KR100557689B1 - Memory card device, video game device and program providing medium - Google Patents

Abstract

It is stored together with the control means 41, such as a microcomputer, which has the program memory part 41a which stores a program, the connection connector 42 with the apparatus main body, such as a video game apparatus, and the nonvolatile memory 46 for data storage. The memory card device 40 is constituted by an input means 43 such as a button for operating a programmed program, and a display screen 44 for displaying information according to the program. Data such as a program or a game result transferred from the video game apparatus main body to the memory card device 40 may be once recorded in the nonvolatile memory 46 via the control means 41. In this way, a memory card device capable of executing a program downloaded from a connected information device alone or an application program can be downloaded from the main body to a memory card, and the result of the game independently executed on the memory card can be accepted and subsequent games can be executed. A video game apparatus can be provided.

Description

Memory card device, video game device, and program providing medium

The present invention relates to a video game device and a program providing medium having a function of storing a memory card device, game data, and the like, which are used as an auxiliary storage device for an information device, in an auxiliary storage device.

A conventional memory card mounted on and used in an information apparatus or the like has an interface for connecting to the main body of the information apparatus and a nonvolatile memory element for storing data.

Fig. 1A shows an example of the configuration of main parts of such a conventional memory card. The conventional memory card 80 includes a control unit 81 for controlling its operation, a connector 82 for connecting to a terminal provided in a slot such as an information device, and a nonvolatile memory 86 for storing data. The connector 82 and the nonvolatile memory 86 are connected to the control unit 81.

The control part 81 is comprised using a microcomputer (it abbreviates as a microcomputer in drawing), for example. As the nonvolatile memory 86, for example, a flash memory such as EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) is used. In addition, a microcomputer may be used as a control unit for analyzing a protocol for a connection interface with an information device or the like.

FIG. 1B shows a control item in the control unit 81 of the conventional memory card 80. As shown in FIG.

As described above, the conventional memory card includes only a main body connection interface for connecting to a main body such as an information apparatus, and a memory interface for inputting and outputting data into a nonvolatile memory.

In addition, a conventional video game apparatus such as a home TV game apparatus has a function of storing game data and the like in an auxiliary storage device. The above-described memory card is also used as an auxiliary storage device of such a video game device.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a conventional video game apparatus using a memory card as an auxiliary storage apparatus. The main body 2 of this conventional video game apparatus 11 is housed in a substantially rectangular case, and a disc mounting portion 3 equipped with an optical disc, which is a recording medium in which an application program of a video game is recorded, at the center thereof, and a game. A reset switch 4 for arbitrarily resetting the device, a power switch 5, a disk operation switch 6 for manipulating the mounting of the optical disk, and two slots 7A and 7B, for example. It is.

The memory card 80 used as the auxiliary storage device is inserted into and inserted into the slots 7A and 7B. For example, the result of the game executed on the video game device 11 is transferred from the control unit (CPU) 19. It is transferred and recorded in the nonvolatile memory 86. In addition, a plurality of operation devices (controllers) (not shown) are also connected to the slots 7A and 7B, so that a large number of users can play a competitive game or the like at the same time.

As described above, the conventional memory card only includes a main body connection interface for connecting to a main body such as an information apparatus, and a memory interface for inputting / outputting data into a nonvolatile memory. That is, the conventional memory card only has a function as an auxiliary storage device, and the data stored in the nonvolatile memory cannot be used alone.

In addition, the conventional video game apparatus can operate the application program only on the main body of the game apparatus, and the memory card apparatus used as the auxiliary storage apparatus can only store game results and the like. It could not be effectively reflected in the game being played.

1A and 1B show an example of the configuration of a main part of a conventional memory card device.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional video game apparatus using a memory card as an auxiliary memory device.

3 shows the appearance of a video game apparatus according to the invention;

4 is a view showing the shape of a slot portion of the video game apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing a concrete configuration example of the main part of the video game device of the embodiment according to the present invention.

6A, 6B and 6C show the appearance of a memory card device of an embodiment according to the present invention;

7A and 7B are block diagrams showing an example of the configuration of main parts of the memory card device of the embodiment according to the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a diagram for explaining the radio communication function of the memory card device of the embodiment according to the present invention.

9 is a view for explaining the cooperative operation between the video game apparatus main body and the memory card of the embodiment according to the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the flow of program data downloaded from the video game apparatus main body to a memory card.

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing the order of downloading described above.

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing another flow of program data downloaded from the video game apparatus main body to a memory card.

Fig. 13 is a diagram showing the order of downloading described above.

Fig. 14 is a diagram showing a procedure for raising characters or characters on a memory card device.

Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating a procedure of transferring (uploading) the attributes (attribute data) of characters or characters grown on a memory card device from the memory card device to the main body of the video game device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and it is possible not only to store data but also to download and execute an application program independently, or to perform a cooperative operation while exchanging execution results with other information devices. It is an object to provide a device.

In addition, the present invention, in order to solve the problems as described above, the result of a game downloaded from the main body of the video game device to the memory card used as an auxiliary storage device, or the game executed independently on the memory card It is an object of the present invention to provide a program providing medium for supplying a video game apparatus and an application program capable of performing cooperative operations such as configuring a game to be executed later.

That is, the memory card device according to the present invention includes a memory for storing data and an interface for connecting to an information device, and the memory card device serving as an auxiliary storage device of the connected information device, wherein the program storage memory stores a program. And a control unit for controlling the execution of the program, a display unit for displaying information according to the executed program, an operation input unit for operating the program, and a power supply unit for supplying power used to execute the program. It is characterized by including.

Further, the video game apparatus according to the present invention is a video game apparatus having a function of storing game data obtained by executing a game in an auxiliary storage device, comprising: a program providing unit for supplying an application program, and a center of the video game apparatus main body; A communication control unit connected to the main bus to which the arithmetic processing unit is connected, a slot connected to the main bus via the communication control unit, and to which an auxiliary storage device is detachably connected; And a control function for downloading a program to the auxiliary memory device through the communication control.

Further, the video game apparatus according to the present invention is a video game apparatus having a function of storing game data obtained by executing a game in an auxiliary storage device, comprising: a program providing unit for supplying an application program, and a center of the video game apparatus main body; A communication control unit connected to the main bus to which the arithmetic processing unit is connected, and a common slot connected to the main bus via the communication control unit and detachably connected to an auxiliary memory device and a memory card device, wherein the auxiliary memory device includes the video game. And a nonvolatile memory for storing game data obtained by executing a game in the apparatus main body, wherein the memory card device reads the downloaded application program and the downloaded application program from the video game. And it characterized by having a control unit for execution.

Further, the memory card device according to the present invention is a memory card device having an interface connectable to an information device, comprising: a program memory memory for storing a program, a control unit for controlling the execution of the program, and information according to the executed program; A display unit for displaying the unit, an operation input unit for operating the program, and a power supply unit for supplying power used to execute the program, wherein the program is downloaded from the connected information device to the program memory through an interface. And an application program different from the program downloaded to the auxiliary storage device and the program executed in the information apparatus main body.

In addition, the program providing medium according to the present invention is a providing medium for providing an application program to a video game apparatus, wherein the providing medium is recorded with at least two different application programs, one of the at least two other application programs Is an application program executed in the video game apparatus, and the other is an application program executed in a memory card apparatus connected to the video game apparatus.

According to the present invention described above, a memory card used as an auxiliary memory device and a memory card device capable of independently executing a program of downloaded application software or performing a cooperative operation while exchanging the execution result with another information device. It is possible to provide a video game device having a cooperative operation such as downloading an application program of a video game to a device, receiving a result of a game executed independently on the memory card device, and configuring a game to be executed later. have.

Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The video game apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention will first be described below, and the memory card apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention will be described next. Finally, a case where the above-described memory card device of the embodiment of the present invention is applied as the auxiliary memory device of the video game device of the above-described embodiment of the present invention will be described as an example.

Fig. 3 shows the appearance of a video game apparatus as one embodiment of the present invention. This video game device 1 is for reading a game program recorded on an optical disc or the like, for example, and executing it according to an instruction from a user (game player). In addition, execution of a game mainly means controlling the progress and display of a game, and a voice | voice.

The main body 2 of the video game apparatus 1 is housed in a substantially rectangular case, and a disk mounting portion 3 on which an optical disk such as a CD-ROM, which is a recording medium for supplying an application program of a video game, is mounted in the center thereof. A reset switch 4 for arbitrarily resetting the game, a power switch 5, a disk operation switch 6 for manipulating the mounting of the optical disk, and two slot portions 7A, 7B, for example. ) Is configured. The structure of each part is the same as that of the conventional video game apparatus 11 mentioned above, and the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the common part.

The recording medium for supplying the application program is not limited to the optical disk, but a cartridge in which the semiconductor memory is built in may be used, and the application program may be supplied via the communication line.

Two operation devices 17 can be connected to the slots 7A and 7B, and two users can play a competitive game or the like. The slots 7A and 7B can also be inserted with a memory card device described later. In addition, although the structure which provided the slot part 7A, 7B of two systems is illustrated in FIG. 3, the number is not limited to two systems.

Fig. 4 shows the shape of the slots 7A and 7B provided on the front side surface of the main body 2 of the video game apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above.

In this embodiment, the slots 7A and 7B are formed in two stages, respectively, and at the upper end thereof, the memory card inserting portions 8A and 8B into which the memory card devices 40A and 40B described later are inserted are mounted. At the lower end thereof, controller connection portions 12A and 12B to which the connection terminal portion 26 of the controller 17 is connected are provided.

The insertion holes (slots) of the memory card insertion sections 8A and 8B are formed in a long rectangular shape in the horizontal direction, and the corners at the lower ends thereof are considerably rounded compared to the corners at the upper ends so that the memory card device is inserted in the other direction. It is not structured. In addition, the shutters are provided in the memory card insertion sections 8A and 8B to protect the connection terminals for obtaining electrical connections provided therein.

On the other hand, the controller connection portions 12A and 12B have a rounded corner at both ends of the lower end of the insertion hole, which has a long rectangular shape in the horizontal direction, as compared with the corners at the upper ends thereof, so that the connection terminal portion 26 of the controller 17 is separated. It has a structure that is not connected in the direction, and the shape of the insertion hole is different from that of the memory card insertion portions 8A and 8B so that the memory card is not inserted incorrectly.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration example of the main part of the video game apparatus 1 described above.

The video game apparatus 1 includes a control system 150 made of a central processing unit (CPU) 151, a peripheral device, and the like, and an image processing apparatus (GPU) for drawing the frame buffer 163. A graphics system 160 including a Graphic Processing Unit (162), a sound system 170 including a sound processing unit (SPU) for generating music, sound effects, and the like, and an application program. Controls the input and output of data from the memory disc apparatus 40A, 40B which stores the signal from the controller 17 which inputs the instruction | indication from a user, the setting of a game, etc. from the optical disc control part 180 which controls the existing optical disc, and the like. The communication control part 190 and the bus 100 etc. which said each part is connected are comprised.

The control system 150 includes a CPU 151, a peripheral device controller 152 that performs interrupt control, direct memory access (DMA) transfer control, and the like, and a random access memory (RAM). Read-only memory (ROM) in which a main memory (main memory device) 153 composed of a main memory (main memory device) 153 and a program such as an operating system that manages the graphic memory 130, the sound system 170, and the like are stored. 154). In addition, the main memory here means that a program can be executed on the memory.

The CPU 151 controls the entirety of the video game apparatus 1 by executing an operating system stored in the ROM 154, and is composed of, for example, a 32-bit RISC-CPU.

When the video game device 1 is powered on, the CPU 151 of the control system 150 executes the operating system stored in the ROM 154 so that the CPU 151 can execute the graphic described above. Control of the system 160, the sound system 170, and the like is performed. In addition, when the operating system is executed, the CPU 151 initializes the entire video game apparatus 1 such as operation check, and then controls the optical disk control unit 180 to control an application such as a game recorded on the optical disk. Run the program. By executing a program such as a game, the CPU 151 controls the graphic system 160, the sound system 170, and the like in response to an input from a user, thereby controlling the display of an image, the effect sound, and the generation of music. .

In addition, the graphics system 160 includes a geometry transfer engine (GTE) 161 that performs coordinate conversion and the like, and a GPU 162 that draws according to a drawing instruction from the CPU 151. And a frame buffer 163 for storing the image drawn by the GPU 162, and an image decoder 164 for decoding the image data compressed and encoded by orthogonal transformation such as discrete cosine transform.

The GTE 161 includes, for example, a parallel calculation mechanism for executing a plurality of operations in parallel, and performs calculations such as coordinate transformation, light source calculation, matrix, or vector according to the calculation request from the CPU 151 described above. It is possible to do it at high speed. Specifically, the GTE 161 can perform polygon coordinate calculation of up to 1.5 million in one second in the case of performing flat shading which draws the same color on one triangle polygon. As a result, the video game device can reduce the load on the CPU 151 and perform high-speed coordinate calculation.

In addition, the GPU 162 writes polygons or the like to the frame buffer 163 in accordance with a drawing command from the CPU 151. The GPU 162 can draw up to 360,000 polygons in one second.

In addition, the frame buffer 163 is made of so-called double port RAM, so that the drawing from the GPU 162 or the transfer from the main memory and the reading for display can be performed simultaneously. The frame buffer 163 has a capacity of, for example, 1 Mbyte, and is treated as a matrix composed of 1024 pixels of width and 512 pixels of 16 bits each. In addition to the display area output as a video output, the frame buffer 163 stores a CLUT area for storing a color look up table (CLUT) referred to when the GPU 162 draws polygons or the like. In the drawing, a texture area in which coordinates are transformed and stored in a polygon or the like drawn by the GPU 162 is stored. These CLUT areas and texture areas are dynamically changed in accordance with changes in the display area.

In addition to the above-mentioned flat shading, the GPU 162 may interpolate from the color of the polygon vertices to determine a color in the polygon, and a texture to attach the texture stored in the texture area to the polygon. Mapping can be done. In the case of the glow shading or the texture mapping, the GTE 161 may perform coordinate calculation of up to 500,000 polygons in one second.

The image decoder 164 decodes the image data of the still image or the moving image stored in the main memory 153 and stores the image data in the main memory 153 by the control from the CPU 151 described above.

The reproduced image data is stored in the frame buffer 163 via the GPU 162, so that the reproduced image data can be used as the background of the image drawn by the GPU 162 described above.

The sound system 170 is based on the instruction from the CPU 151, the SPU 171 for generating music, sound effects, and the like, and the sound buffer 172 in which waveform data and the like are recorded by the SPU 171. And a speaker 173 for outputting music generated by the SPU 171, sound effects, and the like.

The SPU 171 stores, for example, 16-bit speech data in an ADPCM decoding function for reproducing speech data subjected to adaptive predictive coding (ADPCM) as a 4-bit differential signal, and in the sound buffer 172. And a reproduction function for generating effect sounds and the like, a modulation function for modulating and reproducing waveform data stored in the sound buffer 172, and the like.

By having such a function, the sound system 170 can be used as a so-called sampling sound source that generates music, sound effects, and the like based on waveform data recorded in the sound buffer 172 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 151. have.

The optical disc controller 180 stores an optical disc device 181 for reproducing a program or data recorded on an optical disc, and for example, a program or data recorded with an error correction code (ECC) added thereto. A decoder 182 to decode and a buffer 183 for speeding up the reading of data from the optical disc by temporarily storing data from the optical disc apparatus 181 are provided. The sub CPU 184 is connected to the decoder 182 described above.

In addition to the above-described ADPCM data, there are so-called PCM data obtained by analog-to-digital conversion of a voice signal as the audio data recorded on the optical disc read by the optical disc device 181.

As the ADPCM data, for example, audio data recorded by representing the difference of 16 bits of digital data in 4 bits is decoded into 16 bits of digital data by the decoder 182, and then supplied to the above-mentioned SPU 171, and the SPU. After a process such as digital / analog conversion is performed at 171, it is used to drive the speaker 173.

In addition, audio data recorded as, for example, 16-bit digital data as PCM data is decoded into 16-bit digital data by the decoder 182, and then supplied to the above-mentioned SPU 171, so that the SPU 171 is provided. After a digital / analog conversion or the like is performed in the above, it is used to drive the speaker 173.

In addition, the communication control unit 190 includes a communication controller 191 for controlling communication with the CPU 151 via the bus 100, and is connected to a controller 17 for inputting an instruction from a user. 12) and memory card insertion sections 8A and 8B to which memory cards 40A and 40B are connected as auxiliary storage devices for storing game setting data and the like are provided in the communication controller 191.

The controller 17 connected to the controller connection section 12 has, for example, 16 instructions for inputting an instruction from the user, and according to the instruction from the communication controller 191, the status of the assistance. Is transmitted to the communication controller 191 about 60 times per second by synchronous communication. The communication controller 191 then transmits the status of the controller 17 to the CPU 151.

In this way, an instruction from the user is input to the CPU 151, and the CPU 151 performs processing according to the instruction from the user based on the game program being executed or the like.

Here, among the above-described main memory 153, GPU 162, image decoder 164, decoder 182, etc., a large amount of image data can be rapidly generated when reading a program, displaying or drawing an image, or the like. Need to send Thus, in this video game apparatus, the main memory 153, the GPU 162, the image decoder 164, and the decoder 182 described above are controlled by the peripheral device controller 152 without passing through the CPU 151 as described above. It is possible to perform so-called DMA transfer, which transfers data directly between the " As a result, the load on the CPU 151 due to data transfer can be reduced, and data can be transferred at high speed.

When the CPU 151 needs to store setting data and the like of the game being executed, the CPU 151 transmits the stored data to the communication controller 191, which communicates with the CPU 151 from the CPU 151. Data is recorded in the memory card 40A or the memory card 40B inserted into the slot of the memory card insertion section 8A or the memory card insertion section 8B.

Here, the communication controller 191 has a built-in protection circuit for preventing electrical destruction. The memory cards 40A and 40B are separated from the bus 100 and can be attached and detached with the power supply of the apparatus main body turned on. Therefore, when the storage capacity of the memory cards 40A and 40B is not sufficient, a new memory card can be inserted and inserted without interrupting the power supply of the apparatus main body. Therefore, a new memory card can be inserted and inserted so that game data that needs to be backed up is not damaged, and the necessary data can be recorded on the new memory card.

The parallel I / O interface (PIO) 201 and the serial I / O interface (SIO) 202 are interfaces for connecting with other external devices.

Next, a memory card device of an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Hereinafter, the memory card 40 of the embodiment according to the present invention will be described on the assumption that the memory card 40 of the embodiment is inserted into and used in the video game apparatus 1 of the embodiment according to the present invention.

In other words, the memory card device 40 is inserted into and mounted in the memory card insertion section 8 provided in the slots 7A and 7B of the video game device 1, and corresponds to the plurality of operation devices 17 connected thereto. It can be used as a unique memory card. For example, when two users (game players) play a game, they have a conventional function of recording respective game results and the like on two memory cards 40A and 40B, respectively.

6A to 6C show the appearance of the memory card device 40 as one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6B shows the top surface of the memory card device 40, FIG. 6A shows the side of the insertion mounting side, and FIG. 6C shows the side of the opposite side, respectively.

As described above, the memory card device 40 of the embodiment of the present invention includes a button switch 43 for inputting an event, a display screen 44 such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), and a wireless communication means 48 described later. For example, the point of having a wireless communication window 55 for wireless communication by infrared rays is different from the appearance of the conventional memory card.

The shape, dimensions W, L, and the like of the connector portion 54 are in common with the conventional memory card 80 used in the conventional video game apparatus 11.

The memory card device 40 includes a housing 51 composed of an upper shell 51a and a lower shell 51b formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and a memory element or the like mounted therein. The substrate 56 is formed. The housing 51 is inserted into the slot portions 7A and 7B of the main body of the video game apparatus 1, and a connector portion 54 having a rectangular window is provided on one side thereof. In the window of the connector portion 54, power supply and signal terminals 57 are provided on the substrate 56 so as to face each other. In addition, a side surface on the reflection side of the connector portion 54 of the housing 51 is provided with a wireless communication window 55 for performing the above-described wireless communication.

The direction indication mark 59 which shows the direction which inserts this memory card apparatus 40 into the slot part 7A, 7B of the main body of the video game apparatus 1 is provided in the upper surface of the housing 51. As shown in FIG. By this mark 59, the user can easily determine the direction and the front and the back when inserting the game device into the main body 2. In addition, the mark 59 is not limited to the shape of the example in FIG. 6B, Moreover, when the memory card apparatus 40 is attached to or detached from the slot part 7A, 7B of the main body of the video game apparatus 1, it is slippery. It can also be made into the shape etc. which can also be used as prevention.

FIG. 7A is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of main parts of the memory card device 40 described above.

The memory card device 40, like the above-described conventional memory card 80, has a control section 41 for controlling its operation, a connector 42 for connecting to a slot such as an information device, and the like for storing data. The nonvolatile memory 46 which is an element is provided.

The control part 41 is comprised using the microcomputer (it abbreviates to a microcomputer in drawing), for example, and has the program memory part 41a for storing a program inside. As the nonvolatile memory 46, a semiconductor memory element in which a recorded state remains even when the power supply is turned off, such as a flash memory, is used. In addition, since the memory card device 40 of the embodiment of the present invention includes a battery 49 as described later, a static random access memory (SRAM) capable of inputting and outputting data at high speed as the nonvolatile memory 46. Static random access memory).

In addition to the above configuration, the memory card device 40 includes a button switch (operation (event) switch) 43 for operating a stored program, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying various types of information according to the above program. The wireless communication unit 48 which transmits / receives data by infrared rays or the like between the display screen 44, the other memory card device and the like, and the battery 49 which supplies power to the above-described portions are different.

In addition, the memory card device 40 includes a small battery 49 for supplying power. For this reason, it is possible to operate independently even in the state which was pulled out from the slot parts 7A and 7B of the video game apparatus 1. In addition, the battery 49 may be chargeable. In the state where the memory card device 40 is inserted into the slots 7A and 7B of the main body of the video game device 1, the video game device 1 is removed from the video game device 1. It can also be configured to be powered.

The memory card device 40 also includes a clock 45, a speaker 47, and the like, which are pronounced according to the program. Moreover, all said parts are connected to the control part 41, and operate under the control of the control part 41. As shown in FIG.

7B shows a control item of the controller 41. In the conventional memory card 80, only the main body connection interface to the information device and the memory interface for inputting and outputting data into the memory are provided. In the memory card device 40 of the embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the above interface, And a display interface, an operation input interface, a voice interface, a wireless communication interface, a clock management and a program download interface.

In this way, the memory card device 40 independently of the main body connection interface and nonvolatile memory management, which are conventional functions, has an interface driver for managing the functions added by the present invention to the control unit (microcomputer) 41. Since it has such a structure, compatibility with conventional functions can be maintained.

In addition, since the memory card device 40 includes a button switch 43 for operating a program to be executed, and a display screen 44 using a liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like, it operates a game application. If possible, it can be applied as a portable game device.

Moreover, the memory card device 40 has a function of storing an application program downloaded from the main body of the video game device 1 in the program memory section 41a in the microcomputer 41, and thus, the memory card device. It is possible to easily change the application program and the various driver software operating on the 40.

As described above, the memory card device 40 of the embodiment of the present invention can control the operation independently of the video game device 1. Therefore, on the memory card device 40 side, data by an application stored in the program memory unit 41a that stores the program can be created independently of the application software on the video game device 1 side. In addition, by exchanging this data with the video game device 1, the cooperative operation (link) between the memory card device 40 and the video game device 1 becomes possible.

In addition, since the memory card device 40 includes a clock 45, it is also possible to share time data with the video game device 1 side. That is, not only can the time data coincide with each other, but also the data for controlling the progress of the game each independently executed can be shared.

In addition, the specific example of the cooperative operation | movement between the video game apparatus 1 and the memory card apparatus 40 mentioned above is mentioned later.

FIG. 8 schematically shows the wireless communication between the memory card devices 40 of the embodiment of the present invention. As described above, the memory card device 40 transmits and receives data through the wireless communication window 55 for performing wireless communication by infrared rays or the like in the wireless communication unit 48, thereby giving internal data between the plurality of memory card devices. I can receive it. Incidentally, the above internal data includes data stored in the storage memory (program memory 41a, nonvolatile memory 46) inside the memory card device, for example, transmitted from an information device such as a video game device. .

Incidentally, in the above embodiment, the memory card device of the embodiment of the present invention has been described as being used as an auxiliary storage device of the video game device. However, the object of application to the memory card device of the embodiment of the present invention is limited to the video game device. It goes without saying that it is also applicable to, for example, searching for various kinds of information.

Next, the cooperative operation between the memory card device 40 and the video game device 1 of the embodiment of the present invention described above will be described.

As described above, the memory card device 40 is generated from game data generated by the microcomputer 41 serving as a control unit, time data obtained from the clock 45 in the memory card, and other memory card obtained through the wireless communication unit 48. The data and the like can be shared with the main body of the video game apparatus 1.

FIG. 9 schematically shows a cooperative operation between the video game device 1 and the memory card device 40.

Hereinafter, as an example of such a cooperative operation, an optical disc (CD-ROM), which is a recording medium on which a program of application software is recorded, is mounted on the main body of the video game apparatus 1, and the program read therein is a video game apparatus 1. The case where the data is downloaded to the memory card device 40 inserted into and inserted into the slots 7A and 7B of the main body of FIG.

First, the download of a program that is a prerequisite for performing the cooperative operation will be described before the detailed description of the cooperative operation.

FIG. 10 shows that an application program of a video game supplied from an optical disc (CD-ROM) or the like mounted on the disk mounting unit 3 of the video game apparatus 1 is memoryd through a CPU 9 which is a control unit of the video game apparatus 1. The flow of data in the case of being directly transmitted (downloaded) to the program memory unit 41a which stores the program in the microcomputer 41 which is the control part of the card apparatus 40 is shown.

Fig. 11 shows the procedure of the above download.

In step ST1, first, a video game operated on a microcomputer in the memory card device 40 from a CD-ROM mounted in the disc mounting portion 3 of the main body of the video game apparatus 1 (hereinafter, also referred to as the main body). Application programs are read as data. Also, as described above, this application program is generally different from operating on the main body of the video game apparatus 1.

Next, in step ST2, the CPU 9 serving as the control unit of the main body issues a "program download request command" to the microcomputer 41 serving as the control unit of the memory card device 40. Then, the CPU 9 performs polygons to receive the "program download permission status" from the microcomputer 41. In addition, polling here means the method of inquiring about the presence or absence of a service request, and providing a service.

In step ST3, the microcomputer 41 on the memory card device 40 side receives the "program download request command" from the CPU 9 of the main body.

Then, in step ST4, when the microcomputer 41 on the memory card side finishes the routine in the current process and becomes able to execute program download, the "program download permission status" is returned to the CPU 9 of the main body. do.

Next, in step ST5, when the CPU 9 of the main body receives the "program download permission status" from the microcomputer 41 on the memory card device 40 side, it reads from a CD-ROM or the like in step ST1. The recorded program is transferred (downloaded) to the program memory unit 41a which stores the program of the memory card device 40 and recorded. Then, the CPU 9 polls to receive the "program start permission status" from the microcomputer 41.

At this time, the address of the program memory section 41a in which the downloaded data is recorded is managed by the microcomputer 41. In the above description, the case where the program downloaded from the main body is stored in the program memory unit 42a in the microcomputer 41 is taken as an example. However, the program downloaded from the main body is stored in a storage element such as an SRAM that can input and output data at high speed. It may be.

In step ST6, the microcomputer 41 of the memory card device 40 receives the program transmitted from the main body as data, and records it in the program memory unit 41a. At this time, the CPU 9 of the main body appears to have recorded program data directly in the program memory section 41a of the memory card device 40. In addition, as described above, the address of the program memory section 41a is managed by the microcomputer 41.

Then, in step ST7, if the microcomputer 41 of the memory card device 40 is set to an environment in which the final program data can be received from the main body and executed, the "program start permission status" is sent to the CPU 9 of the main body. Return.

In step ST8, the CPU 9 of the main body receives the "program start permission status" from the microcomputer 41 of the memory card device 40, and issues a "program start command".

When the microcomputer 41 of the memory card device 40 receives the "program start instruction" from the CPU 9 of the main body, the microcomputer 41 operates the program from a predetermined predetermined address.

According to the above procedure, the application program is directly transferred (downloaded) from the main body of the video game apparatus 1 to the program memory unit 41a in the microcomputer 41 of the memory card apparatus 40 inserted therein.

In addition, as described above, the medium for supplying the application program is not limited to a recording medium such as an optical disc, and may be supplied via a communication line. In that case, only step ST1 differs in the above procedure.

By the way, when the application program is directly downloaded from the main body of the video game apparatus 1 to the program memory unit 41a in the microcomputer 41 which is a control unit of the memory card apparatus 40 inserted therein. The download order will be described.

On the other hand, after the CPU 9 of the main body downloads the data of the application program to the nonvolatile memory 46 in the memory card device 40, the data is transferred to the program memory section 41a in the microcomputer 41. It may also be copied and executed.

Fig. 12 shows the flow of data in this case. That is, an application program of a video game supplied from an optical disk or the like mounted on the disk mounting unit 3 of the video game apparatus 1 is stored in the memory card apparatus 40 through the CPU 9 which is a control unit of the video game apparatus 1. After being transferred (downloaded) to the nonvolatile memory 46, it is copied and executed in the program memory section 41a in the microcomputer 41 serving as the control section.

Fig. 13 shows the procedure of the above download.

In step ST11, first, a video game that operates on a microcomputer in the memory card device 40 in a CD-ROM mounted on the disc mounting portion 3 of the main body of the video game apparatus 1 (hereinafter also referred to as the main body). Application programs are read as data.

In step ST12, the CPU 9, which is a control unit of the main body, transfers (downloads) the program data read from the CD-ROM to the nonvolatile memory 46 of the memory card device 40. This procedure is the same as in the case of backing up data in the conventional video game apparatus 11.

Next, in step ST13, the microcomputer 41, which is the control unit of the memory card device 40, receives, as data, the application program transferred from the CPU 9 of the main body in the same procedure as in the conventional data backup. Record at 46.

Next, when the microcomputer 41 of the memory card device 40 receives the "program start request command" from the CPU 9 of the main body in step ST14, it is instructed by the above command of the nonvolatile memory 46. The data of the size indicated by the address specified is copied to the program memory section 41a in the microcomputer 41.

Then, the microcomputer 41 of the memory card device 40 executes the program copied to the program memory section 41a from the start address.

By the above procedure, the application software is transferred from the main body of the video game apparatus 1 to the program memory portion 41a in the microcomputer 41 of the memory card apparatus 40 inserted therein through the nonvolatile memory 46. Program is transmitted (downloaded) as data.

The application program downloaded from the video game device 1 to the memory card device 40 is generally different from that running on the main body of the video game device 1. Of course, the downloaded application program may be operated on both the video game device 1 and the memory card device 40. In this case, however, there is a restriction that the CPU on the video game device 1 side and the microcomputer on the memory card device 40 side are the same processor.

Next, a program of application software downloaded from the main body of the video game apparatus 1 in the above-described order is executed independently on the memory card apparatus 40, and the execution result is again communicated with the video game apparatus 1. The cooperative operation performed while receiving will be described.

Here, attribute data of a person or a character appearing in a so-called roll playing game or the like operating on the main body of the video game device 1 is downloaded to the memory card device 40. In addition, said attribute data is data which shows growth degree, a personality, etc.

Then, the characters or characters are grown on a program executed by the microcomputer 41 in the memory card device 40 so that their attributes are changed independently of the program executed by the main body of the video game device 1.

14 shows a procedure for raising characters or characters on the memory card device 40.

In step ST31, first, the user presses the button switch 43 of the memory card device 40 to start execution of the application program.

Next, in step ST32, it is judged whether or not data input for raising characters or characters has been input through the button switch 43. If data is input, the process proceeds to step ST33, and if no data is input, the process proceeds to step ST34.

In step ST33, the attribute data is updated (changed) due to the data input from the button switch 43. The updated (changed) attribute data is stored in the nonvolatile memory 46.

In addition, when it progresses to step ST34, it is judged whether predetermined time has passed using the clock built in step ST34. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step ST35.

In step ST35, the attribute data is updated (changed) based on the time change. The updated (changed) attribute data is stored in the nonvolatile memory 46.

By repeating the above operation, the attribute data can be changed on the memory card device 40 independently of the program executed in the main body of the video game device.

The memory card device 40 of the embodiment of the present invention is configured to operate alone, and furthermore, it is convenient to carry in a small size. For this reason, the user (game player) can move and raise a person or a character appearing at any time by a program executed on this memory card device 40. In addition, the user can transfer (upload) the attributes of the characters or characters brought up nearby from the memory card device 40 to the main body of the video game device 1. In this case, it is also possible to put a character or a character whose attribute has changed into a program running on the main body of the main body of the video game apparatus 1 and to operate it.

FIG. 15 shows a procedure in which the user transfers (uploads) the characters (attribute data) of the characters or characters grown on the memory card device 40 from the memory card device 40 to the main body of the video game device 1. .

In step ST41, first, the user starts execution of the transfer of the attribute data in accordance with an instruction using the controller connected to the main body of the video game apparatus 1.

Next, in step ST42, the CPU 9, which is the control unit of the main body, issues a "program transfer request command" to the microcomputer 41, which is the control unit of the memory card device 40. Then, the CPU 9 polls to receive the "program transfer permission status" from the microcomputer 41.

In step ST43, the microcomputer 41 on the memory card device 41 side receives the "program transfer request command" from the CPU 9 of the main body.

Then, in step ST44, when the microcomputer 41 on the side of the memory card device 40 ends the routine currently being processed and the program transfer is executed, the CPU 9 of the main body "program transfer permission". Status "is returned.

Next, in step ST5, the CPU 9 of the main body receives the "program transfer permission status" from the microcomputer 41 on the memory card device 40 side, and receives the attribute data from the memory card device 40. Enter the state.

In step ST46, the microcomputer 41 of the memory card device 40 reads the attribute data from the nonvolatile memory 46 and transfers (uploads) the attribute data to the main body of the video game apparatus 1. Then, the CPU 9 of the video game device 1 receives the attribute data in step ST47 and records it in the main memory 153. At this time, the address of the main memory portion 41a in which the transferred attribute data is recorded is managed by the microcomputer 41.

In step ST48, the CPU 9 of the main body of the video game apparatus 1 receives the final attribute data from the memory card apparatus 40, and sends the attribute data indicating the changed characters or characters to the video game apparatus. It is set to an environment that can be used by the application program running on the main body of (1), and the user is notified that the environment is set.

Then, in the newly set environment, that is, when the user is instructed to execute the application program using the transferred attribute data, the CPU 9 of the video game device 1 executes the application program in step ST49. Run

According to the above procedure, the application program reflecting the attribute data of the characters or characters independently changed on the memory card device 40 on the video game device 1 can be executed.

In step ST46 in the above-described flowchart, the microcomputer of the memory card device 40 transfers the attribute data of the nonvolatile memory 46 to the video game apparatus 1, thereby uploading the attribute data. Although the CPU 9 of the video game apparatus 1 reads the attribute data of the nonvolatile memory 46 of the memory card device 40, the transfer of the attribute data may be realized.

As described above, in the main body of the video game apparatus 1 and each of the memory card apparatus 40, a video game capable of cooperative operation is constituted by sharing and changing attribute data such as characters. can do.

That is, according to the present invention, there is provided a memory card device having a memory for storing data and an interface for connecting to an information device, and functioning as an auxiliary storage device for a connected information device, comprising: a program storage memory for storing a program; A control unit for controlling execution, a display unit for displaying information according to a program to be executed, an operation input unit for operating a program, and a power supply unit for supplying power used to execute the program merely store data. In addition, it is possible to download a program, and to provide a memory card device capable of executing the downloaded program independently or performing a cooperative operation while exchanging the execution result with another information device.

Further, according to the present invention, in a video game apparatus having a function of storing game data obtained by executing a game in an auxiliary storage device, a program providing unit for supplying an application program and a central processing unit of the video game apparatus main body are connected. A communication control unit connected to the main bus, and a slot connected to the main bus via the communication control unit, to which the auxiliary storage device is detachably connected, and wherein the central processing unit supports the application program from the program providing unit through the communication control unit. Since it has a control function for downloading to a storage device, it is possible to provide a video game device capable of independently executing an application program in the auxiliary storage device and performing cooperative operations such as configuring a game by accepting the execution result differently. have.

Further, according to the present invention, in a video game apparatus having a function of storing game data obtained by executing a game in an auxiliary storage device, a program providing unit for supplying an application program and a central processing unit of the video game apparatus main body are connected. A communication control unit connected to the main bus and a common slot connected to the main bus via the communication control unit, and to which the auxiliary storage device and the memory card device are detachably connected, and the auxiliary storage device executes a game with the video game device main body. The memory card device has a nonvolatile memory for storing game data obtained by storing the downloaded application program, and a control unit for executing the downloaded application program independently of the video game. barrel It may be possible to provide a video game device to the download of the auxiliary storage device memory and memory card of the data into the program.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is provided a memory card device having an interface that can be connected to an information device, comprising: a program storage memory for storing a program, a control unit for controlling the execution of a program, a display unit for displaying information in accordance with a program to be executed; And an operation input unit for operating a program and a power supply unit for supplying power for executing the program, wherein the program is downloaded from the connected information device to the program memory via an interface and downloaded to the auxiliary storage device. Since the program is an application program different from the program executed in the main body of the information device, the program can be downloaded, and the program can be executed independently, or the execution result can be exchanged with other information devices. A memory card device capable of cooperative operation can be provided.

Further, according to the present invention, the attribute data used in the control unit under the program is downloaded from the information apparatus connected with the program to the program memory via the interface, and has the function of changing the attribute data in accordance with the input from the operation input unit, In addition to storing data, a memory card device capable of independently executing an application can be provided.

Further, according to the present invention, by uploading the changed attribute data to the information device, the cooperative operation can be performed while exchanging the execution result with other information devices.

Further, according to the present invention, since the application program is different from the program downloaded to the auxiliary storage device and the program executed on the information device, it is possible to provide a memory card device capable of independently executing the application.

Further, according to the present invention, in a providing medium for providing an application program to a video game apparatus, at least two different application programs are recorded on the providing medium, and one of the at least two different application programs is stored in the video game apparatus. It is an application program to be executed, and the other one is an application program to be executed in the memory card device connected to the video game apparatus, so that the program can also be downloaded, and the downloaded program can be executed independently or the execution result thereof. The cooperative operation can be performed while exchanging the data with other information devices.

Claims (21)

A memory card device having an interface connectable to a video game device, the memory card device comprising: A first memory for storing the data transmitted from the video game device as result data obtained through the execution of the first program of the video game device; A second memory for storing a second program, A control unit which controls execution of the second program; A display unit for displaying information in accordance with the second program; An operation input unit for operating the second program, A power supply unit for supplying power used to execute the second program, The second program is downloaded from the video game apparatus to the second memory via an interface connected between the second memory and the video game apparatus, and the second program and the video game apparatus downloaded to the second memory. The first program executed in are different programs from each other, The control unit executes the control program downloaded to the second memory, Attribute data used in the control unit under the second program is downloaded together with the second program from the video game apparatus to the second memory via the interface, and the control unit is from the operational input unit. And a function of changing the attribute data in accordance with an input of a. The method of claim 1, Wherein the changed attribute data is uploaded to the video game apparatus. A video game apparatus operable to execute application programs to provide video games, the video game apparatus comprising: As a base unit,        A program providing unit operable to provide a first application program;       Said base unit comprising a central computing device operable to execute a second application program for providing a second video game; An auxiliary memory unit operable to communicate with the base unit, the auxiliary memory unit being operable to store the first application program and control operable to execute the first application program independently of the base unit; A secondary memory unit comprising a unit and an operational input unit operable to receive input for changing attributes for executing the second application program, The base unit is operable to download data to the auxiliary memory unit indicative of properties for providing a first video game according to the execution of the first application program and the first application program, and provide the second video game. Operable to receive data from the auxiliary memory unit indicative of changes in attributes to: The central computing device is operable to execute the second application program for providing the second video game according to changes in attributes received by the base unit from the auxiliary memory unit. The method of claim 3, wherein The base unit further comprises a communication control unit, in which the base unit downloads the first application program to the auxiliary memory unit, and receives data from the auxiliary memory unit indicating changes in attributes. The method of claim 3, wherein The base unit further includes a slot having a plurality of conductors removably in contact with the conductors of the auxiliary memory unit, wherein the conductors of the slot allow communication between the base unit and the auxiliary memory unit. Video game device. The method of claim 3, wherein The base unit communicates wirelessly between the base unit and the auxiliary memory unit data indicative of the attributes for providing the first video game and data indicative of changes in the attributes for providing the second video game. And wireless communication means operable to allow minimal data indicative of the attributes for the video game device. The method of claim 3, wherein And the program memory of the auxiliary memory unit comprises a nonvolatile memory. The method of claim 3, wherein The data indicative of the attributes for providing the first video game and the data indicative of changes in the attributes for providing the second video game may include at least one dramatied personae and an increase in the number of characters. Including, a video game device. A base unit operable to run an application program that provides a video game, A program providing unit operable to provide a first application program; A central computing device operable to execute a second application program for providing a second video game, The base unit is operable to download data indicative of attributes for providing the first video game to the first application program and an auxiliary memory unit connectable to the first base unit, and to provide the second video game. Operable to receive data from the auxiliary memory unit indicative of changes in attributes for executing the second application program, And the central computing unit is operable to execute the second application program providing the second video game in accordance with data indicative of changes in attributes received from the auxiliary memory unit. The method of claim 9, The base unit further includes a communication control unit downloading the first application program to the auxiliary memory unit when the base unit is connected to the auxiliary memory unit, and receiving data from the auxiliary memory unit indicating changes in attributes. Base unit. A memory card device having an interface connectable to a video game device, A program memory memory for storing programs; A control unit for executing the program; A display unit for displaying information according to the program; An operation input unit for operating the program; It includes a power supply for supplying power used to execute the program, The program is downloaded from the video game apparatus to the program memory memory via an interface connected between the program memory memory and the video game apparatus, and the game executed in the video game apparatus and the program downloaded to the program memory memory. The programs are different from each other, The attribute data used in the control unit under the program is downloaded from the video game apparatus to the program storage memory along the program through the interface, and the control unit inputs the attribute according to the input from the operation input unit. A memory card device having a function of changing the shape. The method of claim 11, Wherein the changed attribute data is uploaded to the video game apparatus. A machine-readable medium having machine-readable code recorded thereon that includes instructions for executing a method of transferring information between an auxiliary memory unit and a base unit to which the auxiliary memory unit is removably connectable. The memory unit is operable to execute a first application program having a processor and to provide a first video game, wherein the base unit is operable to execute a second application program to provide a second video game, the method comprising: Loading the first application program providing the first video game from the base unit to the auxiliary memory unit; Loading data indicative of attributes for executing the first application program from the base unit to the auxiliary memory unit; Receiving from the auxiliary memory unit at the base unit data indicative of changes in attributes for executing the second application program; Executing the second application program in the base unit to provide the second video game using the data indicative of changes in attributes received from the auxiliary memory unit. The method of claim 13, And the data loaded from the auxiliary memory unit and the data received by the base unit from the auxiliary memory unit include at least one person and a degree of increase of the person. The method of claim 9, The base unit further includes a slot having a plurality of conductors removably in contact with the conductors of the auxiliary memory unit, wherein the conductors of the slot are connected between the base unit and the auxiliary memory unit when connected thereto. Base unit, allowing communication of the. The method of claim 9, The base unit communicates wirelessly between the base unit and the auxiliary memory unit data indicative of attributes for providing the first video game and data indicative of changes in attributes for providing the second video game. Further comprising wireless communication means operable to allow minimal data indicating attributes for The method of claim 9, The data indicative of the attributes for providing the first video game and the data indicative of changes in the attributes for providing the second video game include at least one person and a degree of increase of the person; unit. A method of transferring information between an auxiliary memory unit and a base unit to which the auxiliary memory unit is removably connectable, the auxiliary memory unit operable to execute a first application program having a processor and providing a first video game. Wherein the base unit is operable to execute a second application program providing a second video game, the method comprising: Loading the first application program providing the first video game from the base unit to the auxiliary memory unit; Loading data indicative of attributes for executing the first application program from the base unit to the auxiliary memory unit; Receiving from the auxiliary memory unit at the base unit data indicative of changes in attributes for executing the second application program to provide the second video game; Executing the second application program in the base unit to provide the second video game using the data indicative of changes in attributes received from the auxiliary memory unit. The method of claim 18, The data loaded in the auxiliary memory unit and the data received by the base unit from the auxiliary memory unit include at least one person and an increase degree of the person. A memory card device having an interface connectable to a video game device, Memory for storing data, An interface connected to the video game apparatus; A program memory memory for storing programs; A control unit for executing the program; A display unit for displaying information according to the program; An operation input unit for operating the program; It includes a power supply for supplying power used to execute the program, The program is downloaded from the video game device to the program memory memory through an interface connected between the program memory memory and the video game device, Attribute data used in the control unit under the program is downloaded from the video game apparatus to the program memory memory via the interface, and the control unit has a function of changing the attribute input in accordance with an input from the operation input unit. Having, memory card device. The method of claim 20, Wherein the changed attribute data is uploaded to the video game apparatus.