Techniques for establishing positional relationship(s) between information processing apparatuses

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11055048-B2
Application number	US-201816232386-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 26, 2018
Priority date	Oct 7, 2016
Publication date	Jul 6, 2021
Grant date	Jul 6, 2021

Abstract

This game system is provided with a plurality of information processing apparatuses that are capable of communicating with each other and include at least a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus, and a control unit that controls the plurality of information processing apparatuses. The first information processing apparatus includes a first display unit and a first touch panel that detects contact on the first display unit, and the second information processing apparatus includes a second display unit and a second touch panel that detects contact on the second display unit.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A game system comprising:
a plurality of information processing apparatuses configured to communicate with each other, the plurality of information processing apparatuses including at least a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus; and
processing resources including at least one processor, the processing resources being configured to control the plurality of information processing apparatuses,
wherein the first information processing apparatus includes a first display and a first touch panel configured to detect contact on the first display,
wherein the second information processing apparatus includes a second display and a second touch panel configured to detect contact on the second display, and
wherein the processing resources are further configured to:
set, responsive to slide input from a first position on the first touch panel toward a second position on the second touch panel being detected, a positional relationship between the first display and the second display based on a first slide input on the first touch panel and a second slide input on the second touch panel, out of the slide input from the first position toward the second position, wherein game processing is performable based on the positional relationship,
calculate a distance between an end point of the first slide input and a start point of the second slide input, wherein the positional relationship of the first display and the second display is set as including a space, based on the calculated distance,
set a first display range and a second display range that are partial ranges within a shared virtual space, in correspondence with the positional relationship,
configure settings such that the first display range of the virtual space is displayed on the first display and the second display range of the virtual space is displayed on the second display, and
cause at least one of the first display and the second display to provide output based on the game processing.

2. The game system according to claim 1 , wherein the processing resources are further configured to calculate a first vector corresponding to the first slide input on the first touch panel, calculate a second vector corresponding to the second slide input on the second touch panel, and set the positional relationship based on the first vector and the second vector.

3. The game system according to claim 2 , wherein the processing resources are further configured to set the positional relationship as being such that the first vector and the second vector are arranged along a common line.

4. The game system according to claim 2 , wherein the processing resources are further configured to:
calculate a distance between an end point of the first vector and a start point of the second vector, based on a time period between the first slide input and the second slide input and a speed of the slide input.

5. The game system according to claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the first information processing apparatus and the second information processing apparatus includes a sensor configured to detect an inclination of the apparatus, and
the processing resources are further configured to calculate the inclination of the apparatus(es) that include(s) the sensor(s) based on output therefrom, set a state of intersection of a display surface of the first display and a display surface of the second display based on the inclination, and cause at least one of the first display and the second display to provide output that depends on the state of intersection.

6. The game system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of information processing apparatuses include a third information processing apparatus that has a third display, and
wherein the processing resources are further configured to set a positional relationship of the first display and the third display and/or a positional relationship of the second display and the third display, and cause at least one of the first display, the second display, and the third display to provide output that depends on at least one of the positional relationships.

7. The game system according to claim 1 , wherein:
when slide input terminating at a periphery of the first touch panel is detected, the first information processing apparatus is determined to be a base unit and is configured to perform communication with an extension unit,
when slide input terminating other than at a periphery of the second touch panel is detected, the second information processing apparatus is determined to be an extension unit and is configured to perform communication with a base unit, and
the first information processing apparatus and the second information processing apparatuses are configured to enter a mutually communicable state, in a case where the first information processing apparatus is determined to be the base unit and the second information processing apparatus is determined to be the extension unit, and an orientation of the first slide input on the first touch panel coincides with an orientation of the second slide input on the second touch panel.

8. A game method using a first information processing apparatus having a first display and a first touch panel configured to detect contact on the first display, and a second information processing apparatus having a second display and a second touch panel configured to detect contact on the second display, the second information processing apparatus being communicable with the first information processing apparatus, the method comprising:
setting a positional relationship of the first display and the second display, based on a first slide input on the first touch panel and a second slide input on the second touch panel, the first slide input originating from a first position on the first touch panel and moving toward a second position on the second touch panel;
calculating a distance between an end point of the first slide input and a start point of the second slide input, wherein the positional relationship of the first display and the second display is set as including a space, based on the calculated distance;
setting a first display range and a second display range that are partial ranges within a shared virtual space, in correspondence with the positional relationship;
configuring settings such that the first display range of the virtual space is displayed on the first display and the second display range of the virtual space is displayed on the second display;
performing game processing based on the positional relationship; and
causing at least one of the first display and the second display to display output based on the game processing.

9. The game method according to claim 8 , wherein the positional relationship specifies how the first display and the second display are oriented relative to one another.

10. The game method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
setting the positional relationship such that the first and second slide inputs are arranged along a common line.

11. The game method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
setting a state of intersection of a display surface of the first display and a display surface of the second display, based on an inclination defined between the first and second displays, and
causing at least one of the first display and the second display to display output in accordance with the state of intersection.

12. An information processing apparatus, comprising:
a display;
a touch panel configured to detect contact on the display;
at least one processor; and
a transceiver;
wherein the information processing apparatus is configured

Assignees

• Nintendo Co Ltd

Inventors

• Nonaka Toyokazu
• Suzuki Toshiaki
• Onishi Yoshiaki
• Tsuchihashi Osamu
• Hakamada Shun

Classifications

• A63F13/428

  involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes · CPC title

• G06F3/1423 Primary

  controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display · CPC title

• A63F13/2145

  the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens · CPC title

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• A63F13/31

  Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range · CPC title