| Miyamotoo said: Sounds interesting. Post more infos when you have them. |
It's more trying to understand and simplify the info that's the issue, here's more from the patent if anyone can simplfy it faster.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING EXAMPLE
[0016] FIG. 1 shows an example non-limiting block diagram illustrating a configuration of a game apparatus according to a present example embodiment. FIG. 2 shows an example non-limiting block diagram illustrating a configuration of a controller included in the game apparatus according to the present example embodiment. A game apparatus 1 according to the present example embodiment is not provided with a display unit and displays a game screen on a display apparatus 5 such as a liquid-crystal television. The game apparatus 1 is a so-called stationary game apparatus. The game apparatus 1 includes a processor 10, a first memory 11, a second memory 12, an internal HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 13, an image output unit 14, a communication unit 15, a wireless communication unit 16, a power supply unit 17, an HDD connection unit 18, a card slot 19, a controller 3 and the like. The controller 3 is provided exclusively for the game apparatus 1. The controller 3 includes a processor 31, a wireless communication unit 32, an operation unit 33, a display unit 34, a battery 35, a connection unit 36 and the like.
[0018] The first memory 11 and the second memory 12 are configured using a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, for example. The processor 10 is able to read or write data from/to the first memory 11 and the second memory 12. In the present example embodiment, the first basic program 24 is stored in the first memory 11. The first basic program 24 is, for example, a kernel portion of an operating system. When the game apparatus 1 is started, the processor 10 first reads out the first basic program 24 from the first memory 11 and starts processing. In the first memory 11, for example, setting information for the game apparatus 1, information related to a right for the downloaded game program 26 or the like, version information for a program, or identification information for the game apparatus 1 may be stored. In the first memory 11, it is preferable to store, for example, data with high security, or data which is difficult to be restored or reacquired if corrupted. In the present example embodiment, replicated data 28 is stored in the second memory 12. The replicated data 28 is a copy (backup) of a program, data or the like stored in the internal HDD 13.
[0019] The internal HDD 13 is a magnetic storage device with a large volume compared to the first memory 11 and the second memory 12. The internal HDD 13 transmits/receives data to/from the processor 10 through an interface with a standard of, for example, SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) or a USB (Universal Serial Bus). It is to be noted that the same interface as that used between the optical disk drive and the processor in the conventional game apparatus, for example, may be employed for the interface between the internal HDD 13 and the processor 10.
[0020] The game apparatus 1 according to the present example embodiment has a compatibility with another game apparatus on which an optical disk drive capable of reading out a game program from an optical disk is mounted. In other words, it is possible for the game apparatus 1 according to the present example embodiment to execute the same game program as another game apparatus on which an optical disk drive is mounted. The same interface as that of the optical disk drive mounted on another compatible game apparatus is employed for the interface of the internal HDD 13 in the game apparatus 1 according to the present example embodiment.
[0028] The card slot 19 of the game apparatus 1 may receive or discharge the memory card 7 such as an SD memory card. The card slot 19 can read or write data from/to the attached memory card 7. In the present example embodiment, the game apparatus 1 is able to read out the first basic program 24 or the second basic program stored in the memory card 7 through the card slot 19, and to store the read-out program in the first memory 11 or the internal HDD 13. This can realize, for example, version upgrade of the first basic program 24 and the second basic program 25. It is to be noted that the version upgrade of a program may be realized by downloading a program from the server apparatus 9 through the communication unit 15.
<Speed Control Processing>
[0035] The game apparatus 1 according to the present example embodiment is able to switch the speed of reading and writing of data with respect to the internal HDD 13 between two stages of a high speed mode and a low speed mode. According to the present example embodiment, in the high speed mode, the game apparatus 1 reads or writes data at a speed with which the performances of the internal HDD 13, the processor 10 and the like are utilized to a maximum extent. On the other hand, in the low speed mode, the game apparatus 1 reads and writes data from/to the internal HDD 13 by emulating the reading and writing characteristics of the external HDD 6 which is slower than the internal HDD 13. The difference in speed between the internal HDD 13 and the external HDD 6 may occur due to, for example, the difference of interfaces related to data transmission/reception with respect to the processor 10.
[0036] Even the game program 26 is created on the assumption that the reading and writing speed is set for the external HDD 6, the game apparatus 1 according to the present example embodiment is able to store the game program 26 in the internal HDD 13, and to read out the game program 26 from the internal HDD 13 and execute it by the processor 10. In the case of reading out and executing the game program 26 created with the reading and writing speed for the external HDD 6, the game apparatus 1 switches modes as described above.
[0037] The speed control of the game apparatus 1 as described above is performed by the speed control unit 21 implemented by the processor 10 executing the first basic program 24 or the second basic program 25. It is to be noted that the speed control unit 21 may be implemented by either the first basic program 24 or the second basic program 25. In the present example embodiment, the speed control unit 21 may be implemented by executing the first basic program 24.
[0038] In the present example embodiment, when the processing of the first basic program 24 or the second basic program 25 is performed, the speed control unit 21 reads and writes data from/to the internal HDD 13 in the high-speed mode. The speed control unit 21 switches between the high-speed mode and the low-speed mode as described above when the game program 26 is executed.
[0039] The game program 26 designates which one of the high-speed mode and the low-speed mode is used to read or write data from/to the internal HDD 13 in the processing of the game program 26 itself. In the case where a command for designating the speed is issued from the game program 26 upon executing the game program 26 by the processor 10, the speed control unit 21 switches between the high-speed mode and the low-speed mode in response to the command.
[0040] The speed control unit 21 switches between the high-speed mode and the low-speed mode according to its own judgment, for the game program 26 not explicitly providing a command for designating the speed. For example, the server apparatus 9 distributes the game program 26 together with the information indicating which one of the high-speed mode and the low-speed mode is used to operate the game program 26. When downloading the game program 26 from the server apparatus 9, the game apparatus 1 obtains information related to the speed and stores, as a table, the association between the speed and the information for identifying the game program 26 in the internal HDD 13. The information for identifying the game program 26 may be, for example, a game title, a program version and the like. The speed control unit 21 obtains the identification information of the game program 26 to be executed, and determines which one of the high-speed mode and the low-speed mode is used to operate the game program 26 by referring to a table which has been stored.
[0041] The processor 10 of the game apparatus 1 according to the present example embodiment can execute multiple programs in parallel. This is so-called background processing, overlay processing or the like. The processor 10 may implement parallel processing by simultaneously executing multiple programs, or may implement pseudo parallel processing by processing multiple programs in a time-division manner. The multiple programs executed in parallel may include various programs such as a program for displaying a menu screen, a program for accepting change of setting for the game apparatus 1, a program for downloading the game program 26 and a program for browsing the Internet. For example, while performing game processing by executing a game program 26, the processor 10 may download another game program 26 in the background. For example, when an operation for displaying a system menu is performed while executing a game program 26 for game processing, the processor 10 may execute the game processing in the background and displays the system menu.
[0042] In the case where the processor 10 executes multiple programs in parallel, the speed control unit 21 selects, for each program, the high-speed mode or the low speed-mode for reading and writing of data with respect to the internal HDD 13. When, for example, two programs are executed in parallel, the speed control unit 21 can operate the first program in the high-speed mode and the second program in the low-speed mode. When a request for reading or writing of data with respect to the internal HDD 13 is made from the first program, the speed control unit 21 reads or writes data concerning the request in the high-speed mode. When a request for reading or writing of data with respect to the internal HDD 13 is made from the second program, the speed control unit 21 reads or writes data concerning the request in the low-speed mode.
[0043] It is also possible for the game apparatus 1 to store the association between identification information and speed, as a table, for programs other than the game program 26. The speed control unit 21 can select the high-speed mode or the low-speed mode with reference to the table. These programs may issue a command for explicitly designating the speed, and the speed control unit 21 can switch between the high-speed mode and the low-speed mode in response to the command. Accordingly, for example, while a game program 26 is being executed in the low-speed mode, it is possible to download another game program 26 in the background in the high-speed mode.
