System and method for external control of a portable processing system

Abstract

A game controller is provided for controlling a portable processing system externally. The game controller may connect directly to the portable processing system or may connect to the portable processing system through an interface device. The interface device may patch memory locations of a ROM cartridge which contain a pointer to a memory location of the portable processing system which stores input from the built-in controls of the portable processing system. By matching these locations, input from the external controller may be provided to the portable processing system. Alternatively, a device which includes software executable by the portable processing system and external controls may be provided to operate in conjunction with the portable processing system. The software may be programmed to use input from the external controls instead of the built-in controls of the portable processing system.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a portable processing system, a method comprising: 
 providing an external controller, the external controller being adapted to control a portable processing system; and    providing for a coupling of the external controller to the portable processing system.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portable processing system includes a handheld video game system.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portable processing system includes a plurality of built-in controls and an internal register for storing an input received from the plurality of built-in controls and wherein the portable processing system is electrically connectable to a data storage medium, the data storage medium having stored thereon a computer program accessible and executable by the portable processing system, and wherein the method further comprises: 
 detecting a first access request by the portable processing system for data comprising a pointer to a location at which is stored input from the plurality of built-in controls, the data being stored at a first address of the data storage medium;    providing a second address of the data storage medium to the portable processing system, in response to the first access request, instead of the data stored at the first address of the data storage medium;    detecting a second access request by the portable processing system for data stored at the second address of the data storage medium; and    providing input data, based on information received from the external controller, to the portable processing system, in response to a second access request by the portable processing system for data stored at the second address of the data storage medium.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first access request comprises a requested address of the data storage medium and the act of detecting a first access request further comprises an act of receiving the requested address from an address bus of the portable processing system.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the act of detecting a first access request further comprises an act of comparing the requested address and the first address of the data storage medium.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising an act of providing, to the portable processing system, data stored on the data storage medium in response to a third access request by the portable processing system if the third access request is not one of the group comprising the first access request and the second access request.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the act of providing a second address of the data storage medium further comprises providing, to the portable processing system, the second address of the data storage medium to the portable processing system on a data bus of the portable processing system.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second access request comprises a requested address of the data storage medium and the act of detecting a second access request further comprises an act of receiving the requested address via an address bus of the portable processing system.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the act of detecting a second access request further comprises an act of comparing the requested address and the second address of the data storage medium.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the act of providing input from the external controller further comprises providing the input from the external controller to the portable processing system on a data bus of the portable processing system.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portable processing system includes built-in controls and the method further comprises an act of causing the portable processing system to receive an input from the external controller instead of the built-in controls of the portable processing system.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising an act of providing a computer software program executable by the portable processing system, the computer software program, when executed, allowing a user to play a video game using the portable processing system.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the act of providing a computer software program further comprises an act of providing a computer software program including computer instructions for receiving input from the external controller.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the external controller and the computer software program are integrated into a single device and the method further comprises providing a connector on the device for connecting the external controller to the portable processing system.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising: 
 an external game controller configured to transfer control signals to control a portable processing system, the external game controller having an output that provides control signal information to the portable processing system.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the portable processing system includes a handheld video game system.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the portable processing system includes built-in controls and the apparatus further comprises: 
 an interface device that couples the external controller to the portable processing system and directs the portable processing system to receive control signal from the external game controller in lieu of the built-in controls of the portable processing system.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the interface device further comprises at least one register for storing addresses of the external memory.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the interface device further comprises first comparison means for comparing a first address received on an address bus of the portable processing system and a second address stored in the at least one register.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the interface device further comprises means for providing a special address of the external memory on a data bus of the portable processing system in response to receiving an address stored in the at least one register on the address bus of the portable processing system.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the interface device further comprises second comparison means for comparing an address received from the portable processing system on the address bus with the special address of the external memory.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the interface device further comprises means for providing input received from the external controller to the portable processing system on the data bus of the portable processing system in response to receiving the special address from the address bus of the portable processing system.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a memory for storing computer program instructions executable by the video system.    
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the computer program instructions include instructions which, when executed by the portable processing system, cause the portable processing system to receive input from the external controller.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the memory is a non-volatile memory.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the external controller and the memory are integrated into a single device.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the single device further comprises: 
 a connector adapted for coupling to the portable processing system which, when coupled to the portable processing system, allows the portable processing system to execute instructions stored in the memory.    
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the connector is adapted to connect to the portable processing system through a cartridge slot of the portable processing system.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the connector is adapted to connect to the portable processing system through a link port connector of the portable processing system.  
     
     
         30 . A computer readable medium having encoded thereon computer instructions which when executed by a portable processing system perform a method comprising: 
 causing the portable processing system to accept input from an external controller; and    causing the portable processing system to process the input from the external controller.    
     
     
         31 . The computer readable medium of  claim 30 , wherein the computer instructions include an address of a register capable of storing input received from the external controller and the method further comprises an act of causing the portable processing system to access the register instead of a storage location for storing input from built-in controls of the portable processing system.  
     
     
         32 . The computer readable medium of  claim 30 , wherein the computer readable medium is integrated into a single device with the external controller  
     
     
         33 . The computer readable medium of  claim 30 , wherein the computer readable medium is removably connectable to the external controller.  
     
     
         34 . A method for operating a portable processing system, comprising an act of: 
 providing a device operatively connectable to the portable processing system;    providing, on the device, a data storage medium for storing a computer program executable by the portable processing system; and    providing, on the device, game controls for operating the portable processing system.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising an act of causing the processor to receive input from the external controller in response to executing the computer program.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising and act of providing a connector for electrically connecting to the portable processing system  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the act of providing a connector further comprises providing a connector connectable to the portable processing system through a cartridge slot of the portable processing system.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the act of providing a connector further comprises providing a connector connectable to the portable processing system through a link port connector of the portable processing system.  
     
     
         39 . An apparatus configured to control operation of a portable processing system comprising: 
 a device operatively connectable to the portable processing system having: 
 a data storage medium configured to store computer program instructions executable by the portable processing system; and  
 an external game controller for operating the portable processing system configured to operate the portable processing system.  
   
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the computer program instructions include instructions which, when executed by the portable processing system, cause the portable processing system to receive input from the external controller.  
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the data storage medium comprises a non-volatile memory.  
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , further comprising: 
 a connector connectable to the portable processing system which, when connected to the portable processing system, allows the portable processing system to execute instructions stored on the memory.    
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein the connector is adapted to connect to the portable processing system through a cartridge slot of the portable processing system.  
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein the connector is adapted to connect to the portable processing system through a link port connector of the portable processing system.  
     
     
         45 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a housing adapted to receive a portable processing system, the housing operatively connectable to the portable processing system, wherein the housing includes a computer software program executable by the portable processing system, and wherein the shape of the housing relates to a theme of the computer software program.    
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the housing further includes external controls for controlling operation of the portable processing system.  
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the computer software program includes computer instructions which, when executed by the portable processing system, cause the portable processing system to receive input from the external controls.  
     
     
         48 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a housing adapted to receive a portable processing system, the housing forming an integral part of the portable processing system, such that at least a portion of a screen of the portable processing system is visible when the portable processing system is connected to the housing.    
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the housing includes external controls for controlling the portable processing system.  
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the housing includes a data storage medium configured to store computer software instructions for execution by the portable processing system.  
     
     
         51 . In a portable processing system having built-in controls, the portable processing system capable of receiving data from a data storage medium, the data storage medium being removably connectable to the portable processing system, a method for operating the portable processing system with an external controller electrically connected to the portable processing system, the method comprising: 
 detecting a first access request by the portable processing system for data stored at a first address of the data storage medium;    providing to the portable processing system, in response to the first access request, a second address of the data storage medium instead of the data stored at the first address of the data storage medium;    detecting a second access request by the portable processing system for data stored at the second address of the data storage medium; and    providing to the portable processing system, in response to a second access request by the portable processing system for data stored at the second address of the data storage medium, input from the external controller.    
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the first access request comprises a requested address of the data storage medium and the act of detecting a first access request further comprises an act of receiving the requested address from an address bus of the portable processing system.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the act of detecting a first access request further comprises an act of comparing the requested address and the first address of the data storage medium.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising an act of providing data stored on the data storage medium, in response to a third access request by the portable processing system if the third access request is not one of the group comprising the first access request and the second access request.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the act of providing a second address of the data storage medium further comprises providing the second address of the data storage medium to the portable processing system on a data bus of the portable processing system.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the second access request comprises a requested address of the data storage medium and the act of detecting a second access request further comprises receiving the requested address from an address bus of the portable processing system.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the act of detecting a second access request further comprises comparing the requested address and the second address of the data storage medium.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the act of providing input from the external controller further comprises providing the input from the external controller to the portable processing system on a data bus of the portable processing system.  
     
     
         59 . In a portable processing system having built-in controls, the portable processing system capable of receiving data from a data storage medium, the data storage medium being removably connectable to the portable processing system, an apparatus electrically connected to the portable processing system comprising: 
 means for detecting a first access request by the portable processing system for data stored at a first address of the data storage medium;    means for providing to the portable processing system, in response to the first access request, a second address of the data storage medium instead of the data stored at the first address of the data storage medium;    means for detecting a second access request by the portable processing system for data stored at the second address of the data storage medium; and    means for providing to the portable processing system, in response to a second access request by the portable processing system for data stored at the second address of the data storage medium, input from the external controller.    
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the first access request further comprises a requested address of the data storage medium and the first access request is received from an address bus of the portable processing system.  
     
     
         61 . The apparatus of  claim 60 , wherein the means for detecting a first access request further comprises comparison means for comparing the requested address and the first address of the data storage medium.  
     
     
         62 . The apparatus of  claim 61 , further comprising: 
 means for providing data stored on the data storage medium, in response to a third access request by the portable processing system if the third access request is not one of the group comprising the first access request and the second access request.    
     
     
         63 . The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the means for detecting a second access request further comprises means for providing the second address of the data storage medium to the portable processing system on a data bus of the portable processing system.  
     
     
         64 . The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the second access request further comprises a requested address received from an address bus of the portable processing system.  
     
     
         65 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein the means for detecting a second address further comprises comparison means comparing the requested address and the second address of the data storage medium.  
     
     
         66 . The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the means for providing input from the external controller further comprises: 
 means for providing the input from the external controller to the portable processing system on a data bus of the portable processing system.    
     
     
         67 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a mount that is adapted to support a portable processing system; and    external controls that are coupled to the mount and which control the portable processing system.    
     
     
         68 . the apparatus of  claim 67 , further comprising: 
 a pistol grip coupled to the mount.    
     
     
         69 . The apparatus of  claim 68 , wherein the external controls are situated on the pistol grip.  
     
     
         70 . The apparatus of  claim 68 , wherein the mount further comprises: 
 a connector adapted to support an interface system on the mount, the interface system capable of being coupled to the portable processing device.    
     
     
         71 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the interface system is capable of being coupled to a cartridge slot of the portable processing device.