# US 10,441,890 B2 · Game apparatus

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,441,890 B2
- Document ID: US10441890B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/026,679
- Filed: 2018-07-03
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2012-01-18
- Assignees: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
- Inventors: Takashi Tokita; Masayoshi Soken
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441890B2

## CPC

- A63F 13/77: involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
- A63F 13/00: Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
- A63F 13/52: involving aspects of the displayed game scene
- A63F 13/53: involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game
- H04M 1/72427: for supporting games or graphical animations
- A63F 2300/204: the platform being a handheld device
- A63F 2300/209: characterized by low level software layer, relating to hardware management, e.g. Operating System, Application Programming Interface
- A63F 2300/406: Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
- A63F 2300/407: Data transfer via internet
- A63F 2300/6009: for importing or creating game content, e.g. authoring tools during game development, adapting content to different platforms, use of a scripting language to create content
- A63F 2300/695: Imported photos, e.g. of the player
- H04M 1/72445: for supporting Internet browser applications
- H04M 2250/52: including functional features of a camera
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)

## Abstract

A game apparatus is provided which has a convenience where another function, such as photo taken by a camera, can be used while playing a game by causing a game program and another program to work together. The game apparatus increases interest of the game by relating a result of execution of the other program to the contents of the game. For example, when a camera icon displayed on a display is selected by an operation of a touch panel, a program for controlling a camera function launches, and an image can be captured at an arbitrary timing. The captured image is converted according to a predetermined condition. The converted image is displayed on a display screen and image data is stored in a flash memory.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus, comprising:
a camera function;
a memory that stores a first program and a second program;
a central processor that:
identifies a predetermined area from first image data, which is obtained by using the camera function, by executing the second program while the first program is being executed; and
generates second image data which is changed from an image included in the identified predetermined area to a predetermined image; and
a graphics processor that displays the second image data on a display screen,
wherein the second image data is displayed on the display screen by the graphics processor in response to an object, for browsing the second image data, being selected by a user while the first program is being executed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the second program stored by the memory is a face recognition program for recognition of a face of a person by using the camera function, and
the central processor identifies an area corresponding to a recognized face as the predetermined area.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the memory further stores at least third image data for generating the second image data by the central processor, and
the predetermine image in generating the second image data corresponds to the stored third image data.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the predetermined image is an image of a predetermined character.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
a number of predetermined areas which is identified, and images included in the identified predetermined areas which are changed to predetermined images, varies according to a progress of the first program.

### Claim 6

A non-transitory computer-readable medium including a first program executed by a computer apparatus which is provided with a camera function and in which a second program is stored, the first program causing the computer apparatus to execute:
identifying, by a central processor, a predetermined area from first image data, which is obtained by using the camera function, by executing the second program while the first program is being executed;
generating, by the central processor, second image data which is changed from an image included in the identified predetermined area to a predetermined image; and
displaying, by a graphics processor, the second image data on a display screen,
wherein the second image data is displayed on the display screen by the graphics processor in response to an object, for browsing the second image data, being selected by a user while the first program is being executed.