MXPA00002993A - System for and method of processing data, and apparatus and method of sending and receiving data - Google Patents

Abstract

Data are sent and received between a video game machine (2) as a data processing apparatus with no radio communication function and an external device (4) with a radio communication function. A portable computer (3) is removably connected to the video game machine (2) which processes data. A communication application (50) and a radio communication driver (70) for enabling radio communications between the portable computer (3) and the external device (4) are supplied from the video game machine (2) to the portable computer (3), and stored into a memory of the portable computer (3). The portable computer (3) supplied with the communication application (50) and the radio communication driver (70) enables the video game machine (2) and the external device (4) to send and receive data therebetween via the portable computer (3).

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DATA PROCESSING, AND APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SENDING AND RECEIVING DATA TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a system and method of data processing for sending data to an external device and for receiving data from an external device, and an apparatus and method for sending and receiving data, and more particularly to a system and method for processing data and an apparatus and method for sending and receiving data, preferably applicable to a system employing a video game machine and a portable information communication terminal. BACKGROUND OF THE ART Conventional video game machines such as, for example, video game apparatus for use in the home operate by executing an application program in a video game machine unit with base in game data recorded in a recording medium or an auxiliary memory to play a video game such as, for example, a competition game according to instructions entered by the player through a manual controller. Some video game machines are finding widespread use in homes. Many video game machines generally have an excellent data processing capacity to process image and audio data in such a way that the player or user can experience complex and realistic images and sounds. Specifically, the data processing capability of conventional video game machines makes it possible to visualize complex game characters and produce realistic sounds for the video game, and can offer more sophisticated images and sounds than those produced by existing computers. Although conventional video game machines have an excellent data processing capacity, they nevertheless remain an apparatus for executing an application program for a video game. Master / slave units connected systems have been proposed to send and receive data between them. The data sent and received between the master and slave units are simply ordinary image and sound data. An attempt has not been made to provide an application program to be executed by the subordinate unit from a recording medium belonging to the master unit. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for processing data and an apparatus and method for sending and receiving data, capable of sending and receiving data between a master unit and an external device through a subordinate unit.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION A system for processing data in accordance with the present invention has a master unit for processing data and a slave unit removably connected to the master unit and having a means of communication. The media control program that the master unit has acquired with the data supply means to allow radio communications between the slave unit and an external device having a radio communication function is supplied from the master unit to the slave unit by the data supply means, and the subordinate unit stores the supplied media control program in a memory medium. When the media control program supplied by the master unit to the subordinate unit is executed by the subordinate unit, data can be sent and received between the master unit and the subordinate unit via radio communications. By replacing the subordinate unit for each different external device, the master unit can carry out radio communications with several external devices. Accordingly, the system for processing data allows the sending and receiving of data between the master unit and the external device through the subordinate unit.

In the system for processing data, furthermore, since the media control program is supplied from the master unit to the slave unit, the media control program does not have to reside in the slave unit, and therefore, the computing resources of the subordinate unit can be effectively used. In the system for processing data, the master unit has a processing means to process input data. The data that the slave unit has received from the external device is supplied as input data to the master unit, and the input data is processed by the processing means to produce processed data. The processed data is then sent from the master unit to the external device in accordance with the media control program of the slave unit. Accordingly, the system for processing data in accordance with the present invention can process data at high speed in real time based on the data processing capacity of the master unit. For example, image data from a digital camera or from a personal computer that serves as the device 4 with a radio function that is the external device are sent through the laptop 3 to the video game machine 2 as the master unit that has a very high image data processing capacity. The image data is processed by the video game machine 2. The processed image data is sent through the laptop 3 back to the digital camera or to the personal computer as the device 4 with a radio function. Accordingly, images based on the processed image data can be viewed on the digital camera or on the personal computer. The method for processing data in accordance with the present invention, a slave unit having a memory means is removably connected to a master unit for processing data, and a media control program, which the master unit has acquired , to enable radio communications between the subordinate unit and an internal device having a radio communication function is supplied to the subordinate unit and stored there. Then, the subordinate unit and the external device send and receive data through a means of communication. In the data processing method, the communication medium control program is supplied from the master unit to the slave unit, and executed by the slave unit to allow the sending and receiving of data between the master unit and the slave unit. external device through the subordinate unit. An apparatus for sending and receiving data in accordance with the present invention has a communication means for sending data to an external device having a radio communication function and for receiving data from an external device having a radio communication function, and a means of memory for storing the entered data, and is supplied with a communication medium control program for carrying out radiocommunications with the external device from a data processing apparatus. Since the apparatus for sending and receiving data is supplied with the communication medium control program from the data processing apparatus, the data sending and receiving apparatus can carry out radio communications with the external device. In a method for sending and receiving data in accordance with the present invention, radio communications are carried out with an external device having a radio communication function in accordance with a communication medium control program supplied from the data processing apparatus , data received from the external device is transferred to the data processing apparatus, and processed data entered from the data processing apparatus is sent to the external device.

Since radio communications with the external device can be carried out in accordance with the control program of communication medium supplied from the data processing apparatus to allow communications with the data processing apparatus, data can be sent and received between the data processing apparatus and the external device. The above objects, features and advantages as well as other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown by way of illustration. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a block diagram of a data processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a device with a radio function; Figure 2 is a block diagram of a computer layer and a programmatic layer of the data processing system and of the device with the radio function; Figure 3 is a block diagram of a video game machine of the data processing system; Figure 4 is a block diagram of a portable computer data processing system; Figure 5 is a flow chart of a video game machine processing sequence in a process for supplying a communication application and a radio communication command program from the video game machine to the portable computer; Fig. 6 is a flowchart of a processing sequence of the portable computer in the process of supplying a communication application and a radiocommunication command program from the video game machine to the portable computer; Figure 7 is a flow diagram of a processing sequence of the portable computer in a process for sending data from the device with the radio function to the video game machine through the portable computer; Figure 8 is a flowchart of a processing sequence of the video game machine in the process of sending data from the device with the radio function to the video game machine through the portable computer; Figure 9 is a flow chart of a processing sequence of the video game machine in the process of sending data from the video game machine to the device with the radio function through the portable computer; Figure 10 is a flowchart of a processing sequence of the laptop in the process of sending data from the video game machine to the device with a radio function through the laptop; Figure 11 is a flow diagram of a processing sequence of the portable computer in the process of sending data from the device with the radio function and processing the data with the video game machine; Fig. 12 is a flowchart of a processing sequence of the portable computer in a process of sending the processed data from the video game machine back to the device with the radio function; Figure 13 is a flow chart of a processing sequence of the video game machine in the process of sending data from the device with the radio function to the video game machine and processing the data with the video game machine; video game; Fig. 14 is a flow diagram of a processing sequence of the video game machine in the process of sending the processed data from the video game machine back to the device with the radio function; Figure 15 is a block diagram of a data processing system in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention and devices with a radio function; Figure 16 is a block diagram of a data processing system in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention and devices with a radio function; Figure 17 is a block diagram of a data processing system in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention and devices with a radio function; Figure 18 is a block diagram of a data processing system in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention and devices with a radio function; Figure 19 is a plan view of a video entertainment system as a specific example of a data processing system comprising a video game machine and a portable computer; Figure 20 is a perspective view of the video entertainment system illustrated in Figure 19; Figure 21 is a plan view of a portable electronic device as a specific example of the portable computer; Figure 22 is a front elevational view of the portable electronic device illustrated in Figure 21; Figure 23 is a bottom view of the portable electronic device illustrated in Figure 21; Figure 24 is a block diagram of a video game apparatus as a specific example of the video game machine; Figure 25 is a block diagram of the portable electronic device illustrated in Figures 21 to 23; Figure 26 is a diagram showing control elements controlled by a control means in the portable electronic device. PREFERRED MODALITY OF THE INVENTION Next with reference to Figure 1 to 12, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. According to the first embodiment, the principles of the present invention apply to a data processing system 1 that can send data to an external device 4 with a radio function and that can receive data from an external device 4 with a function of radio. As shown in Figure 1, the data processing system 1 comprises a video game machine 2 which serves as a master unit for processing data, i.e., a data processing unit, and a portable computer 3 which serves as subordinate unit. The computer 3 is removably inserted into the video game machine 2. The video game machine 2 is constructed as a video entertainment system that executes program data recorded on a recording medium (not shown) for a video game or similar. A laptop 3 is built as a PDA (personal digital assistant) that has a radio communication function. The data processing system 1 is arranged as shown in Figure 2 and communicates with the device 4 with the radio function. In the data processing system 1, the video game machine 2 comprises a layer of video game machine equipment 10 and a programmatic layer for controlling the video game machine equipment layer 10 and carrying out communications with the laptop 3, the programmatic layer comprises a communication application 20 and a serial communication command program 30 included in the communication application 20. The laptop 3 comprises a layer of PDA 40 equipment and a layer programmatic to carry out a communication process in the PDA 40 computer layer, the programmatic layer comprises a communication application 50, a serial communication driver 60, a radio communication command program 70. The device 4 with the radio function that sends data to the processing system 1 and that receives data from the data processing system 1 through radio communications, including e) a layer of device equipment 80 and a programmatic layer for carrying out a communication process in the device equipment layer 80, the programmatic layer comprises a communication application 90 and a radio communication command program 100 included in the communication application 90. In the present invention, the expression "radiocommunication (s)" is defined to refer to a wireless communication (s) within a frequency range of approximately 20 to 60 to 800 THz (terahertz), that is, the range of frequency of the audio frequency up to the visible light frequency, including radio frequency and infrared frequency. As shown in Figure 3, the layer 10 of video game machine equipment comprises a central processing unit 11 which functions as a data delivery means for acquiring and supplying data, an input block 12, a block of record means 13, a main memory 14, a graphics processor 15, a functional block 16 and a serial communication block 17. these components of the video game machine equipment layer 10 are connected to a bus 18 As shown in Figure 4, the PDA equipment layer 40 comprises a radio communication block 41 as a communication means for using data to the device 4 and for receiving data from the device 4 with the radio function, a non-volatile memory. 42 and a working memory 43 both as a memory means for storing input data, a serial communication block 44, a central processing unit 45, an input block 46, a display block 47, and n functional block 48. These components of the PDA equipment layer 40 are connected to a bus 49. The input block 12 of the video game machine equipment layer 10 is arranged to function as a manual input controller. Accordingly, the input block 12 allows the user to enter various information elements in the video game machine 12. the input block 12 also allows the processing of data in the video game machine 2 in accordance with an action of control entry entered by the user. The register medium block 13 serves as a block for reading various data recorded in a recording medium or the like (not illustrated). For example, the recording medium comprises a CD-ROM or the like. The recording medium block 13 is controlled by the central processing unit 11 for reading data from the recording medium which stores media communication control programs including, communication applications and drivers that allow the portable computer 3 and the device 4 with the function of radiocommunicate between them through a radio link. Specifically, the recording medium block 13 reads data from the recording medium storing the communication application 50 and the radio communication command program 70 illustrated in FIG. 2. The main memory 14 is a memory for storing various data. For example, the main memory 14 stores the communication application 20, as the programmatic layer of the video game machine 2. The main memory 14 also stores data sent from the portable computer 3 through the communication block in series 17. The graphics processor 15 serves as a processor to perform the processing of an image in input data. Specifically, the graphics processor 15 performs a graphic processing of images to be displayed in a display unit (not shown). More specifically, the graphics processor is carried out a polygon-type graphics processing process. The functional block 16 is arranged to perform other functions than the previous blocks, and may comprise, for example, a power supply block (not shown) and a connection block for connection and a non-volatile memory card system as a means of registration. The serial communication block 17 has the function of carrying out serial communication with an external device. The serial communication block 17 has terminals (not shown) electrically connectable to the serial communication block 44 of the portable computer 3, for example. The video game machine 2 can therefore send data to the laptop 3 and receive data from the laptop 3. the serial communication block 17 sends and receives data in accordance with the serial communication command program 30 illustrated in figure 2. The central processing unit 11 has the function of controlling the previous blocks of the equipment layer 10 of the video game machine. For example, the central processing unit 11 maintains the communication application 50 and the radio communication command program 70 registered in the recording medium in the main memory 14 of the video game machine 2, controls the communication application 50 and the radio communication command program 70 when supplied to the laptop 3, and controls data entered from the laptop 3 and sent to the laptop 3. the central processing unit 11 also has the function of processing and avoiding data . In addition, the central processing unit 11 controls the blocks in accordance with programs of the programmatic layer. The video game machine 2 constructed in this way is capable of playing a video game based on a program registered in the recording medium, for example CD-ROM or the like. A video game machine 2 allows a non-volatile memory card system to be connected there in a removable manner. The radio communication block 41 of the PDA equipment layer 40 illustrated in FIG. 4 receives the data sent from the device 4 with the radio function via infrared rays according to IrDA or microwave standards. The radio communication block 41 also sends data entered from the video game machine 2 to the device 4 with the radio function. At this time, the radio communication block 41 sends and receives data in accordance with the radio communication command program 70 illustrated in figure 2. specifically, when the portable computer 3 sends data to the device 4 with a radio function and receives data from the device 4 with the radio function, the radio communication block 41 is controlled by the radio communication command program 70, and a radio communication block (not illustrated) in the device 4 with the radio function is controlled by the radio communication command program 100. The non-volatile memory 42 is a memory for storing various data. The non-volatile memory 42 stores a communication device driver supplied from the video game machine 2 to carry out communications with the device 4 with the radio station. Specifically, the non-volatile memory 42 stores the communication application 50 and the radio communication command program 70 illustrated in FIG. 2. the non-volatile memory 42 also stores data received from the device 4 with the function of radio and data inputted to it. starting from the video game machine 2 through the serial communication block 44. The work memory 43 is a memory for use as a work • storage area for storing various data. As in the case of the non-volatile memory 42, the working memory 43 stores the communication application 50 and the radio communication command program 70, and also stores data received from the device 4 with the radio function and data entered into it. starting from a video game machine 2 through the serial communication block 44. The serial communication block 44 has the function of developing communication in series with an external device. For example, the serial communication block 44 can be electrically connected to the serial communication block 17 of the video game machine 2 to carry out data communications with the video game machine 2. The serial communication block 44 sends and receives data in accordance with the serial communication driver 60 illustrated in Figure 2. The laptop 3 is supplied, via the serial communication block 44, with a communication device driver and a communication application for its use with the device 4 with the radio function, recorded in a recording medium (not shown) loaded in the video game machine 2, that is, the communication application 50 and the radio command program 70. The input block 46 is arranged to function as a manual control input unit (manual control input means). For example, the entry block 46 allows the user to enter various information elements. When the laptop 3 is not connected to the video game machine 2, the device 4 with the radio function can be operated in accordance with a control input action entered through the input block 46. The lay block 47 is arranged to function as a lay unit to visualize various information elements. The lay block 47 lays various character information and image information on a liquid crystal panel (not shown), for example. The functional block 48 is arranged to perform other functions than the aforementioned blocks, and may comprise, for example, a power supply block (not shown). The central processing unit 45 has the function of controlling the aforementioned blocks. For example, the central processing unit 45 controls the blocks in accordance with several programs of the aforementioned programmatic layer. The laptop 3 receives data sent from a device 4 with the radio function. The portable computer 3 can be connected removably to the video game machine 2 to send data to the video game machine 2 and to receive data from the video game machine 2., the portable computer 3 is shareable with the non-volatile memory card system (not shown) that can also be removably connected to the video game machine 2. In the data processing system, the game machine video 2 supplies the program laptop 3 as the communication program 50 which enables the portable computer 3 to carry out radiocommunications with the device 4 with the radio function in accordance with processing sequences illustrated in figures 5 and 6. As shown in Figure 5, the central processing unit 11 of the video game machine 2 reads the communication application 50 and the radio communication command program 70 for use with the portable computer (PDA) 3 stored in a recording medium, for example a CD-ROM or the like, for example, from the block of the recording medium 13 in step SI. Then, the central processing unit 11 stores the communication application 50 and the radio communication command program 70 has thus read in said main memory 14 in step S2. The Central Processing Unit 11 begins communication with a serial communication block 44 of the portable computer 3 through the serial communication block 17 to establish a communication link in step S3. Then, the central processing unit 11 sends the communication application 50 and the radio communication command program 70 stored in the main memory 14 to the portable computer 3 via the established communication link. To confirm the end of the transmission of a communication application 50 and the radio communication command program 70, the Central Processing Unit 11 decides whether the communication application 50 and the radio communication command program 70 stored in the main memory 14 have been completely sent or not in step S5. If the central processing unit 11 confirms that the communication application 50 and the radio communication command program 70 stored in the main memory 14 have been sent completely, then the video game machine ends the process of sending the communication application 50. and the radio communication command program 70. if the central processing unit 11 confirms the communication application 50 and the radio communication command program 70 stored in the main area 14 have not been sent completely, then the video game machine 2 executes the processing of step S4 again. Concurrently with the above process performed by the video game machine 2, the laptop 3 decides whether there is a request for serial connection from the video game machine or not in the step Sil illustrated in figure 6 If the laptop 3 confirms that there is a request for a serial communication connection from the video game machine 2 in step Sil, then the central processing unit 45 of the laptop 3 starts communication with the communication block in series 17 of the video game machine 2 through the serial communication block 44 to establish a communication link between them in step S12. Then, the central processing unit 45 stores the communication application 50 and the radio communication command program 70 that have been received from the video game machine 2 through the communication link established in the working memory 43 or in the non-volatile memory 42 in step S13. The processing in step S12, S13 performed by the laptop 3 corresponds to the processing in step S3, S4, performed by the video game machine 2. To confirm the end of the transmission of the communication application 50 and the program of radio communication command 70, the central processing unit 45 decides whether the communication application 50 and the radio communication command program 70 have been fully received from the video game machine 2 or not in step S14. if the central processing unit 45 confirms that the communication application 50 and the radio communication command program 70 have been received completely from the video game machine 2, then the laptop ends the process of receiving the communication application 50 and the radio communication command program 70. if the central processing unit 45 confirms that the communication application 50 and the radio communication command program 70 have not been totally received, then the laptop 3 executes again the processing from step S13, In the data processing system 1, the above processing sequences of the video game machine 2 and the laptop 3 allow the game machine 2 provides the portable computer 3 with the communication application 50 and the radio communication program 70 for use with the portable computer 3 to thereby enable the portable computer 3 to carry out radio communications with the device 4 with the function of radio. With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, a process for sending data from the device 4 with the radio function to the video game machine 2 will be described below. The portable computer 3 executes the communication application 50 and the program Radio communication command 70 supplied from the video game machine 2 can carry out radio communications with the external device 4 with the radio function. In the step S21 illustrated in FIG. 7, the portable computer 3 decides whether there is a data reception position from the external device 4 with the radio function or not. If the portable computer 3 confirms that there is a request to receive data from the external device 4 with the radio function in step S21, then the central processing unit 45 of the portable computer 3 starts to communicate with the radio communication block ( not shown) of the device 4 with the radio function through the radio communication block 41 to establish a communication link between them in step S22. Then, the central processing unit 45 communicates with the serial communication core 17 of the video game machine 2 through the serial communication block 44 to establish a communication link between them in step S23. The central processing unit 45 stores data that has been received from the device 4 with the radio function through the communication link established in the work input 43 or in the non-volatile memory 42 in the step S24. The central processing unit 45 then sends the data stored in the working memory 43 or the non-volatile memory 42 to the video game machine 2 via the communication link established with the video game machine 2 in step S25 . In order to confirm the end of the reception of the data of the external device 4 with the radio function, the central processing unit 45 decides whether the data coming from the external device 4 with the radio function have been completely received or not in step S26 . If the central processing unit 45 confirms that the data coming from the external device 4 with the radio function has been fully received, then the portable computer 3 ends the process of receiving the data. If the central processing unit 45 confirms that the data from the external device with the radio function has not been fully received, then the portable computer 3 executes processing from step S24 again. Concurrently with the above process performed by the laptop 3, the video game machine 2 describes whether there is a request to receive data from the laptop 3 or not in the step S31 illustrated in figure 8. If the video game machine 2 confirms that there is a request to receive data from the laptop 3 in step S31, then the central processing unit 11 of the video game machine 2 begins communication with the communication block in series 34 of the laptop 3 through the serial communication block 17 to establish a communication frame in step S32. After, the central processing unit 11 stores data that has been received from the portable computer 3 through the telecommunication established in the main memory 14 in step S33. The processing in steps S32, S33 performed by the video game machine 2 corresponds to the processing in steps 823, 824 performed by the laptop 3. To confirm the end of the reception of the data coming from the laptop 3, the central processing unit decides whether the data coming from the laptop 3. have been fully received or not in step 834. If the central processing unit 11 confirms that the data coming from the laptop 3 have been fully received, then the video game machine 2 finishes the process of receiving the data. If the central processing unit 11 confirms that the data from the laptop 3 has not been fully received, then, the video game machine 2 executes processing from step S33 again. The above processing sequences allow the data processing system 1 to send the data from the external device 4 with the radio function to the video game machine 2 through the portable computer 3. The process for sending data to Starting from the video game machine 2 to the device 4 with the radio function, is the inverse of the previous process of sending data from the device 4 with the radio function to the video game machine 2, it will be described continued with reference to figures 9 and 10.

The central processing unit 11 of the video game machine 2 begins communication with the serial communication block 44 of the portable computer 3 through the serial communication block 17 to establish a communication link between them in step S41 illustrated in Figure 9. Then, the video game machine 2 decides whether there is a request for data transmission from the portable computer 3 or not in the step S42. The central processing unit 11 sends data that has been stored in the main memory 14 to the portable computer 3 via the communication link established in step S43. To confirm the end of the transmission of the data to the portable computer 3, the central processing unit 11 decides whether the data has been fully received or not in step S44. If the central processing unit 11 confirms that the data has been sent completely, then the video game machine 2 ends the process of sending the data. If the central processing unit 11 confirms that the data has not been sent completely, then the video game machine 2 executes the processing from step S43 again. Concurrently with the previous process performed by the video game machine 2, the laptop 3 decides whether there is a request for data reception from the video game machine 2 or not in the step S51 illustrated in the figure 10. If there is a request to receive data from the video game machine 2 in step S51, then the central processing unit 45 of the portable computer 3 begins to communicate with the serial communication block 17 of the video game machine 2 through the serial communication block 44 to establish a communication link between them in step S52. The central processing unit 45 also begins to communicate in the radio communication block (not shown) of the device 4 with the radio function through the radio communication block 41 to establish a communication link between them in step S53. In step S54, the central processing unit 45 sends a request for data transmission to the video game machine 2. The central processing unit 45 stores data that has been received from the video game machine 2 to through the communication link established between them in the working memory 43 or in the non-volatile memory 42 in step S55. The central processing unit 45 sends the data stored in the working memory 43 or in the non-volatile memory 42 to the device 4 with the radio function through the communication link established between them in step S56. The processing in steps S52, S55 performed by the laptop 3 corresponds to the processing in steps S41, S43 performed by the video game machine 2. To confirm the end of the reception of the data from the gaming machine of video 2, the central processing unit 45 decides whether the data from the video game machine 2 has been received in its entirety or not in step S47. if the central processing unit 45 confirms that the data from the video game machine 2 has been received in its entirety, then, the portable computer 3 completes the process of receiving the data. If the central processing unit 45 confirms that the data from the video game machine 2 has not been received in its entirety, then the portable computer 3 executes processing from step S55 again. The aforementioned processing sequences allow the data processing system 1 to send the data from the video game machine 2 to the external device 4 with the radio function through the portable computer 3. In the system of data processing 1, consequently, data can be transferred between the video game machine 2 and the external device 4 with the radio function through the laptop 3. In the data processing system, the video game machine 2 can process data which have been sent from the external device 4 with the radio function through the laptop 3 to the video game machine 2. a process for processing the data sent in this way will be described below with reference to figures 11 14. In step S61 illustrated in Figure 11, the laptop 3 decides whether there is a request to receive data from the external device 4 with the radio function or not. If the portable computer 3 confirms that there is a request to receive data from the external device 4 with the radio solution in step S61, then the central processing unit 45 of the portable computer 3 starts communicating with the radio communication block (not illustrated) of the device 4 with the radio function through the communication radio block 41 to establish a communication link between them in step S62. Then, the central processing unit 45 begins to communicate with the serial communication block 17 of the video game machine 2 through the serial communication block 44 to establish a communication link between them of the step S63. The central processing unit 45 stores data that has been received from the device 4 with the radio function through the communication link established between them in the working memory 43 or in the non-volatile memory 42 in the step S64. The central processing unit 45 then sends the data stored in the working memory 43 or in the non-volatile memory 42 to the video game machine 2 through the communication link established with the video game machine 2 in the Step S65. To confirm the end of the reception of the data from the external device 4 with the radio function, the central processing unit 45 decides whether the data coming from the external device 4 with the radio function have been totally received or not in the Step S66. If the Central Processing Unit 45 confirms that the data from the external device with the radio function has been fully received, then the control proceeds to step S67 illustrated in FIG. 12. If the central processing unit 45 confirms that the data from the external device 4 with the radio function have not been fully received, then, the laptop 3 executes the processing from step S64 again. Concurrently with the aforementioned process performed by the laptop 3, the video game machine 2 decides whether there is a data restriction request from the portable computer 3 or not in the step S81 illustrated in figure 13. If the video game machine 2 confirms that there is a request to receive data from the portable computer 3 in step S81, then the central processing unit 11 of the video game machine 2 starts to communicate with the block of serial communication 44 of the laptop 3 through the serial communication block 17 to establish a communication link between them in step S82. Then, the central processing unit 11 stores data that has been received from the portable computer 3 through the communication link established between them in the main memory 14 in step S83. The processing in steps S82, S83 performed by the video game machine 2 corresponds to the processing in steps S63, S64 performed by the laptop 3. To confirm the end of the reception of the data from the laptop 3 , the central processing unit 11 decides whether the data from the laptop has been totally received or not in step S84. If the central processing unit 11 confirms that the data of the portable computer 3 have been fully received, then the video game machine 2 processes the data in step S85. If the central processing unit 11 confirms that the data from the laptop 3 has not been fully received, then the video game machine 2 executes processing from step S83 again. After having fully received the data from the laptop 3, the video game machine 2 reads the data stored in the main memory 14. if the received data is image data, for example, the video game machine 2 process the data to change colors, for example. The video game machine 2, which also functions as a processing means, can process the data according to a programmed sequence. Alternatively, the video game machine 2 can process the data according to instructions entered by the user through the input block 12, which also functions as the processing means. Specifically, when the user presses a button on a controller (not illustrated) associated with the input block 12, the video game machine 2 may increase or reduce the clarity of the image data, for example, according to the time period during which the button is pressed continuously. Accordingly, the data sent from the external device 4 with the radio function through the laptop 3 to the video game machine 2 are processed by the video game machine 2. the processed data is then stored in the the main memory 14 of the video game machine 2. The processed data can be subsequently sent from the video game machine 2 through the laptop 3 to the device 4 with radio function. Specifically, the central processing unit 11 begins communication with the serial communication block 44 of the portable computer 3 through the serial communication block 17 to establish a communication link between them in step S86 illustrated in FIG. 14. The video game machine 2 decides whether there is a request for data transmission from the laptop 3 or not in step S87. If the video game machine 2 confirms that there is a data restriction request from the laptop 3 in step S87, then the central processing unit 11 sends the processed data stored in the main memory 14 to the laptop 3 through the communication link established between them in step S88. To confirm the end of the transmission of the data to the portable computer 3, the central processing unit 11 decides whether the data has been completely sent or not in step S89. If the central processing unit 11 confirms that the data has been sent completely, then the video game machine 2 ends the process of sending the data. If the central processing unit 11 confirms that the data has not been sent in its entirety, then the video game machine 2 executes processing from step S88 again. Concurrently with the aforementioned process performed by the video game machine 2, the portable computer 3 decides whether there is a request to receive data from the video game machine 2 or not in the step S67 illustrated in FIG. figure 12. If there is a request to receive data from the video game machine 2 in step S67, then the central processing unit 45 of the portable computer 3 starts to communicate with the serial communication block 17 of the video game machine 2 through the serial communication block 44 to establish a communication link between them in step S68. The central processing unit 45 also begins to communicate with the radio communication block (not shown) of the device 4 with the radio function through the radio communication block 41 to establish a communication link between them in step S69. In step S70, the central processing unit 45 sends a request for data transmission to the video game machine 2. The central processing unit 45 stores the processed data that has been received from the video game machine through the link of communication established in the working memory 43 or in the non-volatile memory 42 in step S71. The processing in step S68, S71, performed by the laptop 3 corresponds to the processing in step S86, S88 performed by the video game machine 2. The central processing unit 45 sends the data stored in the working memory 43 or in non-volatile memory 42 to device 4 with radio function through the communication link established in step S72. To confirm the end of the reception of the data from the video game machine 2, the central processing unit 45 decides whether the data from the video game machine 2 has been fully received or not in step S73 . If the central processing line 45 confirms that the data from video game 2 has been fully received, then the portable computer 3 finishes the process of receiving the data. If the central processing unit 45 confirms that the data from the video game machine has not been fully received, then the laptop 3 executes processing from step S71 again. The processing sequences described above allow the data processing system 1 to send the data from the external device 4 with the radio function to the video game machine 2 through the portable computer 3. after processing the data. data by the video game machine 2, the processed data is sent through the laptop 3 to the device 4 with radio function. In the data processing system 1, in accordance with what is described above, the communication application 50 and the radio communication driver 70 for the laptop 3 that are compatible with the device 4 with the radio function are supplied from from the video game machine 2 to the laptop 3 when required, and then executed by the laptop 3. therefore, it is not necessary for the communication application 50 and the radio communication command program 70 to reside in the laptop 3, and therefore computing resources of the portable computer 3 can be effectively employed. Since the portable computer 3 is easily removably connected to the video game machine 2, the communication application 50 and the program 70 radio remote control for the laptop 3 which are compatible with the device 4 with the radio function can be m Antenidos by the laptop 3, and the laptop 3 can be replaced each time the device 4 is changed with the radio function. Accordingly, several devices of different types can be connected to the video game machine 2. Even if the memory, for example, the non-volatile memory 42 of the laptop 3 is of a small storage capacity and can not store the entire of the data sent from the laptop 3 and received by the laptop 3, the laptop 3 can send and receive a large amount of data by successively sending data to the video game machine 2 or by means of the successive restriction of data from the video game machine 2. In the data processing system 1, the portable computer 3 does not need to be connected to the video game machine 1 in use. Once the portable computer 3 receives the communication application 50 and the radio communication command program 70 from the video game machine 2, since the portable computer 3 can execute the communication application 50, etc., through the input block 46, the portable computer 3 can operate the device 4 alone with the radio function. Accordingly, data from the device 4 with the radio function can be maintained by the laptop according to a control input action entered through the portable computer 3, and the portable computer 3 can subsequently be connected to the computer game machine. video 2 for data processing. Thus, a highly efficient system with good portability can be built. In the video game machine 2, the communication application 50 and the radio communication command program 70 have supplied the laptop 3 do not have to be registered in a recording medium such as a similar CD-ROM, but rather they can be acquired through communications with an external source. A data processing system 101 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figure 15. The data processing system 101 has a basic arrangement similar to the data processing system 1 in accordance with the first mode, except that 2 laptops 3 (a), 3 (b), are connected to the video game machine 2. the parts of the data processing system 101 that are identical to the parts of the video processing system. Data 1 is indicated by identical reference numbers, and will not be described in detail below. As shown in Figure 15, the data processing system 101 comprises a video game machine 2 which serves as a master unit for processing data and two portable computers 3 (a), 3 (b), each serving as a unit subordinate. The video game machine 2 has two terminals (not shown) in the serial communication block 17, and the portable computers 3 (a), 3 (b) can be connected removably to the video game machine 2 to through two terminals, as in the case of the first modality. The laptops 3 (a), 3 (b), have been supplied in advance with respective communication applications 50 and respective radio communication drivers 70 which are compatible with the respective devices 4 (a), 4 (b), with a function of radio. Each of the laptops 3 (a), 3 (b) is structurally identical to the laptop 3 in accordance with the first embodiment. In the data processing system 101, data can be input from the device 4 (a) with the radio function through the laptop 3 (a) to the video game machine 2, and the data can be sent from the video game machine 2 through the other laptop 3 (b) to the other device 4 (b) with the radio function. Specifically, the video game machine 2 and the laptop 3 (a) can carry out the processing sequences illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 to input data from the device 4 (a) with the radio function through from the laptop 3 (a) to the video game machine 2, and the video game machine 2, and the video game machine 2 and the laptop 3 (b) can perform the processing sequences illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 for inputting data from the video game machine 2 through the portable computer 3 (b) to the device 4 (b) with the radio function. Accordingly, with the laptops 3 (a), 3 (b), connected to the video game machine 2, the portable 3 (a) can transmit input data to the video game machine 2 and the other portable computer 3 (b) can transmit output data from the video game machine 2, independently of each other. In the data processing system 101, accordingly, the video game machine 2 and the two portable computers 3 (a), 3 (b) can be connected between them and send and receive data.

In the data processing system 101, furthermore, data from the device 4 (a) with the radio function can be processed by the video game machine 2. for said data processing, the data entered from the device 4 (a) with the radio function through the laptop 3 (a) towards the video game machine 2 in steps S61 to S66 illustrated in figure 11 and steps S81 to S84 illustrated in figure 13 are processed by the video game machine 2 in the steps S85 shown in figure 13, and the processed data are sent to the other portable computer 3 (b) and transmitted to the other device 4 (b) with the radio function in the steps S67 to S73 shown in Figure 12 and steps S86 to S89 shown in Figure 14. At this time, the data can be processed by the video game machine 2 in accordance with a control input action input by the user through the block 12. In the data processing system 101, the data sent successively from the device 4 (a) with the radio function through the laptop 3 (a) to the video game machine 2 may be processed by the video game machine 2, and the processed data can be sent through the laptop 3 (b) to the other device 4 (b) with the radio function and used by the device 4 (b) with the radio function.

In the data processing system 101, in addition, if the device 4 (a) with the radio function can communicate with the laptops 3 (a), 3 (b) through radio links, then data successively sent to from device 4 (a) with the radio function through the laptop 3 (a) to the video game machine 2 can be processed by the video game machine 2, and the processed data can be sent to through the laptop 3 (b) back to device 4 (a) with the radio function. A data processing system 151 in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figure 16. The data processing system 151 has a basic arrangement similar to the data processing system 101 in accordance with the second mode, except that three or more laptops are connected to the video game machine 2. the parts of the data processing system 151 that are identical to the parts of the data processing system 101 are indicated by reference numbers identical, and will not be described in detail below. In the illustrated embodiment, three laptops 3 (a), 3 (b), 3 (c) are connected to the video game machine 2. As shown in Fig. 16, the data processing system 151 comprises a video game machine 2 that serves as a master unit for processing data, three laptops, 3 (a), 3 (b), 3 (c) each serving as a subordinate unit, and a connection center 5 through the which laptops 3 (a), 3 (b), 3 (c) are connected to the video game machine 2. the connection center 5 is used to provide a sufficient number of terminals if the terminals (not illustrated) of the serial communication block 17 of the video game machine 2 are smaller than the number of portable computers to be connected. The connection center 5 is connected to a terminal of the video game machine 2, and several portable computers are connected removably to the connection center 5. the terminals of the connection center 5 and the terminal of the Video game 2 have identical electrical and physical specifications. In the data processing system 151, the three laptops 3 (a), 3 (b), 3 (c) are electrically connected to the video game machine 2 by the connection center 5. the laptops 3 ( to), 3 (b), 3 (c) have received in advance respective communication applications 50 and respective radio communication drivers 70 compatible with devices 4 (a), 4 (b), 4 (c) with a radio function. Each of the portable computers 3 (a), 3 (b), 3 (c) is structurally identical to the portable computer 3 in accordance with the first embodiment. In the data processing system 151, as in the case of the data processing system 101 in accordance with the second embodiment, a portable computer for supplying data to the video game machine 2, and a portable gaming computer for receiving data from the video game machine 2 may be different from each other. Specifically, in the data processing system 151, the video game machine 151 and the laptops 3 (a), 3 (b) can carry out the sequences of operations illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 to input data to from the devices 4 (a), 4 (b) with the radio function through the laptops- 3 (a), 3 (b) towards the video game machine 2, and the video game machine 2 and the portable computer '3 (c) can perform the processing sequences illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 to input data from the video game machine 2 through the portable computer 3 (c) to the device 4 (c) with the radio function. For the operation mode of this type, the user operates the input block 12 to set the laptops 3 (a), 3 (b), as laptops to input data to the video game machine 2, and establish the laptop 3 (c) as a laptop to send data from the video game machine 2. In addition, adjustments are made to the communication application 50 supplied from the video game machine 2 or another application performed by the video game machine 2 to distinguish laptops 3 (a), 3 (b) to input data to the video game machine 2 to-from the laptop 3 (c) to send data from of the video game machine 2. Even with several laptops connected to the video game machine 2 by the connection center 5, they can be divided into computers to input data from external devices with a function of radio to the video game machine 2 and computers to input data from the video game machine 2 to external devices with a radio function, and the different groups of portable computers can enter the data independently between them. In the data processing system 151, therefore, the video game machine 2 and the 3 or more laptops can be connected to each other to send and receive data. In the data processing system 151, furthermore, as in the case of the data processing system 101 according to the second embodiment, the data entered from the devices 4 (a), 4 (b) with the function of radio through the laptops 3 (a), 3 (b) towards the video game machine 2 in steps S61 to S66 illustrated in figure 11 and in steps S81 to S84 shown in figure 13 are processed by the video game machine 2 in the step S85 shown in figure 13, and the processed data are sent to the other portable computer 13 and transmitted to the other device 4 (c) with the radio function in the steps S67 to S73 illustrated in figure 12 and in steps S86 to S89 shown in figure 14. accordingly, the data entered from the devices 4 (a), 4 (b) with the radio function through the laptops 3 ( a), 3 (b) to the video machine 2 can be processed by the machine video game 2, and the processed data can be sent through the laptop 3 (c) to the device (c) with the radio function. In the data processing system 151, the laptops connected to the video game machine 2 are not limited to 3 laptops, but there can be as many laptops as possible. A data processing system 201 in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figure 17. The data processing system 201 has a basic arrangement similar to the data processing system 1 in accordance with the first mode, except that two devices with a radio function are connected to the laptop 3. the parts of the data processing system 101 which are identical to the parts of the data processing system 1 are indicated by the number of identical references, and will not be described in detail below. As shown in Figure 17, the data processing system 201 comprises a video game machine 2 that serves as a master unit for processing data and a portable computer 3 serving as a subordinate unit. The portable computer 3 is removably connected to the video game machine 2. the portable computer 3 is connected to two devices 4 (a), 4 (b) with a radio function for radio communications between them in one time division mode or bandwidth division. The laptop 3 has received in advance communications applications 50 and radio communication boosters 70 compatible with the respective devices 4 (a), 4 (b) with the radio function. In the data processing system 201, the portable computer 3 can receive data from the device 4 (a) with the radio function, and output data from the video game machine 2 to the other device 4 (b) ) with the radio function. In the data processing system 201, specifically, communication links established between a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figure 18. The data processing system 251 has a basic arrangement similar to the processing system of data 201 in accordance with the fourth embodiment, except that 3 or more devices with a radio function are connected to the laptop 3. the data processing system parts 201 that are identical to the parts of the data processing system. Data 1 is indicated by identical reference numbers and will not be described in detail below. In the illustrated embodiment, three devices 4 (a), (b), 4 (c) with a radio function are connected to the laptop 3. As shown in Fig. 18, the data processing system 251 comprises a video game machine 2 that serves as a master unit for processing data and a laptop 3 that serves as a subordinate unit. The portable computer 3 is removably connected to the video game machine 2. the portable computer 3 is connected to three devices 4 (a), 4 (b), 4 (c) with a radio function for radio communications between they split time or divide bandwidth. The laptop 3 has received in advance communication applications 50 and radio communication boosters 70 compatible with the respective devices 4 (a), 4 (b), 4 (c) with the radio function. In the radio processing system 251, the portable computer 3 can receive data from the devices 4 (a), 4 (b) with the radio function, and send data from the video game machine 2 to the device 4 (c) with the radio function. In the data processing system 251, specifically, the communication links established between the laptop 3 and the devices with the radio function change in such a way that the data coming from the devices 4 (a), 4 (b) with the radio function are received by the laptop 3 in steps S61 to S66 illustrated in figure 11 and the data sent from the video game machine 2 are sent to the device 4 (c) with the radio function a through the laptop 3 in steps S67 to S73 illustrated in figure 12. For such an operation mode, the user operates the input block 12 to establish the devices 4 (a), 4 (b) with the radio function as devices for entering data to the portable computer 3, and to establish the device 4 (c) with the function of radio with the devices to be supplied with data from the laptop 3 in the data processing system 251. In addition, the settings made in the communication application 50 supplied from the video game machine 2 or another application executed by the video game machine 2 to distinguish the devices 4 (a), 4 (b) with the radio function to enter data to the laptop 3 of the device 4 (c) with the radio function to receive data from of the laptop 3 between them in the data processing system 251. In the data processing system 251, accordingly, the laptop 3 and the three or more devices with the function Radio can be connected to each other to send and receive data. In the data processing system 251, as in the case of the processing system of. data 201 according to the fourth mode, data sent successively from the devices 4 (a), 4 (b) with the radio function through the laptop 3 to the video game machine 2 can be processed by the video game machine 2, and the processed data can be sent through the laptop 3 to the device 4 (c) with the radio function and used by the device 4 (c) with the radio function. A video entertainment system as a specific example of the data processing systems in accordance with the above embodiments will be described below with reference to Figures 19 to 26. In Figures 19 to 26, the data processing system comprises a video game machine 2 and a laptop 3 (the laptops 3 (a), 3 (b), 3 (c) in the second and third modes) are arranged in a video entertainment system comprising an apparatus of video game 301 and a portable electronic device 400. The video game machine 2 corresponds to the video game apparatus 301, and the portable computer 3 corresponds to the portable electronic device 400. specifically, the central processing unit 11 and the main memory 14 of the video game machine 2 correspond respectively to a central processing unit 351 and a main memory 353 of the video game apparatus eo 301 illustrated in Fig. 22, and the radio communication block 41, the non-volatile memory 42, and the central processing unit 45 of the portable computer 3 correspond respectively to a wireless communication medium 448, a non-volatile memory 446, and a control means 441 illustrated in FIG. 25. As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the video game apparatus 301 reads an application program from a recording medium, and executes the application program in accordance with instructions received from the user, that is, the player. For example, the video game apparatus 301 executes a game program primarily to carry out a game, display game images, and produce sounds. The video game apparatus 301 has a rectangular box 302 that alludes a disk loading unit 303 in a substantially central manner to load an optical disk such as a CD-ROM or the like, as a recording medium to supply an application program as for example a game program or similar. Box 302 supports a reset switch 304 for resetting a video game, a power supply switch 305, a disk control switch 306 for controlling the loading of the optical disk, and two slots 307 (A), 307 (B ). The video game apparatus 301 can be supplied with an application program through a communication link, instead of being supplied from the recording medium. The portable electronic device 400 and a manual controller 320 may be connected to the slots 307 (A), 307 (B). A memory card system (not shown) can also be connected to slots 307 (A), 307 (B). The hand controller 320 has a first control pad 321 and a second control pad 322, a left button 323 (L), a right button 323 (R), a start button 324, a selector button 325, control pads analog 331, 332, a mode selector switch 333 for selecting control modes for the analog control pads 331, 332, and an indicator 334 to indicate a selected control mode. The manual controller 320 also has a vibration supply mechanism (not shown) placed there to provide vibrations to the manual controller 320 as the video game progresses. The hand controller 320 is electrically connected to the slot 307 (B) in the case 302 through a connector 326. If two manual controllers 320 are respectively connected to the slots 307 (A), 307 (B), two users or players They can share in video entertainment system to play a competition game, for example. The video game apparatus 301 may have more or less than two slots 307 (A), 307 (B). As shown in Figures 21 to 23, the portable electronic device 400 has a frame 401 that supports a manual control pad 420 for inputting various information elements, a display unit 430, such as a liquid crystal display unit (LCD) or the like, and a window 440 for wireless communication, such as infrared communication with a wireless communication command unit (not shown). The frame 401 comprises an upper lining 401 (a) and a lower lining 401 (b), and houses a board supporting memory devices, etc., there. The frame 401 has a shape such that it can be inserted into any of the slots 307 (a), 307 (b) in the box 302.

The window 440 is shown at a substantially semicircular end of the frame 401. the display unit 430 occupies an area that substantially represents half of the upper lining 401 (a) of the frame 401 and is positioned near the window 440. The control pad manual 420 has several control buttons 421, 422 to enter events and to make several choices. The manual control pad 420 substantially occupies the other half of the upper lining 401 (a) and is remotely positioned relative to the window 440. The manual control pad 420 is placed in an angularly movable lid 410 which is supported in the frame 401. the control buttons 421, 422, extend through the cover 410 from its upper surface to its lower surface. The control buttons 421, 422 are supported on the lid 410 for movement in and out of the upper surface of the lid 410. The portable electronic device 400 has a board placed in the frame 401 and facing the lid 410 when is closed in the beater 401. the board supports a plurality of switch pressers held in alignment with the respective control buttons 421, 422 when the layer 410 is closed in the frame 401. when one of the control buttons 421, 422 is pressed by the user, activates the corresponding switch presser to press a pressure switch such as a diaphragm switch. As shown in Figure 20, the portable electronic device 400 with the lid 410 open is inserted into the slot 307 (A) in the box 302 of the video game apparatus 301. The video game apparatus 301 and the electronic device Portable 400 have appearances and respective structures in accordance with what is described above. Figures 22 and 23 show circuit arrangements of the video game apparatus 301 and the portable electronic device 400. As shown in Figure 24, the video game apparatus 301 comprises a control system 350 that includes a central unit of processing (CPU) 351 and its peripheral devices, a graphics system 360 including a graphics processing unit (GPU) 362 for graphically displaying image data in a frame buffer 363, a sound system 370 including a processing unit (SPU) 371 for generating musical sounds and sound effects, an optical disc driver 380 for controlling an optical disc in which application programs are recorded, a communication controller 390 for controlling signals from the manual controller 320 which enter instructions from the user, and data supplied to the memory card 500 and from the memory card 500 which stores conditions and the portable electronic device 400, and a bus 395 to which the control system 350 is connected, the graphic system 360, the sound system 370, the optical disk controller 380 and the communication controller 390, an interface 1/0 in parallel (PIÓ) 396 and a 1/0 serial interface (SIO) 397 that connects with another device. The control system 350 comprises a central processing unit 351, a peripheral device controller 352 for controlling the direct memory access data (DMA) transfer, a main memory 353 comprising a random access memory (RAM) and a memory read-only (ROM) 354 which stores a program such as an operating system or the like to manage the main memory 353, the graphic system 360, and the sound system 370. The central processing unit 351 controls the game apparatus of video 301 in its entirety by running the operating system stored in the read-only memory 354. When the video game apparatus 351 is turned on, the central processing unit 351 executes the operating system stored in the read-only memory 354 to start control of the graphic system 360, of the sound system 370, etc. For example, when the operating system is exempted, the central processing unit 351 initializes the video game apparatus 301 in its entirety to confirm its operation, and then controls the optical disk controller 380 to execute an application program registered in the optical disk. According to the application program, the central processing unit 351 controls the graphic system 360, the sound system 370, etc. , according to the instructions entered by the user to control in this way the visualization of images and the generation of musical sounds and sound effects. The central processing unit 351 corresponds to the central processing unit 11 of the video game machine 2 and retrieves data received by the portable electronic device 400 and sent there. The graphic system 360 functions as the graphics processor 15 of the video game machine 2. the graphic system 360 comprises a geometry transfer engine (GTE) 361 to carry out the transformation of coordinates and other processing, a processing unit graph 362 to graphically represent image data in accordance with commands from the central processing unit 351, a frame buffer 363 for storing image data graphically represented by the graphics processing unit 362, and an image decoder 364 for decoding compressed image data and encoded by an orthogonal transformation, such as a discrete cosine transformation. The GTE 361 has an arithmetic mechanism in parallel to perform a plurality of arithmetic operations in parallel, among them, and can perform coordinate transformations, light source calculations, matrices, or vectors, at high speed with respect to a request from the central processing unit 351. specifically, GTE 361 can calculate the coordinates of a maximum of 1.5 polygon ions per second for a flat shading process to graphically represent a triangular polygon with a color for example. With GTE 361, the video game apparatus 301 can reduce the load on the central processing unit 351 and carry out high speed coordinate calculations. According to a graphic image representation command from the central processing unit 351, the graphics processing unit 362 graphically represents a polygon or the like in the frame buffer 363. The graphics processing unit 362 can graphically represent a maximum of 360,000 polygons per second. The frame buffer 363 comprises a double-door random access memory and can simultaneously store image data graphically represented by the graphics processing unit 36 or image data transferred from the main memory 353, and read image data for its visualization The frame buffer 363 has a storage capacity of one Mbytes, for example, and is handled as a 16-bit array consisting of a horizontal row of 1024 pixels and a vertical column of 512 pixels. The frame buffer 363 has a display area for storing image data to be extracted as video output data, a CLUT area (color reference table) for storing a reference table of colors to which reference can be made by the graphics processing unit 362 when graphically representing a polygon or the like, and a texture area for storing texture data to be subjected to coordinate transformations when a polygon is graphically represented in a polygon represented graphically by the unit graphics processing 362. The CLUT area and the texture area vary dynamically as the display area varies. The image decoder 364 is controlled by the central processing unit 351 for decoding image data of a moving or static image stored in the main memory 353, and stores the decoded image in the main memory 353. image data reproduced by the image decoder 364 are transferred to the frame buffer 363 by the graphics processing unit 362, and can be used as a background for a displayed image graphically by the graphics processing unit 362. The sound system 370 comprises a sound processing unit 371 for generating musical sounds, sound effects, etc., based on commands from the central processing unit 351, a memory intermediate sounds 372 for storing waveform data from the sound processing unit 371, and a speaker 373 for producing musical sounds, sound effects, etc., generated by the sound processing unit 371. The processing unit 371 has an ADPCM (Adaptive Differential PCM) function to reproduce 16-bit sound data that has been encoded as data of 4-bit differential sounds per ADPCM, a reproduction function for reproducing the waveform data stored in the sound buffer 372 for generating sound effects, etc., and a modulation function for modulating and reproducing the waveform data stored in the sound buffer 372. The sound system 370 can be used as a source of sampling sounds that generates musical sounds, sound effects, etc., based on waveform data. stored in the sound buffer 372 in accordance with commands from the central processing unit 351. The optical disk controller 380 comprises an optical disk drive 381 for reproducing application programs and data recorded on an optical disk, for example a CD-ROM or the like, a decoder 382 for decoding programs and data recorded with an error correction code (ECC) added there, and a buffer 383 for temporarily storing read data from optical disk drive 381 in order to allow data from the optical disk to be read at high speed. A central auxiliary processing unit 384 is connected to the decoder 382. Sound data recorded on the optical disc that is read by the optical disc unit 381 includes PCM data converted from analog sound signals, in addition to the ADPCM data. The ADPCM data, recorded as differential data of four 16-bit digital data bits, is decoded by the decoder 382, supplied to the sound processing unit 371, converted in this way into analog data, and applied to drive the horn 373 .

The communication controller 390 comprises a communication control mechanism 391 for controlling communication with the central processing unit 351 via the bus 395, a controller connector 309 to which the manual controller 320 is connected to enter instructions from the user , and a pair of memory card insertion units 308 (A), 308 (B) (see also figure 20) to receive the memory card 300 as an auxiliary memory device for storing game conditions, etc. , and the portable electronic device 400, the memory card insertion units 308 (A), 308 (B) controlled by the communication control mechanism 391. The video game apparatus 301 of the above construction may have the same functions as the video game machine 2. Specifically, the video game apparatus 301 sends the communication application 50 and the radio communication command program 70 for the compatible electronic device 400, which is registered in the recording medium or similar, towards the portable electronic device 400 through the communication control mechanism 391. the video game apparatus 301 stores the received data transmitted from the portable electronic device 400 through the communication control mechanism 391 in the memory 353. The video game apparatus 301 processes the received data and sends the processed data to the electronic device. or portable 400. As shown in Fig. 25, the electronic device 400 comprises a control means 441, a device connection connector 442, an input means 443, a display means 444, a clock function unit 445 , a volatile memory 446, a speaker 447, a wireless communication means 448, and a radio reception means 449 as a data transmission / reception means, a battery 450 and a power supply terminal 451 and a diode 452 as half power supply. The control means 441 comprises a microcomputer, for example. The control means 441 functions as the central processing unit 45 of the portable computer 3, for example. The controller means 441 has a program memory 441 (a) placed there as a program storage means. The device connection connector 442 serves as a connection means for connecting to a slot of another information handling device or the like. The input means 443 serves as the input block means 46 of the portable computer 3. the input means 443 comprises control buttons for controlling a program stored in the program memory 441 (a). The display means 444 serves as the display block 47 of the portable computer 3. The display means 444 comprises a liquid crystal display unit or the like to display various information elements. The clock function unit 445 is arranged to display the time in the display means 444, for example. The non-volatile memory 446 serves to store various data. For example, the non-volatile memory 446 comprises a semiconductor memory such as for example an instant memory which is capable of retaining the stored data even when the portable electronic device 400 is turned off. Since the portable electronic device 400 has the battery 450, the Non-volatile memory 446 may comprise a static random access memory (SRAM) capable of storing and reading data at high speed. The non-volatile memory 446 corresponds to the non-volatile memory 42 of the portable computer 3. The non-volatile memory 446 stores the communication application 50 and the radio communication command program 70, supplied from the recording medium or the like in the apparatus of video game 301 required for the portable electronic device 400 to be able to effect radio communications with the external device 4 with the radio function, and also stores data received by the portable electronic device 400. The portable electronic device 400 may have a memory (not shown) corresponding to the working memory 43 of the portable computer 3 for storing the communication application 50, in the program command radio communication 70, and data received. The battery 450 allows the portable electronic device 400 to operate independently even when the portable electronic device 400 is removed from the slots 307 (A), 307 (B) in the box 302 of the video game apparatus 301. The battery 450 comprises a rechargeable secondary battery. When the portable electronic device 400 is inserted into any of the slots 307 (A), 307 (B) in the box 302 of the video game apparatus 301, the battery 450 receives electrical power from the video game apparatus 301. Specifically , the battery 450 has a terminal connected to the power supply terminal 450 through a reverse current prevention diode 451. When the portable electronic device 400 is connected to the box 302, the electrical energy is supplied from the power supply terminal 450 through the reverse current prevention diode 451 to the battery 450. The wireless communication means 448 has a radio communication block 41 of the portable computer 3, and is arranged to perform data communications with another memory card or similar through infrared radiation. The wireless communication means 448 is also arranged to receive various data sent from another memory card or the like. The radio reception means 449 is arranged to receive various data transmitted by a radio broadcast. A 447 speaker is constructed as a sound generating means to generate sounds according to a program. The aforementioned components or means of the portable electronic device 400 are connected to the control means 441, and are operated under the control of the control means 441. Figure 26 shows elements of the control means 441. As shown in Figure 26, the control means 441 has a connection interface with apparatus for connection to an information handling apparatus, a memory interface for sending data to a memory and entering data from a memory, a display interface, an input interface of control, a sound interface, a wireless communication interface, a clock management interface, and a program download interface. The portable electronic device 400, which has the input means 443, such as for example electron switches for controlling a program to be executed and the display means 444, such as for example a liquid crystal display unit (LCD), in addition to the functions of the laptop 3, it also serves as a portable gaming device when running a game application. The portable electronic device 400 has a function for downloading an application program from the video game apparatus 301 and storing the downloaded application program in the program memory 441 a in the microcomputer 441. With such a function, it is possible to change easily the application programs and the various programmatic commands operating in the portable electronic device 400. The portable electronic device 400 constructed in this way can have the same functions as the laptop 3. Specifically, the portable electronic device 400 stores the application communication 50 and the radio communication control program 70 from the video game apparatus 301 in the non-volatile memory 446 or in a memory not illustrated, so that the portable electronic device 400 can carry out radio communications with the device external 4 with the radio function. Then, the portable electronic device 400 receives data sent from the external device 4 with the radio function through the wireless communication means 448, and stores the received data in non-volatile memory 446 or memory not illustrated. The stored data is sent through the device connection connector 442 to the video game apparatus 301. the portable electronic device 400 also receives data from the video game apparatus 301, and stores the received data in the non-volatile memory 446 or memory not illustrated. The stored data is sent through the wireless communication means 448 to the external device 4 with the radio function. The entertainment system described above is a specific example of a video game machine 2 and the portable computer 3. Accordingly, the data processing system 1 comprising the video game machine 2 and the portable computer 3 can send data to the external device 4 with radio solution and can receive data from said external device 4 with radio function, and also functions as a video entertainment system. The external device 4 with the radio function can be any device insofar as it has a radio function. For example, the external device 4 with the radio function can be a digital camera, a notebook type personal computer, a personal desktop computer, a portable telephone device, or the like. The data sent from the device 4 with the radio function to the video game machine 2 can be image data, for example. Since the video game apparatus 301 has a very high capacity to process image data, the data processing system can avoid high-speed images. Using the real-time data processing capability of the video game apparatus 301, the data processing system is capable of processing data in response to a control input action entered by the user. Although certain embodiments of the present invention were shown and described in detail, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (15)

1. CLAIMS A system for processing data, comprising: a master unit (2) to process data; and a subordinate unit (3) removably connected to said master unit; said subordinate unit comprises: a communication means (41) for sending data to an external device (4) having a wireless communication function and for receiving data from an external device (4) having a wireless communication function; and a memory means [(42) and / or (43)] to store entered data; said master unit comprises: a data supply means (11) for acquiring and providing data including control program of communication means for enabling wireless communications with said subordinate unit and said external device; the arrangement is such that said data supply means supplies said communication medium control program to said subordinate unit, and said subordinate unit stores said communication medium control program supplied from said master unit in said memory means . A system according to claim 1, wherein said data supply means comprises means for reading said media control program from a registration means removably loaded in said master unit and sends said control program of communication means to said subordinate unit. A system according to claim 1, wherein said subordinate unit and said external device have means for carrying out wireless communications between them through infrared rays. A system according to claim 1, wherein said subordinate unit comprises means for receiving data sent from said external device to said subordinate unit through said communication means, and for transferring the received data to said master unit. A system according to claim 1, wherein said subordinate unit comprises means supplied with the data processed by said master unit and for sending the processed data to said external device through said communication means. A system according to claim 1, wherein said master unit comprises a processing means for processing input data supplied from said unit subordinate to said master unit, the array is such that said master unit is supplied with data that said subordinate unit has received from said external device as said input data, said processing means processes said input data in order to produce processed data and said subordinate unit receives the processed data from said master unit and sends the processed data as transmitted data to said external device through said communication means. A system according to claim 6, wherein said master unit has a manual control input means (46) for an operator to input a control input, said processing means is operable to process data in response to said control input entered through said manual control input means. A system according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of said subordinate units removably connected to said master unit, where said master unit is supplied with input data from several of said subordinate units and sends processed data to other units. subordinates different from said several subordinate units. A system according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of external devices connected to said subordinate unit by said communication means, wherein said subordinate unit receives data sent from several of said external devices and sends the received data to other external devices that said several external devices. 10. A system according to claim 1, wherein said master unit comprises a video game machine, and said subordinate unit comprises a portable information communication terminal. A system according to claim 1, wherein said master unit comprises a video game machine, said subordinate unit comprises a portable information communication terminal, and said external device comprises a digital camera or a personal computer. 12. A data processing method with a master unit (
2. 2) for processing data and a subordinate unit
3. (3) removably connected to said master unit and having a memory means [(42) and / or (43)] and communication means (41) comprising the steps of: supplying a medium control program of communication that said master unit has acquired to allow wireless communications between said subordinate unit and an external device having a wireless communication function with said subordinate unit; storing said media control program in said memory means of said slave unit; and sending and receiving data between said subordinate unit and said external device through said communication means (41). 13. An apparatus (3) for sending and receiving data, comprising: a communication means (41) for sending data to an external device (4) having a wireless communication function and for receiving data from an external device (
4. 4) that has a wireless communication function; and memory means [(42) and / or (43)] to store entered data; wherein said apparatus receives a communication medium control program to carry out wireless communications with the external device from a data processing apparatus (2). 14. An apparatus according to claim 13 for carrying out wireless communications with said external device through infrared rays. 15. An apparatus according to claim 13, for receiving data from said external device through said communication means and for transferring the received data to said data processing apparatus. . An apparatus according to claim 13, to be supplied with processed data extracted from said data processing apparatus and to send the processed data to said external device through said communication means. . An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said apparatus comprises a portable information communication terminal, and said data processing apparatus comprises a video game machine. . an apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said apparatus comprises a portable information communication terminal, said data processing apparatus comprising a video game machine, and said external device comprising a digital camera or a personal computer. . A method for sending and receiving data, comprising the steps of: carrying out wireless communications from a data sending and receiving apparatus (3) with an external device (4) having a wireless communication function in accordance with a program for controlling the communication medium supplied from a data processing apparatus (12); transferring the data received from said external device of said apparatus for sending and receiving data to said data processing apparatus; and sending the processed data entered from said data processing apparatus of said apparatus for sending and receiving data to said external device.