US2016023108A1PendingUtilityA1

Network game system

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Assignee: NINTENDO CO LTDPriority: Dec 28, 2000Filed: Oct 7, 2015Published: Jan 28, 2016
Est. expiryDec 28, 2020(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Hitoshi Nakai
A63F 2300/807A63F 13/822A63F 13/795A63F 2300/636A63F 13/35A63F 13/48A63F 13/332A63F 2300/406A63F 2300/5566A63F 2300/537A63F 2300/532A63F 2300/50A63F 2300/204A63F 13/92A63F 13/71
51
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Claims

Abstract

A network game system includes a game server in which a plurality of players respectively operating a plurality of portable communication terminals are registered in advance. When any one of the players logs in the game server through a communication network, a game is supplied to the portable communication terminal of the player. A game screen is shown on a display, and both characters in the course of logging-in and logging out are displayed on the game screen. If the player selects the logging-out character, a selection signal is transmitted to the game server. The game server transmits a log-in operation request to the portable communication terminal of the player operating the selected character.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus operable by a user to start an application, the apparatus comprising:
 a communication circuit; and   at least one processor coupled to a memory, the at least one processor being configured to cooperate with the communication circuit, and to at least:
 generate, in response to the communication circuit of the apparatus receiving an electronic message from a server located remote from the apparatus and in dependence on whether the received electronic message originated from an allowed source, a display that provides: (a) a first user input option to enable the user to indicate that the application is to be started, and (b) a second user input option to enable the user to indicate that the application is not to be currently started, and 
 enable the user to start the application, in response to the apparatus receiving user input in accordance with the first user input option, without the user having to provide additional input via the apparatus prior to the user starting the application. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the apparatus to at least generate the display while the application is inactive for the user. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the display further includes data extracted from the electronic message including data indicative of an event associated with the application. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the apparatus to at least enable the user to start the application, in response to the apparatus receiving user input in accordance with the first user input option, and without the user having to separately log into the server. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the apparatus to at least receive user input indicating whether the user currently wishes to receive electronic messages from the server on the apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a computer readable storage medium stores user-provided information indicating that the display is not to be generated for the apparatus, even if electronic messages are received by the apparatus from the server. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a computer readable storage medium stores user-provided information indicating one or more senders from whom electronic messages are receivable. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more other senders from whom electronic messages are receivable is/are allowed sender(s). 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a computer readable storage medium stores user-provided information indicating one or more senders from whom electronic messages do not generate displays. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a computer readable storage medium stores user-provided information categorizing each one of a plurality of other users into one of a plurality of different user groups. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the apparatus to at least start the application, even after the second user input option has been used by the user one or more times. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the apparatus to at least transmit, from the user to an originator of a received message, a response indicating that the application is not to be currently started, in response to the user using the second user input option. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a display device, wherein the display is a message generated and displayed on the display device immediately in response to receipt of an electronic message. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a mailing address of an originator of a received electronic message is at least initially hidden from the user. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a vibration motor controllable to actuate upon receipt of an electronic message. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein no intervening displays that require user interaction are displayed via the apparatus in response to the apparatus receiving user input indicating that the user currently wishes to start the application. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the server is configured to (a) identify a reception mode suitable for the apparatus, and (b) transmit electronic messages to the apparatus in accordance with the identified reception mode. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the display further includes a visually-perceivable identifier of an originator of a received electronic message. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein electronic messages are receivable by the apparatus using a dedicated mail system. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the application is a game. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the game is a network-mediated game playable in connection with one or more other users. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the server is configured to renew other users' game data in response to the user successfully logging in and beginning participation in the game. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein coordination with the server enables the user to resume prior participation in the game, in response to use of the first user input option. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein coordination with the server enables the user to resume prior participation in the game that has been taking place when the user was not logged in, in response to use of the first user input option. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein electronic messages are filterable at least at the server such that filtered out electronic messages are not transmitted to the apparatus. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit limiting information, in accordance with a user's operation, to the server, the limiting information being usable to limit the receipt of electronic messages at the apparatus. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least some electronic messages follow a predefined format. 
     
     
         28 . At least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing instructions for an apparatus operable by a user to start an application, the apparatus comprising a communication circuit and at least one processor coupled to a memory, the at least one processor being configured to cooperate with the communication circuit, and to perform the instructions to at least:
 generate, in response to the communication circuit of the apparatus receiving an electronic message from a server located remote from the apparatus and in dependence on whether the received electronic message originated from an allowed source, a display that provides: (a) a first user input option to enable the user to indicate that the application is to be started, and (b) a second user input option to enable the user to indicate that the application is not to be currently started, and   enable the user to start the application, in response to the apparatus receiving user input in accordance with the first user input option, without the user having to provide additional input via the apparatus prior to the user starting the application.   
     
     
         29 . An information processing system, comprising:
 a server; and   a plurality of information processing apparatuses each being remote from the server, a first apparatus of the plurality of information processing apparatuses being operable by a user to start an application, the first apparatus comprising:
 a communication circuit; and 
 at least one processor coupled to a memory, the at least one processor being configured to cooperate with the communication circuit, and to at least:
 generate, in response to the communication circuit of the first apparatus receiving an electronic message from the server and in dependence on whether the received electronic message originated from an allowed source, a display that provides: (a) a first user input option to enable the user to indicate that the application is to be started, and (b) a second user input option to enable the user to indicate that the application is not to be currently started, and 
 enable the user to start the application, in response to the first apparatus receiving user input in accordance with the first user input option, without the user having to provide additional input via the first apparatus prior to the user starting the application. 
 
   
     
     
         30 . An apparatus operable by a user to participate in a network-mediated game, the apparatus comprising:
 a communication circuit; and   at least one processor coupled to a memory, the at least one processor being configured to cooperate with the communication circuit, and to at least:
 generate, in response to the communication circuit of the apparatus receiving an electronic message from a server located remote from the apparatus while the application is inactive for the user, a display that includes a first prompt for user input indicating that the user wishes to participate in the network-mediated game, the display that includes the first prompt being generated in dependence on whether the electronic message originated from an allowed source; and 
 coordinate with the server to enable the user to begin participating in the network-mediated game, in response to the apparatus receiving user input indicating that the user wishes to participate in the network-mediated game, and without the user having to provide additional input via the apparatus prior to the user beginning participation in the network-mediated game.

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