JP2007081503A - Game device and cellular phone - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game device and a cellular phone which can suppress the cost for communication between the game device and the cellular phone, and can easily establish communication between the game device and the cellular phone. <P>SOLUTION: Components of the game system includes the cellular phone 4, provided with a radio unit (not shown) for performing direct radio communication with the game device 1, and the game device 1, provided with a radio unit (not shown) for performing direct communication with the cellular phone 4. In this game system, since the game device 1 performs direct communication with the cellular phone 4, without via a cellular phone base station 5, the communication cost between the game device 1 and the cellular phone 4 can be suppressed, and communication between the game device 1 and the cellular phone 4 can be established easily. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a game system including a game device and a mobile phone.

Conventionally, various game systems including a game device and a mobile phone have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). In the game system proposed in Patent Document 1, a function for operating a game device is added to a mobile phone, and even when there is only one game device controller, one game device can be operated by a plurality of people. Can do. Further, in the game system proposed in Patent Document 2, it is possible to make a call to a favorite character selected by the player from a plurality of characters on the game using the mobile phone from the player side.
JP 2001-38057 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-223039

  However, in a conventional game system including a game device and a mobile phone, since the game device and the mobile phone communicate with each other via a mobile phone base station, a communication fee is required to enjoy the game. Depending on the area of use, there is a problem that communication between the game device and the mobile phone becomes impossible because the mobile phone is located outside the communicable range of the mobile phone.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a game device and a mobile phone that can suppress the communication cost between the game device and the mobile phone and that can easily establish communication between the game device and the mobile phone. And

  In order to achieve the above object, a mobile phone according to the present invention includes a first wireless unit that performs direct wireless communication with a game device, and the game device according to the present invention includes a second wireless that performs direct wireless communication with the mobile phone. It is set as the structure provided with a part.

  According to such a configuration, since the game device and the mobile phone perform direct wireless communication without going through the mobile phone base station, communication costs between the game device and the mobile phone can be reduced, and between the game device and the mobile phone. It is easy to establish communication.

  The mobile phone according to the present invention further includes a control unit that controls the entire mobile phone, wherein the first wireless unit receives a terminal device program transmitted from the game device, and the control unit is used for the terminal device. A first memory that stores a program for a terminal device for operating the mobile phone as a terminal device of the game device in the game device according to the present invention so as to operate as a terminal device of the game device by executing the program. May be provided, and the second wireless unit may transmit the terminal device program to the mobile phone.

  Further, when the mobile phone according to the present invention is caused to function as the character input terminal device of the game device according to the present invention, the mobile phone having the above configuration includes a character input unit, and the character data input by the character input unit is The first wireless unit may transmit to the game device, and in the game device configured as described above, the second wireless unit may receive character data transmitted from the mobile phone.

  When the mobile phone according to the present invention is caused to function as an image input terminal device of the game device according to the present invention, the mobile phone having the above-described configuration includes an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject and generates image data. The first wireless unit may transmit to the game device, and in the game device configured as described above, the second wireless unit may receive the image data transmitted from the mobile phone.

  Further, when the mobile phone according to the present invention functions as a download terminal device of the game device according to the present invention, the mobile phone having the above-described configuration includes a third wireless unit that performs wireless communication via the mobile phone base station, The program or data received by the third wireless unit is transmitted to the game device by the first wireless unit, and in the game device having the above-described configuration, the program or data acquired by the mobile phone via the mobile phone base station Then, the second wireless unit may receive the program or data transmitted from the mobile phone. Furthermore, the mobile phone configured as described above further includes a second storage unit that temporarily stores the program or data received by the third wireless unit, and the program or data that is temporarily stored in the second storage unit. The first wireless unit may transmit to the game device. As a result, even when a wireless communication line between the first wireless unit and the second wireless unit cannot be established, the program or data received by the third wireless unit can be temporarily stored. It is possible to send the program or data received by the third wireless unit to the game device from the mobile phone after the wireless communication line between the unit and the second wireless unit is established.

  Further, when the mobile phone according to the present invention functions as the data storage terminal device of the game device according to the present invention, in the mobile phone configured as described above, the registration data of the operator or the save data indicating the progress of the game is stored in the first A wireless unit includes a third storage unit that receives from the game device and stores the registration data or the save data, and requests the registration data or the save data stored in the third storage unit from an external request. In response to the transmission from the first wireless unit, in the game device having the above-described configuration, an operation in which the second wireless unit transmits the registration data of the operator or save data indicating the progress of the game to the mobile phone, and At least an operation in which the second wireless unit receives the registration data of the operator transmitted by the mobile phone or the save data indicating the progress of the game. One is to be performed.

  Further, when the mobile phone according to the present invention functions as a control input device of the game device according to the present invention, in the mobile phone having the above configuration, a key input unit and a control signal corresponding to an output signal from the key input unit are provided. A control signal generation unit that generates the control signal, and the first wireless unit transmits the control signal to the game device so that the control device operates as a control input device of the game device. The second radio unit receives the control signal transmitted from the telephone and causes the game to proceed in accordance with the control signal.

  According to the game device and the mobile phone according to the present invention, since the game device and the mobile phone perform direct wireless communication without going through the mobile phone base station, the communication cost between the game device and the mobile phone can be suppressed and the game can be suppressed. It is easy to establish communication between the device and the mobile phone.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a configuration example of a game system including the game device according to the present invention and the mobile phone according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a game system including a game device according to the present invention and a mobile phone according to the present invention. The game system shown in FIG. 1 includes a game device 1, a control input device 2 that is detachably connected to the game device 1, and a video / audio output that outputs video and audio based on signals output from the game device 1. The apparatus 3 includes a mobile phone 4, a mobile phone base station 5, a mobile phone network 6, and a mobile website server 7. The game apparatus 1 and the mobile phone 4 can perform wireless communication directly without using the mobile phone base station 5. Further, the cellular phone 4 can wirelessly communicate with the cellular website server 7 and other cellular phones via the cellular phone base station 5 and the cellular phone network 6.

  Next, a configuration example of the game device according to the present invention and a configuration example of the mobile phone according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing a configuration example of the game device according to the present invention and a configuration example of the mobile phone according to the present invention. In FIG. 2, the same parts as those in FIG.

  The game apparatus 1 according to the present invention performs an operation of digitally modulating a signal from the control processor 20, the media drive 21, and the control processor 20 and then up-converting and transmitting the signal to the antenna 23, and down-converting the high-frequency signal from the antenna 23. After that, a radio unit 22 that performs an operation of digital demodulation and sending to the control processor 20, an antenna 23, a graphic processing unit 24, a video output circuit 25, a controller I / F 26, an audio processing unit 27, and an audio output Circuit 28. A media 8 storing a game execution program (hereinafter referred to as a game program) is detachably mounted on the media drive 21. Further, the control input device 2 is detachably connected to the controller I / F 26, and the image / audio output device 3 is detachably connected to the video output circuit 25 and the audio output circuit 28.

  The cellular phone 4 according to the present invention includes a CPU 30 that controls the entire cellular phone, a memory 31, and an operation of digitally modulating a signal from the CPU 30 and then up-converting and transmitting the signal to the antenna 33 and a high-frequency signal from the antenna 33 down. After the conversion, the wireless unit 32 that performs an operation of digital demodulation and sending to the CPU 30, an antenna 33, a key input unit 34, a baseband processor 35, an image sensor 36, a camera DSP 37, a video codec 38, a base An RF circuit 39 which performs an operation of digitally modulating a signal from the band processor 35 and then up-converting and sending the signal to the antenna 40 and an operation of down-converting a high-frequency signal from the antenna 40 and then digitally demodulating and sending it to the baseband processor 35. And antenna 40 and display And a location 41. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the cellular phone 4 according to the present invention also includes means for realizing a telephone function such as a microphone and a speaker.

  The schematic operation of the game system including the game device according to the present invention and the mobile phone according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  After the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention is activated, the control processor 20 sets the wireless unit 22 in a standby state for wireless communication.

  While the game device 1 according to the present invention is operating, the operator performs a specific key operation corresponding to the terminal device program installation request to the key input unit 34 of the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention. As a result, the key input unit 34 outputs a signal corresponding to the terminal device program installation request to the CPU 30.

  The CPU 30 that has received a signal corresponding to the terminal device program installation request from the key input unit 34 transmits a wireless connection request signal to the game device 1 according to the present invention via the wireless unit 32 and the antenna 33. When the wireless unit 22 of the game device 1 according to the present invention receives the request signal from the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention via the antenna 23, the wireless unit 22 establishes a wireless communication line with the wireless unit 32.

  After the wireless communication line between the wireless unit 22 and the wireless unit 32 is established, the CPU 30 transmits a terminal device program transmission request signal to the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention via the wireless unit 32 and the antenna 33. To do. When the control processor 20 of the game device 1 according to the present invention receives the terminal device program transmission request signal from the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention via the antenna 23 and the radio unit 22, the control processor 20 is attached to the media drive 21. The terminal device program stored in the medium 8 is read, and the terminal device program is transmitted to the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention via the wireless unit 22 and the antenna 23.

  The CPU 30 that has received the terminal device program via the antenna 33 and the radio unit 32 stores the terminal device program in the memory 31 and then executes the terminal device program. Thereby, the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention can operate as a terminal device of the game apparatus 1. Note that a separate memory may be provided in the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention, and the terminal device program may be read from the memory. The mobile phone 4 according to the present invention may store the terminal device program in the memory 31 in advance, and the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention may store the terminal device program from the mobile website server 7 to the mobile phone network. 6 and the mobile phone base station 5 may be downloaded.

  Here, a case where a program for causing the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention to function as a character input device is included in the terminal device program will be described. The game apparatus 1 according to the present invention that is executing the game program stored in the medium 8 and the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention establish a communication line, and the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention is related to the game apparatus according to the present invention. In the state of operating as one terminal device, the CPU 30 executes a character input application program originally stored in the memory 31.

  When the operator performs a key operation for character input on the key input unit 34, the CPU 30 creates character input data based on the output signal of the key input unit 34, and displays characters corresponding to the character input data on the display device 41. To display. When the operator confirms the characters displayed on the display device 41 and performs a specific key operation for transmitting the character input data on the key input unit 34, the CPU 30 outputs an output signal from the key input unit 34. The character input data is transmitted to the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention via the wireless unit 32 and the antenna 33 based on the above.

  The control processor 20 of the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention captures the character input data received via the antenna 23 and the wireless unit 22 into the corresponding portion of the game program being executed. Thereby, the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention can be operated as the character input terminal device of the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention. Note that the character input data captured in the corresponding part of the game program is displayed on the display screen of the image / sound output device 3 via the graphic processing unit 24 and the video output circuit 24.

  As described above, when the program for causing the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention to function as a character input device is included in the terminal device program, the game device 1 according to the present invention and the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention are used. In the game system provided, since a mobile phone having a character input interface familiar to an operator can be used as a character input terminal of the game apparatus, convenience is high.

  In contrast, the game apparatus 1 ′, the control input apparatus 2 ′ that is detachably connected to the game apparatus 1 ′, and the video / audio that outputs video and audio based on signals output from the game apparatus 1 ′. In the conventional game system shown in FIG. 3 which is configured by the output device 3 ′ and does not have a mobile phone, characters are displayed in the character input area 11 in the display screen 10 of the video / audio output device 3 ′ as shown in FIG. A list is displayed, and the operator operates the direction button provided on the control input device 2 ′ to move the character selection cursor 12 in the character input area 11, and the selection provided on the control input device 2 ′. By repeating the operation of selecting the character at the position of the character selection cursor 12 from the character list displayed in the character input area 11 by operating the button, a series of sentences is created. , That set of sentences is denoted in the input sentence display section 13 in the character input area 11. Such a character input method requires time and effort for character input, and is unsuitable for applications where quick response is required. Furthermore, a part of the display screen 10 of the video / audio output device 3 ′ is fixed in the character input area. There was a problem of lack of convenience. A game system including the game device 1 according to the present invention and the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention can use a mobile phone having a character input interface familiar to an operator as a character input terminal of the game device as described above. Therefore, such a problem can be solved.

  Next, a case where a program for causing the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention to function as an image input device is included in the terminal device program will be described. The game apparatus 1 according to the present invention that is executing the game program stored in the medium 8 and the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention establish a communication line, and the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention is related to the game apparatus according to the present invention. In the state of operating as one terminal device, the CPU 30 executes the camera application program originally stored in the memory 31.

  When the operator performs a key operation for performing imaging on the key input unit 34, the CPU 30 causes the image sensor 36 to perform imaging based on an output signal of the key input unit 34, and the image sensor 36, camera DSP 37, Image data is taken in via the video codec 38 and the baseband processor 35 and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the display device 41. Then, when the operator performs a specific key operation for transmitting the image data after confirming the image displayed on the display device 41, the CPU 30 outputs an output signal of the key input unit 34. Based on this, the image data is transmitted to the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention via the wireless unit 32 and the antenna 33.

  The control processor 20 of the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention captures the image data received via the antenna 23 and the wireless unit 22 into the corresponding part of the game program being executed. Thereby, the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention can be operated as the image input terminal device of the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention. The image data captured in the corresponding part of the game program is displayed on the display screen of the image / audio output device 3 via the graphic processing unit 24 and the video output circuit 25.

  Next, a case where a program for causing the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention to function as a download device is included in the terminal device program will be described. When the operator performs a key operation on the key input unit 34 to download data or a program related to the game program by connecting to the Internet, the CPU 30 executes the Internet connection program originally stored in the memory 31. Then, data or a program related to the game program is downloaded from the mobile website server 7 via the mobile phone base station 5, the mobile phone telephone network 6, the antenna 40, the RF circuit 39, and the baseband processor 35, and the downloaded Data or a program (hereinafter referred to as download data or the like) is stored in the memory 31.

  The game apparatus 1 according to the present invention that is executing the game program stored in the medium 8 and the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention establish a communication line, and the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention is related to the game apparatus according to the present invention. When the operator performs a specific key operation for transmitting download data or the like on the key input unit 34 while operating as one terminal device, the CPU 30 is based on the output signal of the key input unit 34. Download data and the like are read from the memory 31, and the download data and the like read from the memory 31 are transmitted to the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention via the wireless unit 32 and the antenna 33.

  The control processor 20 of the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention captures download data and the like received via the antenna 23 and the wireless unit 22 into the corresponding portion of the game program being executed. Thereby, the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention can be operated as a download terminal device of the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention, and data or programs related to the game program on the mobile website server 7 are related to the present invention. It can be taken into the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention via the mobile phone 4. Note that download data or the like may be directly transmitted to the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention via the wireless unit 32 and the antenna 33 without being temporarily stored in the memory 31. In addition, the address information of the mobile website server 7 is stored in the medium 8, and the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention operates according to the present invention prior to operating as the download terminal device of the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention. The mobile phone 4 requests address information of the mobile website server 7 from the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention, and the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention requests the mobile website server 7 according to the present invention in response to the request. The address information may be transmitted.

  Next, a case where a program for causing the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention to function as a data storage device is included in the terminal device program will be described. The game apparatus 1 according to the present invention that is executing the game program stored in the medium 8 and the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention establish a communication line, and the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention is related to the game apparatus according to the present invention. In the state of operating as one terminal device, the operator operates the control input device 2 to instruct the operator to save the registration data of the operator and the save data indicating the progress of the game program in the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention Then, the control processor 20 compiles the registration data and the save data from the game program being executed according to the output signal of the control input device 2 received via the controller I / F 26, and wirelessly compiles the collected data. The data is transmitted to the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention via the unit 22 and the antenna 23.

  The CPU 30 of the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention stores the registration data and the save data received via the antenna 33 and the radio unit 32 in the memory 31.

  The game apparatus 1 according to the present invention that is executing the game program stored in the medium 8 and the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention establish a communication line, and the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention relates to the present invention. When the operator operates the control input device 2 in an operating state as the terminal device of the game apparatus 1 and gives an instruction to read out the registration data and the save data from the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention, the control processor 20 In accordance with the output signal of the control input device 2 received via the controller I / F 26, the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention transmits a request signal for requesting transmission of the registration data and the save data via the radio unit 22 and the antenna 23. Send to.

  When the CPU 30 of the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention receives a request signal for requesting transmission of the registration data and the save data via the antenna 33 and the wireless unit 32, the CPU 30 reads the registration data and the save data from the memory 31. The data is transmitted to the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention via the radio unit 32 and the antenna 33. The control processor 20 of the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention captures the registration data and the save data received via the antenna 23 and the wireless unit 22 into the corresponding part of the game program being executed. Thereby, the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention can be operated as a data storage terminal device of the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention. In the above-described embodiment, a game device that transmits the registration data and the save data to the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention, and a game device that receives the registration data and the save data from the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention. May be separate game devices as long as they are the same but compatible with each other.

  Finally, a case where a program for causing the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention to function as a control input device is included in the terminal device program will be described. When the CPU 30 executes the terminal device program, the key input unit 34 of the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention has a function assigned to a button included in the control input device 2 according to the terminal device program. Assign to the key.

  The game apparatus 1 according to the present invention that is executing the game program stored in the medium 8 and the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention establish a communication line, and the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention is related to the game apparatus according to the present invention. When the operator presses the predetermined key of the key input unit 34 while operating as one terminal device, the CPU 30 generates a control signal corresponding to the function assigned to the predetermined key. The control signal is transmitted to the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention via the wireless unit 32 and the antenna 33.

  The control processor 20 of the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention performs processing according to the control signal received via the antenna 23 and the radio unit 22. Thereby, the mobile phone 4 according to the present invention can be operated as a control input terminal device of the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention.

These are figures which show the example of a structure of the game system provided with the game device which concerns on this invention, and the mobile telephone which concerns on this invention. These are the circuit block diagrams which show the structural example of the game device which concerns on this invention, and the structural example of the mobile telephone which concerns on this invention. These are figures which show the structure of the conventional game system which is not provided with the mobile phone. These are figures which show the display screen of the video / audio output device with which the conventional game system shown in FIG. 3 is provided.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game device 2 Control input device 3 Video | voice / audio output device 4 Cellular phone 5 Cellular phone base station 6 Cellular phone network 7 Cellular website server 8 Media 10 Display screen 11 Character input area 12 Character selection cursor 13 Input sentence display unit 20 Control processor 21 Media drive 22 Radio unit 23 Antenna 24 Graphic processing unit 25 Video output circuit 26 Controller I / F
27 Audio Processing Unit 28 Audio Output Circuit 30 CPU
31 Memory 32 Radio Unit 33 Antenna 34 Key Input Unit 35 Baseband Processor 36 Image Sensor 37 Camera DSP
38 Video codec 39 RF circuit 40 Antenna 41 Display device

Claims (15)

  A mobile phone comprising a first wireless unit that performs direct wireless communication with a game device.   A game apparatus comprising a second wireless unit that performs direct wireless communication with a mobile phone. It has a control unit that controls the entire mobile phone,
The said 1st radio | wireless part receives the program for terminal devices transmitted from the said game device, The said control part operate | moves as a terminal device of the said game device by running the said program for terminal devices. Mobile phone. A first storage unit for storing a terminal device program for operating the mobile phone as a terminal device of a game device;
The game device according to claim 2, wherein the second wireless unit transmits the terminal device program to the mobile phone. It has a character input part,
The mobile phone according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the first wireless unit transmits character data input by the character input unit to the game device.   The game device according to claim 2, wherein the second wireless unit receives character data transmitted from the mobile phone. An imaging unit that images a subject and generates image data;
The mobile phone according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the first wireless unit transmits the image data to the game device.   The game device according to claim 2, wherein the second wireless unit receives image data transmitted from the mobile phone. A third wireless unit that performs wireless communication via a mobile phone base station;
The mobile phone according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the first wireless unit transmits a program or data received by the third wireless unit to the game device. A second storage unit for temporarily storing the program or data received by the third wireless unit;
The mobile phone according to claim 9, wherein the first wireless unit transmits the program or data temporarily stored in the second storage unit to the game device.   The game according to claim 2 or 4, wherein the mobile phone receives a program or data acquired from a mobile phone base station, and the second radio unit receives the program or data transmitted from the mobile phone. apparatus. The first wireless unit receives registration data of the operator or save data indicating the progress of the game from the game device,
A third storage unit for storing the registration data or the save data;
The mobile phone according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the registration data or the save data stored in the third storage unit is transmitted from the first wireless unit in response to an external request.   An operation in which the second wireless unit transmits save data indicating the operator's registration data or game progress status to the mobile phone, and an operator registration data or save data indicating the game progress status transmitted by the mobile phone. The game device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of operations received by the second wireless unit is performed. A key input section;
A control signal generation unit that generates a control signal according to an output signal from the key input unit,
4. The mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless unit transmits the control signal to the game device, thereby operating as a control input device of the game device. 5.   The game device according to claim 2 or 4, wherein the second wireless unit receives a control signal transmitted from the mobile phone, and a game progresses according to the control signal.

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