JPH0817854B2 - Wireless communication system in video game console - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video game machine in which a plurality of players can simultaneously operate a game.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in video games, a game in which a plurality of players can simultaneously play and enjoy one game has been widespread.

In a conventional video game machine, as shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of players are connected to a video game control section 73 for controlling the operation of the video game machine.
1 and 72 are operated to output a game image or the like on the screen of the television receiver 75 according to the operation data of the player and the game program stored in the game cassette 74.

However, in this conventional video game machine,
Only two people can operate at the same time. Further, since the controllers 71 and 72 and the video control unit 73 are connected by a cable, the periphery of the game machine is in a complicated state.

Therefore, in order to allow three or more people to enjoy the game in recent years, the operation data of the controllers 82 to 84 is processed by the multiplexer 85 as shown in FIG. There is a commercially available product that can be input to the game control unit 73.

[0006]

However, in the video game machine shown in FIG. 8, the controllers 82 to 84 are provided.
Since the cable is connected between the multiplexing device 85 and the multiplexing device 85, the degree of complexity around the game machine is higher than that for two players.

On the other hand, in order to prevent the complication of the periphery of the game machine, as shown in FIG. 9, it is known to use remote type controllers 91 and 92 for transmitting data unidirectionally using infrared rays. There is.

Generally, in wireless transmission, a carrier frequency is assigned to each transmitter so that a receiver receives and recognizes signals transmitted asynchronously from a plurality of transmitters. However, when infrared rays are used as a carrier, it is difficult to change the frequency and discriminate by the filter on the receiver side, resulting in an expensive device.

Therefore, if the data is transmitted at the timing shown in the time chart of FIG. 10, no matter what timing the two transmitters A and B transmit, the receiver side will transmit the data within 8T. The data can be received at least once without overlapping.

However, with such a method, a time which is eight times the data transmission time T is required for normal data transmission. Therefore, if the number of transmitters is three or more, it takes more time, and the response delay to the game operation becomes significant, which is not realistic.

Further, in order to avoid erroneous reception when data is received in a state of being overlapped, it is necessary to add a check bit or the like, which further takes time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a wireless communication system in a video game machine which prevents the periphery of the game machine from becoming complicated and allows a plurality of players to simultaneously operate the game. The purpose is to provide.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a plurality of players operate their own controllers, and the game control section uses the operation data on the main body side to advance the game. In the video game machine, the main body side determines a first wireless transmission unit, a first wireless reception unit, and a signal from the first wireless transmission unit that individually requests the operation data of the player to each of the controllers. The controller has a first communication control unit for sequentially transmitting in a cycle, and the controller includes a second wireless transmission unit, a second wireless reception unit, and the first wireless transmission unit received by the second wireless reception unit. It is determined whether or not the signal is a signal that specifies the own controller, and only when the signal specifies the own controller, the above second
And a second communication control unit for transmitting a data signal including the operation data from the wireless transmission unit (claim 1).

Further, the first and second wireless transmitters and the second and first wireless receivers are provided with photoelectric conversion means (claim 2).

Further, in the wireless communication system of the video game machine according to claim 1 or 2, the first communication control unit includes a storage unit for storing the operation data received by the first wireless reception unit, The game control section reads the operation data from the storage means in accordance with the progress of the game (claim 3).

Further, the signal requesting the operation data is
A predetermined number of bits having the same value of 0 or 1 and a bit representing data indicating one controller are consecutively bit-configured, and the second communication control unit further receives at the second wireless reception unit. The operation data is a signal requesting the operation data from the first wireless transmission unit. The operation data includes bits corresponding to each operation, and the same value of one of the operation data is continuous. The first data part and the second data part are configured so that the maximum number of bits to be processed is less than the predetermined number, and the data signal has the first data part and the second data part of the other. Bits are configured by dividing a divided bit consisting of a value (claim 4).

The operations performed by the player include first and second operations that are not simultaneously performed with each other, and third and fourth operations that are not simultaneously performed with each other. The operation data includes the first operation
The data part consists of 6 bits including bits corresponding to the first and second operations, and the second data part consists of 6 bits including bits corresponding to the third and fourth operations. In the signal for requesting data, the first to fourth bits have the same value of 0 or 1, and the fifth to seventh bits are bits representing data indicating one controller, and the eighth bit is the other. In the data signal, the first bit is made up of the one value, the second bit is made up of the other value, and the third bit to the eighth bit are made up of the first data portion. The ninth bit is a divided bit having the other value, the tenth to fifteenth bits are the second data portion, the sixteenth bit is a 16-bit configuration having the other value, and the fifth and sixth bits are the above-mentioned. First and second operations In the corresponding bit to the 12th, the first
The 3 bits are the bits corresponding to the third and fourth operations, and the bits corresponding to the first, second, third, and fourth operations are the bits of one of the above when each operation is performed. It is set so as to have a value (claim 5).

[0018]

According to the present invention, a plurality of players operate their controllers to progress the game. On the other hand, a signal individually requesting the operation data is sequentially transmitted from the first wireless transmission unit to each controller in a predetermined cycle. Then, only when the signal designates the own controller, the data signal including the operation data of the player is transmitted from the second wireless transmission unit to the main body side and received by the first wireless reception unit on the main body side. In this way, one-to-one communication is always performed between each controller and the main body side.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the first and second wireless transmitters convert the electric signals into optical signals and transmit the optical signals, and the first and second wireless receivers receive the received optical signals. The signal is converted into an electrical signal.

According to the invention of claim 3, the first
The operation data of the player received by the wireless reception unit is temporarily stored in the storage means, read out as needed, and used. Therefore, the operation data can be transmitted asynchronously between the main body side and the controller and between the first communication control unit and the game control unit.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, a plurality of players operate their controllers to progress the game, and the first wireless transmission unit individually requests operation data from each controller. The signals are sequentially transmitted at a predetermined cycle. Then, it is determined whether or not this request signal has the data indicating the own controller, and only when the request signal has the data indicating the own controller, the data signal composed of a plurality of bits including the operation data of the player is transmitted from the second wireless transmission unit to the main body. And is received by the first wireless reception unit on the main body side.

Here, the signal requesting the operation data is 0
Alternatively, a predetermined number of bits having the same value of one, for example, three bits representing data indicating one 1 and one controller are continuously configured. Further, the data signal includes a first data part and a second data part which are bit-configured such that the maximum number of bits in which one of the same values continues is less than a predetermined number, that is, the number of consecutive 1s is less than 3. Is divided into bits by sandwiching the other value, that is, a divided bit consisting of 0.

As a result, when the second radio receiving section of each controller receives one of the same values by a predetermined number of bits in succession, that is, when three 1s are received in succession, this signal is sent by the second controller of the other controller. It is determined that the signal is not the data signal transmitted from the wireless transmission unit but the operation data transmitted from the main body side.

According to the invention of claim 5, a plurality of players operate their own controllers to progress the game, and the first wireless transmission unit individually requests operation data from each controller. The signals are sequentially transmitted at a predetermined cycle. Then, it is determined whether or not this request signal has the data indicating the own controller, and only when the request signal has the data indicating the own controller, the data signal composed of a plurality of bits including the operation data of the player is transmitted from the second wireless transmission unit to the main body. And is received by the first wireless reception unit on the main body side.

At this time, in the bit consisting of 0 and 1, if one value is 1 and the other value is 0, the data signal is 1, 0, 1 in order from the 1st bit to the 16th bit.
X, X, X, X, X, X, 0, X, X, X, X, X,
X, 0. However, X of the 3rd to 8th bits and the 10th to 15th bits is 1 when the player performs the corresponding operation.
Is 0 when the corresponding operation is not performed. Here, the 5th bit and the 6th bit do not become 1 at the same time,
The 12th bit and the 13th bit cannot be 1 at the same time. Therefore, the continuous 4 bits of the data signal never become 1.

On the other hand, the signal requesting the operation data is the first signal.
From bit to 8th bit, 1, 1, 1, 1, Y,
It becomes Y, Y, 0. However, Y of the 5th to 7th bits is
For example, 0, 0, 0 and 0, 0, 1 are set individually corresponding to each controller.

Therefore, the second communication control section of each controller determines that this signal is a signal requesting operation data when the second radio receiving section receives a signal in which four consecutive bits are 1. It will be. And the following fifth to seventh
Based on the bit data, it is determined whether or not it has data indicating its own controller.

[0028]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a video game machine to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the video game machine.

The controllers 1 to 4 are provided with an operating section, an infrared ray emitting section, a light receiving section, etc., and are operated by a player to play a video game. The communication control unit 5 outputs a signal requesting operation data of the player to each of the controllers 1 to 4 and receives the same data transmitted from each of the controllers 1 to 4.

The video game control section 6 controls the operation of the video game machine, based on the operation data of the player obtained through the communication control section 5 and the game program stored in the game cassette 7. The game image or the like is output to the screen of the television receiver 8.

Next, the controllers 1 to 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the controller 1. FIG. 3 shows the controller 1
3A and 3B are views showing the outer appearance of FIG. 1A, a front side view, a plan view, and a right side view. In addition, controller 2
4 has the same structure as the controller 1, and this video game machine allows four people to operate the same video game at the same time.

The controller 1 controls a light emitting unit 11 as a transmission system, a P / S conversion unit 13, an operation unit 17, a light receiving unit 12 as a reception system, an S / P conversion unit 15, a transmission control unit 16 and timings thereof. It is composed of a timing generator 14 for controlling.

The operation section 17 includes an A button 21, a B button 22, an X button 23, a Y button 24 arranged on the right end side, and an UP key 25 and a DOWN key 26 arranged in a cross shape on the left end side.
A LEFT key 27 and a RIGHT key 28 are provided, an L button 29, an R button 30 on the front side surface, and a START button 31 and a SELECT button 32 at the center are provided, and when pressed, operation data is output.

The UP key 25 and the DOWN key 26, and the LEFT key 27 and the RIGHT key 28 are movable around the swing fulcrum 25a and cannot be pressed simultaneously.

A light emitting portion 11 and a light receiving portion 12 are provided side by side inside the protective cover 33 at the center of the front side surface to ensure directivity in transmission and reception with the communication control portion 5.

The P / S converter 13 is composed of a shift register or the like and converts the parallel operation data input from the operation unit 17 into a serial signal. The P / S converter 13 outputs a signal according to the clock pulse input from the timing generator 14. Are sequentially output. The light emitting unit 11 transmits infrared light optically modulated by the electric signal input from the P / S conversion unit 13.

The light receiving section 12 receives the infrared light output from the communication control section 5 and converts it into an electric signal. S
The / P conversion unit 15 is composed of a shift register or the like, and converts the serial signal input from the light receiving unit 12 into a parallel signal according to the clock pulse input from the timing generation unit 14.

The transmission control unit 16 determines whether the request signal from the communication control unit 5 input via the light receiving unit 12 and the S / P conversion unit 15 is a signal instructing its own controller, and determines its own controller. The control signal controls the timing generation unit 14 and transmits the operation data of the player from the light emitting unit 11 via the P / S conversion unit 13.

Next, the configuration of the communication control unit 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the communication control unit 5. 5A and 5B are views showing the outer appearance of the communication control unit 5, where FIG. 5A is a front view and FIG. 5B is a side view.

The communication control section 5 is a light emitting section 5 as a transmission system.
1, P / S conversion unit 53, light receiving unit 52 as a receiving system, S
/ P converter 55, timing generator 54 that controls these timings, register 5 that holds the received data
6a to 56d and a P / S converter 57 for transferring data with the video game controller 6, and a video game I / F 58.

The communication control section 5 is placed on the television receiver 8 or on the front surface of the player, for example, and has a parabolic surface on the upper side as shown in FIG. The pointing direction can be changed above.

A light emitting section 51 and a light receiving section 52 are provided inside the protective cover 50 provided at the focal point of the parabolic surface. The curvature of the parabola is set to an appropriate value according to the number of operable game players.

The P / S conversion unit 53 is composed of a shift register or the like, converts the data request signal to the controllers 1 to 4 into a serial signal and outputs it, and according to the clock pulse input from the timing generation unit 54. The signals are output sequentially. The light emitting unit 51 converts the electric signal input from the P / S conversion unit 53 into infrared light and transmits the infrared light.

The light receiving section 52 receives the infrared light from the controllers 1 to 4 and converts it into an electric signal. S /
The P conversion unit 55 is composed of a shift register or the like, and converts the serial signal input from the light receiving unit 52 into the timing generation unit 5.
It is converted into a parallel signal according to the clock pulse inputted from the No. 4.

The registers 56a to 56d respectively hold the received data from the controllers 1 to 4 converted into parallel signals, and also send the signals to the P / S converter 57 according to the clock pulse input from the timing generator 54. It is designed to output. P / S converter 57
Is a shift register or the like, and registers 56a-5
The parallel signal input from 6d is converted into a serial signal.

The video game I / F 58 has a cable 59.
Is connected to the video game control section 6 via a video game control section 6, and when a signal requesting player operation data is input from the video game control section 6, the data input from the P / S conversion section 57 is controlled by the video game control section. It is output to the unit 6.

Next, the communication controller 5 and the controllers 1 to 4
Data transmission control between the two will be described with reference to Tables 1 to 3 and FIG. FIG. 6 shows the communication controller 5 and the controllers 1 to 1.
4 is a timing chart showing the transmission output of No. 4;

First, the communication control unit 5 to the controllers 1 to 1
The data request signal transmitted to the No. 4 will be described. Each data request signal is composed of 8 bits as shown in Table 1.

[0049]

[Table 1]

Bit allocation is as follows: 1st bit: fixed at "1" (start bit) 2nd-4th bit: fixed at 1-5th bit: channel number 8th bit: fixed at "0" (stop) A bit).

The 5th to 7th bits correspond to each controller. For example, controller 1 = “000” controller 2 = “001” controller 3 = “010” controller 4 = “011”. There is.

Next, a data signal including operation data transmitted from the controllers 1 to 4 to the communication control section 5 will be described. This data signal is, as shown in Table 2,
It consists of 16 bits. In addition, the controller 1
Table 3 shows the bit allocation of the operation data of No. 4 in FIG.

[0053]

[Table 2]

[0054]

[Table 3]

Here, 1st bit: fixed to "1" (start bit) 2nd bit: fixed to "0" 3rd to 8th bit: operation data (D0 to D5) 9th bit: fixed to "0" (divided bit) ) 10th to 15th bits: Operation data (D6 to DB) 16th bit: Fixed to "0" (stop bit).

As described above, the UP key 25 and DOWN
Key 26, LEFT key 27 and RIGHT key 28 are swing fulcrums
It is movable around 25a and can be pressed simultaneously.
Since it can not be done, the 5th bit (D2) and 6th bit (D3), 12th bit (D8) and 13th bit (D9) will not be "1" at the same time.
In addition to the fact that the 9th bit is fixed to "0" as a division bit, 4 bits in this data do not become "1" continuously.

Therefore, the controllers 1 to 4 can determine that the data is the transmission data from the communication control unit 5 if the reception data has continuous "1" of 4 bits.

That is, each of the controllers 1 to 4
After receiving "1" (start bit) and "111",
When receiving its own channel number, the operation data is transmitted after confirming the reception of "0" (stop bit), for example, after a lapse of a predetermined time of 1 bit.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6 , the communication control unit 5
Request the operation data of the player individually with a predetermined period from each controller 1 to 4 by a wireless signal, and each controller 1 to 4 wirelessly transmits the operation data when its own controller is requested. Since it is designed to send and output, each controller
There is always one-to-one communication between 1-4 and the communication control unit 5.
We can certainly perform transmission reception of operation data without putting the time in two or more players.

If the communication control unit 5 cannot receive the operation data within a predetermined time from the output of the request signal, the request signal may be repeatedly output a predetermined number of times.
Or, if there is no change in the operation data this time,
You may make it output a request signal to the next controller immediately.

Further, as shown in Table 1, since 3 bits of the 5th to 7th bits are secured as the channel number of the controller, it is possible to use a maximum of 8 controllers.

Light having a frequency other than infrared light may be used as a signal medium. Alternatively, ultrasonic waves may be used.

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first wireless transmission unit sequentially transmits the signals requesting the operation data individually to the respective controllers in a predetermined cycle, and only when the signals specify the own controller, the player since the data signal <br/> including the operation data is to be sent from the second wireless transmission unit, the con
There is always one-to-one communication between the tracker and the main unit
Therefore, it is possible to reliably transmit and receive the operation data. Obedience
I, even if the player is more, without complicating the peripheral game machine, yet it is possible to perform the game operation of the same video game at the same time.

According to the invention of claim 3, the first radio
The player's operation data received by the receiver is temporarily stored in the storage means.
Since it is stored in memory and read out when necessary, the main unit side
Between the controller and the first communication controller and the game controller
The operation data can be transmitted asynchronously.

According to the invention of claim 4, the operation data is
The signal requesting the data must consist of the same value of 0 or 1.
Data indicating a certain number of bits and a controller
The bits that represent them are consecutively configured into bits, and the data signal
In each case, the maximum number of consecutive bits of the same value on one side is
First day bit-configured to be less than the above specified number
Data part and second data part are divided bits consisting of the other value
Since it has been divided and divided into bits, each
When the second wireless receiver of the controller receives the signal,
The data transmitted from the second wireless transmission unit of another controller
Data signal and the operation data request signal sent from the main unit
Data can be reliably identified without misidentification.
Easy to implement only by the bit configuration of the operation data in the signal
it can. Therefore, even if there are multiple players, they are the same at the same time.
The game operation of the video game can be surely performed.

According to the invention of claim 5, the operation data is
In the signal requesting the data, the 1st to 4th bits are 0.
Or the same value from 1 to 1, and the 5th to 7th bits
Bit is a bit that represents data indicating a controller,
The 8th bit consists of the other value.
In the signal, the first bit consists of one of the above values and the second bit
Is the other value, and the 3rd to 8th bits are
In one data part, the 9th bit is a divided bit consisting of the other value.
And the 10th to 15th bits are the second data section.
The 16-bit configuration in which the 16th bit is the other value
The 5th and 6th bits are operated at the same time.
Bits corresponding to the first and second operations without
The 2nd and 13th bits may be operated simultaneously with each other.
Bit corresponding to the third and fourth operations that are not
Bits corresponding to the first, second, third, and fourth operations
Is set to one of the above values when each operation is performed.
Therefore, the second communication control unit of each controller is
The second wireless reception unit receives a signal in which consecutive 4 bits are 1.
This signal is a signal requesting operation data when
Can be determined. Therefore, other controllers
The data signal transmitted from the second wireless transmission unit of
Misidentifying the operation data transmitted from the device as a request signal
Can be reliably prevented. Therefore, there are multiple players
Even if the same video game is operated at the same time,
It can be done really.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a video game machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of a controller.

3A and 3B are diagrams showing the appearance of the controller, in which FIG. 3A is a front side view, FIG. 3B is a plan view, and FIG. 3C is a right side view.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of a communication control unit.

5A and 5B are diagrams showing an appearance of a communication control unit, FIG. 5A is a front view and FIG. 5B is a side view.

FIG. 6 is a time chart showing transmission outputs of a communication control unit and a controller.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of a conventional video game machine in which a plurality of players can play at the same time.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of a conventional video game machine in which a plurality of players can play at the same time, and is an example using a multiplexing device.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of a conventional video game machine in which a plurality of players can play at the same time, and is an example using a unidirectional infrared light remote controller.

FIG. 10 is a time chart showing a transmission output when unidirectional transmission is performed from two transmitters.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 to 4 controller 5 communication control unit 6 video game control unit 7 game cassette 8 television receiver 11,51 light emitting unit 12,52 light receiving unit 13,53,57 P / S conversion unit 14,54 timing generation unit 15,55 S / P conversion unit 16 transmission control unit 17 operation unit 56a to 56d register 58 video game I / F 59 cable

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A video game machine in which a plurality of players operate their respective controllers, and a game control section uses the operation data on the main body side to advance a game, wherein the main body side has a first wireless transmission section. A first wireless reception unit and a first communication control unit for sequentially transmitting a signal individually requesting the operation data of the player from the first wireless transmission unit to the controllers at a predetermined cycle. The controller determines whether or not the signal from the second wireless transmission unit, the second wireless reception unit, and the first wireless transmission unit received by the second wireless reception unit is a signal designating its own controller, and The second above only when the signal specifies the controller
A wireless communication system in a video game machine , comprising: a second communication control unit that transmits a data signal including the operation data from the wireless transmission unit. 2. The wireless communication system in a video game machine according to claim 1, wherein the first and second wireless transmitters and the second and first wireless receivers are provided with photoelectric conversion means. . 3. A wireless communication system as in claim 1 or 2, wherein the video game machine, the first communication control unit includes a storage means for storing the operation data received by the first wireless reception unit, the The wireless communication system in a video game machine, wherein the game control unit reads the operation data from the storage unit according to the progress of the game. 4. A signal for requesting the operation data is 0 or
Or one of a certain number of bits of the same value and one
Bits representing data indicating the controller are consecutive bits
And the second communication control unit is further configured to
The signal received by the line receiving unit is transmitted from the first wireless transmitting unit.
For determining whether the signal requires operation data
The operation data consists of bits corresponding to each operation.
And the same value of one of the above is consecutive.
Bit configuration so that the maximum number of bits is less than the above specified number
The first data part and the second data part
The data signal includes the first data portion and the second data portion.
Bit structure is divided across the divided bits consisting of the other value
It is made of any one of Claims 1-3.
A wireless communication system in the video game machine according to. 5. The operations performed by the players are performed simultaneously with each other.
First and second operations that are not performed simultaneously with each other
Includes third and fourth operations in which no operation is performed
The operation data consists of 12 operations.
6 includes a bit corresponding to the first and second operations described above.
The second data part is composed of bits and
It consists of 6 bits including the bits corresponding to the 3rd and 4th operations.
The signal requesting the operation data starts from the first bit.
The fourth bit consists of the same value of either 0 or 1, and the fifth bit
Bits 7 to 7 are data indicating one controller
The 8th bit is the 8th bit consisting of the other value.
In the data configuration, the first bit of the data signal is
Value, the second bit consists of the other value, and the third bit
The 8th bit is the first data part and the 9th bit is
The divided bit consisting of the other value, from the 10th bit to the 1st bit
The 5th bit is the second data part, and the 16th bit is the other
It is a 16-bit structure consisting of values, and the 5th and 6th bits are the above
Bits corresponding to the first and second operations.
The bit is the bit corresponding to the above third and fourth operations.
And also corresponds to the first, second, third, and fourth operations described above.
The bit will be one of the above values after each operation.
5. The bill according to claim 4, wherein
A wireless communication system for a Deo game machine.