Communication system, terminal device, communication processing method, communication processing program, storage medium stored with communication processing program

1. An extension apparatus, comprising:

a connector configured to connect to a terminal device in an attachable and removable manner, wherein the terminal device, being a game controller or portable game console, is configured to: (i) produce packet input data in response to operation input from a user, and to transmit the packet input data to an information processing unit according to a predetermined method for which format and capacity are regulated, and (ii) operate in either of two modes: (1) a fundamental mode in which the extension apparatus is not connected to the terminal device and is able to communicate directly with the information processing unit; and (2) an extend mode in which the extension apparatus is connected to said terminal device and is not able to communicate directly with the information processing unit;

a storage unit configured to store integrated scenario information, which defines regions in a memory of the information processing unit allotted for extended input data from the extension apparatus within regions reserved for the packet input data, wherein the allotment is governed by integration regulations requiring at least one of: (1) maintaining original input data, (2) replacing original input data with the extended input data, and (3) merging original input data and extended input data; and

circuitry configured to transmit a product ID of the extension apparatus and scenario information to the terminal device, and the terminal device transmits the product ID and the integrated scenario information to said information processing unit,

wherein, in accordance with the integrated scenario information, packet input data generated during fundamental mode (fundamental packet input data) is allocated to different memory regions than packet input data generated during extend mode (extended packet input data), wherein the memory capacity of the extended input regions are set in conformity with the type of extension apparatus identified via the product ID and packet output data is generated by the information processing unit according to the type of extension apparatus identified.

2. The extension apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the integrated scenario information defines a first input region allotted for the terminal device and a second input region allotted for the extension apparatus within data regions for the packet input data,

the first and second input regions are areas of memory allotted for the fundamental packet input data and the extended packet input data, respectively, and

when the extension apparatus is connected to the terminal device, the terminal device arranges the operation input data in the first input region defined in the integrated scenario information, arranges data based on the extended input data in the second input region defined in the integrated scenario information, and then generates the packet input data.

3. The extension apparatus of claim 2 , wherein, when the extension apparatus is connected to the terminal device, the terminal device generates the fundamental input data corresponding to a predetermined method by arranging the operation input data in the first input region, generates extended input data corresponding to a predetermined method by arranging the extended input data in the second input region, and the integrates the fundamental input data and the extended input data, thereby generating the packet input data.

4. The extension apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the integrated scenario information is prestored in the extension apparatus, and

the extension apparatus transmits the integrated scenario information to terminal device upon connection thereto.

5. The extension apparatus of claim 1 , wherein applications executed by the information processing unit are processed according to whether the terminal device is in fundamental mode or extend mode.

6. The extension apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the terminal device generates extended packet input data based on the integrated scenario information when the extension apparatus is connected to the terminal device, and transmits said extended packet input data to said information processing unit;

the extension apparatus operates to transmit extended input data to the terminal device;

the terminal device operates to receive extended output data and extraction scenario information from said information processing unit, wherein said extraction scenario information designates a memory region in the extension apparatus for said packet output data; and

the extension apparatus operates to receive and process extended output data from the terminal device based on the extraction scenario information, the extended output data being obtained by the terminal device from the packet output data received from the information processing unit.

7. A method, comprising:

providing an extension apparatus with a connector configured to connect to a terminal device in an attachable and removable manner, wherein the terminal device, being a game controller or portable game console, is configured to: (i) produce packet input data in response to operation input from a user, and to transmit the packet input data to an information processing unit according to a predetermined method for which format and capacity are regulated, and (ii) operate in either of two modes: (1) a fundamental mode in which the extension apparatus is not connected to the terminal device and is able to communicate directly with the information processing unit; and (2) an extend mode in which the extension apparatus is connected to said terminal device and is not able to communicate directly with the information processing unit;

storing integrated scenario information within a storage unit of the extension apparatus, which defines regions in a memory of the information processing unit allotted for extended input data from the extension apparatus within regions reserved for the packet input data, wherein the allotment is governed by integration regulations requiring at least one of: (1) maintaining original input data, (2) replacing original input data with the extended input data, and (3) merging original input data and extended input data; and

transmitting a product ID of the extension apparatus and scenario information to the terminal device, and the terminal device transmits the product ID and the integrated scenario information to said information processing unit,

wherein, in accordance with the integrated scenario information, packet input data generated during fundamental mode (fundamental packet input data) is allocated to different memory regions than packet input data generated during extend mode (extended packet input data), wherein the memory capacity of the extended input regions are set in conformity with the type of extension apparatus identified via the product ID and packet output data is generated by the information processing unit according to the type of extension apparatus identified.