KR20010101503A - Entertainment system and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

The entertainment system receives the entertainment device 14 executing various programs, at least one manual controller 12 connected to the entertainment device 14 to input a manual control request from the user to the entertainment device 14, and a radio signal. And a portable information terminal 32 for transmitting information to and receiving information from at least the entertainment apparatus 14. The manual controller 12 has a motor 130 for applying vibrations to the user in response to an external request. The entertainment apparatus 14 has vibration generating instructing means 302 for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations in the manual controller 12 in response to the reception of the radio signal by the portable information terminal 32.

Description

Entertainment system and recording medium

Information devices (entertainment systems), such as entertainment devices, including video game machines, record, such as CD-ROMs, on the display screen of a television receiver as the game progresses in response to commands from a manual controller operated by the game player. Display images of the game stored in the medium.

The passive controller and the entertainment device of the entertainment system are typically connected to each other by a serial interface. When the clock signal is transmitted from the entertainment device to the manual controller, the manual controller transmits key switch information corresponding to the control operation input by the user in synchronization with the clock signal.

Recently, entertainment systems have been developed and used in which a manual controller has a vibration generator for applying vibrations to a user in response to a request from an external source (eg, a entertainment device). For example, when a game is in progress, the vibration generator imparts various kinds of vibrations to the user in response to control operations input by the user.

Portable information terminals capable of receiving information of various items transmitted from wireless paging systems and wireless broadcast systems have been proposed. Such portable information terminals can receive information distribution services for delivering information, including, for example, pagers, including weather information, event information, and the like.

Until now, portable information terminals, such as pagers, were independent devices and have not been used in connection with entertainment devices.

Some existing portable personal computers include portable information terminals. These portable information terminals indicate reception of a radio signal by displaying a message on the display screen or generating a sound, but do not have any tactile means for indicating reception of the radio signal to a user.

Computer systems in which multiple portable information terminals can be connected to a single entertainment device and used by multiple users at the same time have not been available. Even if multiple portable information terminals are connected to a single entertainment device, there will be no function available for selectively transmitting information to the user in response to the data received by the portable information terminal.

The present invention provides an entertainment apparatus for executing various programs, at least one manual controller for inputting control requests from a user to the entertainment apparatus, and receiving wireless signals and at least receiving information from the entertainment apparatus. An entertainment system including a portable information terminal capable of transmitting and receiving information therefrom, and a recording medium storing programs downloaded to the entertainment apparatus and the portable information terminal.

1 is a plan view of an entertainment system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the slots in the entertainment apparatus of the entertainment system. FIG.

3 is a perspective view of the entertainment apparatus;

4 is a plan view of a portable information terminal of the entertainment system;

5 is a perspective view of a portable information terminal;

6 is a perspective view of a portable information terminal with a lid open;

7 is a front view of a portable information terminal;

8 is a perspective view of a manual controller.

9 is a plan view of a manual controller.

10 is a rear view of the manual controller.

11 is a front view of a manual controller.

12 is a perspective view showing how a manual controller is used.

FIG. 13 is a partially omitted bottom view of a manual controller showing vibration imparting mechanisms disposed respectively in the first and second grips; FIG.

14 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a manual controller showing one of the vibration imparting mechanisms.

15 is a fragmentary perspective view of a manual controller with a vibration imparting mechanism installed.

16 is a block diagram of hardware layers and software layers of a portable information terminal, a manual controller, and an entertainment device.

17 is a block diagram of a hardware layer of a portable information terminal.

18 is a block diagram of a hardware layer of a passive controller.

19 is a block diagram of a hardware layer of a portable information terminal.

20 is a block diagram of components for executing bidirectional serial communications between a passive controller and a entertainment device.

21 is a functional block diagram of an entertainment system according to the present invention.

Fig. 22 is a functional block diagram of wireless communication means of the portable information terminal.

FIG. 23A is a diagram for received data of a first kind; FIG.

FIG. 23B is a diagram for received data of the second kind. FIG.

Fig. 23C is a diagram for third type of received data.

Fig. 23D is a diagram for received data of the fourth kind.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating a first mode of use of a portable information terminal, a manual controller, and an entertainment apparatus; FIG.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating a second mode of use of a portable information terminal, a manual controller, and an entertainment apparatus; FIG.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram illustrating a third mode of use of the portable information terminal, the manual controller, and the entertainment apparatus; FIG.

27 is a block diagram showing a fourth mode of use of the portable information terminal, the manual controller, and the entertainment apparatus;

Fig. 28 is a functional block diagram of vibration generation instructing means of the entertainment apparatus.

29 shows details of a user information table.

30 shows details of a terminal information table.

Fig. 31 is a functional block diagram of vibration generating means of the manual controller.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart of a processing sequence of a wireless communication block based on received data of the first example. FIG.

FIG. 33 is a flow diagram for a processing sequence of a wireless communication block based on received data of second to fourth examples. FIG.

34 is a flowchart of the processing sequence of the radio communication means of the portable information terminal.

35 and 36 are flowcharts of the processing sequence of the vibration generating instructing means of the entertainment apparatus.

37 shows details of a vibration information table.

38 is a flowchart of the processing sequence of the vibration generating means of the manual controller.

39 is a functional block diagram of a modified wireless communication means.

40 is a functional block diagram of modified vibration generation indicating means.

Fig. 41 is a flowchart of the processing sequence of the modified wireless communication means.

42 and 43 are flowcharts of the processing sequence of the corrected vibration generation instructing means.

Disclosure of the Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an entertainment system in which a portable information terminal can be connected to an entertainment device and used by a user, and the reception of a signal by the portable information terminal can be transmitted to the user through tactile sense.

It is yet another object of the present invention that the characteristics of the vibrations imparted to the user (intensity, frequency, and type of vibration generator) may vary depending on the signal received by the portable information terminal, thereby allowing the user to It is to provide a recognizable entertainment system.

Still another object of the present invention is a entertainment in which a plurality of portable information terminals can be connected to a single entertainment device and used by each user, and information can be selectively transmitted to the user in response to data received by the portable information terminal. To provide a system.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a recording medium storing a program for allowing a portable information terminal to be connected to an entertainment device for use by a user, and also for allowing a signal received by the portable information terminal to be transmitted to the user through tactile sense. To provide.

Another object of the present invention is that the characteristics of the vibrations (intensity, frequency, and type of vibration generator) imparted to the user can vary depending on the signal received by the portable information terminal, so that the user can It is to provide a recording medium for storing a program that allows recognition.

Another object of the present invention is to allow a plurality of portable information terminals to be connected to a single entertainment device for use by each user, and also to allow information to be selectively transmitted to the user in response to data received by the portable information terminal. It is to provide a recording medium for storing a program.

According to the present invention, an entertainment system includes an entertainment apparatus for executing various programs, at least one manual controller coupled to the entertainment apparatus to input manual control requests from a user to the entertainment apparatus, and a wireless signal to receive and at least inform the entertainment apparatus. A portable information terminal for transmitting and receiving information therefrom, said manual controller having vibration generating means for applying vibration to a user in response to an external request, said entertainment device having a portable information terminal; And vibration generation instructing means for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations in a passive controller in response to the reception of the wireless signal.

With this configuration, the portable information terminal can be connected to the entertainment device and used by the user, and the reception of the signal by the portable information terminal can be transmitted to the user through the tactile sense.

Thus, a user can receive certain or arbitrary information via a wireless signal while looking at the display screen of a television receiver connected to the entertainment system. Since the passive controller vibrates when the portable information terminal receives the information, the user can recognize that specific or arbitrary information has been received by sensing vibrations of the passive controller.

If the user is playing a competitive game with another game player away over the Internet, the result given by the user's operation is transmitted to the user in vibrations, so that the game can be played very effectively.

The entertainment apparatus may have monitoring means for monitoring the reception of data by the portable information terminal, the vibration generating instructing means sending vibrations to the manual controller in response to the reception of the data as detected by the monitoring means. Means for outputting an instruction to cause it to occur.

The portable information terminal may have interrupt signal generating means for generating an interrupt signal in response to the reception of the radio signal, wherein the vibration generating instructing means causes the manual controller to generate vibrations in response to the interrupt signal. Means for outputting the instructions.

The entertainment apparatus may have selection means for selecting at least one of a plurality of manual controllers connected to the entertainment apparatus depending on the contents of the radio signal received by the portable information terminal, the vibration generating instructing means being selected from among the manual controllers. Means for outputting instructions to cause vibrations to the controller.

In this configuration, the passive controller corresponding to the contents of the radio signal received by the portable information terminal of the passive controllers is vibrated. Therefore, when a large number of users or game players dealing with each manual controller connected to one entertainment device recover information of various items or play a competitive game, the reception of the radio signal by the portable information terminal corresponds to the content of the radio signal. Vibrations are sent to one of the users. The plurality of portable information terminals and the plurality of manual controllers can be connected to the entertainment device, the vibration generating means comprising means for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations to the manual controller corresponding to the portable information terminal receiving the wireless signal. can do.

Therefore, multiple portable information terminals can be connected to a single entertainment device and used by each user, and the information can be selectively transmitted to the user corresponding to the data received by the portable information terminal.

The vibration generating instructing means may comprise means for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations in one of the passive controllers physically closest to the portable information terminal receiving the wireless signal.

Alternatively, the vibration generating instructing means may comprise means for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations in one of the passive controllers logically associated with the portable information terminal receiving the wireless signal.

The instructions for generating the vibrations output from the vibration generation indicating means may include the characteristics of the vibrations depending on the signal received by the portable information terminal.

In an entertainment system, the characteristics of the vibrations imparted to the user (intensity, frequency, and type of vibration generator) can vary depending on the signal received by the portable information terminal, so that the user can recognize the signal received through the tactile sense. have.

According to the present invention, a recording medium includes: an entertainment apparatus for executing various programs, at least one manual controller connected to the entertainment apparatus for inputting manual control requests from a user to the entertainment apparatus, and a radio signal to receive and at least inform the entertainment apparatus. Storing data and programs used by the entertainment system comprising a portable information terminal for transmitting and receiving information therefrom, said manual controller having vibration generating means for applying vibrations to a user in response to an external request, The program has a step of outputting an instruction to generate vibrations in a manual controller in response to receiving a wireless signal by a portable information terminal.

As a recording medium for storing the program, the portable information terminal can be connected to the entertainment device and used by the user, and the signal received by the portable information terminal can be transmitted to the user through tactile sense.

The program may further comprise monitoring the reception of the data by the portable information terminal, wherein outputting the indication may cause vibrations in the manual controller in response to the reception of the data as detected by the monitoring step. Outputting the instruction.

The program may further comprise generating an interrupt signal from the portable information terminal in response to receiving the wireless signal, wherein generating the instruction outputs an instruction to generate vibrations to the manual controller in response to the interrupt signal. It includes.

The program may further comprise selecting at least one of a plurality of passive controllers connected to the entertainment device depending on the content of the wireless signal received by the portable information terminal, wherein generating an instruction is selected from among the passive controllers. Outputting an instruction to cause vibrations to occur.

A plurality of portable information terminals and a plurality of passive controllers may be connected to the entertainment device, and the generating of the instruction comprises: outputting an instruction to generate vibrations to the passive controller corresponding to the portable information terminal receiving the wireless signal; It includes.

Generating the indication may include outputting an indication to generate vibrations in one of the passive controllers physically closest to the portable information terminal receiving the wireless signal.

Generating the indication may include outputting an indication to generate vibrations in one of the passive controllers logically associated with the portable information terminal receiving the wireless signal.

The instructions for generating the vibrations output in the step of generating the indication may include the characteristics of the vibrations depending on the signal received by the portable information terminal.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example.

Best mode for practicing the present invention

The entertainment system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 43.

As shown in FIG. 1, the entertainment system, generally indicated at 10, has an entertainment device 14 that is detachably connected to the manual controller 12 in accordance with the present invention.

The entertainment apparatus 14 reads out the program and data recorded on the optical disc D (see FIG. 19), for example, and plays the game on the basis of the program, for example, depending on instructions from the user, namely the game player. Run Execution of the game mainly refers to controlling the progress of the game, the display of images, and the generation of sounds.

The entertainment apparatus 14 has a rectangular casing 16 which houses the disk loading unit 18 substantially in the center for loading an optical disk such as a CD-ROM or the like into a recording medium for supplying a recorded application program. The casing 16 includes a reset switch 20 for resetting a program currently being executed, a power supply switch 22, a disc control switch 24 for controlling the loading of an optical disc, and two slots ( 26A, 26B).

The entertainment device 14 may be supplied with an application program via a communication link, rather than being supplied from an optical disc as a recording medium.

The entertainment system 10 also includes a manual controller 12 for supplying user's instructions to the entertainment device 14.

For example, two manual controllers 12 may be connected to slots 26A and 26B, respectively, to allow two users or game players to play a competitive game. The memory card and portable information terminal 32 (see FIG. 4), which has been used conventionally, can also be inserted into the slots 26A, 26B. Although two slots 26A and 26B are shown in FIG. 1, the entertainment device 14 may have two or more or fewer slots.

The manual controller 12 has first and second control pads 40, 42, third and fourth control pads 44, 46, a start button 48, and a select button 50. The manual controller 12 also has a vibration generating device arranged to generate and impart vibrations to the manual controller. Details of the manual controller 12 will be described later.

2 shows the slots 26A, 26B defined in the front panel of the casing 16 of the entertainment device 14.

Each slot 26A, 26B has top and bottom units. In particular, the slots 26A, 26B have respective memory card insertion units 60A, 60B as top units for inserting the memory card or the portable information terminal 32, and the connection terminals of the manual controller 12 ( 62 have respective controller connectors (jacks) 64A, 64B as bottom units for connection to 62 (connector, see FIG. 1).

The memory card insertion units 60A and 60B have respective insertion holes (slots) of a rectangular shape that are long in the horizontal direction. These insertion slots have opposing cords with rounded bottoms as opposed to opposing corners on the top so that the memory card and portable information terminal 32 are not inserted into the memory card insertion units 60A, 60B in the wrong direction. . The memory card insertion units 60A, 60B also have shutters for protecting the connection terminals arranged for electrical connection.

The controller connectors 64A, 64B also have respective insertion holes (slots) of rectangular shape that are horizontally long. These insertion slots have opposite bottom round cords as opposed to the opposite corners at the top so that the connector terminal 62 of the manual controller 12 is not connected to the controller connectors 64A, 64B in the wrong direction. . The insertion holes of the controller connectors 64A and 64B are inserted holes of the memory card insertion units 60A and 60B so that the memory card and the portable information terminal 32 are not inserted into the insertion holes of the controller connectors 64A and 64B. The shape is different from the field.

In FIG. 3, the portable information terminal 32 is inserted into the memory card insertion unit 60A in the slot 26A defined in the front panel of the entertainment device 14.

The portable information terminal 32 may be used as a memory card inherent in each of the plurality of manual controllers 12 connected to the entertainment device 14. For example, if two users or game players play a game in the entertainment system 10, two portable information terminals 32 record the respective game results of the game players.

As shown in FIGS. 4-7, the portable information terminal 32 provides one or more direction buttons 72 and decision buttons 74 for entering events and making various selections. Housing 70 supporting window 80 for wireless communication via manual control pad 76, display unit 78 including a liquid crystal display (LCD) and the like, and infrared radiation, antennas, etc. Has

The housing 70 includes a top shell 70a and a bottom shell 70b and houses a board 82 that supports a memory device and the like. The housing 70 is shaped to be insertable into one of the slots 26A, 26B in the casing 16 of the entertainment device 14. The housing 70 has a connector 84 on the side of one end that includes a rectangular window.

The window 80 is installed at the end of the substantially semicircular housing 70 away from the connector 84. The display unit 78 occupies substantially half the area of the upper shell 70a of the housing 70 and is located near the window 80.

The manual control pad 76 occupies an area that is substantially the other half of the top shell 70a and is located away from the window 80. The manual control pad 76 includes a substantially square lid 86 that is movably supported at an angle in the housing 70 and is located in an area of the housing 70 that can be opened and closed by the lid 86. Support switch pressers 88, 90, and directional buttons 72 and decision button 74.

Direction buttons 72 and decision button 74 extend through top 86 from top surface to bottom surface. Direction buttons 72 and decision buttons 74 are supported in lid 86 to move in and out of the top surface of lid 86.

The switch presses 88, 90 have respective pressing elements supported by the housing 70 to move in and out of the top surface of the housing 70. When one of the pressing elements is pressed from above, it presses a corresponding pressure switch, for example a diaphragm switch installed on the board 82 of the housing 70.

When the lid 86 is closed, the switch presses 88 and 90 remain aligned vertically with the direction buttons 72 and the decision button 74, respectively. Therefore, while the lid 86 is closed over the housing 70, when the directional buttons 72 and the decision button 74 are pressed from the top to the top surface of the lid 86, the directional buttons 72 and the crystal are pressed. The button 74 causes the pressing elements of the corresponding switch presser 88, 90 to press the corresponding pressure switches in the housing 70.

As shown in FIG. 7, power and signal terminals 92 are installed in the board 84 and disposed in the window of the connector 84.

The connector 84 has the same shape and dimensions as the memory card used for the entertainment device 14.

The manual controller 12 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 8 to 15. As shown in FIG. 8, the manual controller 12 has a housing 104 that includes a top member 100 and a bottom member 102 that fit and fit together with fasteners such as screws. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the pair of first and second grips 106, 108 protrude from one side of each opposite end of the housing 104. The first and second grips 106, 108 are for example left and right sides of the user or game player when the manual controller 12 is connected to the entertainment device 14 whereby an information retrieval is performed or a game is played. It is shaped to be held by the palms.

The first and second grips 106 and 108 are bent downward of the housing 104 with a space gradually away from each other towards the distal ends. In order to allow the game player to comfortably hold the first and second grips 106. 108 over a long period of time, the first and second grips 106, 108 are directed toward the distal ends 104. Inclined from its engagement with and have arcuate outer peripheral surfaces and arcuate end faces.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the manual controller 12 is disposed at one end of the housing 104 and is capable of pressing the first to fourth control members 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d. It has a first control pad 40 to include. The first to fourth control members 110a, 110b, 110c, and 110d, which can be pressed, protrude from the upper surface of the housing 104 and are formed in a crisscross pattern.

The first control pad 40 includes switch elements that are signal input elements associated with the first to fourth control members 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d that are pressed, respectively. The first control pad 40 functions, for example, as a directional controller for controlling the direction of movement of the displayed game character. The first to fourth control members 110a, 110b, which can be pressed to turn on or off the switch elements associated with the first to fourth control members 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d, respectively, that the game player can press. When selectively pressing 110c, 110d, the displayed game character moves in a direction corresponding to being pressed among the first to fourth control members 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d that can be pressed.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the manual controller 12 is also disposed at the other end of the housing 104 and is capable of pressing first to fourth control members 112a, 112b, 112c, 112d. It has a second control pad 42 comprising a. The pressable first to fourth control members 112a, 112b, 112c, 112d protrude from the top surface of the housing 104 and are configured in a crisscross pattern.

The pressable first to fourth control members 112a, 112b, 112c, 112d are composed of independent members and are associated with respective switch elements disposed on the second control pad 42. The second control pad 42 performs functions for the display game character assigned to the controllable members 112a to 112d that are pressed when the switch elements associated with the controllable members 112a to 112d are turned on. Function as a function setting / executing unit for setting or executing functions of the display game character.

The manual controller 12 is also arranged on one side of the housing 104 away from the first and second grips 106, 108 and third and fourth controls located at opposite ends of the housing 104, respectively. With pads 44, 46. As shown in FIG. 11, the third and fourth control pads 44, 46 are pressable first and second control members 114a, 114b and 116a, 116b, and a pressable control member, respectively. Switches 114a, 114b and 116a, 116b, respectively.

The third and fourth control pads 44 and 46 are each pressable control members 114a, 114b and 116a, 116b when the switch elements associated with the controllable elements 114a, 114b and 116a, 116b are turned on. It functions as a function setting / executing unit for setting functions for the display game character designated in 114b and 116a and 116b or for executing the function of the display game character.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the manual controller 12 is also defined between the housing 104 and the adjacent ends of the first and second grips 106, 108 coupled to the housing 104. And fifth and sixth control pads 118 and 120 respectively disposed at opposite facing corners.

The fifth and sixth control pads 118, 120 are operated by respective rotatable control members 122 and respective rotatable control members 122 rotatable 360 ° relative to the control shafts, respectively. Possible signal input elements such as variable registers and the like. Specifically, the rotatable control members 122 are installed at the far ends of the control shafts, which are generally impacted to return to intermediate positions by biasing members, relative to the axis of the control shafts. It can be rotated 360 °.

The fifth and sixth control pads 118, 120 can rotate or move the displayed character while changing its speed, and when the game player rotates the rotatable control members 122, Similar behavior can be achieved to change form.

Therefore, the fifth and sixth control pads 118 and 120 are used as control units for inputting command signals for the character displayed to execute the movement or action.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the manual controller 12 begins to be placed in parallel positions between the first control pad 40 and the second control pad 42 at the top surface of the housing 104. It has a switch 48 and a selector switch 50. The start switch 48 presses this to start the game, and the select switch 50 selects the difficulty of the game.

The manual controller 12 also includes a mode section switch 124 and a mode indicator disposed between the fifth and sixth control pads 118, 120 at the top surface of the housing 104. Has 126. When the mode selection switch 124 is pressed, the control mode of the fifth and sixth control pads 118 and 120 is selected, and the mode indicator 126 of the fifth and sixth control pads 118 and 120 is selected. Indicates the selected control mode. The mode indicator 126 includes a light emitting element such as an LED.

When the mode selection switch 124 is pressed, it is a control mode that allows a command signal to be input from the fifth and sixth control pads 118, 120, or a command signal is inputted to the fifth and sixth control pads 118,. 120 may select a control mode that prevents input from the input.

When pressing the mode select switch 124, this also allows a command signal to be input from the fifth and sixth control pads 118, 120, and the first to fourth pressable of the second control pad 42. Control to select the function of the control members 112a, 112b, 112c, 112d or the function of the pressable control members 114a, 114b and 116a, 116c of the third and fourth control pads 44, 46. You can select the mode. Depending on the control mode selected by the mode selection switch 124, the mode indicator 126 blinks and changes the display light.

As shown in FIG. 12, the first and second grips 106, 108 protruding from the housing 104 are gripped by the palms of the game player, respectively. The housing 104 is not required to be supported by fingers, and at least six of the ten fingers can be freely moved while the manual controller 12 is held by the hands.

As shown in FIG. 12, when the first and second grips 106 and 108 are gripped by the palms of the game player, respectively, the thumbs Rf1 and Lf1 of the left and right hands are fifth and sixth control pads. Of the rotatable control members 122 of the teeth 118, 120, the pressable first to fourth control members 110a to 110d of the first control pad 40, and the second control pad 42. Extendable over the first to fourth control members 112a to 112d, the rotatable control members 122, the pressable control members 110a to 110d, and the pressable control members 112a to 112d can be selectively pressed.

The relationship in which the rotatable control members 122 of the fifth and sixth control pads 118, 120 face the adjacent ends of the first and second grips 106, 108 coupled to the housing 104. So that when holding the first and second grips 106 and 108 with the left and right hands, the rotatable control members 122 are positioned closest to the thumbs Rf1 and Lf1, respectively. Therefore, the rotatable control members 122 can be easily rotated by the thumb Rf1, Lf1.

As shown in FIG. 12, when holding the first and second grips 106 and 108 with the palms of the game player, respectively, the index fingers Rf2 and Lf2 and the middle fingers Rf3 and Lf3 of the left and right hands are The pressable first and second control members 114a, 114b and 116a, 116b of the third and fourth control pads 44, 46 may extend over positions that can be selectively pressed.

As shown in FIG. 13, the manual controller 12 has a pair of vibration imparting mechanisms 128 that impart vibrations to the user to make the game very realistic.

As shown in FIG. 13, the vibration imparting mechanisms 128 are adjacent ends of the first and second grips 106, 108, which are held by hands and fingers when the user grabs the manual controller 12. It is located nearby.

As shown in FIG. 14, the respective vibration imparting mechanisms 128 are rotatable by the motor 130 and the motor 130 operated by a vibration generating command supplied from the entertainment device 14. It includes an eccentric member 134 is provided with a different center on the shaft 132.

The eccentric member 134 includes a weight 134 in the form of a heavy metal member having a semicircular cross-sectional shape. The weight 134 has an off centered hole 136 in which the rotatable shaft 132 is fixed.

As shown in FIG. 15, the motor 130 with the eccentric member 134 installed on the rotatable shaft 132 is a recess formed by, for example, a rectangular tubular member disposed on the first grip 106. a motor housing 140 fitted into a recess 138.

When the motor 130 is actuated, the rotatable shaft 132 is rotated so that the eccentric member 134 is rotated in an eccentric movement to produce vibrations, which are imparted to the motor 130. The vibrations of the motor 130 are then transmitted to the first grip 106 through the peripheral wall 138a of the rectangular tubular member, from which the vibrations are applied to the hands and fingers that hold the first grip 106.

Vibration imparting mechanisms 128 disposed on the first and second grips 106, 108, respectively, are configured to impart vibrations in different modes. For example, when the motors 130 of the vibration imparting mechanisms 128 are operated at a constant voltage, the shafts 132 are rotated at different speeds to rotate the eccentric members 134 at different speeds. In order to generate vibrations at different frequencies.

In order for the motors 130 to operate to vibrate the manual controller 12 as a whole, a bidirectional communication function needs to be provided between the manual controller 12 and the entertainment device 14. This bidirectional communication function will be described later.

The circuit configurations of the portable information terminal 32, the entertainment apparatus 14, and the manual controller 12 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 16 to 20.

As shown in FIG. 16, the portable information terminal 32 executes communication at the hardware layer 150 and the hardware layer 150 for processing data received through the antenna 160 (see FIG. 17). Software layer 152, which includes a wireless communication driver 154, a serial communication driver 156, and a communication application 158.

As shown in FIG. 17, the hardware layer 150 of the portable information terminal 32 includes an antenna 160, a wireless communication block 162, a CPU 164, a working memory 166, an input block 168, Non-volatile member 172, display block 174, and functional block 176. These components of the portable information terminal 32 are connected to the bus 178.

The wireless communication block 162 receives data transmitted via a antenna 160 in a wireless signal, such as a microwave signal. The reception of data by the wireless communication block 162 is controlled by the wireless communication driver 154 (see FIG. 16) containing the program.

The wireless communication block 162 has a memory 180 as a memory means for temporarily storing wireless signal data. The portable information terminal 32 may selectively receive data based on information received and added to data temporarily stored in the wireless communication block 162. Specifically, when the portable information terminal 32 selectively receives data, the data temporarily stored in the wireless communication block 162 is read into the nonvolatile memory 172.

The working memory 166 operates as a memory means used as a working area for various data.

Input block 168 is configured to operate as a manual input controller. Therefore, input block 168 allows a user to enter various items of information into portable information terminal 32.

The nonvolatile memory 172 acts as a memory means for storing various data. The nonvolatile memory 172 stores data received via the antenna 160 and data transmitted from the entertainment device 14 via the serial data block 170.

Display block 174 is configured to operate as a display unit for displaying information of various items. The display block 174 displays various character information and image information on the liquid crystal panel, for example.

The serial communication block 170 has a function of establishing serial communications with an external device. The serial communication block 170 is electrically connectable to the serial communication block 214 of the entertainment device 14, for example, for data communications with the entertainment device 14. Serial communication block 170 is controlled for communications by serial communication driver 156.

The function block 176 is configured to perform functions other than the above blocks, and may include, for example, a power supply block.

CPU 164 has a function of controlling the blocks. For example, the CPU 164 controls the blocks according to various programs, such as the communication application 158 of the software layer 152.

As shown in FIG. 16, the manual controller 12 includes a hardware layer 182 and application software 186 for controlling the hardware layer 182 and the communications and serial included in the application software 186. A software layer 184 that executes the communication driver 188 is included.

As shown in FIG. 18, the hardware layer 182 of the manual controller 12 includes a serial communication block 190, a CPU 192, a program memory 194, a working RAM 196, and a digital input block 198. , An analog input block 200, and a motor 130. These components of the manual controller 12 are connected to the bus 202.

The digital input block 198 includes the first to fourth control members 110a to 110d of the first control pad 40 and the first to fourth control members of the second control pad 42. It serves as a manual input controller for the fields 112a to 112d. The analog input block 200 functions as a manual input controller for the rotatable control members 122. Digital input block 198 and analog input block 200 allow a user to input various items of information to manual controller 12.

The serial communication block 190 has the functions of establishing serial communications with an external device. The serial communication block 190 is electrically connectable to the serial communication block 214 of the entertainment device 14, for example, for data communications with the entertainment device 14. Serial communication block 190 is controlled for communications by serial communication driver 188.

As shown in FIG. 16, the entertainment device 14 includes a hardware layer 204 and application software 208 for controlling the hardware layer 204 and the communications and images contained in the application software 208. A software layer 206 that executes processing and serial communication drivers 210, 212.

As shown in FIG. 19, the hardware layer 204 of the entertainment device 14 includes a serial communication block 214, a CPU 216, an input block 218, a mass storage medium block 220, and a main memory 222. ), Graphics processor 224, and function block 226. These components of the hardware layer 204 are connected to the bus 228.

The input block 218 functions as a manual input controller that allows a user to enter various items of information into the entertainment device 14.

The main memory 222 acts as a memory means for storing various data. For example, main memory 222 stores application software 208 of software layer 206. Main memory 222 also stores data transmitted from portable information terminal 32 and manual controller 12 via serial communication block 214.

The graphics processor 224 functions as a processor for processing image data. For example, the graphics processor 224 performs graphics processing, such as polygonal graphics processing, such that images are displayed on the display unit.

The mass storage medium block 220 functions as a unit for reading various data recorded on a mass storage medium such as a CD-ROM.

Serial communication block 214 has the capability of making serial communications with an external device. The serial communication block 190 is a serial communication block 190 of the portable information terminal 32 and the serial communication block 190 of the passive controller 12 for data communications with the portable information terminal 32 and the manual controller 12. It is electrically connectable to Serial communication block 214 is controlled for communications with serial communication drivers 210, 212.

The function block 226 is configured to execute functions other than the above blocks, and may include, for example, a connection block or a power supply block for connecting to a portable information terminal 32 and a memory card which is a recording medium.

The CPU 216 functions to control the blocks of the entertainment device 14. For example, the CPU 216 controls the blocks in accordance with various programs, such as the application software 208 of the software layer 206.

As shown in FIG. 20, when the connecting terminal 62 capable of performing bidirectional serial communication with the manual controller 12 is connected to the entertainment device 14, the bidirectional connection between the manual controller 12 and the entertainment device 14 is performed. The communication function can be executed.

The system of the manual controller 12 for executing the bidirectional communication function includes a serial I / O interface (SIO) for executing serial communication with the entertainment apparatus 14; A parallel I / O interface (PIO) for inputting control data from a plurality of control buttons; One-chip microcomputer including a CPU, RAM, and ROM; And a motor driver 230 for operating the motors 130 of the vibration imparting mechanisms 128. Each motor 130 is operated by the voltage and current supplied from the motor driver 130.

The system of the entertainment apparatus 14 for performing the two-way communication function includes a serial I / O interface (SIO) for performing serial communication with the manual controller 12. A connection terminal 62 is provided for the entertainment apparatus 14; When connected to the serial I / O interface SIO of the entertainment device 14, the serial I / O interface SIO of the entertainment device 14 connects the connection terminal 62 to perform bidirectional communication between the manual controller 12 and the entertainment device 14. Is connected to the serial I / O interface (SIO) of the manual controller 12. Other detailed structures of the entertainment apparatus 14 are omitted in the description of FIG.

Signals and control lines for bidirectional serial communications include a data transmission signal line (TXD) for transmitting data from the entertainment apparatus 14 to the passive controller 12, the entertainment apparatus from the manual controller 12. 14) a data transmission signal line RXD (Received X 'for Data) for transmitting data, a serial synchronization clock signal line SCK (Serial Clock) for extracting data from the data transmission signal lines TXD, RXD, and a terminal. Control line (DTR) (Data Terminal Ready) for establishing and disconnecting communication with the manual controller 12, and flow control line (DSR) (Data Set Ready) for transmitting a large amount of data.

Signal and control lines for bidirectional serial communication are housed in one cable. The cable includes a power line 232 connected to the motor drivers 230 of the manual controller 12 and extending from the power supply in the entertainment device 14 to supply electrical energy to operate the motors 130. do.

The process for bidirectional serial communication between the manual controller 12 and the entertainment device 14 will now be described. The entertainment device 14 communicates with the manual controller 12 to read the control data (button information) of the control buttons of the first, second, third, and fourth control pads 40, 42, 44, 46. In order to do this, the entertainment apparatus 14 first outputs the selection data to the control line DTR. As a result, the manual controller 12 confirms that it has been selected by the control line DTR, and waits for a signal from the signal line TXD. Then, the entertainment apparatus 14 outputs an identification code indicating the manual controller 12 to the data transmission signal line TXD. The manual controller 12 receives the identification code from the signal line TXD.

When the manual controller 12 recognizes the identification code, the manual controller 12 begins to communicate with the entertainment device 14. The entertainment apparatus 14 transmits control data to the manual controller 12 via the data transmission signal line TXD, and the manual controller 12 enters the control data generated by the control button through the data transmission signal line RXD. To the device 14. In this way, the entertainment device 14 and the manual controller 12 perform bidirectional serial communications. Two-way serial communications are terminated when the entertainment device 14 outputs selection stop data via the control line DTR.

With the bi-directional serial communication function, the manual controller 12 can primarily transmit control data of the control buttons to the entertainment device 14, which enters the motors 156 of the vibration imparting mechanisms 128. A vibration generating command for activating can be transmitted to the manual controller 12 via the data transmission signal line TXD.

The vibration generating command for operating the motors 156 is predetermined in the CD-ROM set in the entertainment apparatus 14. Depending on the mobile target of the user playing the game, the entertainment device 14 sends a vibration generating command to the manual controller 12 and feeds back vibrations to the manual controller 12 for a specific period of time.

Characteristic features of the entertainment system 10 according to the present invention will be described later with reference to FIGS. 21-43.

The characteristic function is a function of outputting a command for generating vibrations to the manual controller 12 in response to a wireless signal received by the portable information terminal 32.

The software for executing the function is included in the portable information terminal 32, as shown in FIG. 21, and included in the entertainment unit 14, the wireless communication means 300 for receiving a radio signal, and the manual controller 12. Is included in the vibration generating instructing means 302 for outputting a command (vibration generating command) for causing the vibrations to be generated, and the manual controller 12 and the motors Vibration generating means 304 for operating 130.

When the wireless communication means 300 is downloaded from a specific CD-ROM or the like, for example, the portable information is reproduced in the working memory 166 of the portable information terminal 32 in accordance with a predetermined process by the entertainment apparatus 14. It is executed by the CPU 164 of the terminal 32.

When the vibration generating instructing means 302 is downloaded from a particular CD-ROM or the like, for example, when reproduced in the working memory 222 of the entertainment apparatus 14 by the entertainment apparatus 14 according to a predetermined process. It is executed by the CPU 216 (14).

The vibration generating means 304 is executed by the CPU 192 of the manual controller 12, for example, when it is transferred from the program memory 194 of the manual controller 12 to the working RAM 196.

As shown in FIG. 22, the wireless communication means 300 includes reception determining means 310 and wireless communication block 162 for determining whether there is data received in the wireless communication block 162. If there is such received data in the data transmission means 312 for transmitting the received data to the nonvolatile memory 172, whether or not there is a data transfer request from the entertainment device 14 via the serial communication block 170. Transfer request determining means 314 for determining, communicating with serial communication block 214 of entertainment device 14 via serial communication block 170 to establish a communication link if there is a data transmission request. Initiating communication link establishing means 316, data transmitting means 318 for transmitting data in non-volatile memory 172 to entertainment device 14 via an established communication link, And end determining means 320 for determining whether or not the processing at the portable information terminal 32 is terminated.

There is another kind of received data received by the wireless communication block 162. Figure 23a shows a first kind of received data which basically comprises a character string part. Fig. 23B shows a second type of received data which basically includes a receiver definition part and a character string part. Fig. 23C shows a third type of received data which basically includes a sender definition section, a receiver definition section, and a character string section. FIG. 23D basically shows a fourth type of received data including a sender definition part, a receiver definition part, a vibration generator definition part, a vibration intensity definition part, a frequency definition part, and a character string part.

There are several modes available in the use of the portable information terminal 32, the entertainment device 14, and the manual controller 12. FIG. 24 shows a first mode of use in which one portable information terminal 32 and one manual controller 12 are connected to one entertainment device 14. FIG. 25 shows a second mode of use in which one portable information terminal 32 and a plurality (two in FIG. 25) manual controllers 12 are connected to one entertainment device 14.

FIG. 26 shows a third mode of use in which multiple (two in FIG. 26) portable information terminals 32 and multiple (two in FIG. 26) manual controllers 12 are connected to one entertainment device 14. Illustrated. FIG. 27 shows a plurality of (two in FIG. 26) portable information terminals 32 and a plurality of (two in FIG. 26) manual controllers 12 via a connection hub 322 for one entertainment device. And a portable information terminal 32 and one manual controller 12 connected to 14 the entertainment device 14.

As shown in FIG. 28, the vibration generating instructing means 302 of the entertainment apparatus 14 searches for the manual controllers 12 connected to the entertainment apparatus 14, and the received data is second, third, and third. If it is one of the fourth types (see Figs. 23B to 23D), the association table (shown in Fig. 29) between the port numbers to which the manual controllers 12 are connected and the identification codes corresponding to the manual controllers 12 are shown. User setting means 330 for generating a user information table, and portable information terminals 32 connected to the entertainment device 14, and search for a portable information terminal 32, an entertainment device 14, and a manual controller. If 12 is one of the third or fourth usage modes (see FIG. 26 or FIG. 27), generating a table of port numbers (terminal information table shown in FIG. 30) to which portable information terminals 32 are connected. And terminal setting means 332 for the same.

The vibration generation indicating means 302 also transmits a request for transmission of control data or a request for vibration generation command VC to the manual controller 12 via the serial communication block 214, or Communication requesting means 334 for transmitting the transmission request to the portable information terminal 32, a serial communication block 170 or a passive controller of the portable information terminal 32 via the serial communication block 214 to establish a communication link; Communication link establishment means 336 beginning to communicate with serial communication block 190 of 12, control data from manual controller 12 or received data from portable information terminal 32 via an established communication link. Data receiving means 338 for receiving and storing the data in main memory 222, application executing means 340 for executing an application in operation in accordance with the received control data, and portable information terminal 32 A receiving controller 342 for determining whether there is a predetermined data, a data analyzing means 344 for analyzing the received data to generate the vibration generating command VC, and a manual controller (through the serial communication block 214). Completion of processing for determining the completion of the transmission of the transmission request to the command sending means 346, the manual controller 12 and the portable information terminal 32 for transmitting the vibration generating command VC to 12). Processing completion determining means 348, and termination determining means 350 for determining whether or not the processing in the entertainment apparatus 14 has ended.

Among these means of the vibration generating instructing means 302, the communication requesting means 334, the communication link establishing means 336, the data receiving means 338, and the receiving determining means 342 jointly carry the portable information terminal 32. Act as a monitoring means 352 for monitoring the reception of data by means of.

As shown in Fig. 31, the vibration generating means 304 of the manual controller 12 is a transmission request determining means for determining whether there is a data transmission request from the entertainment apparatus 14 via the serial communication block 190. 360, communication link establishment means beginning to communicate with the serial communication block 214 of the entertainment device 14 via the serial communication block 190 to establish a communication link if there is a data transmission request from the entertainment device 14; 362, sending / reception determining means 364 for determining whether a data transmission request from the entertainment apparatus 14 is a data transmission request or a data reception request, via an established communication link Control data transmission means 366 for transmitting control data from the digital input block 198 and the analog input block 200, and receives the vibration generating command VC from the entertainment device 14 via the established communication link. Command receiving means 368 for analyzing the received vibration generating command VC, and outputting the analysis result to the motor driver 230 to obtain the intensity and frequency indicated by the vibration generating command VC. Command analyzing means 370 for operating the motor 130 corresponding to the vibration generating command VC to generate vibrations, and determining whether the processing at the manual controller 12 has ended. Discrimination means 372 for the control.

Before describing the processing sequences of the wireless communication means 300, the vibration generating means 302, and the vibration generating means 304, a processing sequence for the wireless communication block 162 of the portable information terminal 32 is shown. This will be described later with reference to 32 and FIG. 33.

If the received data is of the first type (see FIG. 23A), the wireless communication block 162 determines whether data is received via the antenna 160 in step S1 shown in FIG. 32. When data is received via the antenna 160, the received data is stored in a predetermined area of the memory 180 in step S2. The wireless communication block 162 then determines whether there is a termination request to end the processing of the portable information terminal 32 in step S3. If there is no termination request, control returns to step S1, where the wireless communication block 162 again determines whether data is received via the antenna 160. If there is a termination request, the processing sequence of the wireless communication block 162 ends.

If the received data is one of the second to fourth types (see FIGS. 23B-23D), the wireless communication block 162 determines whether data is received via the antenna 160 in step S101 shown in FIG. 33. Determine whether or not. If data is received via the antenna 160, the wireless communication block 162 reads an identification code defined in, for example, a receiver definition of the received data in step S102.

The wireless communication block 162 then determines whether the portable information terminal 32 is its receiver in step S103. Specifically, the wireless communication block 162 determines whether the identification code registered in the memory 180 is the same as the identification code read in the receiver definition unit. If the identification codes are the same, the portable information terminal 32 is determined to be its receiver. Thereafter, the received data is stored in a predetermined area of the memory 180 in step S104.

After the received data is stored in the memory 180 in step S104, or after the portable information terminal 32 is not determined as the receiver in step S103, the wireless communication block 162 proceeds in step S105. It is determined whether or not there is an end request for terminating the processing of the portable information terminal 32. If there is no termination request, control returns to step S101, where the wireless communication block 162 again determines whether data is received via the antenna 160. If there is a termination request, the processing sequence of the wireless communication block 162 ends.

Therefore, if the received data is of the first kind (see FIG. 23A), when the data is received by the portable information terminal 32, the received data is stored in the memory 180 of the wireless communication block 162. If the received data is one of the second to fourth types (see FIGS. 23B-23D), the received data is a wireless communication block of the portable information terminal 32 corresponding to the data in the receiver definition of the received data. And stored in the memory 180 of 162.

Specifically, if the received data is of the first kind (see FIG. 23A), in the first to fourth usage modes shown in FIGS. 24 to 27, all connected portable information terminals 32 are connected to the memory 180. Save the received data. If the received data is one of the second to fourth types (see FIGS. 23B to 23D), only the corresponding portable information terminal 32 stores the received data in the memory 180.

Processing sequences of the wireless communication means 300, the vibration generating instruction means 302, and the vibration generating means 304 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 34 to 38.

First, in the wireless communication means 300 of the portable information terminal 32, the reception determining means 310 reads data from the wireless communication block 162 in step S201. Thereafter, the reception determining means 310 determines whether the read data is the received data by, for example, determining whether the data read in step S202 is the initial data.

If the read data is the received data rather than the initial data, the data transmitting means 312 transmits, for example, the received data to a predetermined storage area of the nonvolatile memory 172 in step S203, and performs wireless communication. Initialize data in memory 180 at block 162. The received data is stored in nonvolatile memory 172 with an identification code representing the received data added at the end of its beginning.

After step S203 or if the read data is not the data received in step S202, control proceeds to step S204, whereby the transfer request determining means 314 receives a data transfer request from the entertainment apparatus 14; Determine if there is.

If there is no data transfer request from the entertainment apparatus 14, control returns to step S201 to confirm the existence of the received data again. If there is a data transmission request from the entertainment device 14, the communication link establishing means 316 starts communicating with the serial communication block 214 of the entertainment device 14 via the serial communication block 170 to establish a communication link. .

In step S206, the data transmitting means 318 transmits the data of the nonvolatile memory 172 to the entertainment apparatus 14 via the established communication link. The data transmitted by the data transmission means 318 is data generated by the portable information terminal 32 or received data supplied to the wireless communication block 162.

In step S207, the end judging means 320 determines whether there is an end request for terminating the processing in the portable information terminal 32. If there is no termination request, control returns to step S201 to confirm the received data and to transmit data based on the data transfer request from the entertainment apparatus 14.

If there is a termination request in step S207, the processing sequence of the wireless communication means 300 ends.

The processing sequence of the vibration generating instructing means 302 in the entertainment apparatus 14 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 35 and 36.

If the received data is one of the second to fourth types (refer to FIGS. 23B to 23D), the user setting means 330 of the vibration generating instructing means 302 enters the entertainment apparatus at step S301 shown in FIG. Search for manual controllers 12 connected to 14, and associate an association table between the port numbers to which the manual controllers 12 are connected and the identification codes corresponding to the manual controllers 12 (user shown in FIG. 29). Information table). If the received data is of the first type (see Fig. 23A), the process of step S301 is not executed.

If the portable information terminal 32, the entertainment apparatus 14, and the manual controller 12 are in the third or fourth mode of use (see FIG. 26 or FIG. 27), the terminal setting means 332 is carried out in step S302. The portable information terminals 32 connected to the entertainment apparatus 14 are searched for, and a table of port numbers to which the portable information terminals 32 are connected (terminal information table shown in FIG. 30) is generated. If the portable information terminal 32, the entertainment apparatus 14, and the manual controller 12 are in the first or second mode of use (see FIG. 24 or FIG. 25), the processing of step S302 is not executed.

In step S303, the vibration generation instructing means 302 stores the initial value "1" in the index register i used to search the manual controller 12, thereby initializing the index register i. do.

In step S304, the communication requesting means 334 transmits a transmission request for control data to the ith manual controller 12 via the serial communication block 214 while referring to the user information table.

In step S305, the communication link establishing means 336 starts communicating with the serial communication block 190 of the i th passive controller 12 via the serial communication block 214 to establish a communication link.

In step S306, the data receiving means 338 receives the control data from the i-th manual controller 12 via the established communication link, and stores the data in the main memory 222. Thereafter, in step S307, the application executing means 340 executes the application in operation according to the received control data.

In step S308, the value of the index register i is increased by "+1". Subsequently, in step S309, the process completion determining means 348 determines whether all the manual controllers (by determining whether the value of the index register i is greater than the number M of connected manual controllers 12). 12), the completion of the process of sending the transfer request is determined.

If the value of the index register i is less than or equal to the number M of connected manual controllers 12, the transfer request is not sent to all the manual controllers 12, and control returns to step S304, where control The transfer request for data is then sent to the manual controller 12.

If a transmission request is sent to all manual controllers 12 in step S309, control proceeds to step S310 shown in FIG. 36, and the vibration generation instructing means 302 searches for the portable information terminal 32. FIG. The initial value "1" is stored in the index register j used to initialize the index register j.

Thereafter, in step S311, the communication requesting means 334 transmits a transmission request for data to the j-th portable information terminal 32 via the serial communication block 214 while referring to the terminal information table.

In step S312, the communication link establishing means 336 starts communicating with the serial communication block 170 of the j th portable information terminal 32 via the serial communication block 214 to establish a communication link. This process of establishing the communication link is executed in association with the process of establishing a communication link with the wireless communication means 300 of the j th portable information terminal 32 in step S205.

In step S303, the data receiving means 338 receives the data transmitted from the j-th portable information terminal 32 through the established communication link, and stores the data in the main memory 222.

Subsequently, in step S314, the reception determining means 342 determines whether an identification code indicating the received data is given at the end of the beginning of the transmitted data to determine whether the transmitted data is data received wirelessly. Determine whether or not.

If the transmitted data is the received data, control proceeds to step S315, where the data analyzing means 344 analyzes the received data and generates a vibration generating command VC.

For example, if the received data is one of the first, second, and third types (see FIGS. 23A-23C), the received data does not include the vibration generator definition, so that the data analysis means 344 The manual controller 12 generates a vibration generating command VC including instruction information for causing all the motors 130 or the right hand motor 130 to generate vibrations, as well as information on the vibration intensity and frequency. do.

In order to generate the vibration generating command VC, an association table (vibration generation table) of the character strings, vibration intensities, and frequencies shown in FIG. 37 may be given in advance and included in the character string portion of the received data. Vibration intensity and vibration frequency corresponding to the character string may be read from the association table and registered in the vibration generation command VC.

If the received data is the fourth type (FIG. 23D), the type, vibration intensity, and frequency of the motor 130 included in the vibration generator definition unit, the vibration intensity definition unit, and the frequency definition unit of the received data may be a vibration generation command. (VC) can be registered directly.

In step S316, the communication link establishing means 336 establishes serial communication of the manual controller 12 corresponding to the identification code included in the sender definition of the data received through the serial communication block 214 to establish a communication link. Begin communication with block 190.

If the received data is of the second type (see Fig. 23B), since the received data does not include the sender definition section, the communication link establishing means 336 may include an identification code included in the sender definition section of the received data to establish a communication link. It may begin to communicate with the serial controller block 190 of the passive controller 12, ie, the physical controller nearest the physical information terminal 32, corresponding to the portable information terminal 32. This structure is also applicable to the case where the received data is of the first kind (see FIG. 23A) or the received data is of the third or fourth kind (see FIG. 23C or FIG. 23D).

If the received data is of the first kind (see FIG. 23A), since the received data does not include the sender definition and the receiver definition, the communication link establishment portion 336 is connected to all passive controllers 12 connected to establish a communication link. (Typically, it begins to communicate with the serial communication blocks 190 of one manual controller 12). This processing is also applicable to the case where the received data is one of the second to fourth types.

Thus, the communication link establishing means 336 functions as a selection means for selecting one or more manual controllers 12 depending on the contents of the radio signal (received data) received by the portable information terminal 32.

In step S317, the command transmitting means 346 transmits the vibration generating command VC to the corresponding manual controller 12 over the established communication link.

In step S318, the value of the index register j is increased by "+1". Subsequently, in step S319, the process completion determining means 348 determines whether all the portable information terminals are determined by determining whether the value of the index register j is greater than the number N of connected portable information terminals 32. Completion of the process of sending a data transfer request to 32 is determined.

If the value of the index register j is less than or equal to the number N of connected portable information terminals 32, and the transfer request has not been sent to all portable information terminals 32, control returns to step S303. The transfer request is returned to the next portable information terminal 32.

If the transfer request has been sent to all the portable information terminals 32 in step S319, control proceeds to step S320, where the end determination means 320 ends the request for terminating the processing in the entertainment apparatus 14; Determine whether there is If there is no termination request, control returns to step S303 to send a transfer request to all the manual controllers 12 and to transmit all the portable information terminals 32.

If there is a termination request in step S320, the processing sequence of the vibration generation instructing means 302 ends.

The processing sequence of the vibration generating means 304 in the manual controller 12 will be described later with reference to FIG.

In step S401, the transfer request determining means 360 waits for a transfer request for control data from the entertainment apparatus 14.

If there is a request for transmission of control data from the entertainment apparatus 14, the communication link establishment means 362 is connected to the serial communication block of the entertainment apparatus 14 via the serial communication block 190 to establish a communication link in step S402. Start communicating with 214. This process of establishing the communication link is executed in association with the process of establishing the communication link in the vibration generation instructing means 302 of the entertainment apparatus 14 in step S305 or S316.

In step S403, the transmission / reception determination means 364 determines whether or not the data transmission request given from the entertainment apparatus 14 is a request to transmit control data.

If the data transmission request is a request for transmitting control data, the control data transmission means 366 transmits the control data from the digital input block 198 and the analog input block 200 via the communication link established in step S404. . If the data transmission request is not a request to transmit the control data but a request to receive the vibration generating command VC, then control proceeds to step S405, in which the entertainment apparatus ( Receive the vibration generation command VC from " 14 ".

Subsequently, in step S406, the command analyzing means 370 analyzes the received vibration generating command VC and outputs the analysis result to the motor driver 230. The motor driver 230 transmits the driving current of the vibration intensity and the frequency included in the received vibration generation command VC to the motor 130 corresponding to the type of the motor 130 included in the received vibration generation command VC. By supplying, the motor 130 is operated to provide vibrations of the intensity and frequency indicated by the vibration generating command VC.

After the processing of step S404 or S406, control proceeds to step S407, where the end determining means 372 determines whether there is an end request for terminating the processing in the manual controller 12 or not. . If there is no termination request, control returns to step S401 to transmit control data or receive the vibration generation command VC again.

If there is a termination request in step S407, the processing sequence of the vibration generating means 304 is terminated.

In the entertainment system according to the present embodiment, when the portable information terminal 32 receives a radio signal, a command for generating vibrations (vibration generation command VC) is output to the manual controller 12. Therefore, the reception of the radio signal by the portable information terminal 32 can be transmitted to the user through the tactile sense.

As a result, the user can receive specific or arbitrary information via a wireless signal while looking at the display screen of the television receiver connected to the entertainment system 10. The manual controller 12 allows the portable information terminal 32 to receive information. As it is vibrated upon reception, the user can recognize that particular or arbitrary information has been received by sensing vibrations of the manual controller 12.

As a result, when the user is playing a game while watching the image displayed on the display screen of the television receiver, it is possible to inform the user of the arrival of the radio signal without disturbing the image displayed on the display screen.

If the user is playing a competitive game with another game player away over the Internet, the result given by the user's operation can be transmitted to the user in vibrations, thus playing the game very effectively.

In this embodiment, the selecting means (communication link establishing means 336) for selecting at least one manual controller 12 depending on the contents of the radio signal (receive signal) received by the portable information terminal 32 Included in the vibration generating instructing means 302 of the entertainment apparatus 14, the vibration generating instructing means 302 outputs the vibration generating command VC to the selected manual controller 12. Therefore, among the manual controllers 12 connected to the entertainment apparatus 14, at least one corresponding to the contents of the data received by the portable information terminal 32 is vibrated.

Therefore, when a large number of users or game players dealing with each of the manual controllers 12 connected to one entertainment device 14 are searching for information of various items or playing a competitive game, the portable information terminal 32 is used. Reception of the wireless signal is transmitted in vibrations to one of the users corresponding to the content of the wireless signal. Thus, it is possible to provide users with various items of information and to allow users to experience various game developments.

In this embodiment, a plurality of portable information terminals 32 and a plurality of manual controllers 12 are connected to the entertainment device 14 as in the third and fourth modes of use (see FIGS. 26 and 27). When connected, the vibration generation instructing means 302 outputs a vibration generation command VC to the manual controller 12 corresponding to the portable information terminal 32 that has received the radio signal.

As a result, it is possible to indicate the reception of the information to the users corresponding to the contents received by the portable information terminal 32 having received the radio signal, respectively.

Moreover, in the above embodiment, for example, the level of vibrations generated by the manual controller 12, the type of the motor 130, the vibration intensity, and the frequency vary depending on the received message, but the user receives through tactile Can easily recognize the content.

Modifications of the entertainment system 10 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 39-43.

The modified entertainment system 10 is basically the same configuration as the entertainment system 10 described above, but has a wireless communication means 300a and a vibration indicating means 302a different from the entertainment system 10 described above.

As shown in Fig. 39, the modified wireless communication means 300a includes reception determination means 310, data transmission means 312, communication link establishment means 316, data transmission means 318, and termination determination means. In addition to 320, an interrupt signal generating means 380 for generating an interrupt signal Sr and outputting the interrupt signal Sr to the entertainment apparatus 14 when there is data received in the wireless communication block 162. Have

As shown in Fig. 40, the modified vibration indicating means 302a includes user setting means 330, terminal setting means 332, communication requesting means 334, communication link establishing means 336, and data receiving means ( 338, the application execution means 340, the data analysis means 344, the command transmission means 346, the process completion determination means 348, and the termination determination means 350, from the portable information terminal 32 Interrupt discrimination means 382 for discriminating entry of interrupt signal Sr is provided.

The modified wireless communication means 300a executes steps S501 to S503 corresponding to steps S201 to S203, respectively, as shown in FIG. In steps S501 to S503, the wireless communication means 300a determines whether there is received data in the wireless communication means 162, and if there is received data, stores the received data in a nonvolatile memory. Save to (172).

In step S504, the interrupt signal generating means 380 generates an interrupt signal Sr and outputs the generated interrupt signal Sr to the entertainment apparatus 14 via the serial communication block 170.

The wireless communication means 300a begins to communicate with the serial communication block 214 of the entertainment device 14 via the serial communication block 170 to establish a communication link in step S505, and established in step S506. The data received from the nonvolatile memory 172 is transmitted to the entertainment device 14 via the communication link.

In step S507, the wireless communication block 300a determines whether there is a termination request for terminating the processing at the portable information terminal 32. If there is no end request, control returns to step S501. If there is a termination request, the processing sequence of the wireless communication block 300a ends.

As shown in Fig. 42, the modified vibration indicating means 302a executes the user setting processing in step S601, and then executes the terminal setting processing in step S602.

In step S603, the vibration generation instructing means 302a initializes the index register i. In step S604, the communication requesting means 334 transmits a transmission request for control data to the ith manual controller 12 via the serial communication block 214 with reference to the user information table.

In step S605, the communication link establishing means 336 starts communicating with the serial communication block 190 of the i th passive controller 12 via the serial communication block 214 to establish a communication link. In step S606, the data receiving means 338 receives the control data from the i-th manual controller 12 via the established communication link, and stores the data in the main memory 222. Thereafter, in step S607, the application execution means 340 executes the application in operation corresponding to the received control data.

In step S608, the value of the index register i is increased by "+1". Subsequently, in step S609, the process completion determining means 348 determines the completion of the transmission of the transfer request to all the manual controllers 12. If the transfer request has not been sent to all manual controllers 12, control returns to step S604, whereby a transfer request for control data is sent to the next manual controller 12.

If the transfer request has been sent to all the manual controllers 12 in step S609, then control proceeds to step S610, where the interrupt determination means 382 determines whether there is an interrupt signal Sr from the portable information terminal 32; Determine whether or not. If there is no interrupt signal Sr, control returns to step S603 to receive control data from the manual controller 12 again. If there is an interrupt signal Sr, control proceeds to step S611 shown in FIG. 43, whereby the communication link establishing means 336 sends an interrupt signal Sr through the serial communication block 214 to establish a communication link. Communication with the serial communication block 162 of the portable information terminal 32 outputted starts.

In step S612, the data receiving means 338 receives the data transmitted from the portable information terminal 32 via the established communication link, and stores the data in the main memory 222. Thereafter, in step S613, the data analyzing means 344 analyzes the received data and generates a vibration generating command VC.

In step S614, the communication link establishment means 336 establishes serial communication of the manual controller 12 corresponding to the identification code included in the sender definition of the data received through the serial communication block 214 to establish a communication link. Begin communication with block 190. The processing of step S614 is the same as the processing of step S316 shown in FIG.

In step S615, the command transmitting means 346 transmits the vibration generating command VC to the corresponding manual controller 12 over the established communication link.

The end determination means 320 determines whether there is an end request for ending the processing in the entertainment apparatus 14 in step S616. If there is no end request, control returns to step S603. If there is a termination request in step S616, the processing sequence of the vibration generation instructing means 302a ends.

The modified entertainment system 10 of FIGS. 39 and 40 may transmit to the user the reception of a signal by the portable information terminal 32 via haptics.

As a result, the user can receive certain or arbitrary information via a wireless signal while looking at the display screen of the television receiver connected to the entertainment system 10. Since the manual controller 12 is vibrated when the portable information terminal 32 receives information, the user can recognize that specific or arbitrary information has been received by sensing vibrations of the manual controller 12.

As a result, when the user is playing a game while watching the image displayed on the display screen of the television receiver, it is possible to inform the user of the arrival of the radio signal without disturbing the image displayed on the display screen.

As described above, the entertainment system has a portable information terminal that can be connected to the entertainment device and used by the user, and allows the reception of a signal by the portable information terminal to be transmitted to the user via haptics.

In an entertainment system, the characteristics of the vibrations imparted to the user (intensity, frequency, and type of vibration generator) can vary depending on the signal received by the portable information terminal, so that the user can recognize the signal received through the tactile sense. have.

In an entertainment system, multiple portable information terminals may be connected to a single entertainment device and used by each user, and the information may be selectively transmitted to the user corresponding to the data received by the portable information terminal.

The recording medium according to the present invention stores a program for allowing a portable information terminal to be connected to an entertainment device and used by a user, and also for allowing a signal received by the portable information terminal to be transmitted to the user through tactile sense.

The recording medium according to the present invention stores a program for allowing the characteristics of the vibrations (intensity, frequency, and type of vibration generator) imparted to the user to change depending on the signal received by the portable information terminal, thereby allowing the user to feel Through the received signal can be recognized.

The recording medium according to the present invention allows a plurality of portable information terminals to be connected to a single entertainment device for use by each user, and also to allow information to be selectively transmitted to a user corresponding to data received by the portable information terminal. Save the program to run.

While particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail, it should be understood that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (16)

In the entertainment system, An entertainment device 14 for executing various programs; At least one manual controller (12) coupled to the entertainment device (14) for inputting manual control requests from a user to the entertainment device (14); And A portable information terminal 32 for receiving a radio signal and for transmitting information to and receiving information from at least the entertainment device 14; The manual controller 12 has vibration generating means 128 for applying vibrations to the user in response to an external request, The entertainment apparatus 14 has vibration generating instructing means 302 for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations in the manual controller 12 in response to the reception of a radio signal by the portable information terminal 32, Entertainment system. The method of claim 1, The entertainment apparatus 14 has monitoring means 352 for monitoring the reception of data by the portable information terminal 32, and the vibration generation instructing means 302 is detected by the monitoring means 352. Means for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations to the manual controller (12) in response to receiving data. The method of claim 1, The portable information terminal 32 has an interrupt signal generating means 380 for generating an interrupt signal in response to the reception of the radio signal, and the vibration generating instructing means 302 is connected to the interrupt signal. Means for outputting an instruction to responsive to vibrations in said manual controller (12). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The entertainment device 14 selects means for selecting at least one of a plurality of manual controllers 12 connected to the entertainment device 14 depending on the content of the radio signal received by the portable information terminal 32. And the vibration generation indicating means (302) comprises means for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations in a selected one of the manual controllers (12). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, A plurality of portable information terminals 32 and a plurality of manual controllers 12 are connected to the entertainment device 14, and the vibration generating instructing means 302 is a portable information terminal 32 having received the radio signal. Means for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations in a manual controller (12) corresponding to. The method of claim 5, The vibration generation instructing means 302 comprises means for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations in one of the manual controllers 12 physically closest to the portable information terminal 32 receiving the wireless signal, Entertainment system. The method of claim 5, The vibration generating instructing means 302 comprises means for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations in one of the passive controllers 12 logically associated with the portable information terminal 32 receiving the unsigned signal. system. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, And said indication of generating vibrations output from said vibration generation indicating means (302) comprises characteristics of vibrations dependent on a signal received by said portable information terminal (32). Entertainment device 14 for executing various programs, at least one manual controller 12 connected to the entertainment device 14 for inputting manual control requests from the user to the entertainment device 14, and receiving wireless signals And a recording medium storing a program and data for use by the entertainment system (10) comprising at least a portable information terminal (32) for transmitting information to and receiving information from the entertainment apparatus (14). 12 has vibration generating means 128 for applying vibrations to the user in response to an external request, the program being directed to the manual controller 12 in response to the reception of a radio signal by the portable information terminal 32. Outputting an instruction to cause vibrations. The method of claim 9, The program, Monitoring the reception of data by the portable information terminal 32; Outputting the instruction comprises outputting an instruction to generate vibrations to the manual controller (12) in response to receiving data as detected by the monitoring step. The method of claim 9, The program, Generating an interrupt signal from the portable information terminal 32 in response to receiving the wireless signal, Generating the instruction comprises outputting an instruction to generate vibrations to the manual controller (12) in response to the interrupt signal. The method of claim 9, wherein The program, Selecting at least one of a plurality of manual controllers 12 connected to the entertainment apparatus 14 depending on the content of the wireless signal received by the portable information terminal 32, Generating the instruction comprises outputting an instruction to generate vibrations in a selected one of the manual controllers (12). The method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, A plurality of portable information terminals 32 and a plurality of manual controllers 12 are connected to the entertainment device 14, Generating the instruction comprises outputting an instruction to generate vibrations to a manual controller (12) corresponding to a portable information terminal (32) receiving the radio signal. The method of claim 13, Generating the instruction includes outputting an instruction to generate vibrations in one of the passive controllers 12 physically closest to the portable information terminal 32 receiving the wireless signal. media. The method of claim 13, Generating the instruction comprises outputting an instruction to generate vibrations in one of the passive controllers (12) logically associated with the portable information terminal (32) receiving the unsigned signal. The method of claim 9, wherein And the instructions for generating the vibrations output in the step of generating the instruction include characteristics of vibrations dependent on the signal received by the portable information terminal (32).