GB2287414A

GB2287414A - Cartridge emulator for video games console

Info

Publication number: GB2287414A
Application number: GB9503098A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Partis
Original assignee: HEWLAND INTERNATIONAL Ltd
Current assignee: HEWLAND INTERNATIONAL Ltd
Priority date: 1994-02-21
Filing date: 1995-02-17
Publication date: 1995-09-20
Also published as: GB9403246D0; GB9503098D0

Abstract

An emulator (2) which is adapted to fit into the cartridge slot of a games console comprises communications means from exterior sources such as broadcast signals, decoding means (18), controller (22) and floppy disc storage. The device may also comprise a modem for transmission of game information to or from the games console. The device is particularly concerned with the provision of game information via teletext. <IMAGE>

Description

CONNECTION APPARATUS This invention relates to apparatus for connection to a games console and in particular to apparatus which increases the versatility of a games console or similar equipment.

Currently a games console (which is taken to include a handheld game) typically comprises a microprocessor (CPU), video output means for connection to a television or monitor (or in the case of a hand-held device, a built-in display), audio output means, means for receiving a removable ROM cartridge containing games software and input means which may be a joystick or mouse and/or several buttons. In addition, connections may be provided for stereo audio output and for the connection of a proprietary CD-ROM drive for greatly increased storage, the increased storage being used to provide enhanced game-play and output graphics variety on the display.

Hitherto, despite containing the components of a comparatively powerful microcomputer, such a games console device has generally been used only for playing games. In addition, the device has only been used for playing games in a standalone fashion or occasionally, at least in the case of hand-held games, linked together in pairs via a serial link cable in order to provide limited interactive play between two players spaced a metre or so apart.

Furthermore, a games cartridge for a games console has a finite storage capacity and is non-upgradeable, i.e. it is dedicated to the playing of a single predetermined game or set of games. To play a different game or a modified version of the game, it is necessary to obtain a new cartridge. Furthermore, it is only possible to introduce a new program into the console using removable media such as the ROM cartridges and/or CD-ROMs. These problems are at least in part due to the inherent hardware limitations of the device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means for increasing the versatility of a games console by overcoming at least some of its inherent hardware limitations.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for connection to a games console comprising a games console slot interface connector for connection to a games cartridge slot of a games console, and I/O communication means coupled to the connector, whereby the apparatus is connectable to a games console and is arranged to permit I/O communication with the console via the apparatus and the slot.

The I/O communication may, for example, permit communication between a computer peripheral and the console or the input of data to the console and/or the apparatus from an external data stream. The I/O communication does not include communication with a games cartridge such as is provided by a so-called game enhancer.

The slot interface connector may comprise data and control buses for transferring data and control signals between the apparatus and a games console.

Preferably, the I/O communication means comprises a connection unit coupled to a cartridge emulator including the games slot interface connector, wherein the connection unit includes teletext receiving means for receiving a broadcast signal containing teletext data and for extracting the teletext data from the broadcast signal, and control means comprising a teletext controller for selecting predetermined portions of the extracted teletext data.

The I/O components of the connection unit are preferably mapped into an area of memory corresponding to at least part of the memory map of the console with which it is intended to be used.

A console may using the apparatus, be arranged to accept one or more expansion cards such as conventional IBM PC compatible expansion cards; for example, those designed for use with the ISA, EISA, VESA local bus or PCI buses, by providing the connection unit with one or more "slots" conforming to an IBM compatible mechanical and bus standard and by arranging for the I\O memory map of the connection unit to be compatible with that of the IBM PC. In this way, costs may be reduced by using mass-produced components and circuits. Preferably, it is the connection unit which is arranged to accept such an expansion card.

Typically, only a subset of the data and/or address bus signals entering the cartridge emulator via the cartridge slot interface connector need be passed on to the connection unit. This results from the reduced address space needed in the connection unit relative to the cartridge emulator, to accommodate memory mapping of the components in the connection unit.

It will be appreciated that the teletext element of the apparatus need not be limited to the reception of data transmitted with a terrestrially broadcast television signal, but may be comprise apparatus for extracting data transmitted with a different type of broadcast signal such as a radio, cable or satellite signal and therefore in the context of this application, the term "teletext" should be taken to include such alternatives.

The connection apparatus may be used to provide the possibility of connecting computer peripherals to a games console thereby increasing the console's versatility.

The cartridge emulator may be used as a means to access the hardware, for example the CPU and the video output means, contained in the console.

The cartridge memory means preferably comprises electrically writable memory such as RAM and/or flash ROM. The ROM (which need not be electrically writable) may be used for storing an operating system. The RAM may be used for storing other software such as an application program or programs. The ROM is preferably Flash ROM to allow the operating system to be modified if desired. Typically the cartridge memory means will comprise at least 64Kbytes of Flash ROM and 4Mbits of Static RAM (SRAM).

Modification of the operating system and/or loading of an application program into the RAM may be achieved by downloading data via the teletext receiver and passing it via the first and second interface means to the cartridge memory means. Software stored in the cartridge memory means may be executed by the processor contained in the games console in the manner of a conventional games cartridge. In this way, the games console or similar equipment may be used instead of with several cartridges, with a single device which may be used to play an infinite number of games or to perform other functions such as extracting stock market information from the teletext data and manipulating it.

To operate with the present maximum processor speed of 8MHz, the SRAM typically has an access time of less than 120ns.

For faster processors, correspondingly faster memory may be required. Other memory configurations may be used according to the volume of storage required for the operating system and/or the application programs. The memory may be mapped into the games console memory map using any technique described in the Programmers Reference Manual (PRM) of the games console in question. Such PRMs are incorporated herein by reference.

Preferably, the connection unit includes non-volatile storage means. This may be a floppy disk drive, or other means for receiving a removable storage medium. The storage means permits data to be saved from the cartridge memory means and subsequently to be restored to the cartridge memory means. In this way, software downloaded via the teletext receiver may be stored for later use.

Typically each connection unit includes a unique encryption key which may for example, be a 6 byte word unique to each apparatus. This key is used to encrypt data saved on the storage means and since the key is used to decrypt the data when it is read, it prevents saved data being correctly read on another connection unit, thereby preventing unauthorised copies of downloaded software being distributed whilst still allowing backup copies to be made. The teletext data may also be encrypted. The teletext decryption key may be supplied with the apparatus (and may be periodically renewed under a subscription scheme) in a form which is itself encrypted so that it works only with the apparatus that it was supplied with or intended for, as described above.In this way, although a single encryption key is used for the teletext data, it will not be possible to decrypt the data using a key taken or copied from another apparatus.

The storage means is preferably a 3.5 inch floppy disk drive using an IBM PC compatible disk format thus providing the option of transferring data to another platform such as an IBM PC compatible computer. The teletext decryption key may be supplied on a floppy disk.

Preferably, in addition to a teletext receiver, the control means also includes a modem controller such as a Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART) for controlling a modem. A serial interface may thus be provided to permit the connection of an external modem. Alternatively an internal modem may be housed in the connection unit.

Conventional control sets such as the Hayes set may be used.

The modem may be used to send data from the connection unit to a central station. The central station may be coupled both to the telephone network for receiving data from at least one connection unit and to the teletext system for transmitting data via teletext. The central station may transmit data to one or more connection units via teletext.

In this way many users may interact since they may all receive the same data via their respective teletext receivers. For example, the central station might begin by transmitting the software for a game via teletext. This software may be downloaded and stored in the cartridge memory means and/or on floppy disk using the connection apparatus. The software may be downloaded by a plurality of users using a plurality of connection apparatuses. Then, by playing the game simultaneously on several consoles, and transmitting data to the central station via the modem relating, for example, to their respective position and status in the game, and by causing the data transmitted by the central station via teletext to change in real-time to accommodate the actions of the players, the players may interact with each other in the game.In a preferred embodiment, each player transmits a final score reached in a game, to the central station. This permits a centralised high-score table to be created using each player's score.

Typically about 30 teletext pages per second (equivalent to 30 Kbytes/sec of data), provides a sufficient data bandwidth.

As a further enhancement, the modem may be used for two way communication. By providing in the operating system, a Viewdata and/or ANSI/TTY terminal emulation, services such as Prestel may be accessed. Additionally, services such as home banking, home shopping and even electronic mail may be implemented.

Typ;cally, the operating system will incorporate a Graphical Use Interface (GUI). This may permit so-called drag and drop operations for performing basic file handling operations such as moving, copying, executing and deleting files and formatting disks. It may also permit application programs to readily transfer data between the modem controller the storage means, the teletext receiver and the cartridge memory means.

It will be appreciated that depending on size constraints, components may be designed to be in either of the cartridge emulator and the connection unit. For example, there might be sufficient room in the cartridge emulator to include an internal modem, the teletext decoder and controller, and/or a floppy disk controller. The connection apparatus may be integral with the cartridge emulator and the connection apparatus may even form an integral part of a games console.

The invention also provides, according to a second aspect, a games console in combination with the apparatus.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a central station comprising teletext transmitting means wherein data is transmitted from the central station to the microcomputer via teletext. Preferably, the microcomputer includes a first modem and the central station includes a second modem.

Thus a return link from the microcomputer to the central station may be established via the first and second modems.

The microcomputer may be a games console combined with the connection apparatus described above.

A method aspect of the invention, provides interaction between a game apparatus and a central station, comprising transmitting to the central station, game data indicating the current status of the game apparatus, and receiving game data from the central station via a teletext transmission, the received game data being varied in response to the transmitted game data. The game apparatus is preferably a games console combined with the connection apparatus described above.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawing which is a block diagram of apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

With reference to the drawing, apparatus fro connection to a games console comprises a cartridge emulator 2 and a connection unit 4. The cartridge emulator 2 provides access to the internal bus signals of a games console (not shown).

In this way, additional peripheral devices can be added to the console thereby increasing the number of uses to which the games console may be put.

The cartridge emulator 2 includes an edge connector and console interface circuit 6 for connecting to the games cartridge socket of the games console. The interface circuit 6 includes data and address buses and control signals for communicating with the address and data buses contained in the games console. The emulator 2 further comprises a 64KByte Flash ROM 8 and a 4Mbit SRAM 10. The memory 8, 10 may be mapped into that of the games console using conventional methods. The access time of the SRAM should be less than 120ns to permit use of the highest clock speeds currently available in games consoles (currently 8MHz).

The cartridge emulator 2 is connected to the connection unit 4 by a flexible cable 12 connected between a cartridge interface circuit 14 in the emulator 2 and a connection unit interface circuit 16. The cable 12 carries the data and control buses over from the cartridge 2 to the connection unit 4. This interface cable 12 operates at a frequency in the region of 1Mhz and is typically about 15 to 18cm long.

This does not pose a significant noise or interference problem and the signals are buffered using bidirectional buffers such as one or more 74245 type octal buffer integrated circuits. At higher frequencies or when using a longer cable 12, more sophisticated techniques will be used.

Since a smaller address space is required in the connection unit 4 than in the cartridge 2, fewer address lines are required between the interface circuits 14 and 16 than between the interface circuit 6 and the games console.

The connection unit 4 comprises a TV tuner and demodulator circuit 18 for receiving and demodulating a television broadcast signal receiver via a UHF input terminal 20. The tuner may incorporate a digital tuning section with EEPROM storage of tuning settings. In a typical satellite implementation, a tunable tuning section is not necessary since most satellite decoders are set to only produce an output frequency corresponding to Channel 36.

The composite video signal from the demodulator 18 is passed to a teletext decoder circuit 21 based around a Philips SAA5231 data separator which extracts teletext data from the composite video signal and adds clock signals to it. The teletext data stream is fed to a teletext controller 22 based around a Philips SAA5243. The teletext controller 22 includes an 8KByte memory for the storage of teletext pages and can select and store predetermined pages of data and transfer them as digital data via a bus to other parts of the connection apparatus. A typical data bandwidth would be 30 teletext pages/second i.e. Kbytes/second. It will be appreciated that the Philips SAA5231 data separator may be replaced with a Plessey MV 1815 combined data separator and decoder which provides a 64Kbyte memory rather than the 8Kbyte memory described above.

The teletext controller forms part of the control means 24 of the apparatus which also includes a floppy disk controller 26 based around a Western Digital WD1772 integrated circuit and a modem controller 28 based around a UART. The control means provides a serial interface for the connection of a modem 32 and a standard terminal for the connection of a floppy disk drive 34.

The teletext circuits and demodulation circuits 18, 21, 22 may be interconnected using a bus such as the Philips proprietary I2C bus.

The control means is mapped into the memory map of the games console by the interface 16 which enables the operating system to provide a low-level software interface for the additional peripherals contained in the connection unit for application programs running in the cartridge memory 8,10.

The operating system provides support for capturing teletext pages from the tuner 18 which may then be passed on as data to an application program for display and/or as data for manipulation by the application. The teletext data may in many cases be a new program for the connection apparatus or even a new operating system for placing in the Flash ROM 8.

Support is also provided for access to the floppy disk drive 34 to perform operations such as format, read, write and verify. In addition, higher level operations such as creating and opening files, reading and writing random access files, closing files, deleting files and reading a directory are supported. The operating system also permits programs to be saved to the floppy disk drive and subsequently to be reloaded. The operating system also provides support for the modem permitting the setting of baud rate and data format. Other higher level operations may also be included in the operating system depending on the particular use to which the connection apparatus is put.

Typically the operating system will include a GUI, using the games console control pad as a pointing device. This will permit hardware setup and file management to be performed and will include several terminal emulations such as Viewdata and ANSI/TTY emulations.

To reduce the number of floppy disks used for storage of software and/or data, compression techniques are used.

These may be techniques such as LZW, Huffman and RLE encoding. Compression techniques may also be used for encoding data transmitted via teletext.

To prevent the distribution of unauthorized copies of software stored on floppy disks, each connection apparatus contains a unique 6 Byte word. This may be provided by a Dallas DS2400 ID IC which is commonly used to provide a unique ethernet address. By encrypting data stored on the floppy disk using the 6 Byte word as an encryption key, the data can only be correctly read from the disk on the connection apparatus from which it was written to the disk.

In addition, programs and/or data being transmitted via teletext may be encrypted to prevent unauthorised downloading, the decryption key being supplied on a floppy disk which is itself encrypted to prevent it being copied for use on other apparatus.

Claims

1. Apparatus for connection to a games console comprising a games console slot interface connector for connection to a games cartridge slot of a games console, and I/O communication means coupled to the connector, whereby the apparatus is connectable to a games console and permits I/O communication with the console via the slot.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slot interface connector comprises data and control buses for transferring data and control signals between the apparatus and a games console.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the I/O communication means comprises a connection unit coupled to a cartridge emulator including the games slot interface connector, wherein the connection unit includes teletext receiving means for receiving a broadcast signal containing teletext data and for extracting the teletext data from the broadcast signal, and control means comprising a teletext controller for selecting predetermined portions of the extracted teletext data.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the cartridge emulator includes cartridge memory means for storing program instructions.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, comprising means for writing extracted teletext data to the cartridge memory means.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including a serial computer interface for the connection of a computer modem.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including a computer modem.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, arranged to accept an expansion card, such as an IBM-compatible expansion card.

9. Apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 8, wherein the connection unit and cartridge emulator are coupled by a data bus and an address bus and wherein the bit width of the address and/or data bus of the coupling is less than that of the cartridge slot interface connector.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the coupling includes buffer means for reducing electrical interference transmitted and/or received over the coupling.

11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including non-volatile storage means.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, comprising decryption means for decrypting data stored on the storage means.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11 or claim 12, comprising encryption means for encrypting data for storage on the storage means.

14. Apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 13, comprising teletext decryption means for decrypting the extracted teletext data.

15. A games console in combination with the apparatus of any preceding claim.

16. A method of providing interaction between a game apparatus and a central station, comprising transmitting to the central station, game data indicating the current status of the game apparatus, and receiving game data from the central station via a teletext transmission, the received game data being varied in response to the transmitted game data.