Patents by Inventor David J. McCarten
David J. McCarten has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 8121642Abstract: An example user network provides information and entertainment for users via handheld information terminals. The “look and feel” and personality of the handheld information terminals can be location-specific so that the most relevant information and entertainment can be provided to users in a useful and appealing manner.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2006Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Donald W. James, Patrick J. Link, David J. McCarten
-
Patent number: 7417600Abstract: A data processing system and method in which, by way of example, a memory system is coupled to a video game program processing system. The video game program processing system has a predetermined address space for executing programs stored in a program memory portion of the memory system. The contents of a plurality of storage locations determine a configuration of the memory system depending on which of a plurality of different game programs is to be executed by the video game program processing system.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2006Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Darren C. Smith, Kenji Nishizawa, David J. McCarten, Ramin Ravanpey, Russell G. Braun
-
Patent number: 7068239Abstract: A data processing system and method in which, by way of example, a memory system is coupled to a video game program processing system. The video game program processing system has a predetermined address space for executing programs stored in a program memory portion of the memory system. The contents of a plurality of storage locations determine a configuration of the memory system depending on which of a plurality of different game programs is to be executed by the video game program processing system.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2004Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Darren C. Smith, Kenji Nishizawa, David J. McCarten, Ramin Ravanpey, Russell G. Braun
-
Publication number: 20040237119Abstract: A data processing system and method in which, by way of example, a memory system is coupled to a video game program processing system. The video game program processing system has a predetermined address space for executing programs stored in a program memory portion of the memory system. The contents of a plurality of storage locations determine a configuration of the memory system depending on which of a plurality of different game programs is to be executed by the video game program processing system.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2004Publication date: November 25, 2004Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Darren C. Smith, Kenji Nishizawa, David J. McCarten, Ramin Ravanpey, Russell G. Braun
-
Patent number: 6769989Abstract: An existing video game system is modified to include additional communication and storage capability via a modem and hard disk drive. The modification may involve the use of an expansion device coupled to a video game system port. A cable TV tuner is also included in the expansion device to assist in providing a unique picture-in-picture video capability. TV signals are coupled to the expansion device via the RF input from either cable TV or off-air signals. These RF signals are blended with the output signals from the video game system. A user may, for example, watch TV while viewing overlay information from the video game console. A user may receive a TV channel guide downloaded via the Internet, spot a program which the user desires to view and immediately access, via an IR input, the desired channel through the expansion device TV tuner. A user may also watch TV while simultaneously logging onto the Internet. A hard drive permits downloading from the Internet of entire games.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2003Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignee: Nintendo of America Inc.Inventors: Darren Smith, Scott Elliott, David J. McCarten
-
Patent number: 6762733Abstract: A video game/communications system is disclosed which permits guest room guests to actively participate in video game play or to use other data processing/communication services. A multi-tasking master host computer stores video games and other application programs on its hard disk, downloads programs to an array of game playing engines in response to guest selections.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2001Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Assignee: Nintendo Co. Ltd.Inventors: Darren C. Smith, Kenji Nishizawa, David J. McCarten, Ramin Ravanpey, Russell G. Braun
-
Publication number: 20030190952Abstract: An existing video game system is modified to include additional communication and storage capability via a modem and hard disk drive. The modification may involve the use of an expansion device coupled to a video game system port. A cable TV tuner is also included in the expansion device to assist in providing a unique picture-in-picture video capability. TV signals are coupled to the expansion device via the RF input from either cable TV or off-air signals. These RF signals are blended with the output signals from the video game system. A user may, for example, watch TV while viewing overlay information from the video game console. A user may receive a TV channel guide downloaded via the Internet, spot a program which the user desires to view and immediately access, via an IR input, the desired channel through the expansion device TV tuner. A user may also watch TV while simultaneously logging onto the Internet. A hard drive permits downloading from the Internet of entire games.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2003Publication date: October 9, 2003Inventors: Darren Smith, Scott Elliott, David J. McCarten
-
Patent number: 6599194Abstract: An existing video game system is modified to include additional communication and storage capability via a modem and hard disk drive. The modification may involve the use of an expansion device coupled to a video game system port. A cable TV tuner is also included in the expansion device to assist in providing a unique picture-in-picture video capability. TV signals are coupled to the expansion device via the RF input from either cable TV or off-air signals. These RF signals are blended with the output signals from the video game system. A user may, for example, watch TV while viewing overlay information from the video game console. A user may receive a TV channel guide downloaded via the Internet, spot a program which the user desires to view and immediately access, via an IR input, the desired channel through the expansion device TV tuner. A user may also watch TV while simultaneously logging onto the Internet. A hard drive permits downloading from the Internet of entire games.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 1999Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Inventors: Darren Smith, Scott Elliott, David J. McCarten
-
Patent number: 6559812Abstract: An airline-based video game system includes a multitasking master computer, which preferably stores video game and other application programs on its hard disk. The master computer is coupled to a set of airplane zone control computers which also perform conventional cabin management tasks. The zone control computers receive data from the master control computer and couple data to identified seat controlling processing units (SEBs). Each SEB receives data from, and couples data to, a set of unique seat display units which are associated with each seat in the airplane. The system downloads application software to the seat display units from the master computer. After receipt of a downloading request, the master computer responds by setting up an application program transmission for generating the display menu which appears on each SDU.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 1998Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: David J. McCarten, Darren C. Smith, Kenji Nishizawa, Ramin Ravanpey
-
Publication number: 20020054016Abstract: A video game/communication system is disclosed which permits guest room guests to actively participate in video game play or to use other data processing/communication services. A multi-tasking master host computer stores video games and other application programs on its hard disk, downloads programs to an array of SNES game playing engines in response to guest selections. Each guest room guest room includes a terminal device which is coupled to the guest's color television and to a game controller. By pressing a game controller menu key, the guest room guest initiates the downloading of applications software by the host computer to the array of SNES engines located within the guest room. A dowmloaded applications program generate a display menu which appears on the guest's television.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2001Publication date: May 9, 2002Applicant: Nintendo Co. Ltd.Inventors: Darren C. Smith, Kenji Nishizawa, David J. McCarten, Ramin Ravanpey, Russell G. Braun
-
Patent number: 6154186Abstract: An electronic entertainment and communications system permits users to actively participate in video game play or to use other data processing/communication services. In a guest room based entertainment system or in a passenger based entertainment system, each guest or passenger is associated with a terminal device including a display and a controller. An array of video graphics processing systems is provided where the number of video graphics processing systems in the array is less than the number of guest or passenger terminals. Each video graphics processing system includes a video graphics program executing processor, which processes information generated during an interactive video graphics display session, and a memory system storing a video graphics program. Each video graphics processing system in the array is assignable to any of the guest or passenger terminals.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 1998Date of Patent: November 28, 2000Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Darren C. Smith, Kenji Nishizawa, David J. McCarten, Ramin Ravanpey, Russell G. Braun
-
Patent number: 6147663Abstract: A video game/communications system permits users to actively participate in video game play or to use other data processing/communication services. A master host computer stores video games and other application programs. Those programs are provided to an array of video graphic processing systems in response to user selections from a user terminal. Each user terminal device is coupled to a display and to a game controller. Each video graphics processing system includes (1) a memory system for storing a video graphics program and (2) a processor that executes the video graphics program and receives information generated during an interactive video graphics display session. A halt controller halts the video graphics program being executed in the video graphics processor at a first point in a video graphics program where a first command is received. In response thereafter to a second command, the halt controller resumes execution of the video graphics program at the first point.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 1999Date of Patent: November 14, 2000Assignee: Nintendo of America, Inc.Inventors: Darren C. Smith, Kenji Nishizawa, David J. McCarten, Ramin Ravanpey, Russell G. Braun
-
Patent number: 6147696Abstract: A video game/comunications system is disclosed which permits guest room guests to actively participate in video game play or to use other data processing/communication services. A multi-tasking master host computer stores video games and other application programs on its hard disk, downloads programs to an array of SNES game playing engines in response to guest selections. Each guest room guest room includes a terminal device which is coupled to the guest's color television and to a game controller. By pressing a game controller menu key, the guest room guest initiates the downloading of applications software by the host computer to the array of SNES engines located within the guest room. A downloaded applications program generate a display menu which appears on the guest's television.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 1997Date of Patent: November 14, 2000Assignee: Nintendo Co. Ltd.Inventors: Darren C. Smith, Kenji Nishizawa, David J. McCarten, Ramin Ravanpey, Russell G. Braun
-
Patent number: 6047127Abstract: An airline-based video game system includes a multitasking master computer, which preferably stores video game and other application programs on its hard disk. The master computer is coupled to a set of airplane zone control computers which also perform conventional cabin management tasks. The zone control computers receive data from the master control computer and couple data to identified seat controlling processing units (SEBs). Each SEB receives data from, and couples data to, a set of unique seat display units which are associated with each seat in the airplane. The system downloads application software to the seat display units from the master computer. After receipt of a downloading request, the master computer responds by setting up an application program transmission for generating the display menu which appears on each SDU. The initial applications program downloading results in a menu display at every passenger seat which initiated a request.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1995Date of Patent: April 4, 2000Assignee: Nintendo Co. Ltd.Inventors: David J. McCarten, Darren C. Smith, Kenji Nishizawa, Ramin Ravanpey
-
Patent number: 5959596Abstract: An airline-based video game system includes a multitasking master computer, which preferably stores video game and other application programs on its hard disk. The master computer is coupled to a set of airplane zone control computers which also perform conventional cabin management tasks. The zone control computers receive data from the master control computer and couple data to identified seat controlling processing units (SEBs). Each SEB receives data from, and couples data to, a set of unique seat display units which are associated with each seat in the airplane. The system downloads application software to the seat display units from the master computer. After receipt of a downloading request, the master computer responds by setting up an application program transmission for generating the display menu which appears on each SDU. The initial applications program downloading results in a menu display at every passenger seat which initiated a request.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 1993Date of Patent: September 28, 1999Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: David J. McCarten, Darren C. Smith, Kenji Nishizawa, Ramin Ravanpey
-
Patent number: 5923306Abstract: A video game/communications system is disclosed which permits guest room guests to actively participate in video game play or to use other data processing/communication services. A multi-tasking master host computer stores video games and other application programs on its hard disk, downloads programs to an array of SNES game playing engines in response to guest selections. Each guest room guest room includes a terminal device which is coupled to the guest's color television and to a game controller. By pressing a game controller menu key, the guest room guest initiates the downloading of applications software by the host computer to the array of SNES engines located within the guest room. A downloaded applications program generate a display menu which appears on the guest's television.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: July 13, 1999Assignee: Nintendo Co. Ltd.Inventors: Darren C. Smith, Kenji Nishizawa, David J. McCarten, Ramin Ravanpey, Russell G. Braun
-
Patent number: 5581270Abstract: A video game/communications system is disclosed which permits guest room guests to actively participate in video game play or to use other data processing/communication services. A multi-tasking master host computer stores video games and other application programs on its hard disk, downloads programs to an array of SNES game playing engines in response to guest selections. Each guest room guest room includes a terminal device which is coupled to the guest's color television and to a game controller. By pressing a game controller menu key, the guest room guest initiates the downloading of applications software by the host computer to the array of SNES engines located within the guest room. A downloaded applications program generate a display menu which appears on the guest's television.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1993Date of Patent: December 3, 1996Assignee: Nintendo of America, Inc.Inventors: Darren C. Smith, Kenji Nishizawa, David J. McCarten, Ramin Ravanpey, Russell G. Braun