KR20050012314A - Internet multiplayer game system and method using handheld game devices - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A portable game system for an Internet multiplayer game using a simple packet structure and a PC client program, and a game method using the same are provided to implement the Internet multiplayer game cheaply and simply through the USB(Universal Serial Bus) or the UART(Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter) on an infrastructure of a PC and a game server. CONSTITUTION: Portable game devices(1A-3A) are equipped with more than one game software of a multiplayer mode and a wired serial data communication means for communicating data with the PCs(1B-3B). A game server(5) provides a matching service and a ranking service for the game software embedded in the game device. The PC is equipped with the serial data communication means and is connected to the game server or other PC through the Internet(4). After matching/starting the game, the PC transmits game data received from the portable game device to the game server through the Internet, and transmits the game data received from the game server to the portable game device through the serial data communication means.

Description

Portable game machine system for internet multiplayer game and game method using same {INTERNET MULTIPLAYER GAME SYSTEM AND METHOD USING HANDHELD GAME DEVICES}

The present invention relates to a portable game machine system for internet multiplayer games and a game method using the same, and in particular, a novel simple packet structure used for data communication between a PC / portable game machine, and a data transfer between a PC / portable game machine and a PC / Internet. The present invention relates to a portable game machine system using a novel client program for PC and a method thereof.

Internet multiplayer game systems typically have the following specifications. It consists of internet-enabled devices and internet servers that connect and exchange information. A typical example of such a typical system is a personal computer (PC) and its corresponding Internet server. These existing infrastructures are not only the purpose of the game, but also variously established for various information exchanges. The Internet Online PC Game System, which is widely commercialized today, is developing based on this infrastructure.

In addition, an Internet multiplayer game system (US Pat. No. 6,475,089) using a high performance home game machine equipped with network hardware equipment and software as a dedicated game terminal instead of a PC has been developed.

On the other hand, portable devices that have limitations on the performance of the system due to the nature of portable devices, in particular, should be inexpensive due to the business characteristics, and therefore, there is a need for the development of an Internet multiplayer game system using a portable game machine, which is more severe than other portable devices. It's happening.

Under the circumstances described above, the present invention provides a new simple packet structure used for data communication between a PC / portable game console and an Internet multiplayer using a new PC client program that enables data transmission between a PC / portable game console and a PC / Internet. An object of the present invention is to provide a portable game machine system for a game and a method thereof.

In other words, the present invention can implement a cheap and simple Internet multiplayer game through the USB or UART, which is a standard interface of the PC on the infrastructure of the Internet-enabled PC and the game server, the relatively high-performance PC to the Internet Hub (Hub) An object of the present invention is to provide a portable game machine system and a method thereof for internet multiplayer games, which can implement complicated and difficult Internet-related communication through an application program on a PC.

In addition, the present invention uses an inexpensive hardware protocol, such as USB or UART, and uses a simple communication protocol in software, so that the Internet game player does not need to embed the Internet protocol or other Internet-related hardware into the portable game machine. An object of the present invention is to provide a portable game machine system for a game and a method thereof.

1 is a diagram showing a portable game machine system for an Internet multiplayer game according to the present invention;

2 is a diagram showing a software configuration together with the physical conditions of FIG. 1;

3A is a diagram illustrating a process of playing an Internet multiplayer game according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

3B is a view showing a connection state between the portable game machines 1A and 2A, the PCs 1B and 2B, and the game server 5 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a diagram for explaining data communication between the portable game machine 1A and the PC 1B according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a diagram for explaining data communication between the PC 1B and the game server 5 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

To this end, the present invention is a portable game machine having one or more game software capable of multi-play mode, a PC that transmits and receives data via standard wired serial data communication, and a PC and a PC that can be connected via the Internet. A game method using a portable game machine system for an internet multiplayer game, comprising a game server providing a matching service and a ranking service for game software embedded in the game software, wherein the PC is connected to the game server and is matched with one or more other PCs. In the first step connected to the second stage, the PC is matched and the game is ready to play in the second stage, the game data received from the portable game machine by the PC is transmitted over the Internet, the game data received through the Internet game console Step 3, PC Shop The results provide a game method using the portable game system for Internet multiplayer game for a fourth step of transmitting to a game server via the Internet.

In addition, the present invention provides a game method using a portable game machine system for the Internet multiplayer game, characterized in that the game data transmitted and received by the PC via the Internet in the third step is not via a game server. The fact that game data can be played without game data passing through a game server and that a matching service and a ranking service are sufficient is that the present invention is different from a portable game machine system in which a game program and data are downloaded from a web server to play a game. It means qualitatively different.

In addition, the present invention is a built-in one or more game software capable of a multi-play mode, a portable game machine having a wired serial data communication means for data communication with a PC, matching service and ranking service for the game software embedded in the portable game machine A game server providing a game server, and a wired serial data communication means for data communication with a portable game machine, and connected to the game server and other PCs through the Internet. Internet multiplayer, including a PC that transmits game data received from the data communication means via the Internet and transmits the game data received through the Internet to the wired serial data communication means of the portable game machine through the wired serial data communication means of the PC. Game It provides a portable gaming system.

In addition, the present invention communicates data in the form of a packet between the PC / portable game machine, the packet includes a connection request packet, a connection authorization packet, a game data packet, a disconnection request packet, the connection request packet is a connection request command ID, The structure includes a game ID and data representing the number of users, and the Connection authorization packet is a structure including a connection authorization command ID, a game ID, and data representing the number of users. The game data packet includes a game data command ID, a serial number, and a game. A structure including data, and the Disconnetion request packet is a structure including a Disconnetion request command ID, a game ID, and game data indicating a game result, and provides a portable game machine system and a game method using the same. do.

In addition, the present invention is provided in the form of a computer-readable recording medium recording a client program executed on a PC to realize the method.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

1 is a view showing a portable game machine system for Internet multiplayer game according to the present invention, the system is a handheld game device (1A, 2A, 3A; Handheld Game Device), PC (1B, 2B, 3B; Personal Computer), Internet (4) and a game server 5.

The physical connection between the portable game machine 1A and the PC 1B uses standard wired serial data communication such as USB or UART. The portable game machine 2A and the PC 2B, the portable game machine 3A and the PC 3B are also the same. The PCs 1B, 2B and 3B can be connected to the Internet 4. Therefore, the portable game machine 1A can be connected to the Internet 4 via the PC 1B, and can be connected to the PC 2B and / or the PC 3B via the game server 5, and thereby the portable game machine. 1A can exchange information with the portable game machine 2A and / or the portable game machine 3A.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a software configuration together with the physical conditions of FIG. 1, and similarly to FIG. 1, the entire system includes portable game machines 1A, 2A, 3A, PCs 1B, 2B, 3B, Internet 4, and games. It consists of the server 5.

The portable game machines 1A, 2A, and 3A have built-in multiplayer game software and USB or UART programs for data communication. That is, the portable game machines 1A, 2A, 3A do not need any program to access the Internet 4.

On the other hand, the PCs 1B, 2B, and 3B have a USB or UART communication program for exchanging data with the portable game machines 1A, 2A, and 3A, and an Internet communication program for accessing the Internet 4 to communicate with the game server 5. Has built in.

The Internet communication programs of the PCs 1A, 2A, and 3A can connect to the game server 5 via the Internet 4 and provide various services by exchanging data with the game server 5. That is, a matching service may be provided, as well as various services such as a ranking service that displays a game result and a user's cumulative performance.

3 is a view illustrating a process of playing an Internet multiplayer game according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. First, the portable game machines 1A and 2A and the PCs 1B and 2B are physically and softwarely connected (S1). ). That is, the portable game machines 1A and 2A are connected to the PCs 1B and 2B by USB or UART, the portable game machines 1A and 2A are started, the desired game is started, and the multi internet play mode is selected.

Next, the PCs 1B and 2B are software-connected with the game server 5 via the Internet 4 (S2). That is, the client software according to the present invention is executed on the PCs 1B and 2B. A user ID (Identification) and a password (Password) are input to the client software of the PCs 1B and 2B, and the game server 5 is attempted to connect. When the client software of the PCs 1B and 2B succeeds in connecting to the game server 5, information about the corresponding game is exchanged with the game server 5. This allows you to get waiting and waiting room information for the game, and find and match (matching and matching game opponents or opponent groups to play multiplayer on the Internet).

Next, the PC 1B and the PC 2B are software-connected (S3), and data exchange is possible between the portable game machine 1A and the portable game machine 2A (S4). That is, when the client software of the PC 1B matches the client software of the counterpart PC 2B, the client software of the PC 1B may be transferred to the portable game machines 1A and 2A to start or proceed with the game. Preferably, after such a match is made, the client software of the PC 1B connects to the peer to peer with the client software of the counterpart PC 2B.

When the game is played and the result is output, the client software of the PCs 1B and 2B transmits the result to the game server 5 (S5). Through this result, the game server 5 can record the user's grades and perform the ranking service.

4 is a diagram illustrating data communication between the portable game machine 1A and the PC 1B according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The transmission packet between the portable game machine 1A and the PC 1B has the following structure. have.

Command ID (1 byte) Data (n byte)

(In this case, the command ID is 1 byte, which indicates the type of packet.

The meaning of data is different according to the command ID, and the length also varies according to the command ID.)

① Connection request:

The portable game machine 1A transmits a communication packet requesting Connect to the PC 1B (S11).

Packet structure:

0x01 Game ID (4 byte) Number of users (1 byte)

(Here, command ID (0x01) represents a connection request command.

The game ID indicates a game that the current user wants to play.

The number of users indicates how many people currently want to play the game. 0x02 for two-player games and 0x03 for three-player games.)

② Connection recognition:

When the connection request of the portable game machine 1A occurs, the client software of the PC 1B selects a desired partner after connecting to the game server 5. When the user's selection is made and the conditions for starting the game are satisfied, the client software of the PC 1B sends a Connection authorization packet to the portable game machine 1A (S12).

Packet structure:

0x02 Game ID (4 byte) Number of users (1 byte)

(In this case, the command ID (0x02) indicates connection acknowledgment.

The game ID indicates a game that the current user wants to play.

The number of users indicates how many people currently want to play the game. 0x02 for two-player games and 0x03 for three-player games.)

③ Game data exchange:

Game data has various forms according to each game. One limitation is that the size of a game's data must not exceed 64 bytes. If the data exchange required for the game is more than 64 bytes, the data is cut into 64 byte units and transmitted and received several times (S13).

Packet structure:

0x03 Serial number (1 byte) <62 byte game data

(In this case, the command ID (0x03) represents game data, and the following serial number represents the order of game data sent and received, which sequentially uses values of 0 to 255. The following data is smaller than 62 bytes. Game data.)

④ Disconnection Request:

This is a command for requesting disconnection, including data indicating that the game is over and the result of the game (S14).

Packet structure:

0x04 Game ID (4 byte) <62byte game data

(In this case, the command ID (0x04) is the command requesting disconnection after the game is finished. The next 4 bytes are the game ID, and the game data less than 62 bytes is the result of the game, that is, whether or not the game is won or lost, and other game results.) Information, which varies by game.)

⑤ Disconnection recognition:

This data shows the recognition of the disconnection request from the PC 1B to the portable game machine 1A. Such a packet may be omitted as necessary (S15).

Packet structure:

0x05 Game ID (4 byte)

(In this case, the command ID (0x05) is a packet that acknowledges the disconnection in response to the disconnection request after the game is finished. The next 4 bytes are the game ID.)

As such, the data between the portable game machine and the PC may have a very simple structure. No complicated Internet Protocol TCP / IP or UDP / IP is required. It can be implemented by simple serial communication such as USB or UART which is simply implemented in hardware.

In addition, complicated processing such as selecting a game opponent connected to the Internet does not need to be handled by a portable game machine. Of course, these are processed by the client program of the PC and transmits only the result to the portable game machine, the portable game machine can implement the Internet multi-player game through a simple process to greet a predetermined opponent.

5 is a diagram illustrating data communication between the PC 1B and the game server 5 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. After the connection between the PC 1B and the game server 5 is made (S21). When the PC 1B requests the game list (S22), the game server 5 transmits the game list (S23), and after the opponent's selection is made (S24), the game proceeds to Peer to Peer between portable game machines. When the connection between the PC 1B and the game server 5 is terminated (S25), when the game is completed, the PC 1B and the game server 5 are connected again (S26), and the PC 1B and the game After transmitting the game result to the server 5 (S27), the connection between the PC 1B and the game server 5 is terminated (S28).

The data exchange between the PC and the game server is developed in a way that is not different from the protocol of general Internet multiplayer games. There are complex and diverse information exchanges such as connection and data exchange using internet protocol.

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily implement the Internet function in a system such as a portable game machine because it uses a simple communication protocol (Protocol) inexpensive hardware and software, such as USB or UART.

Unlike other networks, the Internet is a global standard, which makes it very attractive for game users because they can easily meet their opponents. Therefore, the internet multi-game of the portable game according to the present invention plays an important role in this game business aspect.

When the present invention is applied to a portable game machine, it is easy to implement a network multiplayer game even if it is not equipped with an internet protocol or other hardware related to the Internet. This is possible through a simple implementation of its own network protocol without implementing the Internet network protocol.

Claims (10)

A portable game machine incorporating one or more game software capable of a multiplayer mode; A PC that sends and receives data through a portable game console and standard wired serial data communication; And a game server that is accessible through a PC and the Internet and provides a matching service and a ranking service for game software embedded in the portable game machine. A first step in which the PC connects to the game server and is connected to one or more other PCs through matching; A second step of informing the portable game machine that the PC has been matched and is ready to play; A third step of transmitting, by the PC, game data received from the portable game machine through the Internet, and transmitting game data received through the Internet to the portable game machine; And a fourth step of transmitting, by the PC, the game result to the game server through the Internet. The method of claim 1, In the third step, a game method using a portable game machine system for the Internet multiplayer game, characterized in that the game data transmitted and received by the PC via the Internet does not go through the game server. The method of claim 2, The first step includes the step of transmitting a connection request packet to a portable game machine PC, The second step is a step in which the PC transmits a connection authentication packet to the portable game machine, And said fourth step is initiated by sending a Disconnecton request packet to a PC. The method of claim 3, wherein And the fourth step further comprises a PC transmitting a Disconnetion recognition packet to a portable game machine. The method of claim 3, wherein The connection request packet is a structure containing data indicating a connection request command ID, a game ID, and the number of users. The Connection Authorization Packet is a structure containing data indicating a Connection Authorization Command ID, a game ID, and the number of users. In the third step, the game data is exchanged between the portable game machine and the PC in a packet structure including a game data command ID, a serial number, and game data. And a Disconnetion request packet having a structure including a Disconnetion request command ID, a game ID, and game data indicating the result of the game. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A standard wired serial data communication is a game method using a portable game machine system for Internet multiplayer games, characterized in that using USB. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a client program executed on a PC to realize the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A portable game machine having one or more game software capable of a multiplayer mode and having a wired serial data communication means for data communication with a PC; A game server providing a matching service and a ranking service for game software embedded in a portable game machine; And A PC having a wired serial data communication means for data communication with a portable game machine and connected to a game server and another PC via the Internet. A PC having a function of transmitting the data through the Internet and transmitting the game data received through the Internet to the wired serial data communication means of the portable game machine through the wired serial data communication means of the PC. Handheld game console system. The method of claim 8, And said game data does not pass through a game server. The method of claim 9, The wired serial data communication means of the portable game machine and the wired serial data communication means of the PC communicate data in the form of a packet. The packet includes a Connection request packet, a Connection authorization packet, a game data packet, and a Disconnection request packet. The connection request packet is a structure containing data indicating a connection request command ID, a game ID, and the number of users. The Connection Authorization Packet is a structure containing data indicating a Connection Authorization Command ID, a game ID, and the number of users. The game data packet is a structure containing a game data command ID, a serial number, and game data. And a Disconnetion request packet having a structure including a Disconnetion request command ID, a game ID, and game data indicating the result of the game.