Abstract: Video game systems for multiple-player games may exchange synchronizing data through the Internet or other data transmission link. These status data records keep the video game systems synchronized with each other whenever different players are trying to use the same virtual tunnel, cave, or other confined room with insufficient space for more than one player character at a time.

Abstract: A portable game system that contains an LCD touchscreen that displays 3D player-controlled characters moving in a simulated 3D game world and viewed from variable 3D viewpoints. The LCD touchscreen displays autostereoscopic images (without using glasses) so that a game player can reach into the game world and move virtual objects in 3D by pointing to them using the autostereoscopic touchscreen.

Abstract: Proprietary programs for execution in game systems or other computers are downloaded from an Internet server in encrypted form to protect the programs from unauthorized use. The encrypted programs can be decrypted and executed only in a secure cryptoprocessor that initially ordered the software for download. Unlike DRM protected music, video, and text, decrypted program instructions need never be revealed to users. Each cryptoprocessor contains a unique chip identifier that is transmitted to the server in encrypted form to control encryption of a random session key that controls decryption of the downloaded programs. Hence, each copy of the encrypted software is encrypted differently. If the crypto processor is in a cartridge, it can be manually unplugged from one computer or game system and plugged into another system.

Abstract: A portable game system that uses polygon graphics to generate a 3-D player character, or body part such as a hand, moving through a 3-D simulated game space for display on an LCD screen in the portable game system. Overlaying an LCD screen is a touch screen that senses the variable locations of a physical object, such as the player's finger, moving on the touchscreen so that motions of the displayed player character follow the motions of the touching object. Whenever the player character collides with a second object, motion of the player character deviates from the touchscreen-controlled motion in response to the collision.

Abstract: Video game systems for multiple-player games may exchange synchronizing data through the Internet or other data transmission link. These hidden status data records keep the video game systems synchronized with each other whenever different players are making use of a virtual game doorway or other shared passageway.

Abstract: Game software for use in video game systems can be downloaded from Internet servers to game consoles in encrypted form to protect the software from being copied by software pirates. A small but essential part of the game software can be encrypted for use with a larger amount software that is not encrypted. The encrypted portion is downloaded into a secure cryptoprocessor preferably in a memory cartridge that plugs into a game system. This cryptoprocessor decrypts the downloaded software, stores it in on-chip EEPROM and then executes it, all in the same cryptoprocessor. The non-encrypted software is processed in the game system by a conventional processor which depends on data generated by program instructions decrypted and executed in the secure cryptoprocessor.

Abstract: A video game system that includes a console and hand-held controllers with LCD screens. Each game operates in a simulated world populated with animated characters and static objects which are displayed on a TV screen, and are also displayed on the LCD screens of the hand-held controllers. While one part of the simulated world is displayed on the TV screen, different parts of the simulated world may appear on the LCD screens in a natural pictorial setting. Alternatively, some of the pictures displayed on LCD screens and TV screens may represent the same part of the simulated world at different times, or the same part at the same time. Pictures displayed on an LCD screen may appear concurrently or later on the TV screen. Objects and characters can be selected, moved, constructed, changed, or deleted by a player without revealing to other players these objects of interest or their disposition.

Abstract: A video game system that includes a console and hand-held controllers with LCD screens. Each game operates in a simulated world populated with animated characters and static objects which are displayed on a TV screen, and are also displayed on the LCD screens of the hand-held controllers. While one part of the simulated world is displayed on the TV screen, different parts of the simulated world may appear on the LCD screens in a natural pictorial setting. Alternatively, some of the pictures displayed on LCD screens and TV screens may represent the same part of the simulated world at different times, or the same part at the same time. Pictures displayed on an LCD screen may appear concurrently or later on the TV screen. Objects and characters can be selected, moved, constructed, changed, or deleted by a player without revealing to other players these objects of interest or their disposition.

Abstract: Talking video games can provide simulated voice dialogs between human players and animated characters on a video screen. When two or more characters are in two different scenes, the animated picture may alternate between the two scenes to give an illusion that the actions in both scenes are happening simultaneously. A character in one scene talks with a character in the other scene who then may talk back. Each scene branches to two or more subsequent scenes. But within each scene there are several branching dialog sequences, thereby providing a large variety of possible dialogs. Scenes are separated in space or in time. The characters may be shown talking with each other through a voice communication apparatus such as a telephone or two-way radio or through an opening in a wall such as a window or door. Each player has a hand-held controller that displays two or more phrases or actions. A player responds by pressing a button next to a selected phrase or action.

Abstract: Talking video games provide simulated voice dialog between human players and animated characters on a video or television screen. Two or more animated characters perform cooperative actions and talk about what they are doing or will soon do. They talk to each other and to the human players who control directly or indirectly what the characters do and say. Each scene branches to two or more subsequent scenes. But within each scene there are several branching dialog sequences, thereby providing a large variety of possible dialogs. Pictures and voices are generated from digital data read from a laser-readable disk or stored in a semiconductor memory. Each player has a hand-held controller that displays two or more phrases or sentences. A player responds to what an animated character says by pressing a button next to a selected sentence. An animated character then responds verbally or by action to the selected sentence as if it had been spoken by the human player or says the words the player selected.

Abstract: Talking video games provide simulated voice dialog between human players and animated characters on a video or television screen. Two or more animated characters argue with each other and with human game players who control directly or indirectly what the characters do and say. Many different kinds of vocal conflicts can be simulated. Each scene branches to two or more subsequent scenes. But within each scene there are several branching dialog sequences, thereby providing a large variety of possible dialogs. Pictures and voices are generated from digital data read from a laser-readable disk or stored in semiconductor memory. Each player has a hand-held controller that displays two or more phrases or sentences. A player responds to what an animated character says by pressing a button next to a selected sentence. An animated character then responds vocally or by action to the selected sentence as if it had been spoken by the human player or says the words the player selected. Speech recognition is not required.

Abstract: Talking video games can provide simulated voice dialog between human players and animated characters on a TV screen. Two or more players can take turns responding to animated characters and two or more animated characters can respond to each player and to each other, thereby providing three-way or four-way conversations. Pictures and voices are generated from digital data separately stored on a laser-readable disk such as a CD-ROM in compressed form. As the game is played each animated character talks to the human game players and waits for a response. Each player has a hand-held controller that displays two or more phrases or sentences and a player responds by pressing a button next to a selected phrase. An animated character then responds to the selected phrase as if it had been spoken by the human player. Speech recognition is not required. Each scene branches to two or more subsequent scenes.

Abstract: Talking video games can provide simulated voice dialog between human players and animated characters on a TV screen. Two or more players can take turns responding to animated characters and two or more animated characters can respond to each player and to each other, thereby providing three-way or four-way conversations. Pictures and voices are generated from digital data separately stored on a laser-readable disk such as a CD-ROM in compressed form. As the game is played each animated character talks to the human game players and waits for a response. Each player has a hand-held controller that displays two or more phrases or sentences and a player responds by pressing a button next to a selected phrase. An animated character then responds to the selected phrase as if it had been spoken by the human player. Speech recognition is not required. Each scene branches to two or more subsequent scenes.

Abstract: A video entertainment system by which human viewers conduct simulated voice conversations with screen actors or cartoon characters in a branching story game shown on a television screen. The actors and cartoon characters reply responsively with lip-sync sound to words spoken by viewers. Different audio and video frames are generated from a videodisc and data memory to provide one of several alternative replies or alternative actions at each branch point in the game, depending on what the viewer says to a speech-recognition unit. A simple speech-recognition unit can be used because the number of words to be recognized at each branch point is restricted to just a few words. A menu of prompting words is displayed on a hand-held unit to inform viewers of what words they can use at each branch point. The prompting words are programmed to be phonetically distinct to be easily distinguishable from each other.

Abstract: A microprocessor for executing computer programs which are stored in cipher to prevent software piracy. Such a crypto-microprocessor deciphers the enciphered program piecemeal as it executes it, so that a large enciphered program can be securely executed without disclosing the deciphered program or associated data to persons who have access to the wiring of the computer in which the crypto-microprocessor is a component. Such a device may process valuable proprietary programs and data files which are distributed in cipher on videodiscs, semiconductor memory, or other media without risk of software piracy. Various methods of encryption may be used including methods which result in the cipher of a byte being a complicated function of the byte's address in memory. Each crypto-microprocessor chip may use a unique cipher key or tables for deciphering the program, so that a program that can be executed in one chip cannot be run in any other microprocessor.

Abstract: A video game system by which human viewers conduct simulated voice conversations with game characters or cartoon characters in a branching story game shown on a television screen. The characters and cartoons reply responsively with lip-sync sound to words input by viewers. Different audio and video frames are generated from data memory and video disc to provide one of several alternative replies or alternative actions at each branch point in the game, depending on which words are selected by the viewer. A menu of prompting words is displayed to inform viewers of what words they can use at each branch point. Viewers can input questions or make other remarks by pressing a button next to one of the displayed sentences which causes a recording of the displayed sentence to be played or speech synthesized in lieu of a viewer speaking it.

Abstract: An integrated circuit decoder for providing microcomputer users with access to several proprietary programs selected from a large group of such programs that have been distributed to users in cipher. The decoder chip can decipher a program if an enciphered key called a "permit code" is presented to the decoder chip. Permit codes are not interchangeable between decoders, are issued only to customers that have paid for use of a program product, and each code will work only with one program. As the program is being deciphered in a user's microcomputer, the decoder chip places random errors into the program which make copies of the program malfunction in other microcomputers. The decoder chip keeps a table of addresses where it has placed errors and dynamically corrects the errors on the data bus whenever an error word is addressed during execution.

Abstract: A video entertainment system by which human viewers conduct simulated voice conversations with screen actors or cartoon characters in a prerecorded branching movie shown on a television screen. The actors and cartoons reply responsively with lip-sync sound to words spoken by viewers. Different audio and video frames are addressed on a videodisc to provide one of several alternative replies or alternative actions at each branch point in the movie, depending on what the viewer says to a speech-recognition unit. A simple speech-recognition unit can be used because the number of words to be recognized at each branch point is restricted to just a few words. A menu of prompting words is displayed on a hand-held unit to inform viewers of what words they can use at each branch point. The prompting words are programmed to be phonetically distinct to be easily distinguishable from each other. Viewers can input questions or make other remarks by speaking a displayed code word which stands for a whole sentence.

Abstract: A cryptographic microprocessor for processing data and executing programs which are stored in enciphered blocks to prevent unauthorized alteration and copying. Such a "crypto-microprocessor" deciphers the enciphered program and data blocks piecemeal as execution of the deciphered program proceeds. A product block cipher circuit makes each bit of a deciphered block a complicated function of each bit of an enciphered block, and each bit of an encryption key, and each bit of the digital address of the enciphered block. Combined use of block and byte deciphering is described. If a block of the enciphered program is altered, the crypto-microprocessor temporarily or permanently disables itself.

Abstract: A video amusement system by which one or more viewers influence the course of a motion picture as if each viewer were a participant in a real-life drama or dialog. A speech-recognition unit recognizes a few spoken words such as "yes" and "run" spoken by a viewer at branch points in the movie, thus simulating a dialog between the screen actors and the viewer. The apparatus may read an optical videodisc containing independently addressable video frames, blocks of compressed audio, and/or animated cartoon graphics for the multiple story lines which the movie may take. A record retrieval circuit reads blocks of binary-coded control information comprising a branching structure of digital points specifying the frame sequence for each story line. A dispatcher circuit assembles a schedule of cueing commands specifying precisely which video frames, cartoon frames, and portions of audio are to be presented at which instant of time.