• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    The present invention provides a terminal synchronization method capable of properly synchronizing communication timing between a plurality of terminals. According to the present invention, a plurality of terminals, for example, game machines 2 are connected via the network 4. Each game machine 2 receives a signal input from the outside, for example, a TV signal broadcast from the broadcast antenna 6, and extracts a synchronization signal from the broadcast signal. Each game machine 2 performs synchronous control of an operation or data communication with another game machine 2 based on the extracted synchronous signal. Since each game machine 2 is synchronously controlled using a common signal, it can be synchronized appropriately so that a communication timing may not shift | deviate from each other.
    公开号:KR20020072188A
    申请号:KR1020020003305
    申请日:2002-01-21
    公开日:2002-09-14
    发明作者:다나까데쯔야；호시노겐지
    申请人:가부시키가이샤 세가；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    TERMINAL DEVICES SYNCHRONIZING METHOD, COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND TERMINAL DEVICE}
    [49] The present invention relates to a terminal synchronization method for synchronizing a plurality of terminals connected by a communication line. The present invention also relates to a communication system in which a plurality of terminals are connected by a communication line. Moreover, this invention relates to the terminal apparatus mutually connected via a communication line.
    [50] Recently, a communication game has attracted attention. BACKGROUND ART A communication game in which a plurality of game devices are arranged adjacent to each other in a game center and performs a car race by a plurality of players is known as a popular game.
    [51] In the case of a game device provided adjacent to a game center or the like, as illustrated in FIG. 10, a plurality of communication game machines 101, 102, 103 are directly connected by cables, and among the communication game machine 101, 102, 103 devices. For example, using the communication game machine 101 as a host, the synchronization signal from the host communication game machine 101 is transmitted to the other communication game machines 102 and 103, and the other communication game machines 102 and 103 This signal is set to match the start timing of game processing. In the case of the communication game devices 101, 102, 103 provided in close proximity, since the delay by the cable is small, good synchronous control can be realized.
    [52] Recently, attention has been paid particularly to communication games in which geographically separated game devices are connected to a network such as the Internet via a communication line such as a telephone line. A communication game has been proposed in which home game devices as well as game devices installed in game centers are connected to a network.
    [53] However, in the case of geographically separated game devices, the delay caused by the communication line or the network is large, and therefore it is impossible to use the above-described method of synchronizing the other game devices with one game device as a host.
    [54] Therefore, in a communication game in which game devices that are geographically separated from each other are connected to a network and processed, each game device performs data processing and image processing in synchronization with a signal of its oscillator. Also in communication with other game apparatuses and centers, communication is performed at regular intervals (" 1 " int) based on the signal of the oscillator. Each game device introduces data transmitted from another game device to perform data processing and image processing.
    [55] However, the oscillators of the respective game devices are different from each other so that the communication intervals in each game device are different. For this reason, when such an error accumulates, data from another game device cannot be received and data processing and image processing cannot be performed. For this reason, even when high-speed data communication is realized, in the case of a game requiring strict timing control, proper game processing is not performed due to the timing shift.
    [56] An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal synchronization method capable of properly synchronizing a communication timing between a plurality of terminals.
    [57] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a communication system capable of properly synchronizing communication timings between a plurality of terminals.
    [58] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a terminal device capable of properly synchronizing communication timings.
    [1] 1 illustrates the principles of the present invention.
    [2] 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
    [3] 3 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a terminal of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
    [4] 4 is a block diagram showing details of a terminal of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
    [5] 5 is a block diagram illustrating a vertical synchronization signal generator of a terminal of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
    [6] 6 is a block diagram illustrating a Vsync Hsync generation circuit of a game processing unit of a terminal of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
    [7] 7 is a timing diagram for describing an operation of a terminal of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
    [8] 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the center side of the communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
    [9] 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a terminal side of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
    [10] 10 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a conventional communication system.
    [11] <Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>
    [12] 2: game console
    [13] 4: network
    [14] 6: broadcast antenna
    [15] 10: terminal
    [16] 12, 14: network
    [17] 20: game processor
    [18] 22: TV tuner
    [19] 24: vertical sync signal generator
    [20] 30: main CPU
    [21] 32: memory
    [22] 34: image processing unit
    [23] 36: video RAM
    [24] 38: video encoder
    [25] 40: TV monitor
    [26] 42: oscillator
    [27] 44: Vsync Hsync Generation Circuit
    [28] 48: communication processing unit
    [29] 50: TV antenna
    [30] 52: impedance matching circuit
    [31] 54: high frequency amplification circuit
    [32] 56: local oscillator
    [33] 58: mixer
    [34] 60: D / A converter
    [35] 62: intermediate frequency filter
    [36] 64: intermediate frequency amplifier circuit
    [37] 66: video signal detection circuit
    [38] 68: synchronous disconnect circuit
    [39] 70: low pass filter
    [40] 72: clamp circuit
    [41] 74: comparator
    [42] 76: vertical synchronization signal separation circuit
    [43] 80: OR gate
    [44] 82: Hsync Counter
    [45] 84: error counter
    [46] 86: Spare Vsync Generation Counter
    [47] 88: reset circuit
    [48] 101, 102, 103: communication game machine
    [59] The principle of this invention is demonstrated using FIG.
    [60] A plurality of terminals, for example, the game machine 2, are connected via the network 4. Each game machine 2 receives a signal input from the outside, for example, a TV signal broadcast from the broadcast antenna 6, and extracts a synchronization signal from the broadcast signal. Each game machine 2 performs synchronous control of an operation or data communication with another game machine 2 based on the extracted synchronous signal. Since each game machine 2 is synchronously controlled using a common signal, it can be suitably synchronized so that a communication timing may not shift | deviate from each other.
    [61] Therefore, the above object is a terminal synchronization method for synchronizing a plurality of terminals connected through a network, wherein each terminal is based on a synchronization signal extracted from a signal input from an external device other than the respective terminals. A synchronous control of the operation and data communication between the terminals are achieved by the terminal synchronization method.
    [62] In the above-described terminal synchronization method, each terminal may perform synchronous control of the data processing in each said terminal based on the synchronization signal extracted by any one of a broadcast signal, a time reference signal, and AC power supply.
    [63] In the above-described terminal synchronization method, each terminal may perform synchronization control based on the synchronization signal extracted from the broadcast signal of the same channel.
    [64] In the above-described terminal synchronization method, when it is difficult to extract a synchronization signal from the broadcast signal in any of the terminals, the channel of the broadcast signal may be changed.
    [65] The above object is achieved in a communication system in which a plurality of terminals are connected by a communication line, wherein each terminal is synchronously controlled by the above-described terminal synchronization method.
    [66] The said objective is the terminal apparatus mutually connected via a network WHEREIN: Each said terminal is an operation based on the said synchronous signal generation means which produces | generates a synchronous signal from the signal input from the outside except each said terminal, and the said synchronous signal, And control means for performing synchronous control and data communication.
    [67] In the terminal device described above, the synchronization signal generating means may generate the synchronization signal by any one of a broadcast signal, a time reference signal, and an AC power supply.
    [68] In the above terminal device, when the synchronization signal cannot be generated from a signal input from the outside, the terminal device may further include means for supplementing the synchronization signal.
    [69] <Embodiment>
    [70] A communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 9. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the communication system of this embodiment, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of a terminal of the communication system of this embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a terminal of the communication system of this embodiment. 5 is a block diagram showing a vertical synchronization signal generating unit of a terminal of the communication system of the present embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a Vsync Hsync generating circuit of a game processing unit of the terminal of the communication system of the present embodiment. 7 is a timing diagram for explaining the operation of the terminal of the communication system of the present embodiment, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the center side of the communication system of the present embodiment, and FIG. Is a flowchart showing the operation of the terminal side of the communication system of the present embodiment.
    [71] 2 shows an outline of a communication system according to the present embodiment. The communication system of the present embodiment is for playing a communication game. The networks 12 and 14 are respectively configured by the plurality of terminals 10, and the network 12 and the networks 14 are also connected to each other so that one network is configured by all the terminals 10. The transmission and reception of information between the terminals 10 is performed through the networks 12 and 14.
    [72] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, each terminal 10 includes a TV tuner 22 for receiving a terrestrial TV signal together with a game processor 20 for playing a communication game. In order to generate a synchronization signal from the signal, a synchronization signal generator 24 is provided. The TV signal received by the TV tuner 22 is filtered by the synchronization signal generator 24 to extract the vertical synchronization signal, and is output to the game processor 20. The game processing unit 20 performs data processing or image processing in units of frames in synchronization with the extracted vertical synchronizing signal. The data processing unit 20 is connected to the networks 12 and 14.
    [73] The TV tuner 22 of each terminal 10 is set to receive TV signals of the same channel. Even if the terminals 10 are geographically separated from each other, since the common TV signal is received and the vertical synchronization signal is extracted from the TV signal, the game processing unit 20 of each terminal 10 synchronizes with each other. Image processing can be performed.
    [74] 4 shows the details of each terminal 10. The game processing unit 20 is provided with a main CPU 30 and a memory 32 for controlling the whole. An image processor 34 is provided to generate an image for each frame. The image processing unit 34 is connected to a video RAM 36 used for image processing. The TV monitor 40 is connected to the image processor 34 via a video encoder 38. The video encoder 38 performs D / A conversion on the digital signal from the image processing unit 34 and outputs the digital signal to the TV monitor 40.
    [75] The game processor 20 includes an oscillator 42 that generates a clock signal as a reference of the game processor 20. Vertical Sync Signal Vsync The horizontal sync signal Hsync generation circuit 44 counts the clock signal from the oscillator 42 to generate a horizontal sync signal and a vertical sync signal. The horizontal synchronizing signal and the vertical synchronizing signal are output to the image processing unit 34 and the CPU 30.
    [76] The main CPU 30 controls the image processing unit 34, the vertical synchronization signal generating unit 24, and the Vsync Hsync generating circuit 44 to perform communication control of the entire game processing unit 20. By the vertical synchronizing signal from the vertical synchronizing signal generating unit 24, the Vsync Hsync generating circuit 44 is reset. As a result, the game processing unit 20 performs data processing and image processing in synchronization with the TV signal from the outside.
    [77] 5 shows details of the TV tuner 22 and the synchronization signal generator 24. As shown in FIG. The TV signal is received by the TV antenna 50. The TV signal passes through the impedance matching circuit 52 and is input to the high frequency amplifying circuit 54. TV signals are attenuated because they propagate into the air. The TV signal is amplified by the high frequency amplification circuit 54. The amplified signal is multiplied by the high frequency signal of the local oscillator (VCO) 56 by the mixer (mixer) 58. The local oscillator (VCO) 56 converts channel data and control signals from the main CPU 30 by the D / A converter 60 and inputs them.
    [78] Since the waveform multiplied by the mixer (mixer) 58 includes the sum and the difference between the amplified waveform and the frequency of the local oscillator 56, the sum and the difference by the intermediate frequency filter 62. Remove it. The signal filtered by the intermediate frequency filter 62 is amplified by the intermediate frequency amplifier circuit 64. The amplified signal is detected by the video signal detection circuit 66, and a composite video signal including a vertical synchronizing signal, a horizontal synchronizing signal, a bass signal, and a color signal is generated.
    [79] The composite video signal is separated into signals of only the vertical synchronizing signal and the horizontal synchronizing signal by the synchronizing separation circuit 68. The synchronous separation circuit 68 includes a low pass filter (LPF) 70, a clamp circuit 72, and a comparator 74. The vertical synchronizing signal and the horizontal synchronizing signal separated by the synchronizing separation circuit 68 separate the vertical synchronizing signal by the vertical synchronizing signal separating circuit 76 and output a vertical synchronizing signal as a reset signal. The vertical synchronizing signal separation circuit 76 is constituted by a secondary active filter.
    [80] 6 shows the details of the Vsync Hsync generation circuit 44 of the game processor 20. At all times, the vertical synchronizing signal Vsync output from the vertical synchronizing signal generating unit 24 is output to the image processing unit 34 as it is via the OR gate 80 as a vertical synchronizing signal in the game processing unit 20. I use it. The vertical synchronization signal from the vertical synchronization signal generator 24 is also output to the reset circuit 88, and the reset signal synchronized with the vertical synchronization signal is also output to the preliminary Vsync generation counter 86 together with the Hsync counter 82. .
    [81] The Hsync counter 82 is reset in synchronization with the vertical synchronizing signal from the vertical synchronizing signal generator 24, counts the output signal of the oscillator 42, and outputs a horizontal synchronizing signal Hsync. The preliminary Vsync generation counter 86 counts the horizontal synchronizing signal from the Hsync counter 82 to generate a preliminary vertical synchronizing signal. However, when a reset signal is input from the reset circuit 88, the output of this generated vertical synchronizing signal is suppressed. If the vertical synchronizing signal generator 24 fails to extract the vertical synchronizing signal, since the reset signal is not output from the reset circuit 88, the preliminary vertical synchronizing signal from the preliminary Vsync generating counter 86 is OR gate 80. ) The preliminary vertical synchronizing signal is also output to the error counter 84, and the number of times of supplementing the vertical synchronizing signal is counted. The main CPU 30 can read the count value of the error count 84.
    [82] As shown in Figs. 7A and 7B, when the vertical synchronizing signal is extracted by the vertical synchronizing signal generating unit 24, the preliminary vertical synchronizing from the preliminary Vsync generating counter 86 is performed by the reset signal. When the output of the signal is suppressed or when the vertical synchronizing signal cannot be extracted temporarily from the TV signal due to radio interference or the like, since the reset signal is not output, the preliminary vertical synchronizing signal generated by the preliminary Vsync generation counter 86 is generated. Is output to the OR gate 80. Therefore, even when the TV signal is scattered due to radio wave disturbance or the like, as shown in Fig. 7C, the OR gate 80 always outputs a stable vertical synchronization signal.
    [83] Next, the operation of the communication system of the present embodiment will be described using the flowcharts of FIGS. 8 and 9. In the communication system of this embodiment, although not shown in FIG. 2, a center for managing all the terminals 10 connected to the networks 12 and 14 is provided.
    [84] 8 is an operation of the center side. First, the power of the center is turned on (step S10). Next, the channel of the TV signal to be used is set (step S11). Next, the error report of the terminal 10 is confirmed (step S12), and it is determined whether the game cannot be executed by the error (step S13). As a result, when the game cannot be executed, another channel is set as the TV signal to be used (step S14). Subsequently, the process returns to step S12 to wait for an error report of the terminal 10. Even when the game can be executed, the process returns to step S12 to wait for an error report of the terminal 10.
    [85] 9 is an operation of the terminal side. First, the power of the terminal 10 is turned on (step S21). Next, the game processing unit 20 performs a self-check (step S22). Next, negotiation with the center is carried out via the networks 12 and 14 (step S23). When the connection is made possible by communication, the channel designated by the center is checked (step S24). Next, the channel of the synchronization signal generation unit 24 is set (step S25).
    [86] When the channel is set, the vertical synchronizing signal is extracted from the TV signal of the channel, and the game processing is executed by data processing and image processing for each frame in synchronization with the vertical synchronizing signal (step S26).
    [87] While executing the game process, the count value of the error counter 82 is checked every predetermined time (step S27). It is determined whether the number of errors is frequent (step S28), and when an error occurs, error information is sent to the center (step S29). Next, the channel designation of the center is confirmed again (step S30). If the channel designation of the center is changed, the process returns to step S25 to set the channel of the synchronization signal generator 24.
    [88] If the channel designation of the center has not been changed, it is determined whether or not the prescribed number of channel reconfirmation has been reached (step S32). If it does not reach the prescribed number of times, it returns to step S26 and continues game processing. If the prescribed number of times has been reached, an error message is displayed on the screen of the terminal 10 to stop the game process (step S33).
    [89] As described above, according to the present embodiment, since each terminal receives a TV signal of the same channel and extracts a vertical synchronization signal from the TV signal, data processing and image processing synchronized with each other can be performed. In addition, even when the synchronization signal cannot be extracted from the TV signal temporarily due to radio wave disturbance or the like, the synchronization signal can be supplemented at a nearly accurate timing.
    [90] This invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible. In the above embodiment, the terrestrial TV signal is used as a reference signal in order to generate a synchronization signal, but it is also possible for TV signals of satellite broadcasting such as BS broadcasting and CS broadcasting, and for TV signals of CATV broadcasting. In addition, the TV signal may be analog or digital. Moreover, it is good also as a broadcast signal other than a TV signal. In addition to the broadcast signal, any signal may be used as long as it is a time reference signal used for a radio clock or the like, or a signal serving as a reference for time such as an AC power supply signal.
    [91] In the above embodiment, a dedicated channel for receiving a broadcast signal as a reference signal is provided, but an external input terminal may be provided to input a broadcast signal from the external input terminal. For example, when a TV monitor is used for a game, a broadcast signal may be input from the TV monitor.
    [92] Moreover, in the said embodiment, although a communication system is for playing a communication game, it is not limited to a game and what kind of process may be performed, if it connects a some terminal by a network.
    [93] As described above, according to the present invention, since the synchronous control of the operation of each terminal and the data communication between the terminals are performed on the basis of the synchronization signals extracted from signals input from outside of each terminal, a network or the like can be configured. Communication timing between a plurality of terminals can be properly synchronized.
    权利要求:
    Claims (8)
    [1" claim-type="Currently amended] In the terminal synchronization method for synchronizing a plurality of terminals connected via a network,
    And each terminal performs synchronization control of the operation of each terminal and data communication between the terminals on the basis of a synchronization signal extracted from a signal input from an external source other than the respective terminals.
    [2" claim-type="Currently amended] The method of claim 1,
    And each terminal performs synchronous control of data processing in each terminal based on a synchronization signal extracted by any one of a broadcast signal, a time reference signal, and an AC power source.
    [3" claim-type="Currently amended] The method of claim 2,
    And said each terminal performs synchronization control based on the synchronization signal extracted from the broadcast signal of the same channel.
    [4" claim-type="Currently amended] The method of claim 3,
    In one of the terminals, when it is difficult to extract a synchronization signal from the broadcast signal, the terminal synchronization method, characterized in that for changing the channel of the broadcast signal.
    [5" claim-type="Currently amended] In a communication system in which a plurality of terminals are connected by a communication line,
    Each terminal is synchronously controlled by the terminal synchronization method as described in any one of Claims 1-4.
    [6" claim-type="Currently amended] In a terminal device interconnected via a network,
    Each terminal includes synchronization signal generating means for generating a synchronization signal from signals input from outside of each terminal;
    Control means for performing synchronous control of operation and data communication based on the synchronization signal
    Terminal device comprising a.
    [7" claim-type="Currently amended] The method of claim 6,
    And the synchronizing signal generating means generates the synchronizing signal by any one of a broadcast signal, a time reference signal, and an alternating current power source.
    [8" claim-type="Currently amended] The method according to claim 6 or 7,
    Means for supplementing the synchronization signal when the synchronization signal cannot be generated from a signal input from the outside
    Terminal device characterized in that it further comprises.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    US20020129169A1|2002-09-12|
    EP1239628A3|2003-05-14|
    EP1239628A2|2002-09-11|
    DE60109020D1|2005-03-31|
    KR100801414B1|2008-02-05|
    JP2002271307A|2002-09-20|
    DE60109020T2|2006-04-13|
    EP1239628B1|2005-02-23|
    US7376753B2|2008-05-20|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    法律状态:
    2001-03-09|Priority to JPJP-P-2001-00066506
    2001-03-09|Priority to JP2001066506A
    2002-01-21|Application filed by 가부시키가이샤 세가
    2002-09-14|Publication of KR20020072188A
    2008-02-05|Application granted
    2008-02-05|Publication of KR100801414B1
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    JPJP-P-2001-00066506|2001-03-09|
    JP2001066506A|JP2002271307A|2001-03-09|2001-03-09|Terminal synchronizing method, communication system, and terminal|
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