MXPA99008429A - System for and method of processing data, and training system - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable computer connects removably with a video game machine that processes data, and connects to a digital camera with a video game machine. The image data supplied from the portable computer or the digital camera to the video game machine is processed or combined by the video game machine and the processed or combined image data is sent to a portable computer or digital camera. The laptop and digital camera, which are difficult to connect directly to one another, connect simultaneously with the video game machine to send and receive image data between the laptop and the digital camera.

Description

"SYSTEM FOR AND METHOD OF PROCESSING DATA, AND ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM" BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a system for and a method of processing data and an entertainment system for sending data to and receiving data from an external device, and more particularly, with a system for and a method of processing data and a entertainment system that are preferably applicable to a system comprising a video game machine and a personal digital assistant computer (PDA).

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNIQUE Home consoles such as personal computers can read the data of the captured image with a digital camera and use the image data read when the digital camera is connected to the home consoles. When a small computer, such as a personal digital assistant computer is connected to personal computers, personal computers can - - send and receive various data such as image data to and from the small computer. Domestic consoles include conventional video game machines such as television game devices. Conventional video game machines that are used extensively, read the game data from a recording medium or an auxiliary storage unit, and operate an application program in a video game machine processor based on the data of video game to play a competition game, for example, in response to control signals admitted from a control unit that is known as a manual controller operated by the player of the game. Many video game machines usually have excellent image processing and sound data capabilities, so that users can experience complex and realistic images and sounds. Specifically, the excellent image and sound data processing capability of the video game machines allows complex game characters to be presented in the realistic speech sounds reproduced for the video game, and can present images and sounds that are finer and more complex than is possible with existing computers.

So far, for a conventional home console such as a personal computer to read the image data captured by a digital camera, it has been customary to take into account only the data transfer between the home console and the digital camera. No system has been established to carry out simultaneous communications between the home console, a digital camera and a small computer such as a personal digital assistant computer in accordance with an application program registered in a recording medium. To transfer the data of the image captured by a digital camera to a small computer, it is necessary to convert the data of the image into a format that can be used by a small computer. When the small computer and the digital camera are connected directly to one another, however, it has been difficult to transfer the efficiency of the data from the digital camera to the small computer due to the limited computing resources of the small computer. Although conventional video game machines have excellent data processing capacity, as described above, conventional video game machines remain only a device for carrying out an application program to present a game. Of video. It has not - - established no system in which a small computer and a digital camera connect simultaneously with a video game machine to send and receive image data and process image data, and any system that uses the calculation and presentation functions effectively Real-time graphics of the video game machine. In addition, any application program that works by means of a small computer to use the image data has not been provided by a recording medium that is loaded into a device to which both the small computer and a digital camera are connected.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a system for and a method of processing data and an entertainment system, which allows a slave unit and a digital camera to connect simultaneously with a master unit to send and receive data from image between the subordinate unit and the digital camera, which are difficult to connect directly with each other.

The objects, features and advantages mentioned above and others of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown as an example illustrative.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a functional diagram of a data processing system in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a functional diagram of a hardware layer of the video game machine of a video game machine of the data processing system; Figure 3 is a functional diagram of a PDA hardware layer of a laptop of the data processing system; Figure 4 is a functional diagram of a DC hardware layer of a digital camera connected to the data processing system; Figure 5 is a functional diagram of the hardware layers and software layers of the data processing system and the digital camera; Figure 6 is a flow chart of a processing sequence of the video game machine in a process for supplying the image data from the digital camera to the video game machine; Figure 7 is a flow chart of a digital camera processing sequence in the process of supplying the image data from the digital camera to the video game machine; Figure 8 is a flow chart of a processing sequence of the video game machine in a process for processing the image data in the video game machine and supplying the data of the processed image to the portable computer; Figure 9 is a flow chart of a processing sequence of the portable computer in the process of processing the processing image data in the video game machine and supplying the data of the processed image to the portable computer; Figure 10 is a flow chart of a processing sequence of the video game machine in a process for supplying a plurality of image data from the digital camera to the video game machine; Figure 11 is a flow chart of the processing sequence of the video game machine - in a process for combining a plurality of image data in the video game machine and supplying the combined image data to the portable computer; Figure 12 is a flow chart of a digital camera processing sequence in the process of supplying a plurality of image data from the digital camera to the video game machine; Figure 13 is a flow chart of a processing sequence of the portable computer in the process of combining a plurality of image data in the video game machine and supplying the combined image data to the portable computer; Figure 14 is a flow chart of a processing sequence of a process for processing and combining the image data supplied from the digital camera to the video game machine, variably in response to manually supported commands; Figure 15 is a flow chart of a processing sequence of the video game machine in a process for supplying the image data from the laptop to the video game machine; Figure 16 is a flow chart of a processing sequence of the laptop in the process of supplying the image data from the laptop to the video game machine; Figure 17 is a flow chart of a processing sequence of the video game machine in a process of processing the image data in the video game machine and supplying the data of the processed image to the digital camera; Figure 18 is a flow chart of a digital camera processing sequence in the process of processing the image data in the video game machine and supplying the data of the processed image to the digital camera; Figure 19 is a flow chart of a processing sequence of the video game machine in a process of supplying a plurality of image data from the portable computer to the video game machine; FIG. 20 s a flow chart of a video game machine processing sequence in a process for combining a plurality of image data in the video game machine and supplying the combined image data to the digital camera; Figure 21 is a flow chart of a processing sequence of the portable computer in the process of supplying a plurality of image data from the laptop to the video game machine; Y - - Figure 22 is a flow chart of a digital camera processing sequence in the process of combining a plurality of image data in the video game machine and supplying the combined image data to the digital camera; Figure 23 is a flow chart of a process sequence of a process for processing and combining the image data supplied from the laptop to the video game machine, variably in response to manually supported commands; Figure 24 is a flow chart of a processing sequence of the video game machine in a process for supplying the application software to be used by the portable computer from the video game machine and activating the portable computer; Figure 25 is a flow chart of a laptop processing sequence in the process of supplying application software to be used by the laptop from the video game machine and activating the laptop; Figure 26 is a perspective view of an entertainment system as a specific example of the data processing system comprising the video game machine and the portable computer; - Figure 27 is a plan view of the entertainment system; Figure 28 is a plan view of a portable electronic device as a specific example of the portable computer; Figure 29 is a front elevational view of the portable electronic device shown in Figure 28; Figure 30 is a bottom view of the portable electronic device shown in Figure 28; Figure 31 is a functional diagram of a video game apparatus as a specific example of the video game machine; Figure 32 is a functional diagram of the portable electronic device as a specific example of the portable computer; and Figure 33 is a diagram showing the control articles controlled by a control means in the portable electronic device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES As shown in Figure 1, the data processing system 1 according to the present invention comprises a video game machine 2 and a - computer 3 laptop (PDA) connected to the video game machine 2. In the data processing system 1, the video game machine 2 serves as a master unit for processing the data, and the portable computer 3 serves as a subordinate unit. The video game machine 2 is placed as an entertainment system that carries out the program data recorded in the recording medium (not shown) such as a CD-ROM, a DVD, or the like to perform a game of similar video. The portable computer 3 is removably connected to the video game machine 2 for sending data to and receiving the data from the video game machine 2 and is positioned as a personal digital assistant computer (PDA) having a wireless communication function . The video game machine 2 will connect a digital camera (DC) 4 and an image-forming device capable of capturing the images, and a video monitor 5 as a presentation unit for presenting the processed results from the video game machine 2. The video game machine 2 as a hardware layer 20 of the video game machine (see Figure 2) comprising a CPU 21 which functions as a control means for controlling the input and output of image data, a processing means for processing - the image data, a combining and processing means for combining and processing the image data, and a read means ready to read the data such as the application program data recorded in a recording medium (not shown) , a serial communication block 22 as first and second connection means to which the digital camera 4 and the portable computer 3 are connected, an input block 23 which functions as a command input means for controlling the operation of the CPU 21 in response to the manual input controls, a register medium block 24, a main memory 25, a graphic processor 26 and a functional block 27. These components of the hardware layer 20 of the video game machine are connected to a bus 28. The serial communication block 22 has a function to carry out serial communications with an external device. The serial communication block 22 has terminals (not shown) electrically connectable with the serial communication blocks 42 (to be described later) of the portable computer 3 and the digital camera 4 so that the video game machine 2 can send image data, etc. to the received image data, etc. from the 3 laptop computer and the 4 digital camera.

- - The input data 23 has a function as a manually controlled input unit. The input block 23 allows the different information media to be admitted into the video game machine 2 by the user and also allows the video game machine 2 to process and combine the image data in response to the video controls. user. A recording medium (not shown) is loaded into the recording medium block 24 which has a drive to drive the recording medium. In the video game machine 2, the -CPU 21 controls the recording medium block 24 for reading an image processing and communication application 50 (see Figure 5) registered in the recording medium. The main memory 25 is a memory medium for storing various data. The main memory stores application programs that include the communication and application of image processing 50 recorded in the recording medium (not shown), and the image data supplied from the portable computer 3 or the digital camera 4 through the block. 22 of serial communication. The graphic processor 26 serves as a unit for processing the image data that is supplied thereto. The graphic processor 26 performs the processing - - graphic of images that will be presented in a presentation unit. Specifically, the graphic processor 26 performs the polygon graphic processing. The functional block 27 is placed to perform other functions than the aforementioned blocks, and may comprise, for example, a power supply block. The CPU 21 has a function for controlling the aforementioned blocks. For example, the CPU 21 controls the input and output of data supplied to the video game machine 2, through the serial communication block 22 or the data sent from the video game machine 2 through the block 22 of serial communication. The CPU 21 also has a function to process and combine the data. The CPU 21 also transfers the application programs registered in the registration medium (not shown) to the computer 3 laptop and keeps the application programs transferred on the laptop 3 computer. The video game machine 2 constructed in this manner is capable of carrying out a video game based on the program registered in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or the like. The video game machine 2 is positioned in such a way that a non-volatile memory card system (not shown) can be removably connected thereto. The portable computer 3 has a PDA hardware layer 30 (see Figure 3) comprising a display block 32 having a function as a presentation means for presenting the supplied image data, a CPU 31, a serial communication block 33, a non-volatile memory 34, a working memory 35, a wireless communication block 36, an input block 37, and a functional block 38. These components of the layer 30 of PDA hardware are connected to a bus 39. The presentation block 32 is positioned to function as a presentation unit to present different items of information. Display block 32 presents the image data and various character information on a liquid crystal board (not shown), for example. The serial communication block 33 has a function to carry out serial communications with an external device. The serial communication block 33 is capable of being electrically connected to the serial communication block 22 of the video game machine 2, for example, for data communications with the video game machine 2. The laptop 3 computer is supplied - - with image data from the video game machine 2 through the serial communication block 33 and also with application programs registered in the recording medium (not shown) loaded in the video game machine 2. The non-volatile memory 34 serves as a memory medium for storing different data. The non-volatile memory 34 stores image data and application programs supplied from the video game machine 2 through the serial communication block 33. The working memory 35 serves as a memory means to be used as a work area for different data. As with the non-volatile memory 34, the working memory 35 stores image data and application programs supplied from the video game machine 2. The radio communication block 36 has a function to communicate with an external device through infrared beams in accordance with IrDA or microwave standards. The input block 37 is positioned to operate as a manually operated input unit. For example, the entry block 37 allows the user to admit several items of information. The functional block 38 is placed to perform other functions than the aforementioned blocks, and may comprise, for example, a power supply block. The CPU 31 has a function to control the aforementioned blocks. For example, CP 31 controls the blocks in accordance with the different programs of the aforementioned software layer. The CPU 31 also functions as a means of executing the program data. The portable computer 3 can be connected removably with the video game machine 2 to send the data to and receive the data from the video game machine 2. In addition, the portable computer 3 is compatible with the non-volatile memory card system (not shown) that can also be connected removably with the video game machine 2. The digital camera 4 connected to the video game machine 2 has a DC hardware layer 40 (see Figure 4) comprising a CPU 41, a serial communication block 42, an image input block 43, a block 44 for storing image data and a working memory 45. These components of the DC hardware layer 40 are connected to a bus 46. The serial communication block 42 has a function to effect serial communication with the external device. The serial communication block 42 is electrically connectable with the serial communication block 22 of the video game machine 2 to send the data to and receive the data from the video game machine 2. The digital camera 4 is supplied with image data from the video game machine 2 through the serial communication block 42 and supplies the image data of the video game machine 2 through the communication block 42 in series. The image input block 43 is positioned to have a function as an image capture unit and has an optical system including lenses, a shutter, etc. The data of the image captured by the image input block 43 is recorded as a multi-color high resolution image data in the image data storage block 44. The image data storage block 44 is placed as a component for recording the captured images. The storage block 44 of the image data has a non-volatile memory included or comprises a removable recording medium. The image data storage block 44 stores the data of the captured images and the image data supplied from the video game machine 2 through the serial communication block 42.

The work memory 45 serves as a memory means to be used as a work area for the various data. As with block 44 of image data storage, the work memory 45 stores the captured image data and the image data supplied from the video game machine 2. The CPU 41 has a function to control the aforementioned blocks. For example, the CPU 41 controls the blocks according to the different programs of the aforementioned software layer. The data processing system 1 with the portable computer 3 connected to the video game machine 2, and the digital camera 4 connected to the video game machine 2, have a logical relationship as shown in Figure 5. video game machine 2 has a layer 20 of video game machine hardware as its hardware layer, and also has a software layer comprising a communication image processing application 50 for carrying out communications with the computer 3 portable and 4 digital camera, and processing image data and 60, 70 mass communication boosters to carry out serial communications with portable computer 3 and digital camera 4, these drivers being read from applications and communication from the middle of - - register (not shown) loaded in block 24 of recording medium by CPU 21. Block 22 of serial communication sends and receives data according to serial communication drivers 60, 70. The portable computer 3 has a layer 30 of PDA hardware as its hardware layer and also has a software layer comprising a communication application 80 for carrying out communications with the video game machine 2, a communication driver 90 in series, and a wireless communication booster 100. The serial communication block 33 and the wireless communication block 36 send and receive data in accordance with the serial communication driver 90 and the wireless communication driver 100. The digital camera 4 which sends the data to and receives the data from the data processing system 1, runs the DC hardware layer 40 as its hardware layer, and also has a software layer comprising a communication application 110 to carry out the communications with the video game machine 2, and a serial communication driver 120. The serial communication block 42 sends and receives the conformance data with the serial communication driver 120. In the data processing system 1 of the aforementioned structure, the video game machine 2 receives the image data, that is, the high resolution image data of multiple colors from the digital camera 4 according to a sequence of processing shown in FIG. 6. The CPU 21 of the video game machine 2 reads the communication and image processing application 50 and the serial communication drivers 60, 70 to carry out serial communications with the portable computer 3 and digital camera 4, which are recorded in the recording medium (not shown), from block 24 of recording medium in step SI shown in Figure 6. Then, CPU 21 stores application 50 of communication and image processing and the serial communication drivers 60, 70 in the main memory 25 in step S2. Then, the CPU 21 initiates communications with the serial communication block 42 of the digital camera 4 through the block 22 in series to establish a communication link with it in the step S3. Then, the CPU 21 receives the multi-color high resolution image data from the digital camera 4 through the established communication link and stores the image data received in the main memory in step S4.

- - To confirm the end of the reception of the image data from the digital camera 4, the CPU 21 decides whether all image data is received from the digital camera 4 or not in the step S5. If the CPU 21 confirms that all the image data has been received, then the video game machine 2 terminates the process of receiving the image data. If the CPU 21 confirms that all image data has not been received, then the video game machine 2 performs the processing from step S4 again. Simultaneously with the aforementioned process carried out by the video game machine 2, the digital camera 4 decides whether there is a communication connection request in series from the video game machine 2 or not in the step Sil shown in FIG. Figure 7. If the digital camera 4 confirms that there is a connection request in serial communication from the video game machine 2 in step Sil, then the CPU 41 of the digital camera 4 begins communications with the communication block 22 in series of the video game machine 2 through the serial communication block 42 to establish a communication link with it in step S12. Then, the CPU 41 sends high resolution multi-color image data stored in the image data storage block 44 to the video game machine 2 via the communication link established in step S13. The processing in steps S12, S13 carried out by the digital camera 4 corresponds to the processing in steps S3, S4 carried out by the video game machine 2. To confirm the end of the transmission of the image data, the CPU 41 decides whether all the image data has been sent to the video game machine 2 or not in step S14. If the CPU 41 confirms that all the image data has been sent to the video game machine 2, then the digital camera 4 terminates the process of sending the image data. If the CPU 41 confirms that all the image data has not been sent to the video game machine 2, then the digital camera 4 performs the processing from step S13 again. The aforementioned processing sequences of the video game machine 2 and the digital camera 4 allow the digital camera 4 to supply the high resolution image data of multiple colors to the video game machine 2. A process, carried out by the video game machine 2, of processing high resolution multi color image data received from the camera 4 - - digitally and sent from the processed image data to the portable computer 3, will be described below with reference to Figures 8 and 9. The video game machine 2 processes the high resolution multi-color image data supplied from the digital camera 4 in step S6 shown in Figure 8. The multi-color high resolution image data is processed by the image processing and communication application 50 for resolution conversion, color reduction, crop, increase, decrease , axis inversion, color inversion, etc. as will be described later in order to generate low resolution color image data in a smaller number that can be used by the portable computer 3. Then, the CPU 21 of the video game machine 2 stores the image data processed in step S6 in the main memory 25 in step S7. Then, the CPU 21 begins communications with the serial communication block 33 of the portable computer 3 through the serial communication block 22 to establish a communication link with it in step S8.

Then, the CPU 21 sends the processed data to the portable computer 3 through the communication link established in step S9. To confirm the end of the transmission of the image data, the CPU 21 decides whether or not all the image data has been sent in step S10. If the CPU 21 confirms that all image data has been sent, then the video game machine 2 terminates the process of sending the image data. If the CPU 21 confirms that all image data has not been sent, then the video game machine 2 performs the processing of step S9 again. Simultaneously, with the aforementioned process being carried out by the video game machine 2, the portable computer 3 decides whether there is a request for serial communication connection from the video game machine 2 or not in the step S21 shown in Figure 9. If the portable computer 3 confirms that there is a connection request for * serial communication from the video game machine 2 in step S21, then the CPU 31 of the portable computer 3 begins the communications from the block 22 of serial communication of the video game machine 2 through the serial communication block 33 in order to establish a communication link with it in step S22. Then, the CPU 31 stores the data of the received image of the video game machine 2 in the non-volatile memory 34, through the communication link established in step S23. The processing in steps S22, S23 carried out by the portable computer 3 corresponds to the processing in steps S8, S9 carried out by the video game machine 2. To confirm the end of the reception of the image data from the video game machine 2, the CPU 31 decides whether or not all image data has been received in step S24. If the CPU 31 confirms that all image data has been received, then the portable computer 3 terminates the process of receiving the image data. If the CPU 31 confirms that all image data has not been received, then the portable computer 3 performs the processing from step S23 again. The aforementioned processing sequence allows the video game machine 2 to process the image data from the digital camera 4 to the low resolution color image data in a smaller amount that can be used by the portable computer 3 and - - supply the low resolution image data to colors in smaller quantity towards the portable computer 3. Therefore, the data processing system 1 can use the digital camera 4 as an image input device and the portable computer 3 as an image output device with respect to the video game machine 2. Since the resolution etc. of the supplied image data has been processed in order to be able to be presented in block 32 of presentation, the portable computer 3 can present the supplied image data and can carry out the application programs using the supplied image data. A process for supplying a plurality of image data from the digital camera 4 to the video game machine 2 which combines the image data to be superimposed or simultaneously displayed on a screen with the video game machine 2, and to supply the data of the combined image to the portable computer 3 will be described below with reference to Figures 10 to 13. The CPU 21 of the video game machine 2 reads the application 50 of communication and imaging procedure and the impellers 60, 70 of serial communication to carry out serial communications with portable computer 3 and digital camera 4, which are recorded in the recording medium (not shown), from block 24 of recording medium in step S31 shown in Figure 10. Then, the CPU 21 stores the communication and image processing application 50 and the serial communication drivers 60, 70 in the main memory 25 in the country. or S32. Then, the CPU 21 begins communications with the serial communication block 42 of the digital camera 4 through the serial communication block 22 to establish a communication link with it in the step S33. Then, the CPU 21 receives a plurality of high resolution multi-color image data from the digital camera 4 through the established communications link and stores the received image data in the main memory 25 in step S34. To confirm the end of the reception of the multiple image data from the digital camera 4, the CPU 21 decides whether all the multiple image data has been received from the digital camera 4 or not in the step S35. If the CPU 21 confirms that all the multiple image data has been received, then the video game machine 2 terminates the process of receiving the image data and the control goes to the step S36 shown in Figure 11. If the CPU 21 confirms that all the multiple image data has not been received, then the video game machine 2 performs the processing from step S4 again. The video game machine 2 combines the plurality of multi-color high resolution image data supplied from the digital camera 4 in step S36 shown in Figure 11. In step S36, the image data is combined to overcome each other. or appear simultaneously on the screen as described above. The processing of the image data described above can also be carried out in step S36. Then, the CPU 21 stores the combined image data in step S6 in the main memory 25 in step S37. Next, the CPU 21 begins communications with the serial communication block 33 of the portable computer 3 through the serial communication block 22 to establish a communication link therein in step S38. Then, the CPU 21 transmits the combined image data to the portable computer 3 through the communication link established in step S39. To confirm the end of the transmission of the image data, the CPU 21 decides whether or not the image data has been sent in step S40. If the CPU 21 confirms that all the image data has been sent, then the video game machine 2 terminates the process of sending the image data. If the CPU 21 confirms that all image data has not been sent, then the video game machine 2 performs the processing from step S39 again. Simultaneously with the aforementioned process carried out by the video game machine 2, the digital camera 4 decides whether there is a serial communication connection request from the video game machine 2 or not in the step S41 shown in FIG. Figure 12. If the digital camera 4 confirms that there is a serial communication connection request from the video game machine 2 in step S41, then the CPU 41 of the digital camera 4 begins communications with the serial communication block 22 of the video game machine 2 through the serial communication block 42 to establish a communication link with it in step S42. Then, the CPU 41 sends a plurality of high resolution multi-color data stored in the image data storage block 44 to the video game machine 2 via the communication link established in step S43.

The processing in steps S42, S43 carried out by the digital camera 4 corresponds to the processing in steps S33, S34 carried out by the video game machine 2. To confirm the end of the transmission of the multiple image data, the CPU 41 decides whether all the multiple image data has been sent to the video game machine 2 or not, in step S44. If the CPU 41 confirms that all the multiple image data has been sent to the video game machine 2, then the digital camera 4 terminates the process of sending the multiple image data. If the CPU 41 confirms that all the multiple image data has not been sent to the video game machine 2, then the digital camera 4 performs the processing from step S43 again. The portable computer 3 decides whether there is a request for serial communication connection from the video game machine 2 or not in step S51, which is shown in Figure 13. If the portable computer 3 confirms that there is a connection request of communication in -series from the video game machine 2 in step S51, then the CPU 31 of the portable computer 3 initiates communications with the serial communication block 22 of the video game machine 2 through the block 33 of communication in series to establish a communication link with it in step S52. Then, the CPU 31 stores the image data received from the video game machine 2 in the non-volatile memory 34 via the communication link established in step S53. The processing in steps S52, S53 carried out by the portable computer 3 corresponds to the processing in steps S38, S39 carried out by the video game machine 2. To confirm the end of the image data reception from the video game machine 2, the CPU 31 decides whether or not all image data has been received in step S54. If the CPU 31 confirms that all the image data has been received, then the portable computer 3 terminates the process of receiving the image data. If the CPU 31 confirms that all the image data has not been received, then the portable computer 3 performs the processing in step S53 again. The aforementioned processing sequences allow the video game machine 2 to process the image data supplied from the digital camera 4 to the video game machine 2, and to supply the processed image data to the portable computer 3. Therefore, when the data processing system 1 is supplied in a plurality of image data from the digital camera 4, the data processing system 1 can present the multiple image data supplied in the presentation block 32 of the 3 laptop computer. The video game machine 2 can process and combine the image data in accordance with the image processing and communication application 50 while in a variable mode, in response to the manually supported commands from the input block 23, and displays the processed image data in a real-time manner on the video monitor 5. A process for variably processing and combining the image data will be described below with reference to FIG. 14. The process shown in FIG. 14 is directed to selective processing of the image data supplied from the digital camera 4 for conversion of the image. resolution, color reduction and trimming and other modes of image data processing are omitted from the process shown in Figure 14. The video game machine 2 decides whether there is a data input from the manual controller of the input block 23 or not in step S61 shown in Figure 14. If the video game machine 2 confirms that there is an input data from the manual controller in step S61, then the CPU 21 stores the input data in the main memory 25, and interprets and stores a string of input data as a command according to a synthesis analysis in step S62. The video game machine 2 decides in step S63 if a processing and combining process corresponding to the command interpreted in step S62 is present in the image processing and communication application 50 and can be carried out or not. If there is a processing and combination process corresponding to the command, then the control goes to step S64. If there is no processing and combination process corresponding to the command, then the video game machine 2 performs the processing from step S61 again. The video game machine 2 decides whether the interpreted command is a resolution conversion command or not in step S64. If the interpreted command is a resolution conversion command, then the video game machine 2 performs a resolution conversion process in step S65 to convert the resolution of the image data to a resolution that can be used by the 3 laptop computer. If the interpreted command is not a resolution conversion command then the video game machine 2 decides whether the intepreted command is a command - - of color reduction or not in step S66. If the intepreted control is a color reduction knob, then the video game machine 2 performs a color reduction process in step S67 to reduce the number of colors so that the image data can be used by the 3 laptop computer. If interpreted command is not a color reduction command, then the video game machine 2 decides whether the interpreted command is a trim command or not in step S68. If the interpreted command is a trimming command, then the video game machine 2 performs a trimming process in step S69. If the interpreted command is not a clipping command, then the control goes to other processes including a rising recording process, a downward recording process, etc., after which the processing of the processing image data and combination varies It is terminated. As described above, the data processing system 1 allows the image data to be processed and combined by the video game machine 2 variably in response to commands manually admitted from the user. The data of the image processed and combined in this way can be presented in a real-time manner in the video monitor 5 connected to the video game machine 2. In the data processing system 1 after it is confirmed that the image data from the digital camera 4 has been processed and combined by the video game machine 2 into the image data satisfying the user's need, the Processed and combined image data can be supplied to the portable computer 3. The data processing system 1 is capable of sending not only the image data from the digital camera 4 through the video game machine 2 to the portable computer 3, but also the image data from the portable computer 3 through the video game machine 2 towards the digital camera 4. This process will be described below with reference to Figures 15 to 18. The CPU 21 of the video game machine 2 reads the image processing and communication application 50 and the serial communication drivers 60, 70 to perform communications in series with the portable computer 3 of the digital camera 4, which are recorded in the recording medium (not shown), from the block 24 of recording medium, in step S71 shown in Figure 15. Then, the CPU 21 stores application 50 for communication and image processing and impellers - - 60, 70 of serial communication in main memory 25 in step S72. Next, the CPU 21 begins communications with the serial communication block 33 of the portable computer 3 through the serial communication block 22 to establish a communication link with it in step S73. Then, the CPU 21 receives the image data of the portable computer 3 through the established communication link, and stores the received image data in the main memory 25 in step S74. To confirm the end of the reception of the image data from the portable computer 3, the CPU 21 decides whether all the image data has been received from the portable computer 3 or not, in step S75. If the CPU 21 confirms that all the image data has been received, then the video game machine 2 terminates the process of receiving the image data. If the CPU 21 confirms that all the image data has not been received, then the video game machine 2 performs the processing from step S74 again. Simultaneously with the aforementioned process that is carried out by the video game machine 2, the portable computer 3 decides whether there is a request for serial communication connection from the video game machine 2 or not in the step S81, shown in Figure 16. If the portable computer 3 confirms that there is a request for serial communication connection from the video game machine 2 in step S81, then the CPU 31 of the portable computer 3 initiates communications with the block 22 of serial communication of the video game machine 2 through the serial communication block 33 to establish a communication link with it in step S82. Then, the CPU 31 sends the image data stored in the non-volatile memory 34 to the video game machine 2 via the communication link established in step S83. The processing in steps S82, S83 carried out by the portable computer 3 corresponds to the processing in steps S73, S74 carried out by the video game machine 2. To confirm the end of the transmission of the image data, the CPU 31 decides whether or not all image data has been sent in step S84. If the CPU 31 confirms that all the image data has been sent, then the portable computer 3 terminates the process of sending the image data. If the CPU 31 confirms that all image data has not been sent, then the portable computer 3 performs the processing from step S83 again. The aforementioned processing sequences of the video game machine 2 and the portable computer 3 allow the portable computer 3 to supply the image data to the video game machine 2, in the data processing system 1. A process, carried out by the video game machine 2, of the processing of the image data received from the portable computer 3 and sends the processed image data to the digital camera 4 to be described below, with reference to the Figures 17 and 18. The video game machine 2 processes the image data supplied from the portable computer 3 in step S76 shown in Figure 17. The image data is processed by the image processing and communication application 50. for resolution conversion, color interpolation, cropping, ascending graduation, descending graduation, axis inversion, color inversion, etc., as will be described later. Then, the CPU 21 of the video game machine 2 stores the image data processed in step S76 in the main memory 25 in step S77. Next, the CPU 21 begins communications with the serial communication block 42 of the digital camera 4 through the serial communication block 22 to establish a communication link with it in the step S78. Next, the CPU 21 sends the processed data to the digital camera 4, through the communication link established in step S79. To confirm the end of the transmission of the image data, the CPU 21 decides whether or not all image data has been sent in step S80. If the CPU 21 confirms that all image data has been sent, then the video game machine 2 terminates the process of sending the image data. If the CPU 21 confirms that all the image data has not been sent, then the video game machine 2 performs processing from step S79 again. Simultaneously, with the aforementioned process that was carried out by the video game machine 2, the digital camera 4 decides whether there is a request for serial communication connection from the video game machine 2 or not in the step S91 shown in Figure 18. If the digital camera 4 confirms that there is a serial communication connection request from the video game machine 2 in step S91, then the CPU 41 of the digital camera 4 begins communications with the serial communication block 22 of the video game machine 2 through the serial communication block 42 to establish a communication link therewith with the step S92. Then, the CPU 41 stores the image data received from the video game machine 2 in the image data storage block 44 via the communication link established in step S93. The processing in steps S92, S93 carried out by the digital camera 4 corresponds to the processing in steps S78, S79 carried out by the video game machine 2. To confirm the end of the reception of the image data from the video game machine 2, the CPU 41 decides whether or not all the image data has been received in step S94. If the CPU 41 confirms that all the image data has been received, then the digital camera 4 terminates the process of receiving the image data. If the CPU 41 confirms that all the image data has not been received, then the digital camera 4 performs the processing from step S93 again. The aforementioned processing sequence allows the video game machine 2 to process the image data from the portable computer 3 and - - supplies the processed image data to the digital camera 4. Therefore, the data processing system 1 can use the portable computer 3 as an image input device and the digital camera 4 as an image output device with respect to the video game machine 2. A process for supplying a plurality of image from the portable computer 3 to the video game machine 2, combining the image data to be superimposed or simultaneous presentation with the screen with the video game machine 2, and to supply the data of the combined image to the digital camera 4 will be described below with reference to Figures 19 to 22. The CPU 21 of the video game machine 2 reads the communication and image processing application 50 and communication drivers 60, 70 in series to carry out the serial communications with the portable computer 3 and the digital camera 4, which are recorded in the recording medium (not shown), from the block 24 of the recording medium in the step SlOl shown in the Figure 19. Then, the CPUs 21 stores the image communication and processing application 50 and the serial communication drivers 60, 70 in the main memory 25 in step S102. - 3 Next, the CPU 21 begins communications with the serial communication block 33 that the portable computer 3 through the serial communication block 22 to establish a communication link with it in step SI03. Then, the CPU 21 receives a plurality of image data from the portable computer 3 through the established communication link and stores the received image data in the main memory 25, in step S104. To confirm the end of the reception of the multiple image data from the portable computer 3, the CPU 21 decides whether all the multiple image data has been received from the portable computer 3 or not, in step S105. If the CPU 21 confirms that all the multiple image data have been received, then the video game machine 2 terminates the process of receiving the image data, and the control goes to the step S106 shown in Figure 20. If the CPU 21 confirms that all the multiple image data has not been received, then the video game machine 2 performs the processing from step SI04 again. The video game machine 2 combines the plurality of image data supplied from the portable computer 3 in step S106 shown in Figure 20. In step S106, the image data is combined. - - to overcome or present themselves simultaneously on the screen as described above. The image data processing described above can also be carried out in step S106. Then, the CPU 21 stores the combined image data in step S106 in the main memory 25 in step S107. Next, the CPU 21 begins communications with the serial communication block 22 of the digital camera 4 through the serial communication block 22 to establish a communication link with it in the step S108. Then, the CPU 21 transmits the combined image data to the digital camera 4 through the communication link established in step S109. To confirm the end of the transmission of the image data, the CPU 21 decides whether or not all the image data has been sent in step S110. If the CPU 21 confirms that all the image data has been sent, then the video game machine 2 terminates the process of sending the image data. If the CPU 21 confirms that all image data has not been sent, then the video game machine 2 executes processing from step S109 again.

Simultaneously with the aforementioned process that is carried out by the video game machine 2, the portable computer 3 decides whether there is a request for serial communication connection from the video game machine 2 or not in the step Slll, shown in Figure 21. If the portable computer 3 confirms that there is a request for serial communication connection from the video game machine 2 in the step Slll, then the CPU 31 of the portable computer 3 initiates communications with the block 22 of serial communication of the video game machine 2 through the serial communication block 33 - to establish a communication link with it in step S112. Then, the CPU 31 sends a plurality of image data stored in the non-volatile memory 34 to the video game machine 2 via the communication link established in step S113. The processing in step S112, S113 carried out by the portable computer 3 corresponds to the processing in steps S103, S104 carried out by the video game machine 2. To confirm the end of the transmission of the multiple image data, the CPU 31 decides whether all the multiple image data has been sent to the video game machine 2 or not, in step S114. If the CPU 41 confirms that all the multiple image data has been sent to the video game machine 2, then the portable computer 3 terminates the process of sending the multiple image data. If the CPU 31 confirms that all the multiple image data has not been sent to the video game machine 2, then the portable computer 3 performs the processing from step S113 again. The digital camera 4 decides whether there is a request for serial communication connection from the video game machine 2 or not in the step S121 shown in Figure 22. If the digital camera 4 confirms that there is a communication connection request in series from the video game machine 2 in step S121, then the CPU 41 of the digital camera 4 initiates communications with the serial communication block 22 of the video game machine 2 through the communication block 42 series to establish a communication link with it in step S122. Then, the CPU 41 stores the image data received from the video game machine 2 in the image data storage block 44 via the communication link established in step S123.

The processing in steps S122, S123 carried out by the digital camera 4 corresponds to the processing in steps S108, S109 carried out by the video game machine 2. To confirm the end of the reception of the image data from the video game machine 2, the CPU 41 decides whether or not all image data has been received in step S124. If the CPU 41 confirms that all the image data has been received, then the digital camera 4 terminates the process of receiving the image data. If the CPU 41 confirms that all image data has not been received, then the digital camera 4 performs the processing from step S123 again. The above-mentioned processing sequences in the data processing system 1 allow the video game machine 2 to combine the multiple image data from the portable computer 3 to the video game machine 2, and supply the combined image data. to the digital camera 4. When the image data from the portable computer 3 is supplied through the video game machine 2 to the digital camera 4, the video game machine 2 can process and combine the image data according to the application of communication and image processing while in a variable mode in response to the commands' manually admitted from the input block 23, and present the processed image data in a real-time manner on the video monitor 5. A process of variably processing and combining the image data will be described below with reference to Figure 23. The process shown in Figure 23 is directed to the selective processing of the image data supplied from the portable computer 3 for resolution conversion, color interpolation and cropping and other modes of image data processing are omitted from the process shown in Figure 23. The video game machine 2 decides whether there is an input data from the manual controller of the input block 23 or not. in step S131 shown in Figure 23. If the video game machine 2 confirms that there is an input data from the manual controller in step S131, then the CPU 21 stores the input data in the main memory 25 and interprets the stored string of input data as a command according to a synthesis analysis in step S132. The video game machine 2 decides in step S133 whether a processing and combining process corresponding to the command interpreted in step S132 is present in the image processing and communication application 50 and can be carried out or not. If there is a processing and combination process corresponding to the command, then the control goes to step S134. If there is no processing and combination process corresponding to the command, then the video game machine 2 performs the processing from step S131 again. The video game machine 2 decides whether the intepreted command is a resolution conversion command or not in step S134. If the interpreted command is a resolution conversion command then the video game machine 2 performs a resolution conversion process in step S135 in order to convert the resolution of the image data to a resolution that can be used by the digital camera 4 If the intepreted command is not a resolution conversion command, then the video game machine 2 decides whether the interpreted command is a color interpolation command or not in step S136. If the interpreted command is a color interpolation command, then the video game machine 2 performs a color interpolation process in step S137. If the interpreted command is not a color interpolation command, then the video game machine 2 decides whether the interpreted command is a trim command or not in step S138. If the interpreted command is a command of - - trimming, then the video game machine 2 performs a trimming process in step S139. If the interpreted command is not a clipping command, then the control goes to other processes including an ascending graduation process, a graduation process, etc. after which the processing of the processing and combination image data is variably terminated. As described above, when the image data is sent and received between the portable computer 3 and the data processing system 1 and the digital camera 4, the image data can be processed and combined by the machine 2 of video game variably in response to commands manually admitted from the user. The data of the image processed in this way and combined can be presented in a real-time manner in the video monitor 5 connected to the video game machine 2. In the data processing system 1, after use it has confirmed that the image data from the portable computer 3 has been processed and combined by the video game machine 2 into image data that satisfy the user's need, the Processed and combined image data can be supplied to digital camera 4.

A process for supplying image data to the video game machine 2 of both the portable computer 3 and the digital camera 4, the image data processing with the video game machine 2 and the output of the image data processed to the portable computer 3, will be described below. In the data processing system 1, the aforementioned process can be carried out by combining the processes shown in Figures 10 through 13, 19 and 21. The video game machine 2 performs the steps shown in Figure 10 for receiving a plurality of image data from the digital camera 4. Specifically, the video game machine 2 reads the communication and image processing application 50 and the serial communication drivers 60, 70 that are recorded in the recording medium (not shown), and stores them in the main memory 25. The video game machine 2 establishes a communication link with the digital camera 4, receives a plurality of image data from the digital camera 4 and stores the received data in the main memory 25. After the video game machine 2 confirms that all the multiple image data from the digital camera 4 have been received, - - the video game machine 2 performs the steps shown in Figure 19. The video game machine 2 performs the steps shown in Figure 19 to receive a plurality of image data from the portable computer 3. Specifically, the video game machine 2 reads the image communication and processing application 50 and the serial communication drivers 60, 70 that are recorded in the recording medium (not shown), and stores them in the 25 main memory. The video game machine 2 establishes a communication link with the portable computer 3, receives a plurality of image data from the portable computer 3 and stores the received data in the main memory. After the video game machine 2 confirms that all the multiple image data from the portable computer 3 have been received, the video game machine 2 performs the steps shown in Figure 11. The machine 2 of The video game processes and combines the multiple image data received from the portable computer 3 and the digital camera 4, and stores the processed and combined image data in the main memory. The image data is processed and combined in the same manner as described above to generate image data that can be used by the portable computer 3. The video game machine 2 can process and combine the image data in response to manually supported commands from the manual controller, and presents the processed and combined image data in a real-time manner on the video monitor 5 as shown in Figures 14 and 23. Then, the video game machine 2 establishes a communication link with the computer 3 portable and sends the image data to the laptop computer 3. Simultaneously, with the aforementioned process carried out by the video game machine 2, the portable computer 3 and the digital camera 4 carry out the steps shown in Figures 12, 21 and 13. Specifically, the camera 4 digital establishes a communication link with the video game machine 2 and sends a plurality of image data stored in the image data storage block 44 to the video game machine 2, as shown in Figure 12. Next, the portable computer 3 performs the steps shown in Figure 21. The portable computer 3 establishes a communication link with the video game machine 2 and sends a plurality of image data stored in the non-volatile memory 34. to the video game machine 2. After the portable computer 3 and the digital camera 4 have sent the multiple image data to the video game machine 2, the portable computer 3 performs the steps shown in Figure 13, and receives image data from the 2 video game machine. Specifically, the portable computer 3 establishes a communication link with the video game machine 2 and receives the image data processed and combined by the video game machine 2, after which the processing sequence is terminated. As described above, in the data processing system 1, a plurality of image data can be sent from the portable computer 3 and the digital camera 4 to the video game machine 2, the image data can be processing and combining by the video game machine 2 and the combined and processed image data can be sent to the portable computer 3. In the data processing system, the steps shown in Figure 13 can be changed to the steps shown in Figure 18 and carried out, so that the image data can be sent not only to the portable computer 3 but also to the the digital camera 4 A process for sending application software using image data sent from the video game machine 2 to the portable computer 3, from the video game machine 2 to the portable computer 3, will be described below with reference to Figures 24 and 25. The video game machine 2 transfers the image data to the portable computer 3 in step S141 shown in Figure 24. Specifically, as described above, the machine 2 of video game supplies image data that have been sent from the digital camera 4 or both from the portable computer 3 and from the digital 4 camera to the portable computer 3. Then the video game machine 2 reads the application software registered in the recording medium not shown from the block 24 of recording medium in step S142. The application software operates on the portable computer 3, using the image data supplied to the portable computer 3. The video game machine 2 transfers the application software in step S143. Specifically, the application software is transferred essentially in the same manner as when the image data is transferred as described above. In this way, the video game machine 2 supplies the application software to the portable computer 3. Then, the video game machine 2 instructs the portable computer 3 to activate the transferred application software after which the processing sequence is terminated. Simultaneously with the aforementioned process that is carried out by the video game machine 2, the portable computer 3 receives the data of the image in the step S151 shown in Figure 25. Specifically, the portable computer 3 receives the data of the image from the video game machine 2. Then, the portable computer 3 receives the application software from the video game machine 2 in step S152. Specifically, the application software is received through the serial communication block 33 in essentially the same manner as when the image data is received as described above. In this way, the portable computer 3 receives the application software from the video game machine 2. Then, the laptop computer 3 receives instructions from the video game machine 2 to activate - - the application software supplied from the video game machine 2 in step S153. The processing in steps S152, S153 carried out by the portable computer 3 corresponds to the processing in steps S143, S144 carried out by the video game machine 2. Having received the activation instruction, the portable computer 3 activates the application software in step S154 to present the image data received from the video game machine 2 in the display block 32 and carry out another data processing. In the data processing system 1, as described above, the application software that can operate on the portable computer 3 can be read from the recording medium loaded in the video game machine 2 and the portable computer 3 supplied . Therefore, the data processing system 1 can provide the portable computer 3 with a function to read and use the image data. In the data processing system 1, in addition, the aforementioned application software, the image communication and processing application 50 and the serial communication drivers 60, 70 can be supplied from a single recording medium. In the data processing system 1, as described above, the portable computer 3 and the digital camera 4 which are difficult to connect directly to one another connect simultaneously with the video game machine 2 to send and receive the image data between the portable computer 3 and the digital camera 4. In the data processing system 1, when the image data is to be sent and received between the devices having different resolutions, i.e., the portable computer 3 and the digital camera 4, the image data can be processed to resolution conversion, color reduction, color interpolation and different format conversions, allowing image data to be sent and received between the portable computer 3 and the digital 4 camera. In addition, the processed and combined image data may be presented on a real-time basis in the video monitor 5, using a fast graphic display function of the video game machine 2. Therefore, the data processing system 1 allows the user to confirm whether the processed and combined video data is acceptable or not before the image data can be sent and received. The processing system 1 therefore provides appropriate feedback to the user.

In the data processing system 1 further, a plurality of image data from the portable computer 3 and a plurality of image data from the digital camera 4 can be supplied to the video game machine 2, the image data supplied can be processed or combined by the video game machine 2 and the processed and combined image data can be transferred to the portable computer 3 or the digital camera 4. The data processing system 1 is therefore compatible with a plurality of image sources and can easily avoid image data from these multiple image sources. In the data processing system 1, the application software that can operate on the portable computer 3 can be supplied from the video game machine 2, and the video game machine 2 sends instructions to the portable computer 3 to activate the app software. The data processing system 1 in this way can provide the portable computer 3 with a function to read and use the external image data. In the video game machine 2, the image processing and communication application 50, the serial communication drivers 60, 70 and the application software supplied to the portable computer 3 do not need to be registered in the recording medium such as a CD-ROM but can be purchased through communications with an external source. An entertainment system that is a specific example of the data processing system, will be described below with reference to Figures 26 to 30. Figures 26 to 30, the video game machine 2 and the portable computer 3, of the data processing system 1 are constructed as an entertainment system comprising a 301 video game apparatus and a portable electronic 40Q device. The video game machine 2 corresponds to the video game apparatus 301 and the portable computer 3 corresponds to the portable electronic device 400. Specifically, the CPU 21, the serial communication data 22 and the data 23 of the video game machine 2 correspond respectively to a CPU 351, the insertion intervals of memory cards 308A, 308A or a serial interface I / O (SI) 397, and a manual controller 320 of the video game apparatus 301 as shown in Figure 31. The CPU 31, the presentation block 32 and the serial communication block 33 of the portable computer 3 they correspond respectively to a control means 441, a display means 444, and a connector 442 for connecting the apparatus as shown in Figure 32.

As shown in Figures 26 and 27, the video game apparatus 301 reads an application program from a recording medium, and performs the application program according to the instructions of the user, i.e. game. For example, the video game apparatus 301 performs a game program primarily to control the progress of a game, the presentation of the game images, and the output of sounds. The video game apparatus 301 has a rectangular box 302 which houses a disk loading unit 303 essentially centrally positioned therein for charging an optical disk such as a CD-ROM or the like as a recording medium for supplying the programs of application including video games, communication application 50 and image processing, the application software used by the portable electronic device 400. The box 302 supports a reset switch 304 for resetting a video game, a power supply switch 305, a disk control switch 306 for controlling the optical disk load, and two sets of ranges 307A, 307B. The video game apparatus 301 can be supplied in application programs through a - - communication link, instead of being supplied from the recording medium. The portable electronic device 400 and the manual controller 320 can be connected to the interval sets 307A, 307B. A memory card system (not shown) can also be connected with the interval sets 307A, 307B. The portable electronic device 400 and the manual controller 320 can be connected to the interval sets 307A, 307B. Specifically, the portable electronic device 400 can be connected with the intervals 308A, 308A in the interval sets 307A, 307B, and the manual controller 320 can be connected with the intervals 309A, 309A in the interval sets 307A, 307B. The hand controller 320 has first and second control pads 321, 322, a left button 323L, a right button 323R, a start button 324, a selector button 325, analog control pads 331, 332, a mode selector switch 333 to select the control modes for the analog control pads 331, 332 and an indicator 334 to indicate a selected control mode. The manual controller 320 also has a mechanism for imparting vibration (not shown) placed therein to impart vibrations to the manual controller 320, depending on how the video game progresses. The manual controller 320 is electrically connected to the range 307B in the box 302 via a connector 326. If two manual controllers 320 are respectively connected with the intervals 307A, 307B, two users or game players can share the entertainment system to play a game. competition game, for example. The video game apparatus 301 can have more or less two intervals 307A, 307B. As shown in Figures 28 to 30, the portable electronic device 400 has a housing 401 that supports a manual control pad 420 to accommodate various items of information, a display unit 430 such as a liquid crystal display unit (LCD) ) or similar, and a window 440 for wireless communication such as infrared communication with a wireless communication control unit. The housing 401 comprises an upper hull 401a and a lower hull 401b and houses a board that holds the devices-memory etc. in the same . The housing 401 is configured so as to be insertable either in one of the intervals 307A, 307B in the box 302.

The window 440 is mounted on an essentially semicircular end of the housing 401. The unit 430 of presentation occupies essentially half area of the upper hull 401a of the housing 401, and is positioned near the window 440. The manual control pad 420 has a plurality of buttons 421, 422 control to support events and make several selections. The manual control pad 420 essentially occupies the other half of the upper helmet 401a and is positioned at a distance from the window 440. The manual control pad 420 is placed on a cover 410 which is angularly supported in the housing 401. control buttons 421, 422 extend through step 410 from its upper surface to its lower surface. The control buttons 421, 422 are held in the lid 410 to move toward and away from the upper surface of the lid 410. The portable electronic device 400 has a board positioned in the housing 410 and facing the lid 410 as it is closes above the housing 401. The board holds a plurality of switch pressure devices held in alignment with the respective control buttons 421, 422 when the cover 410 closes above the housing 401. When one of the buttons 421, 422 control is pressed by the user, - - operating the corresponding switch pressure device to press a pressure switch in such a manner as for example a diaphragm switch. As shown in Figure 26, the portable electronic device 400 with the lid 410 opening is inserted in the range 307A in the case 302 of the video game apparatus 301. Figures 29 and 30 show circuit arrangements of the video game apparatus 301 and the portable electronic device 400. As shown in Figure 31, the video game apparatus 301 comprises a control system 350 including a central processing unit (CPU) 351 and its peripheral devices, a 360 graphic system including a graphics processing unit (GPU) 362 for plotting the image data in a buffer 363, a sound system 370 including a sound processing unit (SPU) 371 for generating music sounds and sound effects, an optical disc driver 380 for controlling an optical disk wherein the application programs are registered, a communications controller 390 for controlling the signals from the manual controller 320 that inputs the user instructions, and the data supplied to and from the memory card 500 that stores game settings and he - - portable electronic device 400, a bus 395 to which are connected the control system 350, the graphic system 360, the sound system 370, the optical disk controller 380 and the communications controller 390, and a parallel interface (PIÓ) 396 of I / O and a serial I / O interface (SIO) 397 is routed to another device. The control system 350 comprises a CPU 351, a peripheral device driver 352 for controlling the interrupts and transferring the direct memory access data (DMA), a main memory 353 comprising the random access memory (RAM) and a memory read-only (ROM) 354 for storing the various programs such as an operating system or the like to manage the main memory 353, the graphic system 360 and the sound system 370. The CPU 351 controls the video game apparatus 301 in fully performing the operating system stored in the ROM 354. When the video game apparatus 301 is switched on, the CPU 351 performs the operating system stored in the ROM 354 to begin control of the graphic system 360, 370 sound system, etc. For example, when the operating system is carried out, the CPU 351 starts the operation of the video game apparatus 301 in its entirety to confirm its operation, and then controls the optical disk controller 380 to carry out an application program. registered on the optical disc. As the application program is carried out, the CPU 351 controls the 360 graphic system, the 370 sound system, etc. depending on the instructions admitted from the user to thus control the presentation of images and the generation of music sounds and sound effects. The CPU 351 corresponds to the CPU 21 of the video game machine 2 and restores the data received by and sent from the portable electronic device 400. The graphic 360 system functions as the graphic processor 26 of the video game machine 2. The graphic system 360 comprises a geometry transfer engine (GTE) 361 for carrying out the coordinate transformations and other processing, a graphic processing unit (GPU) 362 for generating the image data according to the commands of the CPU 351, a buffer 363 for storing the image data created by the GPU 362, and an image decoder 364 for decoding the compressed and encoded image data by orthogonal transformation such as the discrete cosine transformation.

The GTE 361 has a parallel arithmetic mechanism to perform a plurality of arithmetic operations parallel to each other and can carry out coordinate transformations, light source circulations, matrices, or vectors at a high speed in response to a request from CPU 351. Specifically, GTE 361 can calculate the coordinates of a maximum of 1.5 million polygons per second for a flat process in order to draw a triangular polygon with a color, for example. With the GTE 361, the video game apparatus 301 is able to reduce the load on the CPU 351 and carry out high-speed coordinate calculations. In accordance with an image generation command from the CPU 351, the GPU 362 generates and stores a polygon or the like in the buffer 363. The GPU 362 is capable of generating a maximum of 360 thousands of polygons per second. The buffer 363 comprises a dual port RAM and is capable of simultaneously storing the image data generated by the CPU 362 or the image data generated from the main memory 353, and reading the image data for presentation. The buffer 363 has a storage capacity of one Mbytes, for example, and is handled as a 16-bit array constituted - - of a horizontal row of 1024 pixels and a vertical column of 512 pixels. The buffer 363 has a display area for storing the image data to be sent as video output data, a CLUT area (query color chart) or storing a query color chart which will be made reference through the GPU 362 that generates a polygon or similar and a texture area to store the texture data that is going to undergo transformations of the coordinate when a polygon is generated and presented to a polygon traced by the GPU 362. The area of CLUT and the texture area are dynamically varied as the presentation area is varied. The image decoder 364 is controlled by the CPU 351 to decode the image data of a motionless or movable image in the main memory 353 and store the decoded image in the main memory 353. The image data reproduced by image decoder 364 is transferred to the buffer 363 by the GPU 362 and can be used as a background for an image plotted by the GPU 362. The sound system 370 comprises a SPU 371 for generating sounds of music, sound effect, etc. based on the controls of CPU 351. An intermediate agent - - sound 372 for storing the waveform data from the SPU 371, a speaker 373 for outputting music sounds, sound effects, etc. generated by the CPU 371. The CPU 371 has an ADPCM (adaptive differential PCM) function to reproduce the 16-bit sound data that has been encoded as 4-bit differential sound data by ADPCM, a playback function to reproduce the waveform data stored in the sound buffer 372 to generate sound effects, etc. and a modulation function for modulating and reproducing the waveform data stored in the sound buffer 372. The sound system 370 can be used as a sampling sound source that generates music sounds, sound effects, based on in the waveform data stored in the sound buffer 372 according to the commands of the CPU 351. The optical disk controller 380 comprises an optical disk drive 381 for reproducing the application programs and the recorded data on an optical disk such as a CD-ROM or the like, a decoder 382 for decoding the programs and data that are recorded with an error correction code added thereto and a buffer 383 for temporarily storing the read data of an impeller 381 of optical disk to allow the optical disk data to be read at a high speed. An auxiliary CPU 384 is connected to the decoder 382. The sound data recorded on the optical disc that is read by the optical disc driver 381 includes the converted PCM data of the analog sound signals in addition to the ADPCM data. The ADPCM data that is recorded as a four-bit differential data of the 16-bit digital data is decoded by the decoder 382, is supplied to the SPU 371, thus becoming analog data and is applied to drive the speaker 373 The PCM data that is recorded as the 16-bit digital data is encoded by the decoder 382 and then applied to the loudspeaker driver 373. The communication controller 390 comprises a communication control mechanism 391 for controlling communication with the CPU. 351 through bus 395, a connector 309 of the controller comprising the intervals 309A, 309B shown in Figure 26 with which the manual controller 320 is connected to input the instructions from the user, and a pair of insertion units of memory cards or intervals 308A, 308B (see also Figure 26) to receive the 500 card from - - memory, as an auxiliary memory device to store game settings, etc. and the portable electronic device 400, the memory card insertion units 308A, 308B being controlled by the communication control mechanism 391. The video game apparatus 301 of the aforementioned structure has the same function as the video game machine 2. Specifically, the video game apparatus 301 sends the application software registered in the recording medium and used by the portable electronic device 400 to the portable electronic device 400 through the communication control mechanism 391. The video game apparatus 301 receives the image data of the digital camera 4 which is connected to the serial interface 1/0 (SIO) 397, receives the image data sent from the portable electronic device 400 through the mechanism 391 of communication control and stores the received image data in the main memory 353. The video game apparatus 301 processes and combines the received data and sends the processed and combined data back to the portable electronic device 400 or the digital camera 4 . As shown in Figure 32, the portable electronic device 400 comprises a control means 441, - - a connector 442 for connecting the apparatus, an input means 443, a display means 444, a clock function unit 445, a non-volatile memory 446, a loudspeaker 447, a wireless communication medium 448 and a receiving means 449 radio as a data transmitter / receiver means, a battery 450 and a power supply terminal 451 and a diode 452 as a power supply means. The control means 441 comprises a microcomputer, for example. The control means 441 functions as a CPU 31 of the portable computer 3. The control means 441 has a program memory 441a placed therein, as a program storage means. The connection connector 442 of the apparatus serves as a communication means to connect with a range of other information handling apparatus or the like. The connection connector 442 of the apparatus functions as a "serial communication block" of the portable computer 3. The input means 443 serves as an input block 300 of the portable computer 3. The input means 443 comprises control buttons for controlling a program stored in the program memory 441a.The display means 444 serves as the display block 32 of the portable computer 3. The medium - 444 of presentation comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) unit or the like to present the various information items. The clock function unit 445 is positioned to present the time in presentation medium 444, for example. The non-volatile memory 446 serves to store different data. For example, the non-volatile memory 446 comprises a semiconductor memory such as a memory that is capable of retaining the stored data even when the portable electronic device 400 is disconnected. Since the portable electronic device 400 has the battery 450, the non-volatile memory 446 may comprise a static random excess memory (SRAM) capable of storing and reading the data at a high speed. The non-volatile memory 446 corresponds to the non-volatile memory 34 of the portable computer 3 and stores the application software supplied from the recording medium loaded in the video game apparatus 301 and used by the portable electronic device 400, the data of the image supplied from the video game apparatus 301 and the image data to be sent to the video game apparatus 301.

The portable electronic device 400 may have a memory (not shown) corresponding to the working memory 35 of the portable computer 3 for storing the software of "aforementioned application, the image data, etc. The battery 450 also allows the portable electronic device 400 is capable of independent operation even when the portable electronic device 400 is removed from the intervals 307'A, 307B in the box 302 of the video game apparatus 301. The battery 450 comprises a secondary chargeable battery. Portable electronic device 400 is inserted into any of the intervals 307A, 307B in the box 302 and the video game apparatus 301, the battery 450 is supplied with electrical power from the video game apparatus 301. Specifically, the battery 450 has a terminal connected to the power supply terminal 451 through a current reversal prevention diode 452. When the portable electronic device 400 is connected to the box 302, electrical power is supplied from the power supply terminal 451 through a current reversal prevention diode 452 to the battery 450. The wireless communication means 448 is placed to have a wireless communication block 36 of the portable computer 3, that is, to carry out the data communications with an external device through infrared radiation or the like. The wireless communication means 448 is also placed to receive various data sent from another memory card or the like. The radio reception means 449 is placed to receive the various data transmitted by the radio broadcast, for example. Loudspeaker 447 is constructed as a sound generating means to generate sounds in accordance with a program. The aforementioned components or means of the portable electronic device 400 are connected to the control means 441 and operated under the control of the control means 441. Figure 33 shows the control articles for the control means 441. As shown in Figure 33, the control means 441 has a connection interface with the apparatus for connecting to an information handling apparatus, a memory interface for sending the data to and admitting the data from a memory, an interface of presentation, a control input interface, a sound interface, a communication interface - wireless, a clock management interface and a program download interface. The portable electronic device 400 has, in addition to the above-described functions of the portable computer 3, a function to operate as a portable gaming apparatus when operating a gaming application because it is equipped with the input means 443, such as the control buttons for controlling a program to be carried out and display means 444 such as a liquid crystal display unit (LCD) or the like. Since the portable electronic device 400 has a function for storing an application program and a program supplied from the video game apparatus 301 in the program memory 441a in the microcomputer 441, the application programs and various driver software devices that They work on the portable electronic device 400 can be easily changed. The portable electronic device 400 of the aforementioned structure has the same functions as the portable computer 3. Specifically, the portable electronic device 400 stores the application software supplied from the video game apparatus 301 in the - - 446 non-volatile memory. The portable electronic device 400 also receives image data sent from the video game apparatus 301 through the connector 442 of the apparatus and stores the received image data in the non-volatile memory 446. The image data stored in the the non-volatile memory 446 is sent to the video game apparatus 301 through the connector 442 of the apparatus. The entertainment system as a specific example of the video game machine 2 and the portable computer 3, in accordance with the present invention, have been described above. As described above, the data processing system 1 comprising the video game machine 2 and the portable computer 3 allows the data to be sent and received between the portable computer 3 and the digital camera 4 through the machine 2 of video game and can function as the entertainment system. Since the video game apparatus 301 has a very high image data processing capacity, the data processing system 1 can avoid image data at a high speed and can process data in response to the commands admitted from the user based on the real-time processing capability of the video game apparatus 301. As described above, a data processing system in accordance with the present invention has a master unit for processing the data and a slave unit removably connected to the master unit, the master unit having a first connection means for connecting with an external image forming device, a second connection means for connecting to the slave unit and a control means for supplying a high resolution image data of multiple colors from the image forming device via the first connection means and for sending low resolution image data to colors in smaller amounts based on the image data supplied from the master unit to the subordinate unit via the second connection means. The aforementioned data processing system allows the image forming device and the subordinate unit which are different to connect directly with each other to connect simultaneously with the master unit to supply the high resolution image data of multiple colors from the image forming device to the master unit and supplying the low resolution image data to colors in smaller amount based on the image data supplied from the master unit to the subordinate unit. A data processing system in accordance with the present invention has a master unit for processing the data and a subordinate unit removably connected to the master unit, the master unit having a first connection means for connecting to an external image forming device, a second connection means for connecting to the subordinate unit and a control means for supplying the image data of the subordinate unit from the unit. subordinated through the second connection means and for sending the processed image data based on the image data of the unit subordinate to the image forming device via the first connection means. The aforementioned data processing system allows the image forming device and the subordinate unit which are different to connect directly with each other to connect simultaneously with the master unit to supply the image data of the subordinate unit from the unit subordinate to the master unit and supply if the processed image data based on the image data of the slave unit from the master unit to the image forming device. In the data processing system, the master unit has a means of reading data to read the program data from a removably loaded recording medium and the subordinate unit has a means of executing to execute the program data. The master unit reads a subordinate unit application program using the processed image data from the recording medium with the data reading means and supplies the application program of the subordinate unit to the subordinate unit via the second connection means. , and the subordinate unit executes the application program of the subordinate unit with the execution means using the processed image data supplied from the master unit. Therefore, the data processing system allows the application program of the subordinate unit to be used by the subordinate unit to be supplied from the master unit and executed by the subordinate unit and provides the subordinate unit with a function to read and use the external image data. A method of processing data with a master unit for processing the data and a slave unit removably connected to the master unit, in accordance with the present invention comprises the steps of supplying a high resolution image data of multiple colors from a training device of images external to the master unit and send low resolution image data to colors in smaller quantity based on the image data supplied from the master unit to the subordinate unit. The aforementioned method of processing data allows the imaging device and the subordinate unit which are different to connect directly with each other to connect simultaneously with the master unit to supply the high resolution image data to multiple colors from the device imager to the master unit and supply the data of t low resolution image to colors in smaller amount based on the image data supplied from the master unit to the subordinate unit. A method for processing the data with a master unit for processing the data and a slave unit removably connected to the master unit, in accordance with the present invention, comprises the steps of supplying the master unit with an image data of the slave unit from the slave unit and send the processed image data based on the image data of the slave unit from the master unit to the external image forming device.

The aforementioned method of processing the data allows the image forming device and the slave unit which are difficult to connect directly to each other to simultaneously connect to the master unit to supply image data of the slave unit from the slave unit with the slave unit. the master unit and to supply the processed image data based on the image data of the slave unit from the master unit to the image forming device. A method for processing the data in accordance with the present invention comprises the steps of reading a subordinate unit application program using image data processed from a removably loaded recording medium and supplying the application program of the subordinate unit from a master unit to a subordinate unit and execute the application program of the subordinate unit with the subordinate unit using the processed image data supplied from the master unit. In the aforementioned method of processing data, the application program of the subordinate unit that is used by the subordinate unit that supplies from the master unit and is carried out by means of the - - subordinate unit. The subordinate unit is provided with a function to read and use the external image data. An entertainment system in accordance with the present invention has a first connection means for connecting with an external imaging device with a slave unit being removably connected to the first connection means. A second connection means for connecting to a subordinate unit and a control means for supplying a high resolution image data to multiple colors from an image forming device through the first connection means and outputting the image data of low resolution to colors in smaller amount based on the image data supplied to the subordinate unit through the second connection means. The aforementioned entertainment system allows the imaging device and the subordinate unit, which are different, to connect directly with one another to connect simultaneously with the master unit to be supplied with a high resolution image data in multiple colors from the image forming device and sending the low resolution image data to colors in smaller amount based on the image data supplied to the subordinate unit.

An entertainment system according to the present invention has a first connection means for connecting to an external image-forming device, with a subordinate unit being removably connected to the first connection means, a second connection means for connecting to the unit subordinate and a control means to be supplied with the image data of the slave unit from the slave unit via the second connection means and to output the processed image data, based on the image data of the slave unit towards the slave. image-forming device through the first connection means. The aforementioned entertainment system allows the image forming device and the subordinate unit which are difficult to connect directly to each other, are simultaneously connected to the master unit to be supplied with the image data of the subordinate unit from the unit subordinate and output the processed image data, based on the image data of the unit subordinate to the image forming device. The entertainment system also has a means of reading data to read the program data from a removably loaded recording medium. A subordinate unit application program using processed image data is read from the recording medium by the data reading means and is supplied to the subordinate unit via the second connection means. The entertainment system allows the application program of the subordinate unit used by the subordinate unit to be supplied to the subordinate unit. Even though certain preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detailIt should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (41)

R E I V I N D I CAC I O N S

1. A data processing system comprising: a master unit for processing data; and a slave unit removably connected to the master unit, the master unit comprises: a first connection means for connecting to an external image forming device; a second connection means for connecting to a subordinate unit; and a control means to be supplied with high resolution multi-color captured image data from the image forming device via the first connection means and output to low resolution color image processed data in smaller amount in the data of captured image towards the subordinate unit through the second connection means.

2. A data processing system according to claim 1, wherein the master unit comprises: a processing means for processing the captured image data supplied from the image forming device through the first connection means, and output to the image data captured or processed to the subordinate unit through the second connection means.

A data processing system according to claim 1, wherein the master unit comprises: a combining means for combining a plurality of captured image data, supplied from the image forming device through the first connecting means , and output the combined image data to the slave unit through the second connection means.

A data processing system according to claim 2, wherein the master unit comprises: a command input means for controlling at least the processing means for processing the captured image data and presenting the image data captured in the external presentation unit.

A data processing system according to claim 3, wherein the master unit comprises: a command input means for controlling at least the combining means for combining the plurality of captured image data and presenting the data of combined images in an external presentation unit.

6. A data processing system according to claim 1, wherein the slave unit comprises a display means for displaying the processed image data based on the captured image data, supplied from the image forming unit to the unit. teacher through the first means of connection, in the medium of presentation.

A data processing system according to claim 1, wherein the master unit comprises a data reading means for reading the program data from a removably loaded recording medium, and the subordinate unit comprises an execution means. to execute the data of the program, the arrangement being in such a way that the master unit reads a subordinate unit application program using the image data processed from the recording medium with the data reading means and supplies the application program of the subordinate unit to the subordinate unit through the second connection means, and the subordinate unit carries out the application program of the subordinate unit with the execution means using the processed image data supplied from the master unit.

8. A data processing system according to claim 7, wherein the data reading means comprises a means for reading the application program of the subordinate unit and an application program executed by the master unit with the control means, from the record medium.

9. A data processing system according to claim 1, wherein the master unit comprises a combining means for combining a plurality of image data including image data of the subordinate unit "supplied from the slave unit and data from captured images supplied from the image forming device and send the combined image data to the slave unit or the image forming device 10.

A data processing system comprising: a master unit for processing data; and a slave unit removably connected to the master unit; the master unit comprises: a first connection means for connecting with an external image forming device; a second connection means for connecting to the subordinate unit; and a control means for supplying an image data of the slave unit from the slave unit via the second connection means and outputting the processed image data based on the image data supplied to the image forming device via the first connection medium.

A data processing system according to claim 10, wherein the master unit comprises: a processing means for processing the image data of the subordinate unit supplied from the slave unit via the second connection means, and outputting the processed image data to the image forming device through the first connection means.

A data processing system according to claim 10, wherein the master unit comprises: a combining means for combining a plurality of image data of the slave unit, supplied from the slave unit through the second media of connection, and output the combined image data to the image forming device through the first connection means.

13. A data processing system according to claim 11, wherein the master unit comprises: a control input means for controlling at least the processing means for processing the image data of the subordinate unit and presenting the data of the image processed in the external presentation unit.

A data processing system according to claim 12, wherein the master unit comprises: a command input means for controlling at least one combining means for combining the plurality of image data of the slave unit and present the combined image data in the external presentation unit.

15. A method for processing the data with a master unit for processing the data and a slave unit removably connected to the master unit comprising the steps of: supplying the captured high resolution image data to multiple colors from an image forming device external to the master unit; and outputting processed image data of low resolution to lower color colors based on the image data supplied from the master unit to the subordinate unit.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of: processing the data of the captured image with the master unit; and output the processed image data from the master unit to the subordinate unit.

17. A method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of: supplying the master unit with a plurality of image data captured from the imaging device; combining the plurality of captured image data with the master unit; and output the combined image data from the master unit to the slave unit.

18. A method according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of: processing the captured image data with the master unit in response to an input command; and present the processed image data.

19. A method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of: combining the plurality of captured image data with the master unit in response to an input command; and present the combined image data.

20. A method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of: presenting, with the slave unit, the processed image data based on the captured image data supplied from the master unit.

21. A method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of: reading an application program of the slave unit using the processed image data from a recording medium removably loaded with the master unit and supplying the application program of the subordinate unit read from the master unit to the subordinate unit; and executing with the subordinate unit the application program of the subordinate unit using the processed image data supplied from the master unit.

22. A method according to claim 21, further comprising the steps of: reading the application program of the slave unit and an application program executed by the master unit from the same record means.

23. A method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of: supplying the master unit with an image data of the slave unit from the slave unit and the image data captured from the imaging device; combining the image data of the subordinate unit with one another with the master unit; and outputting the combined image data from the master unit to the unit subordinate to the image forming device.

24. A method for processing the data with a master unit for processing data and a slave unit movably connected to the master unit, comprising the steps of: supplying the master unit with an image data of the slave unit from the slave unit; and sending the processed image data based on the image data of the slave unit from the master unit to the external image forming device.

25. A method according to claim 24, further comprising the steps of: processing the image data of the subordinate unit with the master unit; and outputting processed image data from the master unit to the image forming device.

26. A method according to claim 24, further comprising the steps of: supplying the master unit with a plurality of data of the subordinate unit image from the slave unit; combining the plurality of image data of the slave unit with the master unit; and outputting the combined image data from the master unit to the image forming device.

27. A method according to claim 25, further comprising the steps of: processing the image data of the slave unit with the master unit in response to an input command; and present the processed image data.

28. A method according to claim 26, further comprising the steps of: combining the plurality of image data of the slave unit with the master unit in response to the input command; and present the combined image data.

29. An entertainment system removably connectable with a subordinate unit for processing data, comprising: a first connection means for connecting to an external image-shaping device; second connection means for connecting the slave unit; and a control means to be supplied with a high-resolution, multi-color captured image data from the image forming device via the first connection means and output to low resolution color image processed data in smaller amounts based on the image data captured towards the subordinate unit through the second connection means.

30. An entertainment system according to claim 29 ,. which further comprises: a processing means for processing the captured image data supplied from the image forming device via the first connection means, and outputting the captured image data processed to the subordinate unit through the second medium of Connection.

An entertainment system according to claim 29, further comprising: a combining means for combining a plurality of captured image data supplied from an image forming device through the first connection means, and outputting the combined image data to the subordinate unit through the second connection means.

32. An entertainment system according to claim 30, further comprising: a command input means for controlling at least the processing means for processing the captured image data and presenting the captured image data processed in a unit of external presentation.

33. An entertainment system according to claim 31, further comprising: a command input means for controlling at least the combining means to combine the plurality of captured image data and displaying the combined image data in a external presentation unit.

34. An entertainment system according to claim 29, further comprising: a data reading means for reading the program data of a removably loaded recording medium; the arrangement is such that an application program of the slave unit using the processed image data is read from the recording medium by the data reading means and is supplied to the slave unit via the second connection means.

35. An entertainment system according to claim 34, wherein the data reading means comprises a means for reading the application program of the subordinate unit and an application program executed by the control means from the same means of registry.

36. An entertainment system according to claim 29, further comprising: a combining means for combining a plurality of image data including the image data of the subordinate unit supplied from the slave unit and captured image data supplied from the image forming device, and outputting the combined image data to the slave unit or the image forming device.

37. An entertainment system removably connectable with a subordinate unit for processing data, comprising: a first connection means for connecting to an external image-forming device; a second connection means for connecting to a subordinate unit; and a control means for supplying an image data of the slave unit from the slave unit via the second connection means, and outputting the processed image data based on the image data of the slave unit to the device imager through the first connection means.

38. An entertainment system according to claim 37, further comprising: a processing means for processing the image data of the subordinate unit supplied from the slave unit via the second connection means, and outputting the image data of the slave unit processed from the image forming device through the first means of connection.

39. An entertainment system according to claim 37, further comprising: a combining means for combining a plurality of image data of the subordinate unit supplied from the slave unit via the second connection means, and outputting the combined image data to the image forming device through the first connection means.

40. An entertainment system according to claim 38, further comprising: a control input means for controlling at least the processing means for processing the image data of the slave unit and presenting the image data processed in a unit of external presentation.

41. An entertainment system according to claim 39, further comprising: a command input means for controlling at least the combining means for combining the plurality of image data of the slave unit and displaying the image data combined in the external presentation unit.