MXPA01006985A

MXPA01006985A - Entertainment system and recording medium

Info

Publication number: MXPA01006985A
Application number: MXPA/A/2001/006985A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Masayuki Chatani
Original assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc
Priority date: 1999-01-12
Filing date: 2001-07-10
Publication date: 2002-06-05

Abstract

An entertainment system has an entertainment apparatus (14) for executing various programs, at least one manual controller (12) connected to the entertainment apparatus (14) for entering manual control requests from the user into the entertainment apparatus (14), and a portable information terminal (32) for receiving a wireless signal and sending information to and receiving information from at least the entertainment apparatus (14). The manual controller (12) having motors (130) for applying vibrations to the user in response to an external request. The entertainment apparatus (14) has a vibration generation instructing unit (302) for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations to the manual controller (12) in response to the reception of a wireless signal by the portable information terminal (32).

Description

ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM AND RECORD MEDIA TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an entertainment system comprising an entertainment apparatus for executing several programs, at least one manual control for the entry of requests for control of a user to the entertainment apparatus, and a portable information tnal capable of receiving wireless information from at least the entertainment apparatus, and a recording medium which stores downloaded programs to the entertainment apparatus and the portable information tnal. BACKGROUND OF THE ART Information apparatuses (entertainment systems) such as entertainment apparatuses that include video game machines display images of an ego stored in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or the like in the display screen of a television receiver when proceeding the game in response to commands of the manual controller operated by the player of the game. The entertainment apparatus and the hand controller in the entertainment system are normally connected to each other by means of a serial interface. When a clock signal is sent from the entertainment apparatus to the manual controller, the manual controller sends information of key changes corresponding to a control action entered by the user in synchronization with the clock signal. Recently, an entertainment system has been developed and used in which a manual controller has a vibration generator to apply vibrations to the user in response to a request from an external source (for example, the entertainment apparatus). While the game is running, for example, the vibration generator imparts different types of vibrations to the user in response to control actions entered by the user. Portable information tnals capable of receiving different information elements transmitted from wireless search systems and from transmission systems have been proposed. Said portable information tnals include, seekers, for example, and are capable of receiving service distribution services to distribute information including information on the weather, information on events, etc. Therefore, portable information tnals such as search engines have been independent devices, and have not been used connected to entertainment devices. Some portable personal computers incorporate portable information tnals. These portable information tnals indicate the reception of a wireless signal by displaying a message on the display screen or generating a sound, but do not have any tactile means to indicate the reception of a wireless signal to the user. A computer system has not been available in which several portable information tnals can be connected to a single entertainment device and simultaneously used by several users. Even if the various portable information tnals were connected to a single entertainment device, there would not be an available function to selectively transmit information to the user corresponding to data received by a portable information tnal. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an entertainment system in which a portable information tnal can be connected to an entertainment device and used by a user, and the reception of a signal by the tnal Portable information can be transferred to the user through tactile sensation. Another object of the present invention is to provide an entertainment system in which the properties (intensity, frequency and type of generator) of vibrations imparted to the user can be varied depending on a signal received by the portable information tnal, so that the user can recognize the signal received through the tactile sensation. Another object of the present invention is to provide an entertainment system in which a plurality of portable information terminals can be connected to a single entertainment device and used by respective users, and the information can be selectively transmitted to the user corresponding to data received. by the portable information terminal. Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium which stores a program to allow the connection of a portable information terminal to an entertainment device and its use by a user, and also to allow a signal received by the terminal of portable information is transmitted to the user through the tactile sensation. Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium which stores a program to allow the properties (intensity, frequency and type of generator) of vibrations imparted to a user to be varied depending on a signal received by a portable information terminal , so that the user can recognize the signal received through the tactile sensation. A further object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium which stores a program to allow the connection of a plurality of portable information terminals to a single entertainment device and its use by respective users, and to also allow the information is selectively transmitted to the user corresponding to data received by a portable information terminal. According to the present invention, an entertainment system comprises an entertainment apparatus for executing various programs, at least one manual controller connected to the entertainment apparatus for inputting user control requests to the entertainment apparatus, and a portable information terminal to receive a wireless signal and send information to and receive information from at least the entertainment apparatus, the hand controller has vibration generation means to apply vibrations to the user in response to an external request, the entertainment apparatus has means of instruction of generation of vibrations to exit an instruction to generate vibrations to the hand controller in response to the reception of a wireless signal by the portable information terminal. With the arrangement mentioned above, the portable information terminal can be connected to the entertainment apparatus and used by the user, and the reception of a signal by the portable information terminal can be transferred to the user through the tactile sensation. As a result, the user can receive specific or arbitrary information by means of a wireless signal while viewing the display screen of a television receiver connected to the entertainment system. Since the hand controller vibrates when the portable information terminal receives the information, the user can recognize that specific or arbitrary information has been received by detecting the vibrations of the hand controller. If the user is playing a game of competition together with another player of the game via the Internet, then a result produced by an action can be transmitted with vibrations to the other user, so that the game can be played with an effect highly realistic The entertainment apparatus may have monitoring means for monitoring the reception of data by the portable information terminal, the vibration generation instruction means comprising means for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations to the manual controller in response to the reception of data. as detected by the monitoring means. The portable information terminal can have vibration generation interruption means to generate? an interruption signal in response to receiving a wireless signal, the vibration generation instruction means to output an instruction to generate 5 vibrations to the manual controller in response to the interruption signal. The entertainment apparatus may have selection means for selecting at least one of the plurality f of manual controllers connected to the apparatus of Entertainment Depending on the content of a wireless signal received by the portable information terminal, the vibration generation instruction means comprises means for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations to one of the manual controllers selected. In said arrangement, of the manual controllers, the manual controller corresponding to the content of the wireless signal received by the portable information terminal is vibrated. Therefore, when a plurality of users or players operating respective manual controllers connected to an entertainment apparatus are extracting various information elements or playing a competitive game, the reception of a wireless signal by the portable information terminal is transmitted as 25 vibrations to one of the users which corresponds to the content of the wireless signal. A plurality of portable information terminals and a plurality of manual controllers can be connected to the entertainment apparatus, and a vibration generating instruction means can comprise means for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations to the hand controller corresponding to the portable information terminal which has received the wireless signal. Therefore, a plurality of portable information terminals can be connected to a single entertainment device and used by respective users, and information can be selectively transmitted to the user corresponding to data received by a portable information terminal. The vibration generation instruction means may comprise means for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations to one of the manual controllers which is physically closest to the portable information terminal which has received the wireless signal. Alternatively, the vibration generating instruction means may comprise means for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations to one of the manual controllers which is logically associated with the portable information terminal which has received the wireless signal.

The instruction for generating vibrations obtained from the vibration generation instruction means may include a property of the vibrations depending on the signal received by the portable information terminal. In the entertainment system, the properties (intensity, frequency and type of vibration) of the vibrations imparted to a user can be varied depending on a signal received by a portable information terminal, so that the user can recognize the received signal through tactile sensations. In accordance with the present invention, a recording medium stores a program and data used by an entertainment system comprising an entertainment apparatus for executing various programs, at least one manual controller connected to the entertainment apparatus for inputting requests for manual control of a device. user to the entertainment apparatus, and a portable information terminal for receiving a wireless signal and sending information to and receiving information from at least one entertainment apparatus, the hand controller has means for generating vibrations to apply vibrations to the user in response to a request external, the program having the step of exiting an instruction to generate vibrations to the hand controller in response to the reception of a wireless signal by the portable information terminal. With the storage of the recording medium of the above program, the portable information terminal can be connected to the entertainment apparatus and used by the user, and a signal received by the portable information terminal can be transmitted to the user by means of tactile sensation . The program can also include the step of monitoring the reception of data by the portable information terminal, the step of exiting an instruction comprising the step of exiting an instruction to generate vibrations to the manual controller in response to the reception of data as detected in the monitoring step. The program may further comprise the step of generating an interrupt signal of the portable information terminal in response to the reception of the wireless signal, the step of generating an instruction comprising the step of exiting an instruction to generate vibrations to the manual controller in response to the interruption signal. The program may further comprise the step of selecting at least one of the plurality of manual controllers connected to the entertainment apparatus depending on the content of a wireless signal received by the portable information terminal, the step of generating an instruction comprising the step of exiting a instruction to generate vibrations to the selected manual controller. A plurality of portable information terminals and a plurality of manual controllers can be connected to an entertainment apparatus, the step of generating an instruction comprising the step of exiting an instruction to generate vibrations to the manual control corresponding to the portable information terminal which has received the wireless signal. The step of generating an instruction may comprise the step of exiting an instruction to generate vibrations to one of the manual controllers which is physically closest to the portable information terminal which has received the wireless signal. The step of generating an instruction may comprise the step of exiting an instruction to generate vibrations to one of the manual controllers which is logically associated with the portable information terminal which has received the wireless signal. The instruction for generating vibrations produced in the step of generating an instruction may include a property of the vibrations depending on the signal received by the portable information terminal. The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent in the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative example. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an entertainment system in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a rear elevation view of an entertainment system entertainment apparatus, showing slots thereof; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the entertainment apparatus; FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a portable information terminal of the entertainment system; FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the portable information terminal; FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the portable information terminal with an open lid; FIGURE 7 is a front elevational view of the portable information terminal; FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a manual controller; FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the manual controller; FIGURE 10 is a rear elevational view of the manual controller; FIGURE 11 is a front elevational view of the manual controller; FIGURE 12 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the manual controller is used; FIGURE 13 is a bottom, partially separated, view of the hand controller, showing the mechanisms imparting vibrations to the first and second modes respectively; FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the hand controller, showing one of the mechanisms imparting vibrations; FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the hand controller with the vibration producing mechanism installed therein; FIGURE 16 is a block diagram of hardware layers and software layers of the portable information terminal, the hand controller and the entertainment apparatus; FIGURE 17 is a block diagram of the hardware layer of the portable information terminal; FIGURE 18 is a block diagram of the hardware layer of the manual controller; FIGURE 19 is a block diagram of the hardware layer of the portable information terminal. FIGURE 20 is a block diagram of the components for performing bidirectional serial communications between the hand controller and the entertainment apparatus; FIGURE 21 is a functional block diagram of the entertainment system in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 22 is a functional block diagram of a wireless communication means of the portable information terminal; FIGURE 23A is a diagram of data received from a first type; FIGURE 23B is a diagram of data received from a second type; FIGURE 23C is a diagram of data received from a third type; FIGURE 23D is a diagram of data received from a fourth type; FIGURE 24 is a block diagram showing a first mode of use of the portable information terminal, the hand controller and the entertainment apparatus; FIGURE 25 is a block diagram showing a second mode of use of the portable information terminal, the hand controller and the entertainment apparatus; FIGURE 26 is a block diagram showing a third mode of use of the portable information terminal, the hand controller and the entertainment apparatus; FIGURE 27 is a block diagram showing a fourth mode of use of the portable information terminal, the hand controller and the entertainment apparatus; FIGURE 28 is a functional block diagram of the vibration generation instruction means of the entertainment apparatus; FIGURE 29 is a diagram showing details of a user information table; FIGURE 30 is a diagram showing details of a terminal information table; FIGURE 31 is a functional block diagram of a vibration generating means of the hand controller; FIGURE 32 is a flowchart of a processing sequence of a wireless communication block based on the first example of received data; FIGURE 33 is a flowchart of a processing sequence of a wireless communication block based on the second to fourth examples of the data received; FIGURE 34 is a flow diagram of a processing sequence of the wireless communication medium of the portable information terminal; FIGURE 35 and 36 are a flow diagram of a processing sequence of the vibration generation instruction means of the entertainment apparatus; FIGURE 37 is a diagram showing details of a vibration information table; FIGURE 38 is a flow diagram of a processing sequence of the vibration generating means of the hand controller; FIGURE 39 is a functional block diagram of a modified wireless communication medium; FIGURE 40 is a functional block diagram of a modified vibration generation instruction means; FIGURE 41 is a flow diagram of a processing sequence of the modified wireless communication medium, and FIGURES 42 and 43 are a flow chart of an operation sequence of the vibration generation instruction means. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An entertainment system in accordance with the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 43. As shown in FIGURE 1, the entertainment system, generally indicated by 10, of according to the present invention has an entertainment apparatus 14 to which a hand controller 12 is connected. The entertainment apparatus 14 reads a program and data recorded on an optical disk D (see FIGURE 3), for example, and executes a game, for example, based on the program depending on user commands, example, the player.

The execution of the game mainly represents controlling the progress of the game and the unfolding of images and the generation of sounds. The entertainment apparatus 14 has a rectangular cover 16 - which houses a disk loading unit 18 substantially central thereto for charging an optical disk such as a CD-ROM or the like as a recording medium to supply a recorded application program in the same. The cover 16 supports a reset switch 20 for resetting a program which is running, a power supply switch 22, a disk control switch 24 for controlling the loading of the optical disk, and two slots 26A, 26B. The entertainment apparatus 14 can be supplied with the application program by means of a communication link, instead of being supplied from the optical disc as the recording medium. The entertainment system 10 may also include a manual controller 12 for supplying user commands to the entertainment apparatus 14. Two manual controllers 12 may respectively be connected to the slots 26A, 26B to allow two users or players to play a competition game. , for example. A memory card and a portable information terminal 32 (see FIGURE 4) which has been conventionally used is also inserted into the slots 26A, 26B. While only two slots 26A, 26B are shown in FIGURE 1, the entertainment apparatus 14 may have more or less than two slots. The manual controller 12 has first and second control bases 40, 42, third and fourth control bases 44, 46, a start button 48 and a selection button 50. The manual controller 12 also has a vibration generating device disposed therein. of the same to generate and impart vibrations to the manual controller 12. The details of the manual controller 12 will be described below below. FIGURE 2 shows the slots 26A, 263 which are defined in the front panel of the cover 16 of the entertainment apparatus 14. Each of the slots 26A, 26B has upper and lower units. Specifically, the slots 26A, 26B have respective memory card insertion units 60A, 60B as their upper units for inserting the memory card or the portable information terminal 32 therein and the respective controller connectors (pins) 64A , 64B as its lower units for connection to a connection terminal 62 (connector, see FIGURE 1) of the manual controller 12. The memory card insertion units 60A, 60B have respective insertion holes (slots) that are rectangular in shape horizontal elongated These insertion grooves have lower round insert corners in contrast to the opposite upper corners so that the memory card and the portable information terminal 32 can not be inserted into the memory card units 60A, 60B in the wrong orientation. The insertion units of the memory cards 60A, 60B also have closures to protect the connection terminals arranged inside for electrical connection. The controller connectors 64A, 64B also have insertion holes (slots) that are horizontally elongated rectangular in shape. These insertion grooves have opposite lower rounded corners in contrast to the opposite upper corners thereof so that the terminal connector 62 of the manual controller 12 can not be connected to the connectors of the controller 64A, 64B in the wrong orientation. The insertion holes of the controller connectors 64A, 64B are differently from the insertion holes of the insertion units of the memory card 60A, 60B so that the memory card and the portable information terminal 32 are not inserted into the insertion holes of the 64A controller connectors, 64B. In FIGURE 3, the portable information terminal 32 is inserted into the memory card insertion unit 60A in the slot 26A which is defined in the front panel of the entertainment apparatus 14. The portable information terminal 32 can be used as an inherent memory card in each of the plurality of manual controllers 12 connected to the entertainment apparatus 14. For example, if two users or players play a game in the entertainment system 10, then two portable information terminals 32 register the respective game results of game players. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the portable information terminal 32 has a cover 70 which supports a manual control board 76 having one or more direction buttons 72 and a decision button 74 for entering events and for making several selections, an unfolding unit 78 comprising a liquid crystal display unit (LCD) or the like, and a window 80 for wireless communication by means of infrared radiation, an antenna, or the like. The cover 70 comprises an upper cover 70a and a lower cover 70b, houses a card 82 which supports memory devices, etc. about it. The cover 70 is shaped so as to be inserted into any of the slots 26A, 26B in the cover of the entertainment apparatus 14. The cover 70 has a connector 84 on the side of one end thereof which includes a window rectangular. The window 80 is mounted at a substantially semi-circular end of the cover 70 remote from the connector 84. The unfolding unit 78 occupies substantially half the area of the top cover 70a of the cover 70, positioned near the window 80. manual control 76 occupies substantially the other half of the area of the upper cover 70a, positioned away from the window 80. The manual control board 76 comprises a substantially square cover 86 which is angularly movable supported on the cover 70 and supports therein the direction buttons 72 and the decision button 74, and switch buttons 88, 90 placed in an area of the cover 70 which can be opened and closed by the cover 86. The direction buttons 72 and the decision button 74 are extend through the cover 86 from its upper surface towards its lower surface. The direction buttons 72 and the decision button 74 are supported on the cover 86 for inward and outward movement of the top surface of the cover 86.

The switch oppressors 88, 90 have respective squeeze elements supported by the cover 70 for movement in and out of the upper surface of the cover 70. When one of the oppressor elements is pressed from above, it presses a corresponding squeeze switch such as a switch of diaphragm, for example, mounted on the board 82 in the cover 70. With the cover 86 closed, the switch oppressors 88, 90 are held in vertical alignment with the direction of the buttons 72 and the decision button 74, respectively. Therefore, while the lid 86 is closed on the cover 70, when the direction buttons 72 and the decision button 74 are pressed from above into the top surface of the cover 86, the direction buttons 72 and the button Decision 74 causes the oppressive elements corresponding to the switch oppressors 88, 90 to press the corresponding squeeze switches on the cover 70. As shown in FIGURE 7, the power and signal terminals 92 are mounted on the card 84 and arranged in the connector window 84. The connector 84 has a shape and dimensions that are identical to those of the memory card used in the entertainment apparatus 14. The hand controller 12 will be described below with reference to FIGURES 8 through 15. is shown in FIGURE 8, the hand controller 12 has a cover 104 comprising an upper member 100 and a lower member 102 which are coupled and joined together r fasteners such as screws. As shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, a pair of first and second grips 106, 108 project from one side of the respective opposite ends of the cover 104. The first and second grips 106, 108 are formed to be held by the grips. palms of the right and left hands of the user or player when the manual controller 12 is connected to the entertainment apparatus 14 and information retrieval is carried out or the game is played with said manual controller 12, for example. The first and second grips 106, 108 are progressively separated from one another towards their distant ends and inclined downwardly on the cover 104. To allow the player to hold the first and second grips 106, 108 comfortably for a long period of time, the first and second grips 106, 108 are tapered from their junction with the cover 104 towards the distal ends, and have articulated outer peripheral surfaces and articulated distal end surfaces. As shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, the hand controller 12 has a first control board 40 disposed at one end of the cover 104 and comprises center members! oppressors 110a, 110b, 110c, llOd. From the first to the fourth oppressive control members 110a, 110b, 110c, 11Od are projected onto an upper surface of the cover 104 and are arranged in a cross pattern. The first control board 40 includes switch elements as signal output elements associated respectively with the first to fourth oppressive control elements 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d. The first control board 40 functions as a directional controller to control the direction of movement of a deployed game character, for example. When the game player selectively presses from the first to fourth oppressive control members 110a, 110b, 110c, llOd to connect or disconnect the switching elements associated respectively with the oppressive control members, from first to fourth 110a, 110b, 110c, llOd, the deployed game character moves in the direction corresponding to the selected oppressed member between the first, second, third and fourth oppressive control members 110a, 110b, 110c, llOd. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 9, the hand controller 12 also has a second control board 42 disposed at the other end of the cover 104 and comprising from the first to the fourth oppressive control members 112a112b, 112c, 112d. The first to fourth oppressive control members 112a, 112b, 112c, 112d project on an upper surface of the cover 104 and are arranged in a cross pattern. The first to fourth oppressive control members 112a, 112b, 112c, 112d are constructed as independent members, and are associated with respective switch elements arranged on the second control board 42. The second control board 42 serves as an execution unit. -function fix for setting functions for a deployed game character assigned to the oppressive control members 112a, 112b, 112c, 112d or to perform character functions of the deployed game when the switch elements associated with the oppressive control members 112a, 112b, 112c, 112d are on. The hand controller 12 also has third and fourth control boards 44, 46 disposed on one side of the cover 104 remote from the first and second handles 106, 106 and placed respectively on opposite ends of the cover 104. As shown in FIGURE 11, the third and fourth control boards 44, 46 have respective oppressive control members 114a, 114b, 116a, 116b and respective switch elements associated respectively with the oppressive control members 114a, 114b, 116a, 116b. The third and fourth control boards 44, 46 serve as an execution-setting function unit for setting functions for a deployed game character assigned to the oppressive control members 114a, 114b, 116a, 116b or to perform character functions of the game displayed when the switch elements associated with the oppressive control members 114a, 114b, 116a, 116b are turned on. As shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, the hand controller also has fifth and sixth control boards 118, 120 arranged respectively at opposite corners defined between the cover 104 and the close ends of the first and second handles 106, 108 which are attached to cover 104. The fifth and sixth control boards 118, 120 have respective 360 ° rotating members 122 about control axes thereof, and respective signal output elements such as variable or similar resistors which are operated by the rotary control members 122. Specifically, the rotary control members 122 are mounted on the ends of the control axes which are normally returned to their neutral position by guide members, and can rotate 360 ° about the axes of the control axes. the control axes. The fifth and sixth control boards 118, 120 can move an unfolded character by turning it or while changing its speed, and can produce an analog action such as changing the shape of the displayed character, when the player rotates the rotating members 122. Therefore, the fifth and sixth control boards 118, 120 are used as a control unit to input a command signal for a deployed character to carry out the overhead movement or an action. As shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, the hand controller 12 has a start switch 48 and a selection switch 50 which are arranged in parallel positions between the first control board 40 and the second control board 42 on the upper surface of the cover 104. The start switch 48 starts the game when it is pressed, and the selection switch 50 selects a different level of the game. The hand controller 12 also has a selection mode switch 124 and a mode indicator 126 that are disposed between the fifth and sixth control boards 118, 120 on the top surface of the cover 104. The mode selection switch 124 selects a control mode of the fifth and sixth control panels 118, 120 when it is depressed, and the mode indicator 126 indicates a selected control mode of the fifth and sixth control panels 118, 120. The mode indicator 126 comprises a light emitting element such as an LED or the like.

When the mode selector switch 124 is depressed, you can select a control mode to allow a command signal to be input from the fifth and sixth control boards 118, 120 or a control mode to inhibit a command signal from being input from the fifth and sixth control boards 118, 120. When the mode selection switch 124 is depressed, you can also select a control mode to allow a command signal to be input from the fifth and sixth control boards 118, 120 and for selecting the function of the oppressive control members from the first to the fourth 112a, 112b, 112c, 112d of the second control board 42 or the function of the oppressive control members 114a, 114b, 116a, 116b of the third and fourth boards of control control 44, 46. Depending on the control mode selected by the mode selection switch 124, the mode indicator flashes and its indicator light changes. As shown in FIGURE 12, the first and second grips 106, 108 projecting from the cover 104 are held respectively by the palms of the player's hands. The cover 104 does not require to be supported by the fingers, and the manual controller 12 can be held by the hands while six of the ten fingers of the hands can be moved freely. As shown in FIGURE 12, when the first and second grips 106, 108 are held respectively by the palms of the player's hands, the thumbs Rfl, Lfl of the right and left hands can be extended over the rotary control members 122 , of the fifth and sixth control boards 118, 120, the first to fourth controllable control members 110a-llOd of the first control board 40, and the oppressive control members 112a-112d of the second control board 42, can selectively press the rotary control members 122, the oppressive control members 110a-llOd, and the oppressive control members 112a-112d. Since the control members 122 of the fifth and sixth control boards 118, 120 are positioned in confronting relation to the close ends of the first and second grips 106, 108 which are attached to the cover 104, when the first and second grips 106, 108 are held by the right and left hands, the rotating members 122 are placed closer to the thumbs Rfl, Lfl, respectively. Therefore, the rotary control members 122 can be easily rotated by the thumbs Rfl, Lfl. As shown in FIGURE 12, when the first and second grips 106, 108 are held respectively by the palms of the player's hands, the index fingers Rf2, Lf2 and the middle fingers Rf3, Lf3 of the right and left hands can be extending over the positions where they can selectively press the first and second oppressive control members 114a, 114b and 116a, 116b of the third and fourth control boards 22, 46. As shown in FIGURE 13, the manual controller 12 has a pair of mechanisms for imparting vibrations 128 to impart vibrations to the user in order to make the game highly realistic. As shown in FIGURE 13, the mechanisms for imparting vibrations 128 are placed near the close ends of the first and second fingers 106, 108 which are held by the hands and fingers when the hand controller 12 is held by the user. As shown in FIGURE 14, each of the mechanisms for imparting vibrations 128 comprises a motor 130 energized by a vibration generating command supplied by the entertainment apparatus 14, and an eccentric member 134 mounted eccentrically on a rotary shaft 132 of the motor. 130. The eccentric member 134 comprises a weight 134a in the form of a heavy metal member having a semicircular transverse shape. The weight 134a has an off-center bore 136 defined therein in which the rotary shaft 132 is adjusted. As shown in FIGURE 15, the motor 130 with the eccentric member 134 mounted on the rotating shaft 132 has a (motor cover positioned in a groove 138 defined in a rectangular tubular member that is disposed in the first handle 106, for example 5 When the motor 130 is energized, the rotating shaft 132 rotates to cause the eccentric member 134 to rotate in eccentric motion and thereby produce vibration, which is imparted to the motor 130. The vibrations of the motor 130 are transmitted by means of a peripheral wall 138a of the rectangular tubular member to the first handle 106, from which the vibrations are applied to the hand and fingers holding that first handle 106. The mechanisms for imparting vibrations 128 that are respectively arranged in the first and second handle 106, 108 are arranged to impart vibrations in different ways. For example, the motors 130 of the vibration imparting mechanism 128 have different sizes so that when the motors 130 are energized at a constant voltage, their axes 132 rotate at different speeds for thereby generating vibrations at different frequencies. In order to energize the motors 130 to vibrate the manual controller 12 completely, a bidirectional communication function requires to be provided between the manual controller 12 and the entertainment apparatus 14.

This bidirectional communication function will be described later. The circuit arrangements of the portable information terminal 32, the entertainment apparatus 14 and the hand controller 12 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 16 to 20. As shown in FIGURE 16, the portable information terminal 32 comprises a 150 hardware layer for the processing of data received by means of an antenna 160 (see FIGURE 17), and a software layer 152 for carrying out communication in the hardware layer 150, the software layer 152 comprises a wireless communicator 154, a serial communicator 156, and a communications application 158. As shown in FIG. FIGURE 17, the hardware layer 150 of the portable information terminal 32 comprises the antenna 160, the wireless communication block 162, a CPU 164, an operational memory 166, an input block 168, a non-volatile member 172, a display block 174 and a function block 176. These components of the portable information terminal 32 are connected to a connection block. The wireless communication block 162 receives data transmitted as a wireless signal such as a microwave signal by means of the antenna 160. The reception of data by the wireless communication block 162 is controlled by the wireless communicator 154 (see FIGURE 16) which it includes a program. ? The wireless communication block 162 has a memory 180 as a memory means for temporarily storing wireless signal data. The portable information terminal 32 can selectively receive the data based on the information added to the data that has been received and temporarily stored in the wireless communication block 162. Specifically, when the 4f portable information terminal 32 receive data selectively, the data is stored temporarily in the wireless communication block 162 and is sent to the non-volatile memory 172. The operational memory 166 serves as memory means for use as a work area for various data. 15 The input block 168 is arranged to function as a manual input controller. Therefore, the block of ^^ input 168 allows the user to enter different information elements to the portable information terminal 32. The non-volatile memory 172 serves as a memory medium for storing different data. The non-volatile memory 172 stores data received via the antenna 160 and data sent from the entertainment apparatus 14 via the serial communications block 170. The unfolding block 174 is arranged to function as a display unit for displaying different elements. of information. The display block 174 displays different character information and image information on a liquid crystal board, for example. The serial communications block 170 has a function to perform serial communications with an external device. The serial communication block 170 is electrically connectable to a serial communications block 214 of the entertainment apparatus 14, for example, for data communication with the entertainment apparatus 14. The serial communication block 170 is controlled for its communications by the serial communicator 156. A functional block 176 is arranged to perform other functions than the block above, and may comprise a power supply block, for example. The CPU 164 has a function to control the blocks above. For example, the CPU 164 controls the blocks according to various programs, such as communications application 158, etc. of the software layer 152 above. As shown in FIGURE 16, the hand controller comprises a hardware layer 182 and a software layer 184 comprising application software 186 for controlling the hardware layer 182 and for carrying out communications with the serial communicator 188 included in the layer. of software 186.

As shown in FIGURE 18, the hardware layer 182 of the manual controller 12 comprises a serial communications block 190, a CPU 192, a memory program 194, an operating RAM 196, an analog input block 200 and a motor 130. These components of the manual controller 12 are connected to a connecting terminal 202. The digital input block 198 functions as a manual input controller for the first to fourth press control members 110a-11Od of the first control handle 40 and the first to fourth oppressive control members 112a-112d of the second control handpiece 42. The analog input block 200 functions as the manual input controller for the rotary control members 122. The digital input block 198 and the input block 200 analogue allow the user to enter different information elements to the manual controller 12. The serial communication block 190 has a function to effect serial communications with an external device. The serial communications block 190 is electrically connected to the serial communication block 214 of the entertainment apparatus 14, for example, for data communication with the entertainment apparatus 14. The communication block 190 is controlled for its communications by the controller serial communications 188. As shown in FIGURE 16, the entertainment apparatus 14 comprises a hardware layer 204 and a software layer 206 comprising application software 208 for controlling the hardware layer 204 and for carrying out communications and image processing, and serial communication controllers 210, 212 included in the application software 208. As shown in FIGURE 19, the hardware layer 204 of the entertainment apparatus 14 comprises the serial communication block 214, a CPU 216 , an input block 218, a block of mass storage means 220, a main memory 222, a graphics processor 224 and a function block 226. These components of the hardware layer 204 are connected to a connection block 228. The input block 218 functions as a manual input controller to allow the user to input different information elements to the entertainment apparatus 14. The memory main 222 serves as a memory medium for storing different data. For example, the main memory 222 stores the application software 208 of the software layer 206. The main memory 222 also stores data transmitted from the portable information terminal 32 and the manual controller 12 via the serial communication block 214.

The graphics processor 224 serves as a processor for processing image data. For example, the graphics processor 224 carries out the graphic processing, example, polygonal graphic processing, for images to be displayed in the unfolded unit. The bulk storage medium block 220 serves as a unit for reading different data recorded in a mass storage medium such as a CD-ROM or the like. The serial communication block 214 has a function to perform serial communications with an external device. The serial communications block 214 is electrically connected to the serial communication block 170 of the portable information terminal 32 and the serial communication block 214 of the manual controller 12 for data communication with the portable information terminal 32 and the manual controller 12 The serial communications block 214 is controlled for its communications by the serial communication controllers 210, 212. The functional block 226 is arranged to perform other functions than the blocks above, and may comprise a power supply block. power or a connection block for connection to the memory card as the recording medium and the information terminal 32, for example.

The CPU operates to control the top blocks of the entertainment apparatus 14. For example, the CPU 216 controls the blocks according to various programs such as the application software 208 of the software layer 206. As shown in FIGURE 20 , the bidirectional communication function between the manual controller 12 and the entertainment apparatus 14 can be carried out when the connection terminal 62 capable of carrying out bidirectional serial communication with the manual controller 12 is connected to the entertainment apparatus 14. A system in the hand controller 12 for carrying out the bidirectional communication function comprises a serial I / O interface SIO for carrying out communication in series with the entertainment apparatus 14, a parallel I / O interface PIÓ for inputting data from control of a plurality of control buttons, a single-chip microcomputer comprising a CPU, a RAM and a ROM, and an engine controller 230 to energize the motors 130 of the vibration imparting mechanisms 128. Each of the motors 130 is energized by a voltage and a current applied from the motor controller 230. A system in the entertainment apparatus 14 to perform functions of Bidirectional communication comprises a serial I / O interface for carrying out serial communication with the manual controller 12. When the connection terminal 62 is connected to the serial 1/0 interface SIO of the entertainment apparatus 14, the serial interface 1/0 510 of the entertainment apparatus 14 is connected to the serial interface 1/0 SIO of the hand controller 12 via the connection terminal 62 to carry out bidirectional communication between the hand controller 12 and the entertainment apparatus 14. Other detailed structures of the entertainment apparatus 14 are omitted from the illustration in FIGURE 20. Control lines for bidirectional serial communication includes n a data transfer line TXD (Transmit X 'for Data) to send data from the entertainment apparatus 14 to the manual controller 12, a data transfer line RXD (Receive X' for Data) to send data from the manual controller 12 to the entertainment apparatus 14, a synchronous clock signal line SCK (Serial Clock) to extract data from the data transfer lines TXD, RXD, a DTR control line (Terminal Data List) to establish and cut communication with the manual controller 12 as a terminal and a DSR flow control line (Set Ready Data) to transfer a large amount of data. Signal and control lines for serial communication are accommodated within a cable. This cable further includes a power line 232 that extends from a power supply of the entertainment apparatus 14 and is connected to the motor controllers 230 in the manual controller 12 to supply electric power to energize the motors 130. A communication process In bidirectional series between the manual controller 12 and the entertainment apparatus 14 will be described below. In order that the entertainment apparatus 14 communicate with the manual controller 12 to read control data of the control buttons (button information) of the first, second, third and fourth control panels 41, 42, 44, 46 , the entertainment apparatus 14 outputs the first selection data to the DTR control line. As a result, the manual controller 12 confirms that it is selected by the control line DTR, and waits for a signal from the signal line TXD. Next, the entertainment apparatus 14 outputs an identification key indicative of the manual controller 12 to the data transfer signal line TXD. The manual controller 12 receives the identification key of the signal line TXD. When the hand controller 12 recognizes the identification key, the hand controller 12 initiates communication with the entertainment apparatus 14. The entertainment apparatus 14 sends control data via the TXD transfer signal line to the hand controller 13, which sends control data produced by means of a control button by means of the transfer signal line RXD to the entertainment apparatus 14. In this way, the entertainment apparatus 14 and the manual controller 12 carry out serial communications bidirectional The bi-directional serial communications will end when the entertainment apparatus 14 outputs selection stop data via the DTR control line. With the bidirectional serial communication function, the manual controller 12 can mainly send control data of the control buttons to the entertainment apparatus 14, and the entertainment apparatus 14 can send a vibration generation command to energize the engines 130 of the mechanism for imparting vibrations 128 by means of the data transfer signal line TXD to the manual controller 12. The vibration generation command for energizing the motors 130 has been established in advance on a CD-ROM placed in the entertainment apparatus 14. Depending on the movement objective for the user playing the game, the entertainment apparatus 14 sends a vibration generation command to the manual controller 12 to produce vibrations for a certain period of time to the manual controller 12. A characteristic function of the entertainment 10 in accordance with this modality will be described aba with reference to FIGS. 21 to 43. The characteristic function is a function to output a command to generate vibrations to the manual controller 12 in response to a wireless signal which is received by the portable information terminal 32. The software to carry The above function comprises, as shown in FIGURE 21, a wireless communication means 300, incorporated in the portable information terminal 32, for receiving a wireless signal, a vibration generation instruction means 302, incorporated in the entertainment apparatus 14, to output a command (vibration generator command) to cause the manual controller 12 to generate vibrations, and a vibration generating means 304, incorporated in the manual controller 12, to energize the motors 130 based on the command vibration generator of the entertainment apparatus 14. The wireless communication medium 300 is executed by the CPU 164 of the portable information terminal 32 when it is downloaded from a certain CD-ROM or the like, for example, reproduced by the entertainment apparatus 14 in the operational memory 166 of the portable information terminal 32 in accordance with a predetermined process. The means of vibration generating instructions 302 is executed by the CPU 216 of the entertainment apparatus 14 when it is downloaded from a certain CD-ROM or the like, for example, reproduced by the entertainment apparatus 14 in the operating memory 222 of the entertainment apparatus. 14 in accordance with a predetermined process. The vibration generating means 304 is executed by the CPU 192 of the manual controller 12 when it is transferred from the program memory 194 to the operational RAM 196, for example, of the manual controller 12. As shown in FIGURE 22, the wireless communication 300 comprises a reception determining means 310 for determining whether there is data received in the wireless communication block 162 or no data, a data transfer means 312 for transferring received data to the non-volatile memory 172 if there is said data received in the wireless communication block 162, a means for determining the transfer request 314 to determine whether there is a request to transfer data from the entertainment apparatus 14 via the serial communication block 170 or not, a means of establishing a link communication device 316 for initiating communication with the serial communication block 214 of the entertainment device 14 per meter io of the serial communication block 170 to establish a communication link with it if there is a request for data transfer, a data sending means 318 for sending data in the non-volatile memory 172 to the entertainment apparatus 14 via the established communication link, and a terminating determination means 320 for determining whether the processing in the portable information terminal 32 It's over or not. There are different types of received data that are received by the wireless communication block 162. FIGURE 23A shows a first type of received data that essentially comprises a character sequence part. FIGURE 23B shows a second type of received data which essentially comprises a receiver definition part and a character sequence part. FIGURE 23C shows a third type of received data which essentially comprises a sender definition part, a receiver definition part and a character sequence part. FIGURE 23D shows a fourth type of received data which essentially comprises a separate definition of sender, a separate definition of receiver, a definition part of vibration generation, a definition part of vibration intensity, a definition part of vibration frequency and a part of character sequence.

Various modes of use of the portable information terminal 32, the entertainment apparatus 14 and the hand controller 12 are available. FIGURE 24 shows a first mode of use in which a portable information terminal 32 and a manual controller 12 are connected to an entertainment apparatus 14. FIGURE 25 shows a second mode of use in which a portable information terminal 32 and a plurality of (two in FIGURE 25) manual controllers 12 are connected to an entertainment apparatus 14. FIGURE 26 shows a third mode of use in which a plurality (two in FIGURE 26) of portable information terminals 32 and a plurality of (two in FIGURE 26) of manual controllers 12 are connected to an entertainment apparatus 14. FIGURE 27 shows a fourth mode of use in which a plurality (two in FIGURE 26) of portable information terminals 32 and a plurality of (two in FIGURE 26) of manual controllers they are connected to an entertainment apparatus 14 by means of a connecting shaft 322, and a portable information terminal 32 and a hand controller 12 are connected to an entertainment apparatus 14. As shown in FIGURE 28, the instructional medium The vibration generation 302 of the entertainment apparatus 14 comprises a user setting means 330 for searching manual controllers 12 connected to the entertainment apparatus 14 by generating an association table (a user information table shown in FIGURE 29) between identification codes corresponding to manual controllers 12 and port number to which the manual controllers 12 are connected, if the data received is of the second, third or fourth types (see FIGURES 23B-23D), and means of establishing terminals 332 to search for portable information terminals 32 connected to the entertainment apparatus 14 generating a table (a table of information of termi shown in FIGURE 30) of port number to which the portable information terminals 32 are connected, if the portable information terminal 32, the entertainment apparatus 14 and the manual controller 12 are in any of the third use modes or fourth (see FIGURES 26 or 27). The vibration generation instruction means 302 also has a communication request means 334 for sending a transfer request for control data or request for sending a vibration generation command VC to the manual controller 12 via the communication block serial 214 or send a transfer request for received data to the portable information terminal 32, a means of establishing communication link 336 to initiate communication with the serial communication block 190 of the manual controller 12 or the serial communication block 170 of the portable information terminal 32 by means of the serial communication block 214 for establishing a communication link therewith, a data receiving means 338 for receiving control data of the manual controller 12 or data received from the information terminal portable 32 by means of the established communication link and store the data in the main memory 222, an application execution means 340 for executing an application in operation according to the received control data, a reception determining means 342 for determining whether there is data received from the portable information terminal 32 or not, a data analysis means 344 for analyzing the received data to generate a vibration generation command VC, a command sending means 346 for sending the vibration generation command VC to the manual controller 12 by means of the serial communication block 214 , a means of determining process completion 348 for determining the completion of sending a transfer request to manual controller 12 and portable information terminal 32, and an end determining means 350 for determining whether the processing in the entertainment apparatus 14 is finished or not. Of these means of the vibration generation instruction means 302, the communication request means 334, the communication link establishment means 336, the data receiving means 338, and the reception determination means 342 operate together as a means monitor 352 to monitor the reception of data by the portable information terminal 32. As shown in FIGURE 31, the vibration generation means 304 of the manual controller 12 comprises a 360 transfer request determination means for determining whether there is a request for transfer of data from the entertainment apparatus 14 via the serial communication block 190 or not, a communication link establishment means 362 for initiating communication with the serial communication block 214 of the entertainment apparatus 14 by medium of the communication block in series 19D to establish a communication link with it if there is data transfer law of the entertainment apparatus 14, and a send-receive determination means 364 for determining whether the request for data transfer of the entertainment apparatus 14 is a request for data transmission or a request for data reception, a data sending control means 366 for sending control data of the digital control data input block 198 and the analog input block 200 via the established communication link, a command receiving means 368 for receiving a generator command VC vibration of the entertainment apparatus 14 by means of the established communication link, a command analysis means 370 to analyze the vibration generator command VC received and output the analyzed result to the motor 230 to energize the motor 130 corresponding to the generator command VC vibration to produce vibrations at an intensity and at a frequency represented by the generated command VC vibration, and termination determining means 372 to determine whether the processing in the manual controller 12 is finished or not. Before describing the sequences of processing of the wireless communication means 302, the vibration generation instruction means 302 and the vibration generation means 304, processing sequences of the wireless communication block 162 of the portable information terminal 32 will be described below with reference to FIGURES 32 and 33. If the received data is of the first type (see FIGURE 23A), then the wireless communication block 162 determines whether the data is received via antenna 160 or not in step YES. shown in FIGURE 32. If the data is received by means of antenna 160, then the received data is stored in a given area of memory 180 in step S2. Next, the wireless communication block 162 determines whether there is a request for ^ termination to terminate processing in portable information terminal 32 or not in step S3. If there is no termination request, then control returns to step YES in which the wireless communication block 162 again determines whether the data is received via antenna 160 or not. If there is a termination request, then the processing sequence of the block JP wireless communication 162 is finished. If the received data is of any of the second to fourth types (see FIGURES 23B-23D), then the wireless communication block 162 determines whether the data is received via the antenna 160 or not in the step S101 shown in FIG. FIGURE 33. If the data is received by means of the antenna 160, then the wireless communication block 162 reads a key "identification, by Example, of a reception defined in the receiver definition part of the data received in step S102. Next, the wireless communication block 162 determines whether the portable information terminal 32 is the receiver or not in step S103. Specifically, the wireless communication block 162 determines whether the identification key registered in the memory 180 is the same as the identification key read in the definition part of the memory. receiver or not. If the identification keys are the same, then the portable information terminal 32 is determined as the receiver. Thereafter, the received data is stored in a given area of the memory 180 in step S104. After the received data is stored in the memory 180 in step S104 or the portable information terminal 32 is not determined as the receiver in step S103, the wireless communication block 162 determines whether there is a termination request to terminate the processing in portable information terminal 32 or not in step S105. If there is no termination request, then the control returns to step S101 in which the wireless communication block 162 again determines whether the data is received via antenna 160 or not. If there is a termination request, then the processing sequence of the wireless communication block is terminated. Therefore, if the received data is of the first type (see FIGURE 23A), then when the data is received by the portable information terminal 32, the received data is stored in the memory 180 of the wireless communication block 162. If the received data are of any of the second to fourth type types (see FIGURES 23B-23D), then the received data is stored in the memory 180 of the wireless communication block 162 of the portable information terminal 32 which corresponds to the data in the receiver definition part of the received data. Specifically, the received data is of the first type (see FIGURE 23A), then in the first to fourth modes of use shown in FIGS. 24 to 27, all portable information terminals 32 connected store the data received in memory 180. If the data received is of any of the second to fourth types (see FIGURES 23B-23D), then only the corresponding portable information terminal 32 stores the data received in the memory 180. The processing sequences of the wireless communication medium 30, the Vibration generation instruction means 302, and vibration generation means 304 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 34 to 38. First, in the wireless communication means 300 of the portable information terminal 32, the determining means Reception 310 reads the data from the wireless communication block 162 in step S201. Then, the reception determining means 310 determines whether the data read is data received or not, determining, for example, whether the data read is initial data or not., in step S202. If the data read is data received, instead of initial data, then the data transfer means 312 transfers the received data to a given storage area of the non-volatile memory 172, for example, and initializes the data in the memory 180 of the wireless communication block 162, in step S203. The received data is stored in the non-volatile memory 172 together with an identification key of the received data, which is added at the beginning of the end of the received data. After step S203 or if the data read is not data received in step S202, the control proceeds to step S204 in which the transfer request means 314 determines whether there is request for data transfer from the entertainment apparatus 14. If not there is request for data transfer of the entertainment apparatus 14, then the control returns to step S201 to confirm the presence or absence of newly received data. If there is request for data transfer of the entertainment apparatus 14, then the communication link establishment means 316 initiates communication with the serial communication block 214 of the entertainment apparatus 14 via the serial communication block 170 to establish a communication link with it. In step S206, the data sending means 318 sends the data in the non-volatile memory 172 to the entertainment apparatus 14 via the established communication link. The data that is sent by the data sending means 318 is the data generated by the portable information terminal 32 or the received data supplied to the wireless communication block 162. In step S207, the termination determination means 320 determines whether there is a termination request to complete the processing in the portable information terminal 32 or not. If there is no termination request, the control returns to step S201 to confirm the newly received data and send data based on a data transfer request from the entertainment apparatus 14. If there is a termination request in step S207, the sequence processing of the wireless communication medium 300 is brought to completion. The termination sequence of the vibration generation instruction means 302 of the entertainment apparatus 14 will be described below with reference to FIGURES 35 and 36.

If the data received are of the first to fourth types (see FIGURES 23B-23D), then the user determination means 330 of the vibration generation instruction means 302 searches for the manual controllers 12 connected to the entertainment apparatus 14 generating an association table (the user information table in the FIGURE 29) between identification keys corresponding to the manual controllers 12 and port numbers to which the manual controllers 12 are connected, in step S301 shown in FIGURE 35. If the received data is of the first type (see FIGURE 23A) , then the process of step S301 is not executed. If the portable information terminal 32, the entertainment apparatus 14 and the hand controller 12 are in the third or fourth mode of use (see FIGURE 26 or 27), then the terminal determining means 332 searches for portable information terminals 32. connected to the entertainment apparatus 14 generating a table (the terminal information table in FIGURE 30) of port numbers to which the portable information terminals 32 are connected, in step S302. If the portable information terminal 32, the entertainment apparatus 14 and the manual controller 12 are located in either the first or second mode of use (see FIGURE 24 or 25), then the processing of the step S302 is not executed. In step S303, the vibration generation instruction means 302 stores an initial value "1" in an index register 1 used to search the manual controllers 12, thereby initializing the index register 1. In step S304, the communication request means 334 sends a transfer request for control data to a manual controller 12 via the serial communication block 214 while referring to the user information rage. In step S305, the communication link establishment means 336 initiates communication with the serial communication block 190 in the manual controller 12 via the serial communication block 214 to establish a communication link therewith. . In step S306, the data receiving means 338 receives control data from the manual controller 12 via the established communication link and stores the data in the main memory 222. Next, in step S3 Z 1, the execution means of Application 340 executes an application in operation according to the contrcl data. received. In step S308, the value of the index register i is increased by "+1". Next, in step S309, the process completion determination means 348 determines the termination of sending a transfer request to all manual controllers 12 by determining whether the value of the Index register i is greater than the number M of the controllers manuals connected or not. If the value of the index register i is equal to or less than the number M of the connected manual controllers 12 and the transfer request has not been sent to all the manual controllers 12, then the control returns to step S304 in which an application The control data transfer is sent to the next manual controller 12. If the transfer request has been sent to all the manual controllers 12 in step S309, the control proceeds to step S310 shown in FIGURE 36 in which the means of vibration generation instruction 302 stores an initial value "1" in an index register j used to search portable information terminal 32, thereby initializing the index register j. Then, in step S311, the communication request means 334 sends a data transfer request to a portable information terminal 32 via the serial communication block 214 referring to the terminal information table. In step S312, the communication link establishment means 336 initiates communication with the serial communication block 170 of the portable information terminal 32 via the serial communication block 214 to establish a communication link therewith. . This communication link establishment process is carried out in coordination with the process of establishing the communication link with the wireless communication means 300 of the portable information terminal 32 in step S205.

In step S313, the data receiving means 338 receives the data transferred from the portable information terminal 32 via the established communication link and stores the data in the main memory 222. Then, in step S314, the means of determination receiver 342 determines whether the data transferred is data received wirelessly or not by determining whether an identification key indicative of received data is present at the beginning of the end of the data transferred or not. If the data transferred is received data, then the control proceeds to step S315 in which the data analysis means 344 analyzes the received data and generates a vibration generation command VC. If the received data is of the first, second or third type (see FIGURES 23A-23C), for example, since the received data does not contain part of the vibration generator definition, the data analyzer means 344 generates a command to generate the VC vibration including information instructions to cause all motors 130 or right-side motor 130, for example, in manual controller 12 to generate vibrations, and information relating to vibration intensity and vibration frequency. To generate a vibration generation command VC, an association table (vibration information table) of character strings, vibration intensities and vibration frequencies as shown in FIGURE 37 can be prepared in advance, and an intensity of vibration and a vibration frequency correspond to a series of characters contained in the serial part of data characters received in a vibration generation command VC. If the received data is of the fourth type (FIGURE 23D), then the motor type 130, the vibration intensity and the vibration frequency which are included in the vibration definition part, the vibration intensity definition part and the vibration frequency definition part of the received data can be recorded directly in the vibration generation command VC. In step S316, the communication link establishment means 336 initiates communication with the serial communication block 190 of the manual controller 12 and which corresponds to the identification key included in the sender definition part of the received data, by means of the serial communication block 214 to establish a communication link therewith. If the received data is of the second type (FIGURE 23B), then since the received data does not contain a sender identification part, the communication link establishment means 336 can initiate communication with the serial communication block 190 of a manual controller 12 near the portable information terminal 32 corresponding to the identification key included in the sender definition part of the received data, this being a manually closer manual controller 12, to establish a communication link with the same . This scheme is also applicable even if the data received is of the first type (see FIGURE 23A) or if the data received is of the third type or the fourth type (see FIGURES 23C or 23D). If the received data is of the first type (see FIGURE 23A;, since the received data does not contain part of the sender definition and no part of the receiver definition, the communication link establishment means 336 initiates communication with the blocks of serial communication 190 of all manual controllers 12 (usually a manual controller) to establish a communication link with them This process is also applicable even if the data received is from the second to fourth types. communication 336 therefore operates as a means of selecting one or more manual controllers 12 depending on the content of the wireless signal (received data) received by the portable information terminal 32. In step S317, the command sending means 346 sends the vibration generation command VC to the corresponding manual controller 12 via the established communication link. In step S318, the index record value j is incremented by "+1". Next, in step S319, the processing termination determining means 348 determines the termination of the sending of a data transfer request to all portable information terminals 32 by determining whether the value of the index register j is greater than the number N of portable information terminals 32 or not. If the value of the index register j is equal to or less than the number N of the portable information terminals 32 connected and the transfer request has not been sent to the portable information terminals 32, then the control returns to step S303 in which the transfer request is sent to the next portable information terminal 32. If the transfer request has been sent to all portable information terminals 32 in step S319, the control proceeds to step S320 in which the means of termination determination 320 determines whether there is a termination request in entertainment apparatus 14 or not. If there is no termination request, then the control returns to step S303 to send a transfer request to all manual controllers 12 and a transfer request to all portable information terminals 32. If there is a termination request in step S320 , the processing sequence of the vibration generating means 302 is brought to completion. The processing sequence of the vibration generation means 304 of the manual controller 1Z will be described below with reference to FIGURE 38. In step S401, the transfer request determination means 360 awaits a request to transfer control data from the apparatus 14. If there is a request for transfer of control data of the entertainment apparatus 14, then the communication link establishment means 362 initiates communication with the serial communication block 214 of the entertainment apparatus 14 by means of the block of serial communication 190 to establish a communication link with it in step S402. This process for establishing a communication link is carried out in coordination with the process of establishing the communication link in the vibration generation instruction means 302 of the entertainment apparatus 14 in step S305 or S316. In step S403, the sending-receiving means 364 determines whether the request for data transfer from the entertainment apparatus 14 is a request to send control data. If the data transfer request is a request to send control data, the control data sending means 366 sends control data of the digital input block 198 and the analog input block 200 via the communication link set in Step S404. If the data transfer request is not a request to send control data, but a request to receive a vibration generation command VC, then the control goes to step S405 in which the command receiving means 368 receives a command of vibration generation VC of the entertainment apparatus 14 by means of the established communication link. Then, in step S406, the command analysis means 370 analyzes the vibration generation command VC and outputs an analyzed result to the motor 230. The motor 230 supplies a pulse current to the vibration intensity and the vibration frequency contained in the vibration generation command VC, to the motor 130 corresponding to the type of motor 130 contained in the vibration generation command VC, energizing the motor 130 to produce vibration at the intensity and frequency represented by the vibration generation command VC. After the processing of step S404 or S406, the control proceeds to step S407 in which a terminating determination means 372 determines whether there is a termination request to terminate processing in the manual controllers 12 or not. If there is no termination request, the control returns to step S401 to send control data or a VC vibration generation command again. If there is a termination request in step S407, then the processing sequence of the vibration generation means 304 is brought to termination. In the entertainment system according to the present embodiment, when the portable information terminal 32 receives a wireless signal, a command (a vibration generation command VC) to generate vibrations is output to the manual controller 12. Therefore, the reception of a wireless signal by the portable information terminal 32 can be transmitted to the user by means of tactile sensation. As a result, the user can receive specific or arbitrary information by means of a wireless signal while viewing the display screen of a receiving television connected to the entertainment system 10. since the manual controller 12 vibrates when the portable information terminal 32 receives the information, the user can detect what specific or arbitrary information has been received by detecting the vibration of the hand controller 12. Consequently, when the user is enjoying a game while watching an image displayed on the television receiver's display screen, it is possible to indicate to the user the arrival of a wireless signal without interrupting the display of the image in the display screen. If the user is playing a competition game together with another player remotely via the Internet, then a result produced by a user action can be transmitted by means of vibration to the user, so that the game can be played with an effect highly realistic In the above mode, the selection means (communication link establishment means 336) for selecting at least one manual controller 12 depending on the content of the wireless signal (received data) received by the portable information terminal 32 is included in the vibration generation instruction means 302 of the entertainment apparatus 14, and the vibration generation means 302 outputs a vibration generation command CV to the selected manual controller 12. Therefore, at least one, which corresponds to the content of the data received by the portable information terminal 32, of the manual controllers 12 connected to the entertainment apparatus 14 is vibrated. Therefore, when a plurality of users or players operating respective manual controllers 12 connected to an entertainment apparatus 14 are extracting various information elements or playing a competitive game, the reception of a wireless signal by the portable information terminal 32 is transmitted as vibration to one of the users which corresponds to the content of the wireless signal. Accordingly, it is possible to provide various information elements to users and allow users to experience a variety of game developments. In this embodiment, if a plurality of portable information terminals 32 and a plurality of manual controllers 12 are connected to an entertainment apparatus 14 as in the third and fourth modes of use (see FIGURES 26 and 27), the instruction means of vibration generation 302 outputs a vibration generation command VC to the hand controller 12 which corresponds to the portable information terminal 32 which has received a wireless signal.

Consequently, it is possible to indicate the reception of information individually to users corresponding to the content received by the portable information terminal 32 which has received a wireless signal. In the above mode, additionally, since the vibration level produced by the manual controller 12, the motor type 130, the vibration intensity and the vibration frequency are changed depending on the received message, for example, the user can recognize the content received through the tactile sensation. Modifications to the entertainment system 10 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 39 to 43. The modified entertainment system 10 has essentially the same arrangement as the entertainment system 10 described above, but has a wireless communication means 300a and a means of vibration instruction 302a which are different from those of the entertainment system described above. As shown in FIGURE 39, the modified wireless communication medium 300a has. In addition to the reception determining means 310, the data transfer means 316, the data sending means 318 and the termination determination means 320, a means e generation of signal interruption 380 to generate a signal interruption signal Sr to the entertainment apparatus 14 if there is data received in the wireless communication block 162. As shown in FIGURE 40, the modified vibration instruction means 302a has, in addition to the user attachment means 330, a terminal attachment means 332, the communication request means 334, the communication link establishment means 336, the data reception means 338, the application execution means 340, the data analysis means 344, the command sending means 346, the processing termination determination means 348 and the termination determination means 350, an interruption determination means 382 for determining the i The output of an interrupt signal Sr from the portable information terminal 32. The modified wireless communication means 300a performs steps S501 to S503, which respectively correspond to steps S201 to S203, as shown in FIGURE 41. steps S501 to S533, the wireless communication means 300a determines whether there is data received in the wireless communication means 162, and, if there is data received, stores said recovered data in the non-volatile memory 172. In step S504, the means of signal interruption generation 380 generates an interruption signal Sr and outputs the interrupt signal generated Sr to the entertainment apparatus 14 by means of the serial communication block 170. Modified wireless communication means 300a initiates communication with the communication block wireless 214 of the entertainment apparatus 14 by means of the serial communication block 170 to establish a communication link communication with it in step S505, sends the received data from the non-volatile memory 172 of the entertainment apparatus 14 via the communication link established in step S506. In step S507, the wireless communication block 300a determines whether there is a processing termination request in the portable information terminal 32 or not. If there is no termination request, control returns to step S501. if there is a termination request, then the processing sequence of the wireless communication block 300a is terminated. As shown in FIGURE 42, the modified vibration instruction means 302a performs a user setting process in step S601, then carries out a terminal setting process in step S602. In step S603, the vibration generation instruction means 302a initializes the index register i. In step S604, the communication request means 334 sends a transfer request for control data to a manual controller 12 via the wireless communication block 214 while referring to the user information table. In step S605, the communication link establishment means 336 initiates communication with the wireless communication block 190 of the manual controller 12 via the serial communication block 214 to establish a communication link therewith. In step S606, the data receiving means 338 receives control data from the manual controller 12 via the established communication link and stores the data in the main memory 222. Next, in step S607 the application execution means 340 executes an application in operation according to the received control data. In step S608, the value of the index register i is incremented by "+1". Next, in step S609, the processing completion determination means 348 determines the termination in the transfer request submission to all the manual controllers 12. If the transfer request has not been sent to all the manual controllers 12, the control returns to step S604 in which a transfer request for control data is sent to the next manual controller 12. If the transfer request has been sent to all manual controllers 12 in step S609, the control proceeds to step S610 in wherein the interrupt determination means 382 determines whether there is an interrupt signal Sr from the portable information terminal 32 or not. If there is no interrupt signal Sr, then the control returns to step S603 to receive control data from the manual controller 12 again. If there is an interruption signal Sr, then the control proceeds to step S611 as shown in FIGURE 43 in which the communication link establishment means 336 initiates communication with the serial communication block 162 of the information terminal portable 32, which has outputted an interrupt signal Sr, by means of the serial communication block 214 to establish a communication link with it. In step S612, the data receiving means 338 receives data transferred from the portable information terminal 32 via the established communication link and stores the data in the main memory 222. Then, in step S613, the means of analysis Data 344 analyzes the received data and generates a vibration generation command VC. In step S614, the communication link establishment means 336 initiates communication with the serial communication block 190 of the manual controller 12 which corresponds to the identification key included in the sender definition part, by means of the block of communication. serial communication 214 to establish a communication link with it. The processing of step S614 is the same as the processing of step S316 shown in FIGURE 36. In step S615, the command sending means 346 sends the vibration generation command VC to the corresponding manual controller 12 via the link established communication. The termination determining means 320 determines whether there is a request to terminate processing in the entertainment apparatus 14 or not in step S616. If there is no termination request the control returns to step S603. If there is a termination request in step S616, the processing sequence of the vibration generation instruction means 302a is carried to term. The modified entertainment system 10 shown in FIGURES 39 and 40 is capable of transferring the reception of a signal from the portable information terminal 32 to a user through the tactile sensation. As a result, the user can receive specific or arbitrary information by means of a wireless signal while viewing the display screen of a television receiver connected to the entertainment system 10. Because the manual controller vibrates when the portable information terminal 32 receives the information, the user can recognize that the specific or arbitrary information has been received by detecting the vibrations of the manual controller 12. Consequently, when the user is enjoying a game while observing an image displayed on the display screen of the television receiver, it is possible to indicate to the user the arrival of a wireless signal without interrupting the image displayed on the display screen. As described above, the entertainment system has the portable information terminal which can be connected to the entertainment apparatus and used by the user, and allows the reception of a signal by the portable information terminal to be transferred to the user through of the tactile sensation. In the entertainment system, the properties (intensity, frequency and type of vibration generator) of the vibrations imparted to the user can be varied depending on a signal received by the portable information terminal, so that the user can recognize the received signal through the tactile sensation. In the entertainment system, a plurality of portable information terminals can be connected to a single entertainment device and used by respective users, and information can be selectively transmitted to the user corresponding to the data received by a portable information terminal. A recording medium in accordance with the present invention stores a program to allow a portable information terminal to be connected to an entertainment device and used by a user, and also to allow a signal received by the portable information terminal to be transmitted. to the user through tactile sensation. A recording medium in accordance with the present invention stores a program to allow the properties (intensity, frequency and type of vibration generator) of vibrations imparted to a user to be varied depending on a signal received by a portable information terminal through of tactile sensation. A recording medium in accordance with the present invention stores a program to allow a plurality of portable information terminals to be connected to a single entertainment device and used by respective users, and also to allow information to be selectively transmitted to the user corresponding to data received by a portable information terminal. Although certain embodiments of the present invention have been presented and described in detail, it should be understood that different changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the appended Claims.

Claims

CLAIMS An entertainment system comprising: an entertainment device (14) for executing different programs; at least one manual controller (12) connected to said entertainment apparatus (14) for inputting requests for manual control of the user to said entertainment apparatus (14); and a portable information terminal (32) for receiving a wireless signal and sending information to at least one entertainment apparatus (14) and receiving information from at least said entertainment apparatus (14); said manual controller (12) has vibration generation means (128) to apply vibrations to the user in response to an external request; said entertainment apparatus (14) has means for generating vibration instruction (302) to output an instruction to generate vibrations to said manual controller (12) in response to the reception of a wireless signal by said portable information terminal (32). ). An entertainment system according to Claim 1, wherein said entertainment apparatus (14) has monitoring means (352) for monitoring the reception of data by said portable information terminal (32), said instruction means for generating vibration (302) comprises means for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations to said manual controller (12) in response to the reception of data as detected by said monitoring means (352). An entertainment system according to Claim 1, wherein said portable information terminal (32) has means for generating interruption signal (380) to generate an interruption signal in response to the reception of said wireless signal, said means of vibration generation instruction (302) comprises means for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations in said manual controller (12) in response to said interruption signal. An entertainment system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said entertainment apparatus (14) has selection means for selecting at least one of the plurality of manual controllers (12) depending on the content of a wireless signal. received by said portable information terminal (32), said vibration generation instruction means (302) 7i comprises means for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations to the selected manual controller (12). An entertainment system according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of portable information terminals (32) and a plurality of manual controllers (12) are connected to said entertainment apparatus (14), said means of The vibration generation instruction (302) comprises means for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations to the manual control (12) corresponding to the portable information terminal (32) which has received said wireless signal. An entertainment system according to Claim 5, wherein said vibration generation instruction means (302) comprises means for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations to one of the manual controllers (12) which is physically closest to the portable information terminal (32) which has received said wireless signal. An entertainment system according to Claim 5, wherein said vibration generation instruction means (302) comprises means for outputting an instruction to generate vibrations in one of the manual controllers (12) which is locally associated with the terminal of portable information (32) which has received said wireless signal. An entertainment system according to one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein said instruction for generating vibrations withdrawn from said vibration generating instruction means (302) includes a property of the vibrations depending on the signal received by said terminal of vibrations. portable information (32). A recording medium which stores a program and data used by an entertainment system (10) comprising an entertainment device (14) for executing various programs, at least one hand controller (12) connected to said entertainment apparatus (14) for inputting user manual control requests to said entertainment apparatus (14), and a portable information terminal (32) for receiving a wireless signal and send information to at least one entertainment apparatus (14) and receive information from at least one entertainment apparatus (14), said manual controller (12) has vibration generation means (128) to apply vibrations to the user in response to a external request, said program has the step of exiting an instruction to generate vibrations to said manual controller (12) in response to the reception of a wireless signal by said portable information terminal (32). A recording medium according to Claim 9, wherein said program further comprises the step of: monitoring the reception of data by said portable information terminal (32); said step of exiting an instruction comprises the step of exiting an instruction to generate vibrations to said manual controller (12) in response to the reception of data as detected by the monitoring step. A recording medium according to Claim 9, wherein said program further comprises the step of: generating an interruption signal of said portable information terminal (32) in response to the reception of said wireless signal; said step of generating an instruction comprises the step of exiting an instruction to generate vibrations to said manual controller (12) in response to said interruption signal. il A recording medium according to any of Claims 9 to 11, wherein said program further comprises the step of: selecting at least one of the plurality of manual controllers (12) connected to said entertainment apparatus (14) depending on the content of the wireless signal received by said portable information terminal (32); said step of generating an instruction comprises the step of exiting an instruction to generate vibration to the selected manual controller (12). A recording medium according to any of Claims 9 to 12, wherein a plurality of portable information terminals (32) and a plurality of manual controllers (12) are connected to said entertainment apparatus (14), said step of generating an instruction comprises the step of: outputting an instruction to generate vibrations to a manual controller (12) corresponding to the portable information terminal (32) which has received said wireless signal. A recording medium according to Claim 13, wherein said step of generating an instruction comprises the step of exiting an instruction to generate vibrations to one of the manual controllers (12) which is physically closest to the portable information terminal (32) which has received said wireless signal. 15. A recording medium according to claim 13, wherein said step of generating an instruction comprises the step of exiting an instruction to generate vibrations to one of the manual controllers (12) which is logically associated with the information terminal. laptop (32) which has received said wireless signal. 16. A recording medium in accordance with one of the Claims 9 to 15, wherein said instruction for generating vibrations output in said instruction generation step includes a property of vibrations depending on the signal received by said portable information terminal (32).