Game system, game apparatus, storage medium storing game program and game data exchange method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9345968-B2
Application number	US-201514625211-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 18, 2015
Priority date	Jun 17, 2003
Publication date	May 24, 2016
Grant date	May 24, 2016

Abstract

A game system including a plurality of mobile game apparatuses, and a mobile game apparatus that can communicate with another game apparatus that exists within a communicable range by use of a radio communications unit. When a communicated state is established, exchanging conditions for exchanging game data are received and transmitted, and in a case the exchange conditions are coincident with each other, the game data are exchanged.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A first device configured to selectively execute one or more application programs, comprising:
a wireless transceiver; and
a processor configured to cooperate with the transceiver and at least enable:
sending of data receivable by other devices within communication range of the transceiver, without establishing connections therewith, a first portion of the data being indicative of a condition to be met by a device to be connected to, and another portion of the data including an identifier of the one or more application programs,
reception of such data from other devices within communication range of the transceiver, without establishing connections therewith, and
in response to having received such data from another device, determination as to whether the first device meets the condition of which the first portion of the received data is indicative and, based on a determination that the first device meets the condition of which the first portion of the received data is indicative, further sending of a response to the another device without establishing a connection therewith.

2. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the determination is made without establishing connections to other devices within communication range of the transceiver.

3. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the data sending function is configured to broadcast the data.

4. The first device of claim 1 , wherein a second portion of the data includes an identifier of the first device.

5. The first device of claim 1 , wherein a third portion of the data includes a flag indicating whether connection to the first device is permitted.

6. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the condition specifies a kind of data that must be providable by another device in order for it to be connected to by the first device.

7. The first device of claim 6 , wherein the condition further specifies a date range and/or a time range indicating when another device can be connected to by the first device.

8. The first device of claim 6 , wherein the condition further specifies an event, related to the one or more application programs, that must have occurred in order for another device to connect with the first device.

9. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the condition specifies (a) a date range and/or a time range indicating when another device can be connected to by the first device, and/or (b) an event, related to the one or more application programs, that must have occurred in order for the another device to connect with the first device.

10. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the condition specifies a resource that must be providable by another device in order for it to be connected to by the first device.

11. The first device of claim 10 , wherein the condition further specifies an aspect specific to the resource that must be providable by another device in order for it to be connected to by the first device.

12. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to at least enable issuance of a request for user confirmation as to whether a connection is to be formed with a prospective opponent device.

13. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to at least enable establishment of a connection with a determined opponent device.

14. The first device of claim 13 , wherein the determined opponent device and the first device directly wirelessly connect with one another.

15. The first device of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to at least enable communication with the determined opponent device to send and/or receive data associated with the one or more application programs, once the connection is established therewith.

16. The first device of claim 15 , wherein the data associated with the one or more application programs is originated from the one or more application programs when the one or more application programs is/are being executed.

17. The first device of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to at least enable a user to designate data from among data associated with the one or more application programs to be provided to another device, wherein the communication provides another device with the designated data.

18. The first device of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to at least enable automatic communication with the determined opponent device to send and/or receive data associated with the one or more application programs, once the connection is established therewith.

19. The first device of claim 18 , wherein the processor is further configured to at least enable a user to designate data from among data associated with the one or more application programs to be provided to another device, wherein the automatic communication provides another device with the designated data.

20. A device configured to selectively execute one or more application programs, comprising:
a wireless transceiver; and
a processor configured to cooperate with the transceiver and at least enable:
sending of data receivable by other devices within communication range of the transceiver, a first portion of the data being indicative of a condition of a device to be connected to, and another portion of the data including an identifier of the one or more application programs,
reception of such data from other devices within communication range of the transceiver, without establishing connections therewith, and
in response to having received such data from another device, determination as to whether the condition of which the first portion of the received data is indicative is met and, based on a determination that the condition of which the first portion of the received data is indicative is met, sending of a response to the another device from which such data has been received;

wherein the data is sent without establishing connections to other devices.

21. The device of claim 20 , wherein the processor is further configured to enable responses to be sent without establishing connections to other devices.

22. The device of claim 20 , wherein the condition specifies a resource that must be providable by another device in order for it to be connected to by the device.

23. The device of claim 22 , wherein the condition further specifies (a) a date range and/or a time range indicating when another device can be connected to by the device, and/or (b) an event, related to the one or more application programs, that must have occurred in order for the another device to connect with the device.

24. The device of claim 22 , wherein the condition further specifies an aspect specific to the resource that must be providable by another device in order for it to be connected to by the device.

25. The device of claim 20 , wherein the processor is further configured to enable a selection to be made based on received responses, the selection indicating another device that is to be connected to.

26. The device of claim 25 , wherein the processor is further configured to enable a connection to be established between the device and the another device indicated by the selection.

27. A first device configured to selectively execute one or more application programs, comprising:
a wireless transceiver; and
a processor configured to cooperate with the transceiver and at least enable:
sending of data receivable by other devices with

Assignees

• Nintendo Co Ltd

Inventors

• Tanaka Shoya
• Kuwahara Masato
• Oe Toru
• Yoshioka Teruyuki

Classifications

• A63F13/34

  using peer-to-peer connections · CPC title

• A63F13/31

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

• A63F2300/406

  Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM · CPC title

• A63F13/327

  using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet · CPC title

• A63F13/332

  using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks · CPC title