JP2954081B2 - Game system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention utilizes a bidirectional multiplex communication line network such as a cable television (hereinafter referred to as "CATV") line or an indoor / indoor broadcast line.
A game program on the center side is transferred to a game operation unit provided in the terminal between a terminal in which a television (hereinafter referred to as a TV) is installed and a center in a CATV broadcasting station or a building / indoor broadcast management section. The present invention relates to a game system that allows a user to access and execute a game program, thereby enabling a battle game to be executed between individual terminals (separate subscriber homes or separate rooms) installed at remote locations.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the dramatic spread of home-use TV game machines, TV game machines are expected to become the core of multimedia systems together with broadcasting.
A network has been constructed that is connected to an ATV line, receives a game program from a CATV broadcast station, and can execute various TV games. In such a TV game machine, since the game machine body and the memory of the game program are required for all the terminals (subscribers), the cost of the entire system increases, and the game program has a considerable data amount. In addition, a large-capacity memory must be used, and the transmission time of the game program is longer. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that the waiting time from when the game program is requested to when the game is started becomes longer. .

[0003] On the other hand, in order to solve such a drawback, CATV
Without transmitting the game program to such a line, the game machine itself and the game program are arranged on the center side, the game operation unit is arranged on the terminal side, and the video signal of the game machine and the game operation signal are bidirectionally communicated Is proposed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-351010. In addition, a plurality of game programs are stored in a host computer arranged on the center side, a game program requested by a terminal is stored in a game engine, and both a video signal and a game operation signal are exchanged with the game machine. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-130728 proposes a TV game machine that executes a game by causing head-to-head communication.

[0004] Further, FIG.
The present applicant has proposed a TV game machine as shown in FIG. This is a system for realizing a competitive game with a configuration in which a game machine body and a game program are arranged on a center side and a game operation unit is arranged on a terminal side. FIG. 5 shows a configuration diagram of this system. Management personal computer for managing the system (hereinafter referred to as management PC)
5 outputs a color signal (RGB) of a prepared game program title or the like, converts the color signal into a video signal by a video encoder 10, and converts the bidirectional radio frequency line (hereinafter, RF line) by a TV modulator 9. Output to the empty channel above. On the other hand, the terminals 1 to 4 can view the title information by receiving the channel by the TV receiver 14.

On the other hand, the management PC 5 monitors the status of the terminals 1 to 4 by polling the terminals 1 to 4 from the serial port via the polling signal modulator / demodulator 6.
The status of the terminals 1 to 4 is controlled by the transceiver 11 by the management PC.
It is conveyed to 5. Based on the title information,
The game is selected by using the control pad 12 on the fourth side. By polling, the management PC 5 recognizes which of the terminals 1 to 4 has selected which game. In addition, the management PC 5 recognizes the use status of the game machines 1-1 to 1-4 via the control circuit 15 and the communication signal switch 18, and allocates one of the free game machines to the user who has selected the game. . Control line 15 configurable with RS-485, etc.
Then, the game program selected by the user is downloaded and started to one of the assigned game machines 1-1 to 1-4.

A game machine 1 on which a game program has been started.
-1 to 1-4 video / audio signals to be viewed on the TV receiver 14 and control pad signals are transmitted to the game machine 1--1.
Modem 2-1 to 2-4 for input to 1-1 to 1-4
Is transmitted to the terminal-side user using polling. Game machine 1 located on the center side
-1 to 1-4 are control signal switches 17 respectively.
Are connected to the modems 2-1 to 2-4, respectively. These modems 2-1 to 2-4 typically have a configuration as shown in FIG. 6, and each of them uses a downlink transmission TV channel and an uplink control pad signal reception channel as an idle channel on the line. To different channels.

The transmission TV signal is transmitted to the game machines 1-1 to 1-4.
After the input video / audio signal is modulated by the TV modulator 27, it is transmitted to the set channel via the converter 26 and the demultiplexer 21. On the other hand, the control pad signal input from the RF line via the demultiplexer 21 is received by the pad signal receiver 22, further demodulated by the pad signal demodulator 23, and input to the control signal switch 17. You.

Further, in each of the terminals 1 to 4, the down-link TV signal is received by the transceiver 11 and the up-control pad signal is transmitted according to the channel data of the assigned game machines 1-1 to 1-4. . At the time of non-matching (single play), the control pad signal transmitted from the terminals 1 to 4 is directly input to the player 1P side of the game machines 1-1 to 1-4 by the control signal switch 17. Since the terminals 1 to 4 receive the channels transmitting the video / audio signals of the game machines 1-1 to 1-4, the video / audio signals of the game machines can be viewed on the TV receiver 14. . Thus, the non-competition game is executed.

On the other hand, in the case of a match, the other terminal 1
When the management PC 5 transmits the channel information of the other empty game machines 1-1 to 1-4, the management PC 5 transmits the channel information using polling. However, T of terminal 1-4 side
The V receiving channel allows the same channel as the opponent to be played to be received. On the terminals 1 to 4 side, the TV receiver 14 watches video / audio signals of the same game machines 1-1 to 1-4 as the opponent. The control pad signal is received by the modems 2-1 to 2-4 on the center side different from the opponent, and the control signal switch 17 connects the control pad signal to the player 2P of the same game machine as the opponent. Also switch.

The control pad signal is switched by a control signal using the control line 15 from the management PC 5. In other words, the opponents individually receive the TV signals of the same game machines 1-1 to 1-4 on different TV receivers 14, and transmit the control pad signals on different channels while watching them. That is, the control game is executed by inputting a control pad signal to the same game machine 1 by the control signal switch 17.

[0011]

However, in such a conventional TV game machine, although a competitive game is realized by using the control signal switch 17,
There is a problem that the device is not necessary in a system having no battle function, and is provided only for causing a battle, so that a control line for controlling the battle is also required.

When a fighting game is executed, the modems 2-1 to 2-4 on the center side can receive only one control pad signal by one unit, and the game machines 1-1 to 2-1.
There was a problem that it was not possible to easily cope with the addition of 1-4. That is, in the above, the game machines 1-1 to 1-1 on the center side
Although the case where the number of terminals 1-4 and the number of modems 2-1 to 2-4 are four has been described, if the number of terminals 1-4 increases, the game machines 1-1 to 1-4 and the number of modems and modems corresponding thereto increase. 2-1
2-4 is required. At this time, which modem 2-1
-2-4, the modems 2-1 to 2-n of all the game machines 1-1 to 1-4
When the control signal switch 17 that can be input to the control signal switch 17 is configured, the number of switches in the control signal switch 17 increases, and the number of contacts of each switch increases, so that wiring becomes very complicated and external devices As a result, there is a problem that it is not possible to easily cope with the addition of the game machines 1-1 to 1-4.

Further, since the modulation / demodulation devices 2-1 to 2-4 used on the player 2P side of the opponent are used only for receiving the pad signal, the TV signal is used to view the image on the player 1P side. The TV signal transmitting units of the modems 2-1 to 2-4 used on the side and the game machines 1-1 to 1-4 connected thereto are not used. In addition, even if there is another game play request, a user cannot be assigned to the game machine used for such an opponent player 2P, and there is a problem that the service cannot be operated efficiently.

Further, since the control pad signal input on the player 2P side of the game machines 1-1 to 1-4 is switched by a switch, the player 2P side of the game machines 1-1 to 1-4 is activated when the game program is started. If the control pad signal is not input to the game program, the battle mode of the game program cannot be selected. In other words, non-competition (single play)
During this, even if the control signal switch 17 is switched and the control pad signal is input to the player 2P side, there is a problem that the battle play cannot be performed because the game program is being executed in the single play. . Therefore, this system cannot respond to the invasion-type competition game that has become popular in game centers these days, and if you try to play a competition, the game program that was playing alone while waiting for your opponent There is a problem that it is necessary to perform extra control such as forcibly resetting from a time.

[0015] The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and in a case where a battle game is executed between terminals of separate subscribers or separate rooms located at a distance, a control signal switch and controls the control signal switch. Eliminates the need for control lines, etc.
A game system capable of simplifying the configuration, eliminating a game machine or a down TV channel that cannot be connected to a terminal during a fighting game, improving the operation rate of the system, and responding to an intrusion fight to obtain a fighting game system. The purpose is to:

[0016]

To achieve the above object,
The game system according to claim 1, wherein a management personal computer is provided on a center side, monitors and controls the status of each terminal by polling, and executes a game service for each terminal; A plurality of game machines that execute a game program under the control of the management personal computer and transmit video / audio signals of the game to the terminal via each corresponding modem. A television receiver provided on the terminal side for receiving video / audio signals of the game and outputting video / audio, and a television receiver provided on each of the terminals to designate a match or a non-match during game play, Send one control pad signal to the center side through one of the control pad signal receiving channels. A control pad signal corresponding to each of the control pad signal receiving channels is output from the modem to the game machine so that one terminal playing a game can play another terminal It is made to participate.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the game system, two circuits of the control pad signal receiving section are provided in the modem, and outputs of these control pad signal receiving sections are output to respective ones of the game machine. It is designed to be connected to a control pad input player.

In the game system according to the third aspect of the present invention, a transmission circuit for outputting a control pad signal from the terminal and a transmission circuit for polling response are commonly used.
A control pad signal at the time of game play and a polling signal at the time of polling response are selected and transmitted by a transmission signal switching section of a transceiver, and the control pad signal and the polling signal are selected by switching a transmission channel. It is.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a game system according to the present invention.
n is a plurality of game machines on the center side. These game machines 1-1 to 1-n include a game machine G for executing a game program and a screen required for services such as a selection screen at the time of game selection. A menu board M for outputting using the graphic function of G and a CD changer C equipped with a plurality of compact discs and a read-only memory (CD-ROM) are provided. Also, 2-1
２−2-n are modulation / demodulation devices for modulating or demodulating an input signal.

Reference numeral 5 is provided on the center side to monitor and control the status of a plurality of terminals 1 to n to be described later by polling, and to manage the personal computer as a management personal computer for executing a game service for each terminal. PC, 6 is a polling signal modulator / demodulator for modulating or demodulating a polling signal, 7 is a CATV broadcasting station connected to a CATV line, 8 is a distribution mixer, which is a broadcasting of the CATV broadcasting station 7 and a TV modulator 9, Modem 2-1 to 2-
n and the terminals 1 to
It functions to branch the n control signals and the polling signal.

Further, reference numeral 10 denotes a video encoder which receives a color signal (RGB) output from the management PC 5 and converts it into a video signal, and 9 TV-modulates the video signal to a vacant channel on a set line and transmits it. It is a TV modulator. Reference numeral 15 denotes a control line such as an RS-485, through which the management PC 5 is connected to the game machines 1-1 to 1-1.
Monitor and control the state of -n.

Reference numerals 1 to n denote a plurality of terminals, including a transceiver 11 for receiving a TV channel signal under the control of the management PC 5, a control pad 12 for outputting a control pad signal, and a terminal for receiving the TV channel. It has a distributor 13 for distributing signals and other TV broadcasts, and a TV receiver 14, respectively. And each of these terminals 1 to n
Is connected to the distribution mixer 8 via the RF line 16. Further, the transceiver 11 has a polling modulation / demodulation unit, and reports the status of each terminal 1 to n in response to polling of the management PC 5. Further, when a game is selected and the game program is loaded, the transceiver 11 stops polling, modulates a control pad signal from the control pad 12, and transmits the modulated signal.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the modems 2-1 to 2-n. In FIG. 4, a demultiplexer / demultiplexer 21 demultiplexes a transmission signal and a reception signal. The control pad signal receiving units 22-1 and 22-2 receive control pad signals of the set channels, respectively, and are demodulated by the pad signal demodulating units 23-1 and 23-2. Two control pad signals are output. On the other hand, game machines 1-1 to 1-n
Are modulated by the TV modulation unit 27 and output to an empty channel via the converter 26 and the demultiplexing unit 21.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the transceiver 11. In the figure, reference numeral 31 denotes a demultiplexer / demultiplexer, which demultiplexes a transmission signal and a reception signal. Reference numeral 32 denotes a tuner that receives a TV signal from an RF line via the demultiplexer 31 and outputs video / audio, and 33 denotes a receiver that receives a polling signal and inputs the polling signal to the controller 37. Although the control unit 37 responds to the polling signal, it is necessary to respond to the polling except during the game play. Therefore, the transmission signal switching unit 38 is switched to output the polling signal, and the polling signal is signal-modulated. The signal is modulated by the unit 36 and transmitted from the transmitting unit 35 via the demultiplexing unit 31 to the channel notified by the management PC 5. During game play, the transmission signal switching unit 38 is switched to output a control pad signal. In order to transmit the control pad signal to the game machines 1-1 to 1-n on the center side, it is necessary to modulate the control pad signal.
The conversion unit 39 converts the control pad signal from parallel to serial. The control pad signal is transmitted in the same manner as the polling signal, and the transmission channel and the transmission switching unit 38 are switched by a polling command from the management PC 5.

Next, the operation will be described. In FIG. 1, the modems 2-1 to 2-n respectively set TV transmission channels f1 to fn and control pad signal reception channels f11 to f1n and f21 to f2n as idle channels on the line. f11 to f1n are channels for controlling the player 1P of the game machines 1-1 to 1-n,
2n is a channel for controlling the player 2P of the game machines 1-1 to 1-n. Polling signal modem 6
Sets the down polling channel f41 and the up polling channel f51, and the TV modulator 9 sets the TV signal transmission channel f61 to a free channel on the line.

Normally, the status of each terminal 1 to n is monitored by polling from the management PC 5 via the polling signal modem 6 on the down polling channel f41 and the up polling channel f51. Further, the game service guide screen is output from the color signal output, converted into a video signal by the video encoder 10, and then transmitted via the TV modulator 9 on the TV signal transmission channel f61. On the other hand, the terminals 1 to n share the TV signal transmission channel f61 with the distributor 1
3 and received by the transceiver 11 and viewed by the TV receiver 14. Further, the distribution mixer 8 receives the response on the downlink polling channel f41, and receives the response on the uplink polling signal channel f41.
Send at 51. In each transceiver 11, the transmission signal switching unit 38 is switched to output a polling signal or a control pad signal.

Next, the operation of the terminals 1 to n will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, each terminal 1 to n
Now, by pressing the key on the control pad 12,
A game request is made (step S41). Thereby, the control unit 37 uses the polling signal to transmit the transmission signal switching unit 38,
A game request is notified to the management PC 5 via the signal modulator 36, the transmitter 35, and the demultiplexer 31. Management PC
5 is a game machine 1-1 to 1-1 not used for a service.
One of n is assigned to terminals 1 to n that have made a request.
For example, assuming that the game machine 1-1 is vacant, it transmits the channel data of the TV transmission channel f1 to the terminal 1 by the polling. When receiving the channel data, the terminal 1 selects the TV transmission channel f1.

Subsequently, in the management PC 5, the game machine 1-
A request for outputting a game selection screen is made on the first menu board M, and the terminal 1 selects a game title while viewing the screen obtained on the TV receiver 14 by this request (step S42). Each key of the control pad 12 is assigned to a selectable game title, and when a game title is selected by an input operation of these keys,
This information is notified to the management PC 5 through the above-mentioned route by polling. The management PC 5 requests a match / non-match selection screen output from the menu board of the game machine 1-1. For this reason, the screen of the TV transmission channel f1 is switched to a competition / non-competition selection screen. Any key of the control pad 12 is assigned to the battle and the non-battle, and the terminal 1 selects either the battle / non-battle with the control pad 12 (step S43).

Here, when the non-competition is selected (step S44), the management PC 5 activates the CD-ROM of the game title already selected for the CD changer. At the same time, a command to delete the selection screen is issued to the menu board M, and the screen of the activated game is transmitted to the channel f1. Then, the management PC 5 transmits the channel data to the terminal 1 using the channel f41 by polling. Upon receiving this, the terminal 1 stops responding to the polling, switches the uplink polling channel f51 to the control pad signal reception channel f11, switches the transmission signal switching unit 38, enables transmission of the control pad output, and performs game control. In this way, non-matching single game play can be executed (step S45). When there is a non-match request at the other terminals 2 to n, the other free game machines 1-2 to 1-n are allocated, and the game is executed in the same procedure. When a game end request is made (step S46), a game end process is performed (step S47) to prepare for the start of the next terminal operation.

On the other hand, if a match is selected on the terminal 2 (step S48), the management PC 5 determines whether there is a match request of the same game title on another game machine (step S49). ). Since all the states of the game machine and the terminal are managed by the management PC 5, the above determination can be made. At this time, if there is no match-up candidate in the same game (step S50), a single play is performed (step S51) and a match is started (step S53) in the same procedure as in the non-matching.

On the other hand, when a match of the same game as the terminal 2 is selected at the terminal n, that is, when it is determined that there is a match-up candidate (step S52), the management PC 5 polls the terminal. n, and transmits channel data on the TV transmission channel f2. Upon receiving this, the terminal n selects the TV transmission channel f2. For this reason, the terminal n sees the same screen of the game machine 2-2 as the terminal 2 as the opponent. At the same time, by switching the polling channel f51 to the control pad signal receiving channel f21, the control pad signal is input to the player 2p side of the game machine 2-2. Therefore, with respect to the terminal 2 during the game play, the terminal n participates in the game from the middle and the battle is executed. That is, the terminal 2 that has already played the game is in a form of being intruded during the game alone, and a battle is performed (step S53).

It should be noted that the game is to be ended using the control pad 12. In the case of no match, the control pad signal output of the terminal 1 is set to the up polling channel f51, and the control pad signal reception channel is set to f
Switching to 11, the game service guidance screen is received. On the other hand, when the game machine 1-1 ends the game program, the management PC 5 continues to monitor the state of the terminal 1 again by polling. On the other hand, in the case of a match, when one of the competitors makes a request to end the game (step S54, step S55), the game play ends in the same procedure as in the non-match (step S47). When the game is over, data of the end of the game play is transmitted from the management PC 5 to the opponent by polling. When this is received, the control pad signal output is switched to the up polling channel f51, the game program of the game machine 1-2 is terminated, and the state monitoring of the terminal 2 and the terminal n is continued by polling.

In the actual game service, charging is performed,
There is a time limit on game play. The billing is triggered by the start of the game play, and the management PC 5 counts the fee. In CATV and the like, it is also possible to provide services at a fixed monthly charge. In this case, terminals such as subscribers who do not pay the fee do not accept the service request.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, the personal computer for management which is provided at the center side to monitor and control the status of each terminal by polling and execute the game service for each terminal is provided. And provided on the center side, to execute a game program under the control of the management personal computer,
A plurality of game machines for transmitting video / audio signals of the game to the terminal via each of the corresponding modems; and video / audio receiving the video / audio signals of the game provided on each of the terminals. And a control pad signal provided to each of the terminals and designated to play or not to play during game play and to the center side through one of the control pad signal receiving channels corresponding thereto. And a control pad signal corresponding to each of the control pad signal reception channels, and outputs a control pad signal from the modem to the game machine. When playing a competitive game between different subscribers' homes or terminals in different rooms located apart from each other This eliminates the need for a control signal switch and control lines to control it, simplifying the configuration, and eliminating the use of game consoles and downstream TV channels that cannot be connected to the terminal during a competitive game, thereby improving the system operation rate. It is possible to obtain an effect that it is possible to improve and to be able to cope with an intrusion match, and to be able to play against an unfamiliar third party.

Further, according to the present invention, the control and demodulation device on the center side is provided with two control pad signal receiving sections so that each of the received control pad signals can be directly input to the game machine. There is no need to switch the control signal or to control the control signal, so that the configuration of the equipment on the center side is greatly simplified, and the connection between the equipment is facilitated. Further, according to the above configuration, since the game machine can recognize the connection between the two players, it is possible to provide an intrusion-type competitive game service in which a control pad signal is input to the other player during the single play. This eliminates the problem of forcibly resetting the game program that was playing alone from the outside and restarting the game from the beginning, and providing a competitive game by invading other players smoothly, improving operability I do.

Further, according to the present invention, even in a battle game, the center can provide a service with only one game machine and one modem, so that the game machine can be effectively operated in the system. In addition to the above, two types of control pad signal and polling response signal transmitted by the transceiver do not need to be transmitted at the same time.
The transmission circuit can be used in common, and as a result, the effect of reducing the size of the circuit and the size of the terminal can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a game system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing details of the modem in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a transceiver of the terminal in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of game play according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a conventional game system.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing details of the modem in FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 to n terminal 1-1 to 1-n game machine 2-1 to 2-n modem 5 management PC (management personal computer) 11 transceiver 12 control pad 14 TV receiver (television receiver) 22- 1, 22-2 control pad signal receiving section 38 transmission signal switching section

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A game system for executing a game program by accessing a game program of a game machine provided on a center side with a control pad provided on each of a plurality of terminals. A management personal computer that performs status monitoring and control of each terminal by polling and executes a game service for each terminal; and a game program that is provided on the center side and is controlled by the management personal computer. A plurality of game machines for transmitting video / audio signals of the game to the terminal via each of the corresponding modem devices; and a plurality of game machines provided on each of the terminals for receiving video / audio signals of the game. A television receiver for outputting audio / video, and a game player provided in each terminal. And a transceiver that sends out each control pad signal to the center side through a control pad signal receiving channel corresponding to the match or non-match at the time of the control pad signal receiving channel. A game system, wherein a corresponding control pad signal is output from the modem to the game machine, so that one terminal during game play causes another terminal to participate in the game. 2. The modulating / demodulating device has two control pad signal receiving sections, and outputs of the control pad signal receiving sections are connected to respective control pad input players of the game machine. The game system according to claim 1, wherein 3. A control circuit for outputting a control pad signal from the terminal and a transmission circuit for polling response are commonly used, and a control pad signal during game play and a polling signal during polling response are transmitted and received by a transceiver. 2. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit selects and transmits the control pad signal and the polling signal by switching a transmission channel.