US4570930A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System, method, and station interface arrangement for playing video game over telephone lines
Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
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Filing: 1983-10-03
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Granted: 1986-02-18
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Expires: 2003-10-03
Abstract
Abstract A system, method and station interface arrangement which permits video games to be played over a telephone network is disclosed. Communications delay between the games can be mitigated by transmitting local player position data to a remote game, the position data being detected at a local game during a current "generation" but the position data not being used by the local and remote games until the next generation and the transmission occurring during the time interval in which the current generation is being run at the local game. The position data can be encoded so that errors, e.g. transmission errors, may be detected. Detected errors may be corrected by retransmitting the priorly transmitted local position data. In addition, the games may be synchronized or resynchronized by transmitting a frame count along with the position data. The frame count may identify by order of succession the respective local and remote position data so that the games obtain and remain synchronized.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas G. Matheson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 04:28
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/002; A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/20; A63F13/21; A63F13/216; A63F13/30; A63F13/35; A63F13/358; A63F13/85; A63F13/87; A63F3/00; A63F3/08; A63F3/081; A63F2003/082; A63F2003/086; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/20; A63F2300/205; A63F2300/40; A63F2300/402; A63F2300/50; A63F2300/53; A63F2300/534
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
267 words
A system for playing action video games over a telephone network, said video game system including at least a first computer system, said first computer system including an input device adapted to provide position data to said computer system; and an interface device adapted to permit said first computer system to be interconnected to one or more computer systems over a telephone network, and characterized in that said first computer system further comprises: means responsive to said input device for exchanging position data between said first computer system and said telephone network during a predetermined game generation time interval to transmit position data from said first computer system to said telephone network and to receive position data from said telephone network, said exchanged position data for use in the next generation time interval in said first and said other computer systems, means for synchronizing said exchange of position data so that the position data exchanged in said generation time interval between said first computer system and said telephone network corresponds to the same game generation; and means responsive to the synchronized position data exchanged during the preceding game generation time interval for running a current generation on said first computer system during said current generation time interval wherein said synchronizing means comprises: means for identifying the order of succession of the generations of transmitted and received position data; and means responsive to the identification of said transmitted position data and said received position data being the same for using said transmitted position data and said received position data in the next generation of said first computer system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
267 words
A system for playing action video games over a telephone network, said video game system including at least a first computer system, said first computer system including an input device adapted to provide position data to said computer system; and an interface device adapted to permit said first computer system to be interconnected to one or more computer systems over a telephone network, and characterized in that said first computer system further comprises: means responsive to said input device for exchanging position data between said first computer system and said telephone network during a predetermined game generation time interval to transmit position data from said first computer system to said telephone network and to receive position data from said telephone network, said exchanged position data for use in the next generation time interval in said first and said other computer systems, means for synchronizing said exchange of position data so that the position data exchanged in said generation time interval between said first computer system and said telephone network corresponds to the same game generation; and means responsive to the synchronized position data exchanged during the preceding game generation time interval for running a current generation on said first computer system during said current generation time interval wherein said synchronizing means comprises: means for identifying the order of succession of the generations of transmitted and received position data; and means responsive to the identification of said transmitted position data and said received position data being the same for using said transmitted position data and said received position data in the next generation of said first computer system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The video game system defined in claim 1 wherein: said first computer system further comprises means coupled for detecting errors in the received position data; and means responsive to detected received position data error for retransmitting the last transmitted first computer system position data; and said synchronizing means comprises means responsive to said detected error for conditioning the first computer system to wait before running the current generation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The video game system defined in claim 2 wherein said synchronizing means further comprises: means responsive to receiving current generation error free position data while waiting for conditioning said first computer system to run the current generation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
162 words
The video game system defined in claim 1 wherein: said generation identifying means comprises frame counting means; said means responsive to the identification of said transmitted position data and said received data being the same for using said transmitted position data and said received position data in the next generation of said first computer system includes: means for comparing the frame count of the received position data with the frame count of the transmitted position data, means responsive to the frame count of the received position data being equal to the frame count of the transmitted position data for incrementing said first computer system frame count; and means responsive to said incremented frame count for obtaining the current first computer system position data from said input device, transmitting said current first computer system position data as the next generation position data to said telephone network, receiving position data from said telephone network, and running the current generation on said first computer system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
139 words
The video game system defined in claim 1 wherein: said generation identifying means comprises frame counting means; and further comprises means responsive to the identification of said transmitted position data being different from said received data for using said transmitted position data and said received position data in the next generation of said first computer system including: means for comparing the frame count of the received position data with the frame count of the transmitted position data; means responsive to the frame count of the received position data being behind the frame count of the transmitted position data for setting an error flag signal; and means responsive to said set error flag signal for retransmitting the transmitted position data, receiving position data from said telephone network, and conditioning said first computer system to wait before running the current generation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The video game system defined in claim 5 further comprising: means responsive to the transmitted position data being the same as said received position data while said error flag signal is set for transmitting the current position data from said first computer system input device to said telephone network as the next generation position data and for conditioning said first computer system to run the current generation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The video game system defined in claim 1 further comprising: means for applying voice signals to and for receiving voice signals from said telephone network; and means for switching between said voice signal applying and receiving means and said position data exchanging and first computer enabling means to permit voice communication during the game.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
248 words
Station apparatus for use in playing action video games, said station apparatus adapted to be coupled to a first computer system that includes an input device adapted to provide position data to said first computer system and an interface device adapted to permit said first computer system to be interconnected to one or more computer systems over a telephone network and characterized in that said station apparatus comprises: means for exchanging position data between said first computer system and said telephone network during a predetermined game generation time interval to transmit position data from the first computer system to said telephone network and to receive position data from said telephone network, said exchanged position data for use in the next game generation time interval; means for synchronizing said exchange of position data so that the position data exchanged in said generation time interval between said first computer system and said telephone network corresponds to the same game generation; and means responsive to the synchronized position data exchange during the preceding game generation time interval for running a current generation on said first computer system during said current generation time interval wherein said synchronizing means comprises: means for identifying the order of succession of the generations of transmitted and received position data; means responsive to the identification of said transmitted position data and said received data being the same for using said transmitted position data and said received position data in the next generation of said first computer system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
248 words
Station apparatus for use in playing action video games, said station apparatus adapted to be coupled to a first computer system that includes an input device adapted to provide position data to said first computer system and an interface device adapted to permit said first computer system to be interconnected to one or more computer systems over a telephone network and characterized in that said station apparatus comprises: means for exchanging position data between said first computer system and said telephone network during a predetermined game generation time interval to transmit position data from the first computer system to said telephone network and to receive position data from said telephone network, said exchanged position data for use in the next game generation time interval; means for synchronizing said exchange of position data so that the position data exchanged in said generation time interval between said first computer system and said telephone network corresponds to the same game generation; and means responsive to the synchronized position data exchange during the preceding game generation time interval for running a current generation on said first computer system during said current generation time interval wherein said synchronizing means comprises: means for identifying the order of succession of the generations of transmitted and received position data; means responsive to the identification of said transmitted position data and said received data being the same for using said transmitted position data and said received position data in the next generation of said first computer system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
The station apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein: said station apparatus further comprises means coupled to said first computer system for detecting errors in the received position data; means responsive to detected received position data error for retransmitting the last transmitted first computer system position data; and said synchronizing means comprises means responsive to said detected error for conditioning the first computer system to wait before running the current generation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The station apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein said synchronizing means further comprises: means responsive to receiving current generation error free position data while waiting for conditioning said first computer system to run the current generation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
161 words
The station apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein: said generation identifying means comprises frame counting means; said means responsive to the identification of said transmitted position data and said received data being the same for using said transmitted position data and said received position data in the next generation of said first computer system includes: means for comparing the frame count of the received position data with the frame count of the transmitted position data; means responsive to the frame count of the received position data being equal to the frame count of the transmitted position data for incrementing said first computer system frame count; and means responsive to said incremented frame count for obtaining the current first computer system position data from said input device, transmitting said current first computer system position data as the next generation position data to said telephone network, receiving position data from said telephone network, and running the current generation on said first computer system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
139 words
The station apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein: said generation identifying means comprises frame counting means; and further comprises means responsive to the identification of said transmitted position data being different from said received data for using said transmitted position data and said received position data in the next generation of said first computer system including: means for comparing the frame count of the received position data with the frame count of the transmitted position data; means responsive to the frame count of the received position data being one behind the frame count of the transmitted position data for setting an error flag signal; and means responsive to said set error flag signal for retransmitting the transmitted position data, receiving position data from said telephone network, and conditioning said first computer system to wait before running the current generation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
The station apparatus defined in claim 12 further comprising: means responsive to the transmitted position data being the same as said received position data while said error flag signal is set for transmitting the current position data from said first computer system input device to said telephone network as the next generation position data and conditioning said first computer system to run the current generation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
The station apparatus defined in claim 8 further comprising: means for applying voice signals to and for receiving voice signals from said telephone network; and means for switching between said voice signal applying and receiving means and said position data exchanging and first computer enabling means to permit voice communication during the game.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
259 words
A method for playing action video games over a telephone network in a video game system, said video game system including at least a first computer system comprising an input device adapted to provide position data to said first computer system, and an interface device adapted to permit said first computer system to be interconnected to one or more computer systems over a telephone network and characterized in that said method comprises the steps of: exchanging position data between said first computer system and said telephone network during a predetermined game generation time interval responsive to said input device to transmit position data from said first computer system to said telephone network and to receive position data from said telephone network, said exchanged position data for use in the next generation time interval in said first and said other computer systems; synchronizing said exchange of position data so that the position data exchanged in said generation time interval between said first computer system and said telephone network corresponds to the same game generation; and running a current generation on said first computer system during said current generation time interval responsive to said synchronized position data exchange during the preceding game generation time interval wherein said synchronizing step comprises: identifying the order of succession of the generations of transmitted and received position data; and using said transmitted position data and said received position data in the next generation of said first computer system responsive to the identification of said transmitted position data and said received transmission data being the same.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
259 words
A method for playing action video games over a telephone network in a video game system, said video game system including at least a first computer system comprising an input device adapted to provide position data to said first computer system, and an interface device adapted to permit said first computer system to be interconnected to one or more computer systems over a telephone network and characterized in that said method comprises the steps of: exchanging position data between said first computer system and said telephone network during a predetermined game generation time interval responsive to said input device to transmit position data from said first computer system to said telephone network and to receive position data from said telephone network, said exchanged position data for use in the next generation time interval in said first and said other computer systems; synchronizing said exchange of position data so that the position data exchanged in said generation time interval between said first computer system and said telephone network corresponds to the same game generation; and running a current generation on said first computer system during said current generation time interval responsive to said synchronized position data exchange during the preceding game generation time interval wherein said synchronizing step comprises: identifying the order of succession of the generations of transmitted and received position data; and using said transmitted position data and said received position data in the next generation of said first computer system responsive to the identification of said transmitted position data and said received transmission data being the same.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method for playing action video games over a telephone network in a video game system defined in claim 15 wherein: detecting errors in the received position data in said first computer system; retransmitting the last transmitted first computer system position data responsive to detected received position data error; and said synchronizing comprises conditioning the first computer system to wait before running the current generation responsive to said detected error.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method for playing action video games over a telephone network in a video game system defined in claim 16 wherein: said synchronizing step further comprises conditioning said first computer system to run the current generation responsive to receiving current generation error free position data while waiting.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
152 words
The method for playing action video games over a telephone network in a video game system defined in claim 15 wherein: said generation identifying step comprises frame counting; and the step of using said transmitted position data and said received position data in the next generation of said first computer system includes: comparing the frame count of the received position data with the frame count of the transmitted position data, incrementing said first computer system frame count responsive to the frame count of the received position data being equal to the frame count of the transmitted position data, and responsive to said incremented frame count, obtaining the current first computer system position data from said input device, transmitting said current first computer system position data as the next generation position data to said telephone network, receiving position data from said telephone network, and running the current generation on said first computer system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
144 words
The method for playing action video games over a telephone network in a video game system defined in claim 15 wherein: said generation identifying step comprises frame counting; and further comprises using the transmitted position data and said received position data in the next generation of said first computer system responsive to the identification of said transmitted position data being different from said received data including: comparing the frame count of the received position data with the frame count of the transmitted position data; setting an error flag signal responsive to the frame count of the received position data being one behind the frame count of the transmitted position data; and responsive to said set error flag signal for retransmitting the transmitted position data, receiving position data from said telephone network, and conditioning said first computer system to wait before running the current generation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method for playing action video games over a telephone network in a video game system defined in claim 19 further comprising: responsive to the transmitted position data being the same as said received position data while said error flag signal is set, transmitting the current position data from said first computer system input device to said telephone network as the next generation position data and for conditioning said first computer system to run the current generation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-02-17 | 1989-08-19 | 1990-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-17 | 1993-08-19 | 1994-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-17 | 1997-08-19 | 1998-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |