US 6,190,257 B1 · Systems and method for providing security in a video game system

Abstract

A video game system includes a game cartridge which is pluggably attached to a main console having a main processor, a 3D graphics generating coprocessor, expandable main memory and player controllers. A multifunctional peripheral processing subsystem external to the game microprocessor and coprocessor is described which executes commands for handling player controller input/output to thereby lessen the processing burden on the graphics processing subsystem. The player controller processing subsystem is used for both controlling player controller input/output processing and for performing game authenticating security checks continuously during game play. The peripheral interface includes a micro-processor for controlling various peripheral interface functions, a read/write random access memory, a boot ROM, a coprocessor command channel interface, a player controller channel interface, etc., which components interact to efficiently process player controller commands while also performing other important functions without requiring significant main processor processing time. A peripheral interface macro may be executed to start a read or write transaction with each peripheral device and thereafter transfer the transaction results stored in the random access memory to the game microprocessor main memory. The peripheral interface performs security in addition to input/output functions. The peripheral interface interacts with a security microprocessor chip within an external storage unit. The video game system authenticates the security microprocessor chip, and also authenticates the video game program stored on a storage medium within the external storage unit.

Claims47

Dependent claims

For use with a video game system console having a game microprocessor for executing a video game program and a 3D graphics and audio coprocessor coupled to said game microprocessor for cooperating with said game microprocessor to execute said video game program and provide audio and 3D graphics output signals, a portable device for controlling, at least in part, the operation of said video game system console, said portable device comprising:

a housing;
a memory disposed within said housing, said memory storing video game instructions and 3D graphics and sound data;
at least one multiplexed bus conductive pathway disposed within said housing, said pathway, in use, electrically coupling said memory to said coprocessor, the multiplexed bus conductive pathway transmitting address signals to said memory and receiving information accessed from said memory;
addressing logic circuitry coupled to the bus pathway and disposed within said housing, said addressing logic circuitry gating address signals received from said bus pathway to address said memory;
readout circuitry disposed within said housing and coupled to said multiplexed bus pathway, said readout circuitry coupling information read out of said memory to said multiplexed bus pathway;
and
an authenticating processor disposed within said housing, said authenticating processor transmitting and receiving information to and from said video game system console, said authenticating processor, in use, authenticating said portable device to said video game system console.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and method for providing security in a video game system

Life of this patent

Systems and method for providing security in a video game system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims47