In December last year, I wrote about Nintendo filing a patent application for cloud gaming devices(Supplemental Computing Devices). In January this year the application was met with a non-final rejection. This application has caused many discussions, the following news should continue this.

Today, on April 18, 2016, following a few amendments, Nintendo's patent application 14/294,704 for "Supplemental Computing Devices for Game Consoles" was met with a Notice of Allowance from the USPTO.

*While no indication has been given that the non-final rejection has been cleared, I must assume it has considering the allowance.

http://m.neogaf.com/showthread.php?p=201255498

Heres a summary from qii u daily for those that dont understand the OP

Remember that patent for a ‘supplemental computing device‘ that was filed way back in 2013? It’s nearing completion at the USPTO, which means its only a few forms and a paid fee away from being granted. The patent has been issued with a Notice of Allowance and after the fee has been paid, it will be granted to Nintendo and its creator, Joe Bentdahl.

This supplemental computing device is theorized to allow a game system to have extra resources through on-board hardware and cloud technology. This would theoretically allow you to boose an older console instead of having to replace it entirely

People in GAF are saying its before the investors meeting and the Nx can be revealed soon when its.granted

Very interesting to talk about. Even if false, this can be very useful in the future

It's a pretty clever way for Nintendo to get potentially several million mini-servers worldwide without paying a dime because consumers will be covering the cost.

If they're smart it could work like this

Regular Console NX = a little better than the PS4

Regular Console NX + SCD Device = on par with PS4K

People who want the highest end graphics can pay a premium for it, that's fair. Nintendo gets free servers. Win win all around.

It's still be paying to run them, but the price is cheaper than if they house everything themselves.

And the ceiling of potential for this is much higher than you're making it out to be. The more these things sell, the more power is available in this cloud network. As far as I am aware, that extra pool of power is indefinite. As long as developers have the time, money, and resources, to  make a game that powerful, with enough SCDs there'd be no other limits.

AKA, imagine a ludicrous future where the NX was attached to an expansion pack with 100 times the power. This patent allows for such a scenario to exist. They'd just need to sell A LOT of SCDs. Obviously this is an exaggeration used to illustrate a point.

Also, people who want the highest end graphics wouldn't have to pay for it at all. That's the point.

I'm not sure if I get what this SCD is. I read some articles but I still have not a single clue about how it works :(. Is it similar to the N64 expansion pack?

It's more about servers. Modern internet connections are too slow right now at least in North America/most of Europe to have some kind of game with 1000000x the power of a console cloud computing being streamed everywhere. 

This is a smart way to get servers out there in the wild ... Microsoft has like a million servers, Sony paid out the wazoo to buy that onLive outfit or whatever. 

Nintendo could get comparable server coverage by passing the cost onto the consumer and then simply giving them digital rewards and the ability to play games in 2K/4K, which really cost the company nothing. 

It's a smart way to basically get a large server infastructure for free essentially. And it keeps the system upgradable and up to date with whatever comes out down the line. 

Tagging, NX reveal can't come soon enough

Well the investors meeting is next week so some NX information should emerge soon.