JP2001285827A - Game system and game equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a game system capable of communicating game data and optional image and sound data bi-directionally by using the same communication line. SOLUTION: A data mixing and separating part 8A respectively inputs transmission game data from a game data communication interface 6A and transmission image and sound data from an image and sound data communication interface 7A and mixes both of them to generate transmission data. A data mixing and separating part 8B separates received game data and received image and sound data from the received data. The received game data is inputted to a game equipment main body part 3B via a game data communication interface 6B. The received image and sound data are inputted to an image and sound mixing part 9B via an image and sound data communication interface 7B. The part 9B mixes the image and sound of a game in game equipment 1B and received image and sound and outputs mixed image and sound to outside.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game system and a game device using a communication line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a one-on-one game system using a general-purpose network or a dedicated wired / wireless transmission line. FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a conventional competitive game system. Game devices 101A and 101B are mutually connected via a communication line 102. The game devices 101A and 101B execute the same or mutually communicable game programs. Then, in order to synchronize the progress of the game program between the game devices 101A and 101B, game data such as control data and parameters in accordance with game operations and changes in scenarios are mutually exchanged via the communication line 102. I have.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing another example of a conventional competitive game system. Game device 101
A to 101D are connected to the base station 103 via communication lines 102A to 102D to form a network. A base station program exists in the base station 103, and a terminal program exists in each of the game machines 101A to 101D that are terminal stations. Then, in order to synchronize the progress of the base station program with the progress of the terminal program, game data similar to the above is transmitted to the communication lines 102A to 102A.
They are communicated with each other via 102D. This allows a large number of people to simultaneously execute the same competitive game.

[0004]

However, according to such a conventional game system, only game data is exchanged between game devices connected to each other, so that the expression of an opponent can be observed or voiced. I can't hear anything. Therefore, it is desired to further enhance the sense of reality of the game by real-time two-way communication of actual video and audio of the opponent.

During the execution of the competitive game, the communication line is used for transmitting and receiving game data.
Users will not be able to browse various homepages on the Internet, use ordinary phones or videophones, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and a game system and a game system capable of two-way communication between game data and arbitrary image / audio data using the same communication line. The main purpose is to obtain equipment.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems Claim 1 of the present invention
The game system according to the above, wherein a plurality of game devices are connected via a communication line, and game data is mutually communicated between the plurality of game devices to execute a competitive game. Is characterized in that arbitrary image and audio data can be communicated with each other via a communication line during execution of a competitive game.

A game system according to a second aspect of the present invention is the game system according to the first aspect, wherein each of the plurality of game devices is based on a game program for a competitive game. , A data processing unit connected to the game device main unit, a data transmission / reception unit connected to the data processing unit and a communication line, and the data processing unit is a game device of an opponent. Input the transmission game data to be transmitted to the game machine main unit, input the transmission image / audio data to be transmitted to the opponent's game device from the outside, and mix the transmission game data with the transmission image / audio data and transmit The data transmission / reception unit has a function of inputting transmission data from the data processing unit and transmitting the data to a communication line. The unit further has a function of receiving reception data, which is a mixture of the reception game data and the reception image / audio data, transmitted from the opponent's game device via the communication line, and inputting the reception data to the data processing unit. The data processing unit further has a function of separating the received game data and the received image / audio data from the received data and inputting them to the game device main body.

The game system according to claim 3 of the present invention is the game system according to claim 2, wherein the data processing unit transmits the transmission game data rather than the transmission image / audio data. The transmission data is generated by mixing the transmission game data and the transmission image / audio data with priority given to the transmission data.

A game device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is used in the game system according to any one of the first to third aspects.

A game device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is a game device for executing a game based on a game program, wherein the communication line is operated by operating a communication program during execution of the game. It is characterized in that data communication other than game data can be performed with the outside through the game device.

A game device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the game device according to the fifth aspect, wherein the game device includes a game device main body that executes a game based on a game program; A data communication unit that is connected to the communication line and performs data communication other than game data with the outside via the communication line based on the communication program, and is operable in parallel with the operation of the game device main unit; It is characterized by the following.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the game apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the data communication unit is connectable to a plurality of communication lines, and the game is a competitive game. It is a game, and the game device mutually communicates game data with an opponent game device via one communication line of a plurality of communication lines,
A competitive game can be executed, and data communication other than game data can be executed with the outside via another communication line among the plurality of communication lines during the execution of the competitive game. It is characterized by the following.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a game system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Game devices 1A and 1B such as a personal computer (PC) and a dedicated game device are connected to each other via a communication line 2. The game devices 1A and 1B are opponent game devices that play a competitive game. Game data and image / voice data are exchanged between the game device 1A and the game device 1B via the same communication line 2.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the game system according to the first embodiment. The game device 1A includes a game device main unit 3A, a data processing unit 4A connected to the game device main unit 3A, and a data processing unit 4A.
A and a data transmission / reception unit 5A connected to the communication line 2. The data transmitting / receiving unit 5A is configured by a communication modem or the like. The game device main unit 3A includes images and
A sound mixing unit 9A is provided inside. The image / sound mixing unit 9A outputs images and sounds to the outside via a display, a speaker, or the like (not shown). Data processing unit 4A
Is a game data communication interface 6A connected to the game machine main unit 3A, and an image / sound data communication interface 7A having an output connected to an input of the image / sound mixing unit 9A; It has a data mixing / separating section 8A connected to the input and output for each of the 6A and the image / audio data communication interface 7A. The data mixing / separating unit 8A is connected to the data transmitting / receiving unit 5A for input and output, and has a function of converting the format of communication data in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol in addition to a function described in detail below. are doing. Video / audio data communication interface 7A
, An arbitrary image and sound are input from the outside.

The game device 1B has the same connection and configuration as the game device 1A. The game device main unit 3B, data processing unit 4B, data transmission / reception unit 5B, game data communication interface 6B, image / sound data communication interface 7B , A data mixing / separating unit 8B and an image / audio mixing unit 9B.

Next, the operation of the game system shown in FIG. 2 will be described. The game device main units 3A and 3B execute a competitive game based on a game program of the competitive game. The image and sound of the game are output from the image / sound mixing units 9A and 9B to the outside. In the following, the operation will be described taking transmission of game data and image / audio data from the game device 1A to the game device 1B as an example, but the operation in the reverse case is the same.

The game data communication interface 6A includes:
Game data (transmitted game data) to be transmitted to the opponent's game machine 1B is input from the game machine main unit 3A. The image / sound data communication interface 7A transmits image / sound data (sending image) to be transmitted to the opponent's game device 1B, such as a real-time image and sound of the player operating the game device 1A and any other image and sound. Audio data) from an external device such as a video camera. The data mixing / separation unit 8A inputs the transmission game data from the game data communication interface 6A and the transmission image / audio data from the image / audio data communication interface 7A, respectively, and mixes the transmission game data with the transmission image / audio data. To generate transmission data. The data transmission / reception unit 5A receives transmission data from the data mixing / separation unit 8A and sends the transmission data to the communication line 2.

The data transmitting / receiving unit 5B receives data (received data) transmitted from the opponent's game machine 1A via the communication line 2 and inputs the data to the data mixing / separating unit 8B. The received data is game data (received game data) and image / audio data (received image / audio data)
Are mixed data. Data mixing / separation unit 8B
Separates the received game data and the received image / audio data from the received data. The separated received game data is
The game data is input to the game device main unit 3B via the game data communication interface 6B. Game device body 3B
Synchronizes the progress of the game program in the game device 1B with the progress of the game program in the game device 1A based on the received game data. The received image / audio data separated by the data mixing / separating unit 8B is input to the image / audio mixing unit 9B via the image / audio data communication interface 7B. The image / sound mixing unit 9B mixes the image and sound data of the game in the game device 1B with the received image / sound data, and outputs the mixed image / sound to the outside.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of transmission data generated by the data mixing / separation unit 8A. Game data C (C1 to C3), audio data A (A1 to A3),
And the image data V (V1 to V3) are divided into a plurality of packets, and transmission data is generated in the form of a packet stream in which each packet is arranged. Here, C1 → A1 →
Each packet is arranged in the order of V1 → C2 → A2 → V2 → C3 →. Those with a large amount of data are divided into a plurality of packets. For example, image data V1
Is divided into two packets, V1a and V1b,
They are arranged continuously in the packet stream.

As a specific example from another aspect, FIG.
In the multipoint videoconference H.323 (equivalent to H.324) architecture shown in the above, by superimposing the game data of the competitive game on a protocol equivalent to data T.120,
It is possible to achieve both interactive image / voice communication and execution of a competitive game.

As described above, according to the game system according to the first embodiment, in a battle-type game using a communication line, not only game data but also arbitrary image and audio data is played using the same communication line. Since two-way communication can be performed between the opponents, communication with the opponent can be achieved in real time during the execution of the game, and the player can enjoy a more realistic game.

Embodiment 2 FIG. FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another example of transmission data generated by the data mixing / separation unit 8A according to the first embodiment. Similarly to the transmission data shown in FIG. 3, the game data C, the audio data A, and the image data V are divided into a plurality of packets, and the transmission data is generated in the form of a packet stream in which each packet is arranged. In addition, for example, image data V1 having a large data amount
Is divided into two packets V1a and V1b.

In the game system according to the second embodiment, the data mixing / separating unit 8A gives priority to the transmission of the game data C over the transmission of the image data V and the audio data A. For this purpose, the game data C is arranged at equal intervals in the packet stream, and the image data V
And audio data A are inserted. As a result, in the transmission data shown in FIG.
While 1b is arranged continuously in the packet stream, in the transmission data shown in FIG. 5, V1a and V1b are arranged discontinuously across C2.

Such processing is performed by the data mixing / separation unit 8
A has a buffer memory, and temporarily stores transmission game data transmitted from the game data communication interface 6A and transmission image / audio data transmitted from the image / audio data communication interface 7A in this buffer memory. In addition, it can be realized by the data mixing / separation unit 8A rearranging the packets according to the above processing rules.

As described above, according to the game system according to the second embodiment, the data mixing / separating unit 8A gives priority to the transmission of the game data C over the transmission of the image data V and the audio data A, , Image data V and audio data A to generate transmission data.
Therefore, game data, which is information necessary in real time to progress a competitive game, is transferred to the game devices 1A and 1B.
They can communicate with each other without any trouble.

Embodiment 3 FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a game device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The game device 1 can simultaneously process a game program for executing a game and a communication program such as a Web browser on an OS having a multitasking function. The game device 1 is connected to the outside via a first communication line 2A.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the game machine according to the third embodiment. Game equipment 1
The game device includes a game device main unit 3 and a data communication unit 4 connected to the game device main unit 3. The game device main unit 3 has an image / sound mixing unit 9 inside, and the image / sound mixing unit 9 outputs images and sounds to the outside.

The data communication unit 4 is connected to the game machine main unit 3 for input and output, and has a video / audio mixing unit 9.
A data communication interface 7 having an output connected to its input, a protocol converter 8 connected to the data communication interface 7 for input and output, and a protocol converter 8
The input and output are connected to each other, and the first communication line 2
A and a data transmission / reception unit 5 connected to A. The data communication interface 7 is started by a start command signal S input from the outside, and can process arbitrary image / sound data, similarly to the image / sound data communication interfaces 7A and 7B shown in FIG. The data transmission / reception unit 5 is configured by a communication modem or the like.

Next, the operation of the game machine 1 shown in FIG. 7 will be described. The game device main unit 3 executes a game based on a game program. The image and sound of the game are output from the image / sound mixing unit 9 to the outside. When the player wants to perform data communication during the execution of the game (of course, even when the game is not being played), the player operates an arbitrary input device such as a keyboard or a mouse to generate a start command signal S. Is input to the data communication interface 7. As a result, the data communication interface 7 is activated, and desired data communication (for example, access to various homepages, connection with other game devices) is performed via the protocol converter 8, the data transmission / reception unit 5, and the first communication line 2A. Communication battle, two-way image / voice communication by videophone, etc.).

Information such as image and audio data transmitted via the first communication line 2A is input to the protocol converter 8 via the data transmission / reception unit 5. Then, after a predetermined format conversion is performed by the protocol converter 8, the data is input to the image / audio mixing unit 9 via the data communication interface 7. The image / sound mixing unit 9 includes the game device main unit 3
And sound of the game in the first communication line 2A
Mixed with the image and sound acquired via
Output audio to outside.

The data communication interface 7 has the function of the game data communication interface 6A and the function of the image / sound data communication interface 7A shown in FIG. 2, and the protocol converter 8 has the data communication interface shown in FIG. By providing the function of the mixing / separation unit 8A, a communication battle game similar to that of the first embodiment can be executed.

As described above, according to the game device according to the third embodiment, the communication interface program can be arbitrarily operated in parallel with the operation of the game program by the activation command signal S from the player.
Therefore, while executing the game, other arbitrary data communication such as browsing various homepages and using a videophone can be performed.

Embodiment 4 Fourth Embodiment In the fourth embodiment, based on the game device according to the third embodiment, a case where game device 1 is executing a competitive game with another game device via first communication line 2A A game device capable of performing data communication with another external device different from the opponent is proposed.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a game device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. The game device 1 is connected to the opponent's game device 10 via the first communication line 2A, and via the second communication line 2B.
It is connected to another external device different from the opponent of the competitive game. The game device 1 includes the data communication unit 4 shown in FIG.
Are individually provided for each of the first and second communication lines 2A and 2B. The plurality of communication lines (that is, the first and second communication lines 2A and 2B) can be configured by ISDN or by providing a dedicated wire separately from a telephone line. The game device 1 executes a competitive game via the first communication line 2A, and performs other arbitrary data communication via the second communication line 2B (for example, access to various homepages, Communication, two-way image / voice communication by videophone, etc.) can be simultaneously processed.

As described above, according to the game device according to the fourth embodiment, game device 1 performs another arbitrary data communication via second communication line 2B during the execution of the communication battle game. be able to. Therefore, during a competitive game, access the homepage to get information on capture, receive advice from a third party on the progress of the game, and in some situations, play with that third party on your behalf. It is possible to get them.

[0037]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to transmit / receive an arbitrary image / voice to / from an opponent in real time during execution of a competitive game,
Communication between opponents can be achieved, and a more realistic battle game can be enjoyed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, game data and image / audio data are mixed to generate transmission data. Therefore, transmission and reception of game data using a single communication line are performed. And transmission / reception of image / audio data.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, game data, which is information necessary in real time to progress a competitive game, is transmitted without difficulty between game devices of opponents. You can compete with each other.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to browse various homepages and use a videophone via a communication line while playing a game.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the data communication unit can operate in parallel with the operation of the game machine main unit, during the execution of the game, data communication other than game data is performed. It can be performed.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the game machine can perform data communication other than game data via another communication line during execution of the competitive game. Therefore, during execution of the competitive game, it is possible to access the homepage to obtain information on capture, to receive advice on progress of the game from a third party, and the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a game system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of a game system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of transmission data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the architecture of a multipoint video conference H.323.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of transmission data.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a game device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of a game device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a game device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a conventional competitive game system.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing another example of a conventional competitive game system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1A, 1B Game device 2 Communication line 2A First communication line 2B Second communication line 3, 3A, 3B Game device main unit 4 Data communication unit 4A, 4B Data processing unit 5, 5A, 5B Data transmission / reception unit 6A , 6B Game data communication interface 7 Data communication interface 7A, 7B Image / audio data communication interface 8 Protocol conversion unit 8A, 8B Data mixing / separation unit 9, 9A, 9B Image / audio mixing unit 10 Competitive game machine

Continued on front page F-term (reference) 2C001 AA00 AA17 BA00 BA07 CB00 CB01 CB08 CC02 CC08 5C064 BA07 BC23 BD01 BD08 BD09 5K101 KK04 KK07 KK18 9A001 BB04 CC08 JJ12 JJ76 KK45

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A game system for executing a competitive game by connecting a plurality of game devices via a communication line and mutually exchanging game data between the plurality of game devices, Is a game system wherein arbitrary image and sound data can be communicated with each other via the communication line during execution of the competitive game. 2. The game device main unit that executes the competitive game based on a game program of the competitive game, a data processing unit connected to the game device main unit, The data processing unit and a data transmission and reception unit connected to the communication line, the data processing unit, from the game device body unit, input the transmission game data to be transmitted to the opponent game device, Having a function of externally inputting transmission image / audio data to be transmitted to the opponent's game device, generating transmission data by mixing the transmission game data and the transmission image / audio data, Has a function of inputting the transmission data from the data processing unit and transmitting the transmission data to the communication line, wherein the data transmission / reception unit further comprises: A function of receiving received data, which is a mixture of received game data and received image / audio data, transmitted from the opponent's game device via the communication line, and inputting the received data to the data processing unit, 2. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the data processing unit further has a function of separating the received game data and the received image / audio data from the received data and inputting the separated data to the game device main body. 3. The data processing unit according to claim 2, wherein the transmission game data and the transmission image / audio data are mixed by giving priority to transmission of the transmission game data over transmission of the transmission image / audio data. 3. The game system according to claim 2, wherein the game system generates transmission data. 4. A game machine used in the game system according to claim 1. 5. A game machine for executing a game based on a game program, wherein, during execution of the game, a communication program is operated to allow data communication other than game data with the outside via a communication line. A game device characterized by being able to perform. 6. The game device, wherein the game device executes a game based on the game program, and is connected to the communication line, and is connected to the outside through the communication line based on the communication program. The game device according to claim 5, further comprising: a data communication unit operable in parallel with the operation of the game device main unit, the data communication unit performing the data communication other than the game data between the game device and the game device. 7. The data communication unit is connectable to a plurality of the communication lines, the game is a competitive game, and the game device is connected to one of the plurality of communication lines via a communication line. By mutually communicating the game data with the opponent's game device, the competitive game can be executed.Furthermore, during execution of the competitive game, The game device according to claim 6, wherein the data communication other than the game data can be executed with the outside via another communication line.