IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,814,690

Granted Patent B2

US 8,814,690 · App. 10/517,443 · Granted Aug 26, 2014

Game machine having data management ability

Inventors: Yusuke Shimizu (Tokyo, JP); Hiroshi Masui (Tokyo, JP); Toru Ikebuchi (Tokyo, JP)

Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 8,814,690
App. No.: 10/517,443
Granted: Aug 26, 2014
Kind: B2

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

A game machine ( 10 ) includes a card interface ( 11 ) configured so that a magnetic card ( 20 ) is detachably attached thereto, an element ( 12 ) to record a card ID generated on the basis of time information specifying the date and time when the magnetic card ( 20 ) is attached to the card interface ( 11 ) in a magnetic data recording area ( 22 ) provided in the magnetic card ( 20 ), and an element ( 14 ) to print an access code uniquely obtained by the calculation of a predetermined function based on the card ID in a printing area ( 21 ) of the magnetic card ( 20 ).

Claims (52)

1. A game system comprising:

a server device having a database configured to store identification information for identifying each player and a plurality of optional messages, the plurality of optional messages being in association with the identification information;

an arcade game machine, installed at a play facility, operatively connected to the server device via a network and configured to allow a player to play a game; and

a mobile terminal device operatively connected to the server device via a network and having a user interface,

wherein the mobile terminal device is configured, per operation provided via the user interface by the player, to receive at least a first one of the optional messages consisting of only identification information and to send the at least a first one of the optional messages to the server device before the game starts on the arcade game machine,

wherein the server device is configured to receive the at least a first one of the optional messages from the mobile terminal device and to store the at least a first one of the optional messages in the database before the game starts on the arcade game machine,

wherein the arcade game machine is configured to inform the server device of the event which has occurred during progress, or as a result, of the game played by the player, and

wherein the server device is configured to send a second one of the optional messages in accordance with the event informed from the arcade game machine to the arcade game machine such that the second one of the optional messages is displayed on the arcade game machine.

2. The game system according to claim 1 , wherein the server device is configured to send the at least a first one of the optional messages in accordance with the event informed from the arcade game machine to the mobile terminal device such that the at least a first one of the optional messages is displayed on the mobile terminal device.

3. The game system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the optional messages received from the mobile terminal device are in association with scores to be acquired in the game to be played,

wherein the arcade game machine is configured to calculate a score acquired as a result of a game played by the player and to inform the server device of the acquired score, and

wherein the server device is configured to send the at least a first one of the optional messages in accordance with the score informed from the arcade game machine to the arcade game machine such that the at least a first one of the optional messages is displayed on the arcade game machine.

4. The game system according to claim 1 , further comprising another arcade game machine operatively connected to the server device via the network and configured to allow an opponent player to play the game,

wherein the server device is configured to send the at least a first one of the optional messages in accordance with the event informed from the arcade game machine to the other arcade game machine such that the at least a first one of the optional messages is displayed on the other arcade game machine.

5. The game system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the second one of the optional messages is in association with a special result of the game to be played, and

wherein if the special result occurs in the game played by the player, the server device is configured to send the second one of the optional messages to the arcade game machine such that the second one of the optional messages is displayed on the arcade game machine.

6. The game system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the arcade game machine includes an ID reader configured to read the identification information recorded on a machine-readable medium and to send the read identification information to the server device such that the server device authenticates the read identification information with reference to the database, and

wherein the arcade game machine is configured to allow the player to play the game based on the authentication by the server device.

7. The game system according to claim 6 ,

wherein the server device is configured to store an access code for each player in association with the identification information,

wherein the mobile terminal device is configured to receive an access code per operation provided through the user interface by the player and to send the access code to the server device,

wherein the server device is configured to authenticate the access code based on the identification information, and

wherein the mobile terminal device is configured to allow the player to input the at least a first one of the optional messages through the user interface based on the authentication by the server device.

8. A game system comprising:

an arcade game machine, installed at a play facility, operatively connected to the server device via a network and configured to allow a player to play a game; and

wherein the server device is configured to receive at least a first one of the optional messages from a mobile terminal device, the at least a first one of the optional messages being inputted to the mobile terminal device by the player, and to store the at least a first one of the optional messages in the database before the game starts on the arcade game machine, the at least a first one of the optional messages consisting of only identification information for the player,

wherein the arcade game machine is configured to inform the server device of the event which has occurred during progress, or as a result, of the game played by the player, and

9. The game system according to claim 8 , wherein the server device is configured to send the at least a first one of the optional messages in accordance with the event informed from the arcade game machine to the mobile terminal device such that the at least a first one of the optional messages is displayed on the mobile terminal device.

10. The game system according to claim 8 ,

wherein the optional messages received from the mobile terminal device are in association with scores to be acquired in the game to be played,

wherein the arcade game machine is configured to calculate a score acquired as a result of a game played by the player and to inform the server device of the acquired score, and

11. The game system according to claim 8 , further comprising another arcade game machine operatively connected to the server device via the network and configured to allow an opponent player to play the game,

12. The game system according to claim 8 , wherein the second one of the optional messages is in association with a special result of the game to be played, wherein if the special result occurs in the game played by the player, the server device is configured to send the second one of the optional messages to the arcade game machine such that the second one of the optional messages is displayed on the arcade game machine.

13. A game system comprising:

a plurality of arcade game machines, installed at a play facility, operatively connected to the server device via a network and configured to allow players to play a game to compete with one another; and

wherein the server device is configured to receive at least a first one of the optional messages from a mobile terminal device, the at least a first one of the optional messages being inputted to the mobile terminal device by the one player, and to store the at least a first one of the optional messages in the database before the game starts on the arcade game machine, the at least a first one of the optional messages consisting of only the identification information for the one player,

wherein one of the plurality of arcade game machines is configured to inform the server device of the event which has occurred during progress, or as a result, of the game played by the one player, and

wherein the server device is configured to send a second one of the optional messages in accordance with the event informed from the one of the plurality of arcade game machines to at least one other arcade game machine on which an opponent player plays the game such that the second one of the optional messages is displayed on the at least one other arcade game machine.

14. The game system according to claim 13 , wherein the server device is configured to send the at least a first one of the optional messages in accordance with the event informed from the arcade game machine to another mobile terminal device carried by the opponent player such that the at least a first one of the optional messages is displayed on the another mobile terminal device.

15. The game system according to claim 13 , wherein the server device is configured to send a different one of the optional messages from the at least a first one of the optional messages to the one of the plurality of arcade game machines such that the different one of the optional messages is displayed on the one of the plurality of arcade game machines.

16. The game system according to claim 13 ,

wherein the optional messages received from the mobile terminal device are in association with scores to be acquired in the game to be played,

wherein the one of the plurality of arcade game machines is configured to calculate a score acquired as a result of a game played by the one player and to inform the server device of the acquired score, and

wherein the server device is configured to send the at least a first one of the optional messages in accordance with the score informed from the one of the plurality of arcade game machines to the at least one other arcade game machine such that the at least a first one of the optional messages is displayed on the at least one other arcade game machine.

Assignments (2)

CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 16, 2014

From: SEGA CORPORATION

To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SEGA D/B/A SEGA CORPORATION

Reel/Frame 033340/0983 →

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2004

From: SHIMIZU, YUSUKE; MASUI, HIROSHI; IKEBUCHI, TORU

To: SEGA CORPORATION

Reel/Frame 016581/0652 →

Priority Claims (1)

JP 2002-169380 · Jun 11, 2002 · national

Continuity (1)

Related Publication 20050209008A1 · Sep 22, 2005