Data update and transmission of updated data by an information processing apparatus with a storage apparatus having a wireless communication function

1. A method carried out by an information processing apparatus, comprising:

receiving, from a storage apparatus that has a wireless communication function and is within a wireless communication range of the information processing apparatus, an accessory ID of an accessory and status information of the accessory ID that were stored in the storage apparatus, as a result of: (i) the accessory and the storage apparatus being physically coupled with a host device, and (ii) the accessory ID being read from a surface of the accessory and then stored in the storage apparatus in association with the status information by the host device;

executing, on the information processing apparatus, a user-interactive application in association with the received accessory ID and the status information thereof, the status information of the accessory ID being updated during execution of the user-interactive application; and

transmitting wirelessly, from the information processing apparatus to the storage apparatus, the accessory ID and the updated status information, wherein

a first visual or audio output corresponding to the accessory ID and the updated status information is generated by the host device when the storage apparatus is physically coupled with the host device, the first visual or audio output being different from a visual or audio output generated by the host device when the storage apparatus was physically coupled with the host device prior to the update.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

a second accessory ID of a second accessory and second status information of the second accessory ID are received from the storage apparatus along with the accessory ID and the status information, wherein

the second accessory ID and the second status information were stored in the storage apparatus, as a result of: (i) the second accessory and the storage apparatus being physically coupled with the host device, and (ii) the second accessory ID being read from a surface of the second accessory and then stored in the storage apparatus in association with the second status information by the host device.

3. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising:

executing, on the information processing apparatus, the user-interactive application in association with the received second accessory ID and the second status information, the second status information of the second accessory ID being updated during execution of the user-interactive application, wherein

the second accessory ID and the updated second status information are transmitted to the storage apparatus along with the accessory ID and the updated status information.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, from a second storage apparatus that has a wireless communication function and is within the wireless communication range of the information processing apparatus, a second accessory ID of a second accessory and second status information of the second accessory ID that were stored in the second storage apparatus, as a result of: (i) the second accessory and the second storage apparatus being physically coupled with a second host device, and (ii) the second accessory ID being read from a surface of the second accessory and then stored in the second storage apparatus in association with the second status information by the second host device.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein

during execution of the user-interactive application, a sub application based on the accessory ID, the status information thereof, the second accessory ID, and the second status information thereof is executed, and the status information of the accessory ID is updated as a result of the execution of the sub application.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

generating, with the information processing apparatus, a unique visual or audio output corresponding to the accessory ID and the updated status information.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

the status information of the accessory ID is updated based on at least one of user information, position information of the information processing apparatus, and date information that are stored in the information processing apparatus.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

the accessory ID corresponds to a game character, and the status information of the accessory ID corresponds to a status of the game character.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

data of the unique visual or audio output corresponding to the accessory ID and the updated status information are stored in a data storage unit of the information processing apparatus, and the data are transmitted to the storage apparatus along with the accessory ID and the updated status information.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

the wireless communication conforms to a near field communication (NFC) standard.

11. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

a wireless communication unit that causes an induction current for wireless communication with a storage apparatus that has a wireless communication function using power generated in the storage apparatus by the induction current; and

a processor that

executes a user-interactive application in association with an accessory ID of an accessory and status information thereof, when the accessory ID and the status information are received from the storage apparatus that is within a wireless communication range, the status information of the accessory ID being updated during execution of the user-interactive application, and

transmits wirelessly, to the storage apparatus, the accessory ID and the updated status information, such that a first visual or audio output corresponding to the accessory ID and the updated status information is generated by a host device when the host device is physically coupled with the storage apparatus, the first visual or audio output being different from a visual or audio output generated by the host device when the storage apparatus was physically coupled with the host device prior to the update.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein

a second accessory ID of a second accessory and second status information of the second accessory ID are received from the storage apparatus along with the accessory ID and the status information.

13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein

the processor also executes the user-interactive application in association with the received second accessory ID and the second status information, the second status information of the second accessory ID being updated during processing of the user-interactive application, and transmits wirelessly the second accessory ID and the updated second status information to the storage apparatus along with the accessory ID and the updated status information.

14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein

the user-interactive application is executed after a second accessory ID of a second accessory and second status information of the second accessory ID are received from a second storage apparatus that has a wireless communication function and is within the wireless communication range of the wireless communication unit.

15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein

during the user-interactive application, a sub application based on the accessory ID, the status information thereof, the second accessory ID, and the second status information thereof is carried out, and the status information of the accessory ID is updated as a result of the sub application.

16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising:

a display, wherein

the processor is configured to control the display to generate a unique visual output corresponding to the accessory ID and the updated status information.

17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising:

a speaker, wherein

the processor is configured to control the speaker to generate a unique audio output corresponding to the accessory ID and the updated status information.

18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising:

a data storage unit, wherein

the status information of the accessory ID is updated based on at least one of user information, position information of the wireless communication device, and date information that are stored in the data storage unit.

19. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising:

a data storage unit, wherein

data of the unique visual or audio output corresponding to the accessory ID and the updated status information are stored in the data storage unit, and the data are transmitted to the storage apparatus along with the accessory ID and the updated status information.

20. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein

the wireless communication conforms to a near field communication (NFC) standard.