Nintendo Co., Ltd.

Nintendo of America Inc.

Ramin Ravanpey

Darren C Smith

David J McCarten

Kenji Nishizawa

Russell G Braun

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

Data processing method and system

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.

A video game/communications system permits users to actively participate in video game play or to use other data processing/communication services. A master host computer stores video games and other application programs. Those programs are provided to an array of video graphic processing systems in response to user selections from a user terminal. Each user terminal device is coupled to a display and to a game controller. Each video graphics processing system includes (1) a memory system for storing a video graphics program and (2) a processor that executes the video graphics program and receives information generated during an interactive video graphics display session. A halt controller halts the video graphics program being executed in the video graphics processor at a first point in a video graphics program where a first command is received. In response thereafter to a second command, the halt controller resumes execution of the video graphics program at the first point.

A video game/comunications 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 SNES game playing engines in response to guest selections. Each guest room guest room includes a terminal device which is coupled to the guest's color television and to a game controller. By pressing a game controller menu key, the guest room guest initiates the downloading of applications software by the host computer to the array of SNES engines located within the guest room. A downloaded applications program generate a display menu which appears on the guest's television. The display menu permits each guest room guest to select between various operating modes (identified, for example, by displayed icons), including movies, games, shopping, survey forms, language selection, communication/data processing services, etc. If a user opts for video game play, then the available game titles and/or descriptions thereof are displayed. The host computer assigns a time slot to both a guest room terminal and a SNES game playing engine for passing game play indicating key strokes from the room's game controller to the SNES engine. Audio and video outputs from each of the SNES engines is connected to a channel modulator that places the composite signal on an assigned frequency in the RF distribution system. The assignment is communicated to the room terminal during an initial interactive session, whereby the teal tunes the TV to the proper channel for its assigned SNES engine.

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. The initial applications program downloading results in a menu display at every passenger seat which initiated a request. The applications program is then coupled to each SDU for display on its liquid crystal display screen. The display menu advantageously permits each passenger to select between various operating modes including: movies, games, shopping, survey forms, language selection, communication/data processing services. Communication or data processing services permit selection of in-flight phone services, word processing services, and facsimile services. If a user opts for video game play, then the available game titles and/or descriptions thereof are displayed. The SDU includes interface processors and associated hardware and software which enable high speed downloading operations to be efficiently performed. The master computer initiates a high speed video game program downloading process to enable the user to play the selected video game.

Electronic Entertainment and communications system

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. The initial applications program downloading results in a menu display at every passenger seat which initiated a request. The applications program is then coupled to each SDU for display on its liquid crystal display screen. The display menu advantageously permits each passenger to select between various operating modes including: movies, games, shopping, survey forms, language selection, communication/data processing services. Communication or data processing services permit selection of in-flight phone services, word processing services, and facsimile services.

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 SNES game playing engines in response to guest selections. Each guest room guest room includes a terminal device which is coupled to the guest's color television and to a game controller. By pressing a game controller menu key, the guest room guest initiates the downloading of applications software by the host computer to the array of SNES engines located within the guest room. A downloaded applications program generate a display menu which appears on the guest's television. The display menu permits each guest room guest to select between various operating modes (identified, for example, by displayed icons), including movies, games, shopping, survey forms, language selection, communication/data processing services, etc.

Hotel-based video game and communication system

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 SNES game playing engines in response to guest selections. Each guest room guest room includes a terminal device which is coupled to the guest's color television and to a game controller. By pressing a game controller menu key, the guest room guest initiates the downloading of applications software by the host computer to the array of SNES engines located within the guest room. A downloaded applications program generate a display menu which appears on the guest's television. The display menu permits each guest room guest to select between various operating modes (identified, for example, by displayed icons), including movies, games, shopping, survey forms, language selection, communication/data processing services, etc. If a user opts for video game play, then the available game titles and/or descriptions thereof are displayed.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Ramin Ravanpey