Patents by Inventor Kouzou Tahara

Kouzou Tahara 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: 8062131
    Abstract: In the state where a card having a hole or a cut-out portion of a predetermined shape is placed on a touch panel of a game apparatus, a player performs an input operation along the hole or the cut-out portion. Then, the input operation is detected. It is determined whether or not the input operation on the touch panel has been performed using the card, based on the detected input track and determination information for determining whether or not the input operation has been performed along the hole or cut-out portion of the card which is placed on the touch panel. In accordance with the determination result, an event is generated. Thus, a novel input system, as a combination of a touch panel and a card, for generating an event which influences the progress of the game is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignees: Nintendo Co., Ltd., Ganbarion Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Hoga, Takao Nakano, Satoshi Kira, Kouzou Tahara
  • Patent number: 7811171
    Abstract: A game image representing a part or all of an identical game space is displayed on game machines. A first game machine detects the link strength of wireless communication between the first game machine and a second game machine. The first game machine executes predetermined game processing such that a processing result changes depending on the detected link strength. Further, the first game machine updates the game image based on a result of the predetermined game processing. The first game machine sends game processing information indicating the result of the predetermined game processing, to the second game machine. The second game machine updates the game image based on the game processing information sent from the first game machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Mitsuyoshi, Kouzou Tahara, Eiji Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7736235
    Abstract: A game apparatus generates a game image for display on a display screen. A size and a shape of an attack input supplied to the game apparatus is determined and one or more characteristics of an attacked game character is changed based on one or both of the size and shape of the supplied attack input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouzou Tahara, Kenta Sato
  • Patent number: 7588498
    Abstract: The player proceeds with a game while operating a touch panel to slant a game stage with a perception that the touch panel is a plane present in a game space and capable of freely slanting. The object moves in accordance with the slant of the game stage, and the viewing direction moves in accordance with the slant to such a position that the game stage appears slanting. Thus, a game allowing the player to input the slant of the game stage in the game space intuitively and easily can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Etsushi Iizuka, Kouzou Tahara
  • Publication number: 20080153601
    Abstract: A game apparatus generates a game image for display on a display screen. A size and a shape of an attack input supplied to the game apparatus is determined and one or more characteristics of an attacked game character is changed based on one or both of the size and shape of the supplied attack input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Kouzou Tahara, Kenta Sato
  • Patent number: 7374490
    Abstract: A player performs an input operation so as to draw a predetermined graphic on a touch panel. A type of attack against an enemy character may be determined based at least on a graphical shape of an input trajectory. An effectiveness of attack against the enemy character may be determined at least based on the size of the graphical shape of the input trajectory. Damage caused by attack to the enemy character may be determined based at least on the style and effectiveness of attack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouzou Tahara, Kenta Sato
  • Publication number: 20070063986
    Abstract: In the state where a card having a hole or a cut-out portion of a predetermined shape is placed on a touch panel of a game apparatus, a player performs an input operation along the hole or the cut-out portion. Then, the input operation is detected. It is determined whether or not the input operation on the touch panel has been performed using the card, based on the detected input track and determination information for determining whether or not the input operation has been performed along the hole or cut-out portion of the card which is placed on the touch panel. In accordance with the determination result, an event is generated. Thus, a novel input system, as a combination of a touch panel and a card, for generating an event which influences the progress of the game is realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Hoga, Takao Nakano, Satoshi Kira, Kouzou Tahara
  • Publication number: 20050197188
    Abstract: The player proceeds with a game while operating a touch panel to slant a game stage with a perception that the touch panel is a plane present in a game space and capable of freely slanting. The object moves in accordance with the slant of the game stage, and the viewing direction moves in accordance with the slant to such a position that the game stage appears slanting. Thus, a game allowing the player to input the slant of the game stage in the game space intuitively and easily can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Etsushi Iizuka, Kouzou Tahara
  • Publication number: 20050197187
    Abstract: A game image representing a part or all of an identical game space is displayed on game machines. A first game machine detects the link strength of wireless communication between the first game machine and a second game machine. The first game machine executes predetermined game processing such that a processing result changes depending on the detected link strength. Further, the first game machine updates the game image based on a result of the predetermined game processing. The first game machine sends game processing information indicating the result of the predetermined game processing, to the second game machine. The second game machine updates the game image based on the game processing information sent from the first game machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Mitsuyoshi, Kouzou Tahara, Eiji Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20050164794
    Abstract: On a display screen, a game image, which contains one or more game character images showing a game character and item images each showing an item, is displayed. An item type is determined by causing a player to select at least one item image displayed on the display screen. If the player's input is provided to the touch panel, a coordinate value, which indicates a position on the touch panel where the player's input is provided, is detected at predetermined time intervals. Further, a graphical shape of an input trajectory represented by a group of detected coordinate values is identified. A process detail for changing a characteristic parameter of the game character is changed in accordance with a combination of the item type and the graphical shape of the input trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Applicant: Nintendo Co.,, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouzou Tahara
  • Publication number: 20050159223
    Abstract: A player performs an input operation so as to draw a predetermined graphic on a touch panel. A type of attack against an enemy character is determined based on a graphical shape of an input trajectory. An effectiveness of attack against the enemy character is determined based on the size of the graphical shape of the input trajectory. Damage caused by attack to the enemy character is determined based on the style and effectiveness of attack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouzou Tahara, Kenta Sato