Coded data generation or conversion
Digital code to digital code converters
To or from run length limited codes
H03M 746
Patent
active
056869142
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing system. More particularly, it relates to an information processing system having an arithmetic processing unit and an external memory storage detachably connected to the arithmetic processing unit, and further, having a structure in which the function for processing the data is shared.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A various kinds of systems executing a program, which is stored in an external memory storage, by an arithmetic processing unit are proposed up to now as an information processing system constituted of the arithmetic processing unit and the external memory storage detachably connected to the arithmetic processing unit.
There is, for example, game equipment using a computer, as one example of such as an information processing system. Such game equipment is so constituted that an external memory storage having a built-in storage medium, for example, ROM cartridge, ROM card, CD-ROM and magnetic disk (FD) is detachably connected to the game equipment, in which a built-in computer (CPU) is provided.
It is also constituted so as that the game is executed by reading out the data stored in the external memory storage and performing the arithmetic processing on the read out data in the game equipment and the content of the game program is displayed on a display unit, such as a CRT or liquid crystal display device.
Meanwhile, in the external memory storage, the capacity of memory of the storage medium is limited, because of the package size of the cassette, the standard, the price, and the like. Thus, a data compression method, which decodes and stores the data, is used to make possible to store a large amount of data in the limited storage medium.
Accordingly, it is required for making possible to read out a program data from the external memory storage and perform arithmetic processing on the program data with a CPU provided in the game equipment so that the coded and compressed data is decoded to the original data.
As the method of decoding data, it is considered to use a software program or an exclusive semiconductor chip for decoding and the like.
There is no need to use a special hardware, in the case where the decoding processing is performed by using the software program. It has a merit that the coding method for the data compression can be freely performed. However, there is a problem that the speed for decoding is slow and the CPU in the game equipment is occupied for the decoding processing.
On the other hand, in the case where the decoding processing is performed by using the exclusive semiconductor chip, the speed for decoding is fast, and the problem such that the CPU in the game equipment is occupied is not so critical. More particularly, as the process is complex and the high-speed processing is required, in the case where the image data is decoded, it is effective to perform the processing by using the exclusive semiconductor chip.
In the prior art, it is general to provide the above-described exclusive semiconductor chip for decoding processing only in the game equipment for arithmetic processing to be used commonly for plural external memory storages which are detachably exchanged, because the cost of the semiconductor chip is not cheap.
On the other hand, the storage medium, such as ROM cartridge, ROM card, CD-ROM and FD, is easily reproduced when the program which is a storage data is copied. Thus, it is further required to provide a processing chip for security to prevent the program from being copied without permission.
There is a prior art, for example, described in Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 296433/1986 and No. 3331/1987, and the counter part U.S. Pat. Nos. 4799635, 4865321, 5070479 and R34161, as a conventional system in which the processing chip for security is provided.
In the conventional system, it is constituted so as to provide the processing chips for security are provided in the game equipment and the external storage, respectively, and examin
REFERENCES:
patent: Re34161 (1993-01-01), Nakagawa et al.
patent: 4485457 (1984-11-01), Balaska et al.
patent: 4591829 (1986-05-01), Takeda
patent: 4799635 (1989-01-01), Nakagawa
patent: 4844632 (1989-07-01), Lee et al.
patent: 4865321 (1989-09-01), Nakagawa et al.
patent: 5014982 (1991-05-01), Okada et al.
patent: 5070479 (1991-12-01), Nakagawa
patent: 5349689 (1994-09-01), Suzuki
patent: 5357604 (1994-10-01), San et al.
Sega Enterprises Ltd.
Young Brian K.
LandOfFree
Information processing system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Information processing system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Information processing system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1232669