Storage medium, input terminal device, control system, and control method

Abstract

An input terminal device of one example includes a CPU, and the CPU transmits operation data to a game apparatus executing game processing in response to an operation by a user. Furthermore, when a TV remote control button provided to the input terminal device is operated, the CPU sets a TV control mode capable of operating a television, to thereby display a TV remote controller image on an LCD of the input terminal device. By using this image, the user inputs operation data of the television.

1 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A control system that is configured to switch between an application mode and an appliance control mode, the control system comprising:
 a display device that includes a display screen integrated into a housing;   an input device disposed on/in the housing and configured to detect input provided or caused by a user of the input device;   a first wireless transmitter configured to transmit a wireless signal to a first wireless receiver of an appliance that is separate from the input device; and   a processing system that includes at least one processor coupled to a memory device, the processing system configured to:
 in at least the application mode, output, to the display screen, image(s) that are generated based on execution of an application program that uses input(s) received via the input device; 
 while in the application mode, determine whether or not a predetermined input is present; 
 in response to determination that the predetermined input is present, switch from (1) the application mode in which the image(s) based on execution of the application are being output to (2) the appliance control mode capable of controlling the appliance; and 
 in the appliance control mode, receive input and cause the first wireless transmitter to transmit a wireless signal in accordance with the received input, the transmitted wireless signal configured to control the appliance in accordance with reception by the first wireless receiver. 
   
     
     
         19 . The control system of  claim 18 , wherein the processing system is further configured to:
 responsive to switching to the appliance control mode, generate predetermined dummy operation data for the application program that is being executed; and   transmit, via a second wireless transmitter that is different from the first wireless transmitter, the dummy operation data to a computing device that is executing the application.   
     
     
         20 . The control system of  claim 19 , wherein the processing system is further configured to:
 generate appliance operation data corresponding to at least some of the received input,   the first transmitter is configured to transmit, as part of the wireless signal, the appliance operation data to the appliance, and   the second wireless transmitter is configured to transmit application operation data based on the at least some of the input(s) detected by the input device.   
     
     
         21 . The control system of  claim 20 , wherein the application operation data and the appliance operation data are transmitted in different wireless formats. 
     
     
         22 . The control system of  claim 19 , wherein the processing system is further configured to:
 select an appliance type to be controlled, wherein the appliance operation data is generated depending on the selected appliance type.   
     
     
         23 . The control system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a second wireless receiver that is different from the first wireless receiver, the second wireless receiver configured to receive, from the computing device, image data generated based on execution of the application by the computing device processing system,   wherein the output image(s) are based on the received image data.   
     
     
         24 . The control system of  claim 19 , wherein the processing system is further configured to:
 accept power-supply control information provided via a user input control;   generate power control data based on the power-supply control information irrespective of whether the application control mode or the appliance control mode is activated; and   cause the generated power control data to be transmitted, via said second wireless transmitter, to the computing device.   
     
     
         25 . The control system of  claim 18 , wherein the processing system is further configured to, in the appliance control mode, overlay an appliance control image on top of the images that are being output based on execution of the application program, wherein the input is received while the appliance control image is overlaid. 
     
     
         26 . The control system of  claim 18 , wherein the application program continues to execute while an appliance control image is output to the display screen and images are concurrently output to the display screen based on the continued execution of the application program while the appliance control image is overlaid. 
     
     
         27 . The control system of  claim 18 , wherein said first wireless transmitter transmits the wireless signal in Wi-Fi format or Bluetooth format. 
     
     
         28 . A control apparatus configured to switch between an application mode and an appliance control mode, the control apparatus comprising:
 a display device that includes a display screen integrated into a housing;   an input device disposed on/in the housing and configured to detect input provided or caused by a user of the input device;   a first wireless transmitter disposed with the housing and configured to transmit a wireless signal to a first wireless receiver of an appliance that is separate from the input device; and   a processing system that includes at least one processor coupled to a memory device, the processing system configured to:
 in at least the application mode, cause image(s) to be output to the display screen that have been generated based on execution of an application program that uses input(s) received via the input device; 
 while in the application mode, determine whether or not a predetermined input is present; 
 in response to determination that the predetermined input is present, switch from (1) the application mode in which the image(s) based on execution of the application are being output to (2) the appliance control mode capable of controlling the appliance; and 
 in the appliance control mode, receive input and cause the first wireless transmitter to transmit a wireless signal in accordance with the received input, the transmitted wireless signal configured to control the appliance in accordance with reception by the first wireless receiver. 
   
     
     
         29 . The control apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the processing system is further configured to, in the appliance control mode, overlay an appliance control image on top of the images that are being output based on execution of the application program, wherein the input is received while the appliance control image is overlaid. 
     
     
         30 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing at least one program for execution by a computer of an input device that is configured to display images on a display screen integrated with a housing of the input device, the program comprising instructions that cause the computer to:
 cause a first wireless transmitter that is disposed with the housing of the input device to transmit wireless signals to a first wireless receiver of an appliance that is separate from the input device; and   in at least the application mode, cause image(s) to be output to the display screen that have been generated based on execution of an application program that uses input(s) received via the input device;   while in the application mode, determine whether or not a predetermined input is present;   in response to determination that the predetermined input is present, switch from (1) the application mode in which the image(s) based on execution of the application are being output to (2) the appliance control mode capable of controlling the appliance; and   in the appliance control mode, receive input and cause the first wireless transmitter to transmit a wireless signal in accordance with the received input, the transmitted wireless signal configured to control the appliance in accordance with reception by the first wireless receiver.   
     
     
         31 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 30 , wherein the program comprises further instructions that are configured to:
 responsive to switching to the appliance control mode, generate predetermined dummy operation data for the application program that is being executed; and   transmit, via a second wireless transmitter that is different from the first wireless transmitter, the dummy operation data to a computing device that is executing the application.   
     
     
         32 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 30 , wherein the program comprises further instructions that are configured to:
 while in the appliance control mode, overlay an appliance control image on top of the images that are being output based on execution of the application program, wherein the input is received while the appliance control image is overlaid.   
     
     
         33 . A method of controlling an input device that includes at least one processor coupled to a display screen that is integrated into a housing of the input device, the method comprising:
 detecting input(s) provided to the input device;   in at least an application mode, outputting, to the display screen, image(s) generated in accordance with execution of an application program that uses at least some of the input(s) detected by the input device;   while in the application mode, determining whether or not a predetermined input is present;   in response to determination that the predetermined input is present, switching from (1) the application mode in which the image(s) based on execution of the application are being output to (2) the appliance control mode capable of controlling the appliance; and   in the appliance control mode, receiving further input and causing the first wireless transmitter to transmit a wireless signal in accordance with the received input, the transmitted wireless signal configured to control the appliance in accordance with reception by the first wireless receiver.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein when in the appliance control mode the appliance control image is overlaid on the images(s) being output to the display screen due to execution of the application program.