Nintendo Co., Ltd.

Nintendo of America Inc.

Other

David J McCarten

Darren C Smith

Ramin Ravanpey

Kenji Nishizawa

Russell G Braun

Scott D Elliott

Patrick Link

Hiroshi Kamada

Donald W James

Charles P Eck

Kelly Lindseth

Jim A Sloate

Minoru Arakawa

Peter Eck

Hiroshi Kamadat

Wayne A Shirk

Multiple video game players access an encrypted video game library stored on a shared mass storage device. A multiplexer multiplexes data read from the mass storage device to provide output streams to multiple video game playing units consuming video game instructions. A secure bus communicates video game instructions from the shared mass storage device to each of the video game playing units. Video game software or other entertainment content is distributed to the shared mass storage device via electronic download in multi-level encrypted form. Before being transported, the content is encrypted and then further encrypted. Once the content has been successfully transported, it is decrypted to remove the further encryption layer&#x2014;leaving the first encryption layer intact for protecting the video game during storage on mass storage at the remote distribution location.

Multiplexed secure video game play distribution

A car area network is disposed in a car to enable communications between various devices in the car. An existing consumer electronics device (CED) coupled to the car area network (CAN) performs an existing consumer electronics device function. That existing (CED) is adapted to control various devices coupled to the CAN including video gaming devices. In one example, the adapted CED cooperates with a game server to effect game play. In another example, the adapted CED functions as a virtual video game platform to support play of video games. A multifunction controller transmits control information to the adapted CED via the car area network to permit a car occupant to control the adapted CED to permit the occupant to play a video game using the video game display. One or more audio and/or visual devices coupled to the CAN may also be controlled by commands transmitted from the adapted CED or from the multimedia controller over the CAN.

Car-based entertainment system with video gaming

An example user network provides information and entertainment for users via handheld information terminals. The 'look and feel' and personality of the handheld information terminals can be location-specific so that the most relevant information and entertainment can be provided to users in a useful and appealing manner.

Wireless user network for handheld information terminals

A digital camera accessory is provided for use with a game system having a processing system to execute a video game program and player controls operable by a user to generate video game control signals. The digital camera accessory includes an image sensor for capturing video images, communication circuitry configured to transmit the captured video images, and a connector that, in use, electrically connects the digital camera accessory to the game system.

Video game system and camera accessory for a video game system

A data processing system and method in which, by way of example, a memory system is coupled to a video game program processing system. The video game program processing system has a predetermined address space for executing programs stored in a program memory portion of the memory system. The contents of a plurality of storage locations determine a configuration of the memory system depending on which of a plurality of different game programs is to be executed by the video game program processing system.

Electronic entertainment and communication system

A video game distribution network for use in airlines, trains, hotels, cruise ships, set top boxes, cable television systems, satellite and other wireless systems or other communications systems, distributes special purpose game binary image files to general purpose computing/display devices. Software emulators running on the general purpose computing/display devices model the game source platform and interpret and/or compile the game files to provide interactive video game play. Software emulators for emulating a handheld video game platform such as GAME BOY&#xae;, GAME BOY COLOR&#xae; and/or GAME BOY ADVANCE&#xae; on a low-capability target platform (e.g., a seat-back display for airline or train use, a personal digital assistant, a cell phone) may provide any number of features and optimizations to provide high quality graphics and sound that nearly duplicates the game playing experience on the native platform.

Video game distribution network

Data processing method and system

Video game machine using digital camera and digital camera accessory for video game machine

An existing video game system is modified to include additional communication and storage capability via a modem and hard disk drive. The modification may involve the use of an expansion device coupled to a video game system port. A cable TV tuner is also included in the expansion device to assist in providing a unique picture-in-picture video capability. TV signals are coupled to the expansion device via the RF input from either cable TV or off-air signals. These RF signals are blended with the output signals from the video game system. A user may, for example, watch TV while viewing overlay information from the video game console. A user may receive a TV channel guide downloaded via the Internet, spot a program which the user desires to view and immediately access, via an IR input, the desired channel through the expansion device TV tuner. A user may also watch TV while simultaneously logging onto the Internet. A hard drive permits downloading from the Internet of entire games.

Home video game system with hard disk drive and internet access capability

A video game/communications system is disclosed which permits guest room guests to actively participate in video game play or to use other data processing/communication services. A multi-tasking master host computer stores video games and other application programs on its hard disk, downloads programs to an array of game playing engines in response to guest selections.

An airline-based video game system includes a multitasking master computer, which preferably stores video game and other application programs on its hard disk. The master computer is coupled to a set of airplane zone control computers which also perform conventional cabin management tasks. The zone control computers receive data from the master control computer and couple data to identified seat controlling processing units (SEBs). Each SEB receives data from, and couples data to, a set of unique seat display units which are associated with each seat in the airplane. The system downloads application software to the seat display units from the master computer. After receipt of a downloading request, the master computer responds by setting up an application program transmission for generating the display menu which appears on each SDU.

Airline-based video game and communications system

An electronic entertainment and communications system permits users to actively participate in video game play or to use other data processing/communication services. In a guest room based entertainment system or in a passenger based entertainment system, each guest or passenger is associated with a terminal device including a display and a controller. An array of video graphics processing systems is provided where the number of video graphics processing systems in the array is less than the number of guest or passenger terminals. Each video graphics processing system includes a video graphics program executing processor, which processes information generated during an interactive video graphics display session, and a memory system storing a video graphics program. Each video graphics processing system in the array is assignable to any of the guest or passenger terminals.

Growing community of inventors

Bothell, WA, United States of America

David J McCarten