JP2004188193A - Entertainment system, image display device, information processing apparatus, and method for synchronous control - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To synchronize an image generated and displayed by each machine to an external synchronous signal in an entertainment system in which a plurality of game machines are connected via communication lines. <P>SOLUTION: When game machines A, B process information on a competing game in real time by exchanging condition variation information via a communication cable 82, synchronization signals transmitted from the game machine B via a communication cable 92 is inputted into an external synchronization information input terminal 50a of the CRTC (cathode ray tube controller) 34a of the game machine A. In the game machines A, B, image signals are generated synchronously with the synchronization signals and images synchronized between the game machines A, B are displayed on displays 10a, 10b, respectively. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention provides an entertainment system in which a plurality of entertainment devices are connected via a communication path such as a telephone line, an image display device that outputs an image signal to a display device in synchronization with external synchronization information, and the image display device described above. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that transmits data by connecting a plurality of provided information devices to each other via a communication line, and a synchronization control method that outputs a plurality of image signals to a display apparatus in synchronization.

  Information devices such as computers and game machines that generate image signals based on application programs and display them on display devices are connected to each other via a communication line such as wireless or wired communication, and data is exchanged in real time. Things have been done.

  FIG. 16 shows a configuration of a conventional game device in which two game machines are connected by a communication cable and a 1: 1 battle game is played. This configuration is used when the above two game machines are at a short distance such as in the home.

  A game machine 81a (game machine A) and a game machine 81b (game machine B) connected by a communication cable (serial cable) 82 are provided with CRTCs (CRT controllers) 34a and 34b as display control means. In these game machines 81a and 81b, an image is generated based on operation information of a controller connected to the game machine, sound, an image, game change data indicating a change in progress state (state change information), and the like. Each image is generated based on operation data supplied from a device other than the own device. These images are combined into one image signal (video out A, video out B) by the CRTCs 34a, 34b, respectively, and output to the display devices 10a, 10b of the game machines 81a, 81b.

  FIG. 17 shows the configuration of a conventional game device in which three or more game machines are connected by a communication cable to play a multiplayer game. This configuration is also used when the game machines are close to each other as in the configuration of FIG.

  FIG. 17 shows only three game machines, game machine 81a (game machine A), game machine 81b (game machine B), and game machine 81c (game machine C). It can be increased or decreased as appropriate. Communication cables (serial cables) 82a, 82b, 82c,... Connected to each game machine are connected to a multi-tap 88, and data transferred between the game machines is relayed.

  In each game machine connected by the communication cables 82a to 82c, an image is generated based on operation data of a controller connected to the own machine, and game change data (state change information) supplied from other than the own machine. Based on the above, images are generated respectively, and these images are output as one output image signal (video out A, video out B, video out C) to each display device 10a, 10b, 10c.

  Next, a configuration of a game apparatus in which a plurality of game machines are located at a long distance from each other and a game is played while exchanging data such as game change data via a communication line such as a telephone line is shown.

  FIG. 18 shows a conventional battle game in which two game machines, a game machine 81a (game machine A) and a game machine 81b (game machine B), are connected by a telephone line 82 to play a 1: 1 battle game. The structure of a game device is shown. This configuration is the same as the configuration of the game apparatus shown in FIG. 16, except that communication modems 83a and 83b are arranged for exchanging data via the telephone line 82. In addition, the same instruction | indication code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is common in each part mentioned above.

  FIG. 19 shows a configuration in which three or more game machines are connected to each other via telephone lines 82a, 82b, 82c,. This configuration is the same as the configuration of the game device shown in FIG. 17, but the telephone lines 82a, 82b, 82c,... Connected to each game machine are connected to the host station 89 and are connected between the above game machines. Data to be transferred is relayed.

  However, in the configuration as described above, data such as game change data transmitted through the telephone line 82 passes through the communication modems 83a and 83b, so that transmission time is delayed (latency). For this reason, each image signal (video out A, video out B, video out C) displayed on the display devices 10a to 10c of each game machine cannot be synchronized.

  For example, when two operators (players) A and B execute a “car racing game”, the screen of the game machine on the player A side displays the player B in addition to the car A operated by the player A. The car B operated by is displayed. Similarly, in addition to the car B operated by the player B, the car A operated by the player A is displayed on the screen of the game machine on the player B side.

  Data such as game change data for displaying the opponent car B on the screen of the game machine on the player A side is transmitted via a communication modem via a telephone line, so the screen of the game machine on the player A side Is later than data such as game change data for displaying the car A. The same applies to the player B side.

  For this reason, even if the player A operates the car A while looking at the opponent's car B displayed on the screen of the game machine on the player A side, a correct game result may not be obtained.

  The above problem is that in conventional information devices such as computers and game machines, CRTC, which is a display control means for controlling an image signal displayed on a display device, performs synchronization control by incorporating an external synchronization signal. This is because it usually has no function, and synchronization control cannot be performed even if a synchronization signal is input together with data such as game change data.

  Such information devices operate based on their respective time information (clock), and when performing real-time information processing while exchanging data between each information device via a communication line, a reset signal is first introduced. Each clock is reset by exchanging. However, since the clock speed is slightly different for each device or changes with time, when executing an application program for a long time, the execution speed of each information device gradually shifts. There arises a problem that an image signal generated by a certain information device and an image signal generated from data such as game change data sent from another information device are displayed on the display device in a state where they are not engaged.

  Of course, if the update interval of the screen displayed on the display device is shortened, the deviation can be reduced. However, in order to generate and display an image signal in real time using data such as game change data from the outside, it is difficult to transfer a large amount of data such as game change data.

  As described above, a conventional image display device and an information processing device configured using the same require high time accuracy using data such as game change data transmitted via a communication modem ( Information processing (which requires real-time performance) could not be executed.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and is based on state change information such as game change data exchanged between a plurality of information devices or entertainment devices connected to each other via a communication line. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an entertainment system, an image display device, an information processing device, and a synchronization control method for synchronizing each of the above image signals so that each of the generated image signals can be synchronized and displayed on the display device. Yes.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an entertainment device according to the present invention is an entertainment system in which a plurality of entertainment devices are connected via a communication path. At least one of the entertainment devices connected via the information transmission path is based on the state change information of the own machine and the state change information sent from another machine via the state change information transmission path. An image signal is generated in synchronization with a synchronization signal sent through a synchronization signal transmission path.

  In addition, an image display device of the present invention proposed to solve the above-described problems is an image display device that displays an image signal on a display device. A memory in which a plurality of image data is written and synchronization information from the outside are input. Display control means having a synchronization information input terminal, and having a function of outputting an image signal based on image data written in the memory in synchronization with the external synchronization information, and outputting the image signal to the outside And an image output terminal.

  Further, an information processing apparatus of the present invention proposed to solve the above problems is an information processing apparatus configured by mutually connecting image display apparatuses that display image signals on a display apparatus via a communication line, A first image display device comprising: a memory in which a plurality of image data is written; display control means for outputting an image signal based on the image data written in the memory; and an image output terminal for outputting the image data to the outside. A memory in which a plurality of image data is written, and an image input terminal for inputting the image data from other image display means via the communication line, and an image signal based on the image data written in the memory And one or more second image display devices including display control means having a function of outputting in synchronization with synchronization information of input image data. It is characterized in.

  Further, the synchronization control method of the present invention proposed to solve the above problem is that an image signal is externally transmitted to an information processing apparatus in which image display apparatuses for displaying an image signal on a display apparatus are connected to each other via a communication line. A synchronization control method for outputting to a display device in synchronization with a synchronization signal of the memory, a memory writing step for writing a plurality of image data in a memory, and an image signal based on the image data written in the memory being input from the outside A synchronization control step for synchronizing with the synchronization information, and an image output step for outputting the image signal.

  According to the present invention described above, in information devices mutually connected via a communication line, an image signal is generated based on state change information such as game change data sent from another information device. And can be displayed on the display device in synchronization with the synchronization signal.

  According to the present invention, since the CRTC which is a display control unit having an external synchronization function is used, the video signal level can be synchronized between a plurality of information devices. Second), real-time information processing controlled in one frame (1/30 second) can be easily realized.

  In particular, since each information device uses synchronization information such as television broadcast signals as common time information, state change information such as game change data is transmitted between the above information devices via a telephone line via a communication modem. Also in this case, since images displayed on the display device can be synchronized in each information device, information processing by communication performed in real time with a large number of people participating is possible.

  Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In the following, first, an embodiment of an image display device used for an entertainment device of an entertainment system of the present invention will be described, and a book constituted by connecting a plurality of information devices equipped with the image display device to each other via a communication line. An embodiment of an information processing apparatus of the invention will be described. An embodiment of the synchronization control method of the present invention will be described with reference to a configuration example of the information processing apparatus of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a main part of an embodiment of an image display apparatus of the present invention including a video memory and a CRT controller (CRTC).

  The video memory 18 is a memory that can store a plurality of image data. For example, the video memory 18 is a frame memory that stores image data in units of frames. The image data stored in the video memory 18 is read based on an address described later.

  The CRT controller (CRTC) 34 is display control means for outputting the image data 19a, 19b, 19c stored in the video memory 18 to the display device as an image signal in accordance with the synchronization information, that is, the synchronization signal. In the following description, the display control unit is referred to as a CRT controller (CRTC), but a display device that outputs an image signal is not limited to a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube).

  The CRTC 34 has an external synchronization function. When external synchronization information, that is, a synchronization signal is input to the external synchronization information input terminal 50, the image data 19a is synchronized with the image data 19a (video out-1). ) To the image output terminal 86.

  The CRTC 34 can independently output desired image data among a plurality of image data stored in the video memory 18 as an image signal. For this purpose, the CRTC 34 includes a plurality of image output terminals. For example, an image signal (video out-2) obtained by reading the image data 19b is independent of the above-described image signal (video out-1). It is also possible to output to the image output terminal 87. The CRTC 34 can combine the plurality of image data and output the combined image data as one image signal, or can synchronize the image signals output from the plurality of image output terminals.

  The CRTC 34 also has an image input terminal 85, and the video memory 18 stores an arbitrary position, an arbitrary size portion, or the entire image data 19c of an image signal (video in) input in synchronization with the synchronization signal. Can be captured and stored.

  1 illustrates a case where three image data 19a, 19b, and 19c are stored in the video memory 18, but the number of image data stored in the video memory 18 is limited to this. is not. Further, a plurality of image output auxiliary terminals 87 for independently outputting each image data stored in the video memory 18 as an image signal may be provided.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the above-described CRT controller (CRTC). In the following description, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same parts as those described above.

  The CRTC 34 includes a control unit 61, a plurality of CRTC buffers 62 a to 62 g, and a selection / synthesis unit 63. The CRTC 34 includes a plurality of buffers (CRTC buffers) for displaying a plurality of images on one screen of the display device, and each CRTC buffer can be controlled independently.

  The controller 61 counts a predetermined number of synchronization signals to determine a desired data extraction position. The CRTC 34 generates an address for cutting out desired image data, and supplies this address to the VRAM 18.

  The CRTC in which the control unit 61 is operated according to the control program is called programmable CRTC (PCRTC).

  Image data and the like displayed in one frame are written in the VRAM 18, and each time an address is supplied from the control unit 61, the image data corresponding to the address is read and supplied to the CRTC buffers 62a to 62g. To do. As described above, the VRAM 18 is also configured to read image data supplied from the outside via the CRTC buffer 62 g by the address from the control unit 61.

  The CRTC buffer 62 is composed of a plurality of CRTC buffers 62a to 62g as described above. Different image data is supplied to each of the CRTC buffers 62a to 62g, and the supplied image data is temporarily held. . The CRTC buffers 62a to 62g are independently controlled by the control unit 61, and sequentially supply image data to the selection combining unit 63, for example, for each horizontal scanning line.

  Of the CRTC buffers 62, for example, one CRTC buffer 62g has a bidirectional function. That is, the CRTC buffer 62g can capture the external image data (video in) supplied from the image input terminal 85, and supply the captured image data to the VRAM 18. At this time, when an address is supplied from the control unit 61, the VRAM 18 can read the captured image data in the same manner as other image data. The read image data is supplied to the selection / synthesis unit 63 via the CRTC buffer 62g.

  The plurality of image data written in the video memory (VRAM) 18 may have different resolutions.

  The selection / synthesizing unit 63 includes a selector 64 for selecting the supplied image data, a coefficient control circuit 65, and a filter 66, and each image data is supplied to the selector 64 via the CRTC buffers 62a to 62g. The

  The selector 64 selects the supplied image data based on the control of the control unit 61 and supplies only predetermined image data to the filter 66.

  When predetermined image data is supplied from the selector 64, the coefficient control circuit 65 changes, for example, some parameters of the image data or some or all parameters of the image data based on the calculation result of the control unit 61. The image data supplied to the filter 66 is multiplied with an alpha value representing the opacity of the object.

  The filter 66 combines the supplied image data and outputs the image combined data from the image output terminal 86.

  The output image synthesis data is analog-converted by a D / A converter, and the analog-converted image signal can display a plurality of images on one screen of the display.

  Instead of the selector 64, a synthesizer that performs a product-sum operation may be used.

  Next, implementation of the information processing apparatus or the entertainment system of the present invention, in which entertainment apparatuses such as game machines as a plurality of information devices provided with the image display apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention are connected to each other. A form is demonstrated. In the following description, it is assumed that the information device is a game machine or an entertainment device.

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a game device (entertainment system) in which two game machines (entertainment devices) located at a short distance are connected by a communication cable to play a 1: 1 battle game. . In FIG. 3, the video memory is omitted.

  The game machine 81a (game machine A) and the game machine 81b (game machine B) include the above-described CRTCs 34a and 34b, respectively. The CRTC 34a and CRTC 34b are respectively provided with external synchronization information input terminals 50a and 50b, and image signals (video out A, video out B) are sent to the display devices 10a and 10b in accordance with external synchronization information (EXT Sync.). Output each.

  In this game apparatus (entertainment system), an operation command or voice is transmitted between the game machine A (81a) and the game machine B (81b) via a communication cable 82 such as a communication line as a state change information transmission path. In addition, game change data indicating a change in an image, a game progress status, or the like, that is, state change information is exchanged, and an image signal is generated based on the state change information. Further, at least a synchronization signal component in the image signal from the image output terminal 86b of the CRTC 34b of the game machine B is input to the external synchronization information input terminal 50a of the CRTC 34a of the game machine A via the communication cable 92 which is a synchronization signal transmission path. Have been supplied.

  In the game machine A (81a), the output of the image signal from the CRTC 34a is controlled to be synchronized with the synchronization signal from the external synchronization information input terminal 50a. This can be done by synchronizing the reading of image data from the video memory via the CRTC with the external synchronization signal, but the image generation itself by the game program or the like may be synchronized with the external synchronization signal. .

  Since the external synchronization information is not supplied to the external synchronization information input terminal 50b, the CRTC 34b of the game machine B outputs an image signal (video out B) to the image output terminal 86b according to the time information from the built-in clock.

  The image signal (video out B) output to the image output terminal 86b includes a synchronization signal. By supplying this synchronization signal to the external synchronization information input terminal 50a of the CRTC 34a of the game machine A via the communication cable 92, the game machine A operates in synchronization with the game machine B.

  Serial cables are usually used as the communication cables 82 and 92, but may be a LAN (local area network) or the like.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a configuration of a game apparatus, that is, an entertainment system, in which three or more game machines at a short distance are connected to each other by a communication cable to play a multiplayer game. .

  Game machine 81a (game machine A), game machine 81b (game machine B), and game machine 81c (game machine C) are connected to multi-tap 88 by communication cables 82a, 82b, and 82c. The multi tap 88 is for relaying image data exchanged between the game machines.

  In this game apparatus (entertainment system), the game machine A and the game machine C are operated in synchronization with a synchronization signal sent from the game machine B via the communication line 92.

  3 and 4 are both the same as the configuration examples of the conventional game apparatus shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, but the CRTCs 34a, 34b, and 34c of each game machine are externally connected. Is different in that it has synchronization information input terminals 50a, 50b, and 50c to which synchronization information (EXT Sync.) Is input. One of the plurality of game machines transmits a synchronization signal, and the other game machines operate in synchronization with the synchronization signal. Thereby, each game machine synchronizes each image signal (video out A, video out B, video out C) produced | generated based on the state change information exchanged mutually with the synchronizing signal from the game machine B. Thus, each of the display devices 10a, 10b, and 10c can be displayed.

  The other configuration is the same as that of the specific example shown in FIG. 3 described above, and therefore, the corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  Next, a plurality of game machines (entertainment devices) are at a long distance from each other, play a game while exchanging state change information such as game change data via a communication line, and a synchronization signal is supplied by a satellite. The configuration of such an entertainment system will be described.

  In FIG. 5, two game machines 81a (game machine A) and game machine 81b (game machine B) are connected by a communication cable 82 such as a telephone line for transmitting at least the state change information. 1 shows a configuration example of a game apparatus (entertainment system) configured to play one battle game. Each game machine is supplied with at least a synchronization signal from the satellite 90.

  In FIG. 6, three or more game machines 81a (game machine A), game machine 81b (game machine B), game machine 81c (game machine C), ... transmit at least the state change information. Shows a configuration example of a game device (entertainment system) that is connected by communication cables 82a, 82b, 82c,... Each game machine is supplied with at least a synchronization signal from the satellite 90. 6 illustrates an entertainment system including three game machines, the number of game machines can be increased or decreased as appropriate.

  In FIG. 6, the game machine 81a (game machine A), the game machine 81b (game machine B), and the game machine 81c (game machine C) are at least communication cables 82a such as telephone lines for transmitting the state change information. 82b, 82c,... Are connected to the host station 89.

  The host station 89 controls each game machine and relays state change information such as game change data exchanged between the game machines, and also has a function of controlling the satellite 90.

  The configuration examples of the game apparatus shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are both the same as the configuration examples of the conventional game apparatus shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, but the state changes via the communication cable 82 such as a telephone line. Synchronous control using synchronization information transmitted from the satellite 90 in order to prevent the synchronization of the image signal displayed on the display device of each game record from being greatly shifted due to the large delay time that occurs when transmitting information Is different in that it is made to do.

  Specifically, each game machine receives, for example, a predetermined television broadcast signal transmitted from the satellite 90 by the broadcast receiving means 84a, 84b, 84c including an antenna, a tuner, and the like, and is transmitted from the satellite 90. The synchronization signal of the television broadcast signal is detected, and the image signals (videoout A, video out B, video out C) output from the CRTCs 34a, 34b, 34c are synchronized. The broadcast signal from the satellite 90 only needs to include at least a synchronization signal, and only the synchronization signal may be broadcast. At this time, each game machine is frame-synchronized. Furthermore, the detected synchronization signal is used as time information common to each game machine, and the frame numbers of the images are matched based on this time information. You may make it make it. This synchronization control method will be described later.

  Next, an embodiment of the synchronization control method of the present invention that is performed between the information devices constituting the embodiment of the information processing apparatus of the present invention described above will be described. Here, description will be made assuming that each of the information devices is a game machine having the image display device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As described above, when state change information such as game change data is exchanged between game machines, a time delay (latency) is caused by using a telephone line via a communication modem. It is difficult to match the frame numbers of displayed images. In order to avoid this problem, the image displayed on the display device of each game machine is synchronously controlled in units of one field (1/60 second) or one frame (1/30 second) of the image signal, It is necessary to match the frame numbers.

  FIG. 7 shows the synchronization of synchronization information input from the outside when an image is updated in real time while executing an application program in an information device such as a game machine incorporating a CRTC according to the present invention having an external synchronization function. 5 is a flowchart showing a synchronization control processing procedure when an image is displayed.

  In step ST1, the frame number fn of the video signal to be synchronously controlled is initialized and fn = 0 is set.

  Next, in step ST2, the process waits for synchronization information to be input from the outside. When the synchronization information is detected, the process proceeds to step ST3. As this synchronization information, a vertical synchronization signal (V-Sync) of an image signal can be used.

  In step ST3, input image data for processing an image signal of a frame whose frame number is fn = n is acquired.

  In step ST4, main processing for generating an image having the frame number fn of n from the image data is executed, and the generated image signal is output to the display device.

  Next, in step ST5, the frame number fn is incremented by one so that fn = n + 1, and the process returns to step ST2 and the above steps are repeated.

  The main process in the synchronization control process described above ends the process (mainly image generation) for the frame between the vertical synchronization signals (V-Sync), and waits for the next vertical synchronization signal (V-Sync). According to such a control method, even in the case where the processing load changes due to a change in the main processing load, synchronization in the processing immediately after waiting can be performed with high accuracy. However, the maximum processing time needs to be shorter than the frame time.

  Next, the matching process of the frame number fn between a plurality of image signals in the above-described synchronization control process will be further described.

  FIG. 8 shows that two game machines each equipped with a CRTC having an external synchronization function are synchronized with V-Sync, which is common synchronization information, and the same frame counter value ( The state of the synchronous control when the frame number fn) is given is shown. Here, a case where the game machine B is the host side and the game machine A generates an image in synchronization with the game machine B will be described as an example.

  First, the frame number fn = n of the image signal processed on the game machine A side and the frame number fn ′ = n ′ of the image signal processed on the game machine B side are shared time information by a reset signal or the like. In synchronization with a certain synchronizing signal V-Sync, n = n ′ is set. That is, the frame processing 101 in the game machine A and the frame processing 201 in the game machine B are started simultaneously by common V-Sync. The V-Sync is a vertical synchronization signal extracted from a predetermined television broadcast signal or the like as described above.

  The processing time of the frame processing 101 and the processing time of the frame processing 201 are not necessarily equal, but waiting times (V-Sync wait) 102 and 202 until the next V-Sync is detected are provided. Thus, the next frame processing 103 and 203 can be started simultaneously.

  On the game machine A side, in the frame processing 105 that is started after the waiting time (V-Sync wait) 104, state changes such as operation commands and game change data obtained by the game machine A with the frame number fn = n. Data “data1: n” that is information and data “data2: n ′” that is state change information generated by the game machine B with the frame number fn ′ = n ′ and sent to the game machine A are processed. Similarly, on the game machine B side, the data is generated by the game machine A with the frame number fn = n and sent to the game machine B in the frame processing 205 started after the waiting time (V-Sync wait) 204. “Data1: n” and data “data2: n ′” generated by the game machine B with the frame number fn ′ = n ′ are processed. The same applies to the processing after the waiting time 106 on the game machine A side and the processing after the waiting time 206 on the game machine B side.

  Thus, by transferring the input information indicating the frame number fn together with the data (state change information), the frame number matching process can be realized.

  In this synchronization control method, it is assumed that a delay time (latency) when image data is transferred through a communication line is LT, and i is a time in a frame unit in which (i−1) <LT <i. Then, input data for generating a frame with frame number fn = n, and data (i.e., frame number fn = n−i) that is input i frames before the frame and transferred from the opponent game machine, The input data is used to generate the image signal having the frame number fn = n.

  For example, FIG. 8 illustrates a case where i = 2, and in the game machine A, when generating a frame having a frame number fn = n + 2, “data1: n” is data input two frames before. ”And“ data2: n ′ ”that is data transferred with a latency of less than 2 frames from the game machine B that is the opponent game machine.

  According to such a synchronization control method, it is possible to synchronize image data transferred between two game machines and display an image signal on the display device at the same time.

  FIG. 9 shows a frame that is played between game machines in a game device in which three or more game machines are connected to each other via a communication modem via a telephone line to play a multi-player real-time game. It shows the number matching process. In the figure, 110, 112,... Indicate frame processing in the game machine A, and 111, 113,. Similarly, 210, 212,... Indicate frame processing in the game machine B, and 211, 213,.

  The synchronization control method shown in FIG. 8 is based on the premise that the latency when transferring state change information such as game change data between game machines does not exceed a time corresponding to a certain number of frames. On the other hand, when each game machine transfers state change information such as game change data via a telephone line via a communication modem, the transmission delay (latency) time cannot be determined. For this reason, a procedure is performed in which a tag is transmitted together with data and a frame number is returned in response thereto.

  Although the frame number matching process performed between the game machines has been described above, the same applies to the frame number matching process performed between the game machines and the host station.

  In the synchronization control method of the present invention described above, each information device is synchronized at the image signal level by using a vertical synchronization signal (V-Sync.) Of a television broadcast signal as a common synchronization information among a plurality of information devices. It is something to be made. According to this synchronization control method, data can be transferred between information devices with a latency within one frame (1/30 second) or one field (1/60 second), and the value of the frame counter ( Frame number) can be easily synchronized.

  Next, an embodiment of the information processing apparatus to which the present invention described above is applied will be further described.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of the configuration of a game apparatus (entertainment system) in which two game machines at a short distance are connected by a communication cable and a 1: 1 battle game is played.

  In the entertainment system shown in FIG. 10, the game machine B (81b) is the host side, and the game machine A (81a) only generates an image signal in synchronization with the synchronization signal sent from the game machine B. In addition, the image signals themselves can be exchanged between the game machines A and B. That is, the communication cable 93 is a transmission path for transmitting an image signal including a synchronization signal between the game machines A and B. Note that, as described above, the communication cable 82 is a state change information transmission path for transmitting operation change commands, sound, images, and state change information such as game change data indicating changes in the game progress state.

  Both the game machines 81a (game machine A) and 81b (game machine B) include image input terminals 85a and 85b for inputting image signals including a synchronization signal, and input images from these image input terminals 85a and 85b. A signal is sent to CRTC (actually PCRTC) 34a and 34b. The CRTCs 34a and 34b have synchronization information input terminals 50a and 50b, respectively. The image input terminal 85a of the game machine A is connected to the synchronization information input terminal 50a of the CRTC 34a.

  Therefore, the game machine A receives an image signal sent from the game machine B through the communication cable 93 from the image input terminal 85a, and supplies synchronization information of the image signal to the synchronization information input terminal 50a. Thereby, the game machine A outputs an image signal (video out A) to the display device 10a in synchronization with the image signal sent from the game machine B.

  On the other hand, since synchronization information from the outside is not supplied to the synchronization information input terminal 50b of the game machine B, an image signal (videoout B) is output to the image output terminal 86b according to time information based on a built-in clock. An image signal sent from the game machine A is input to the image input terminal 85b of the game machine B.

  With such a configuration, each game machine can configure an image signal on the own machine side using an image signal output from another machine of the opponent. Specifically, the display device 10a of the game machine A displays an image S1 generated from the image data sent from the game machine B in addition to the image S0 generated on the game machine A side. Similarly, the display device 10b of the game machine B displays an image S0 generated from the image signal sent from the game machine A in addition to the image S1 generated on the game machine B side.

  FIG. 11 shows another configuration example of a game apparatus (entertainment system) in which two game machines at a short distance are connected by a communication cable to play a 1: 1 battle game. Also in this entertainment system, the game machine B is the host side, and the game machine A outputs an image signal in synchronization with the image signal sent from the game machine B.

  The configuration of this entertainment system is the same as that shown in FIG. 10, except that an image signal for another device is sent separately from the image signal for monitoring on the own device side. Yes. This configuration is suitable when texture information, background image information, and the like are mutually used.

  In the entertainment system of FIG. 11, the CRTCs (actually PCRTC) 34a and 34b of the game machines A and B are images for other machines apart from the monitor image output terminals 86a and 86b on the own machine side. Image output terminals 87a and 87b for outputting signals are provided, respectively, and an image signal from the image output terminal 87a of the game machine A is sent to the image input terminal 85b of the game machine B, and from the image output terminal 87b of the game machine B. The image signal including the synchronization signal is sent to the image input terminal 85a of the game machine A. Other configurations are the same as those of the specific example shown in FIG. 10 described above, and therefore, the corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  Next, FIG. 12 shows that a plurality of game machines are at a long distance from each other, and a game is played while exchanging state change information such as game change data via a telephone line via a communication modem. A configuration example of a game apparatus (entertainment system) in which an image signal is supplied together with a synchronization signal is shown. Note that FIG. 12 illustrates an entertainment system including three game machines, but the number of game machines can be increased or decreased as appropriate.

  Here, the game machine 81 a (game machine A) to the game machine 81 c (game machine C) are the same as the game machines shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 and operate according to the control of the host station 89. . Other configurations are also the same as the specific examples shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 and FIG. 6 described above, and the same reference numerals are assigned to the corresponding parts and the description thereof is omitted.

  The game machine A to game machine C are provided with broadcast receiving means 84a, 84b, 84c including an antenna, a tuner, etc., receive a predetermined television broadcast signal transmitted from the satellite 90, detect a synchronization signal, and synchronize the signal. Each image signal (video out A, video out B, video out C) is synchronized by using the signal as common time information. At this time, each of the above game machines establishes frame synchronization by matching the frame numbers included in the data transmitted from other game machines with the above time information as a reference. This synchronization control method is as described above. According to such a configuration, when a dedicated broadcast is input from the host station 89 to the satellite 90, a plurality of game machines share real-time image information and participate in a large number of people. A game can also be realized. In this case, since the frame number information can be added to the image signal broadcast from the satellite 90 and sent, the above-described frame number matching process can be omitted.

  Next, an embodiment of an image display apparatus according to the present invention having the above-described CRTC or PCRTC will be described. The following image display device according to the embodiment of the present invention is suitable for application to information equipment constituting the information processing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, a game machine is assumed as a specific example of the image display device.

  FIG. 13 shows a stereo display in which the PCRTC 34 displays the left and right independent image signals on the display device 11 by drawing images having different parallaxes for the right eye and the left eye in different areas of the video memory. The corresponding game machine is shown. In the figure, the video memory is omitted.

  The PCRTC 34 of the game machine 91 has an image output auxiliary terminal 87 which is another image output terminal in addition to the image output terminal 86 which is conventionally provided. By outputting the image signal SL for the left eye from the image output terminal 86 and the image signal SR for the right eye from the image output auxiliary terminal 87, the left and right independent image signals can be displayed on the display device 11.

  FIG. 14 shows an example of a two-screen game machine configured using the PCRTC 34 having the image output terminal 86 and the image output auxiliary terminal 87. The game machine 91 is configured to independently draw P1 and P2 which are images for two players to compete in different areas of the video memory and display them on the display devices 11a and 11b, respectively.

  FIG. 15 shows that information on image data generated by one game machine is input to another game machine, and another game machine generates a new image using the input image data. FIG.

  Game machine A and game machine B have the same configuration as the game machine described above. The game machine A uses the background image S1 generated by the game machine B as it is, and synthesizes the image S0 generated by the game machine A with the image S1 and displays it on the display device 10. That is, by sharing the data of the background image generated in common between the game machine A and the game machine B, the load of image generation in each game machine can be distributed. Note that only two game machines are illustrated here, but a game apparatus can be configured by connecting three or more game machines in series in the same manner.

  In the embodiment of the present invention described above, a game machine has been described as an example of an information device provided with an image display device. However, the present invention displays information on a display device in real time based on exchanged image data. The present invention can be widely applied to information processing apparatuses.

  Furthermore, since the game machine incorporating the CRTC (PCRTC) used in the embodiment of the present invention can capture the video synchronized at the video level, the video information can be exchanged and reused in the short distance communication battle in real time. Also, real-time delivery of video information becomes possible using TV broadcasting, and a real-time multiplayer game and program that share real-time video information in combination with a communication network can be constructed. In addition, by using the function of CRTC (PCRTC), additional distribution, two-screen battle, stereo display display, and the like are possible.

It is a block diagram which shows the fundamental structure of the principal part of the image display apparatus used as embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a CRT controller (CRTC). It is a figure which shows one structure of the entertainment system connected with the communication cable and playing a 1: 1 battle game. It is a figure which shows the example of 1 structure of the entertainment system which was mutually connected with the communication cable and was made to perform a multiplayer participation type game. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the entertainment system made to play a 1: 1 battle game via a telephone line. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the entertainment system made to perform multiplayer participation type real-time game via a telephone line. It is a flowchart which shows the basic process sequence of the synchronous control method of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the example which performs synchronous control between information apparatuses with the synchronous control method of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the example which performs the matching process of a frame number with the synchronous control method of this invention between the information apparatuses mutually connected with the telephone line via the communication modem. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an entertainment system configured to play a 1: 1 battle game as an embodiment of an information processing apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure which shows another structural example of the entertainment system made to perform a 1: 1 battle game as embodiment of the information processing apparatus of this invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an entertainment system configured to play a multiplayer real-time game through a telephone line as an embodiment of an information processing apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the game machine corresponding to a stereo display comprised using the image display apparatus of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the 2 screen battle game machine comprised using the image display apparatus of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of the entertainment system made to share the load of the image generation in each game machine by sharing the information of the image data produced | generated by one game machine. It is a figure which shows an example of the conventional entertainment system which connected two game machines with the communication cable, and was made to play a 1: 1 battle game. It is a figure which shows an example of the conventional entertainment system which connected three or more game machines with the communication cable, and was made to perform a multiplayer participation type game. It is a figure which shows an example of the conventional entertainment system which connected two game machines with the telephone line 82, and was made to play a 1: 1 battle game. It is a figure which shows an example of the conventional entertainment system which connected three or more game machines mutually with a telephone line, and was made to perform a multiplayer participation type game.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Display apparatus, 18 Video memory, 19 Image data, 34 CRTC (PCRTC), 50 Synchronization information input terminal, 81 Game machine, 82 Communication cable as state change information transmission path, 85 Image input terminal, 86 Image output terminal, 87 Image output auxiliary terminal, 92 Communication cable as synchronization signal transmission path, 93 Communication cable for transmitting image signal including synchronization signal

Claims (44)

In an entertainment system in which a plurality of entertainment devices are connected via a communication path, the plurality of entertainment devices are connected via a synchronization signal transmission path and a state change information transmission path, and at least one of the entertainment apparatuses is Based on the state change information of the own machine and the state change information sent from the other machine via the state change information transmission path, in synchronization with the synchronization signal sent via the synchronization signal transmission path An entertainment system for generating an image signal. The entertainment apparatus has a memory in which image data is written and a synchronization signal input terminal to which an external synchronization signal sent via the synchronization signal transmission path is input, and the image written in the memory 2. An entertainment system according to claim 1, further comprising display control means having a function of outputting data as an image signal in synchronization with the external synchronization signal. The memory includes image data generated based on the state change information of the own device and image data generated based on the state change information sent from another device via the state change information transmission path. 3. The entertainment system according to claim 2, wherein the entertainment system is written. 3. The entertainment system according to claim 2, wherein the display control means performs frame synchronization by making the frame numbers of image signals coincide with each other using the synchronization information. 3. The entertainment system according to claim 2, wherein the display control means further has an image input terminal to which an image signal from the outside is input, and has a function of writing the input image signal to the memory. A plurality of entertainment devices and at least a signal transmission device for transmitting a synchronization signal, and the entertainment device transmits the signal based on state change information of the own device and state change information sent from another device. An entertainment system for generating an image signal in synchronization with a synchronization signal sent from a device. The entertainment device has a memory to which image data is written and a synchronization signal input terminal to which the synchronization signal from the outside is input, and synchronizes the image data written in the memory with the synchronization signal from the outside. 7. An entertainment system according to claim 6, further comprising display control means having a function of outputting as an image signal. The image data generated based on the state change information of the own device and the image data generated based on the state change information sent from the other device are written in the memory. Item 8. The entertainment system according to item 7. 8. The entertainment system according to claim 7, wherein the display control means performs frame synchronization by matching frame numbers of image signals with each other using the synchronization information. 8. The entertainment system according to claim 7, wherein the display control means further includes an image input terminal to which an external image signal is input, and has a function of writing the input image signal into the memory. In an image display device that displays an image signal on a display device, the image display device has a memory to which a plurality of image data is written and a synchronization information input terminal to which synchronization information from the outside is input, and depends on the image data written in the memory. An image display device comprising: display control means having a function of outputting an image signal in synchronization with the external synchronization information; and an image output terminal for outputting the image signal to the outside. 12. The image display apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the display control means performs frame synchronization by making the frame numbers of the image signals coincide with each other using the synchronization information. The image display device according to claim 11, further comprising a state change information input terminal to which state change information supplied based on a game application program is input. 12. The image display device according to claim 11, wherein the display control means further includes an image input terminal to which an external image signal is input, and has a function of writing the input image data into the memory. . 15. The image display apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the display control means synchronizes using synchronization information of an image signal input to the image input terminal. The broadcast receiving means for receiving a television broadcast signal is further provided, and a synchronization signal of the television broadcast signal from the broadcast receiving means is input to the synchronization information input terminal for synchronization. Image display device. The display control means further includes an image input terminal to which an external image signal is input, and supplies the image signal of the television broadcast signal from the broadcast receiving means to the image input terminal. Item 16. The image display device according to Item 16. 12. The image display device according to claim 11, wherein the display control means further includes an image output auxiliary terminal for independently outputting each image signal based on a plurality of image data written in the memory. 19. The image display apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the two image signals output independently are left and right independent image signals giving parallax. Broadcast receiving means for receiving a game dedicated broadcast is further provided, and the display control means further includes an image input terminal for inputting an image signal from the outside, and a synchronization signal for the game dedicated broadcast received by the broadcast receiving means. 12. The image display apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the image information is input to the synchronization information input terminal to synchronize, and an image signal of a game-only broadcast received by the broadcast receiving means is supplied to the image input terminal. . An information processing apparatus configured by connecting image display apparatuses that display image signals on a display apparatus to each other via a communication line, and includes a memory in which a plurality of image data is written and the image data written in the memory A first image display device comprising a display control means for outputting an image signal, an image output terminal for outputting the image data to the outside, a memory in which a plurality of image data is written, and communication from other image display means Display control means having an image input terminal for inputting image data via a line and having a function of outputting an image signal based on the image data written in the memory in synchronization with synchronization information of the input image data An information processing apparatus comprising: one or more second image display apparatuses including: The second image display device outputs an image signal based on the image data written in the memory in synchronization with synchronization information of image data input from the first image display device via a communication line. The information processing apparatus according to claim 21. The information processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the second image display apparatus performs frame synchronization by matching frame numbers of image signals using the synchronization information. The first image display device further includes an image input terminal to which an image signal from another image display device is input, and is synchronized using synchronization information of the input image signal. Item 22. The information processing device according to Item 21. The first image display device and the second image display device further include broadcast receiving means for receiving a television broadcast signal and inputting it to the image input terminal, and synchronize using the synchronization information of the television broadcast signal. The information processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein: 26. The information processing according to claim 25, wherein the first image display device and the second image display device perform frame synchronization by making the frame numbers of the image signals coincide with each other using the synchronization information. apparatus. 26. The information processing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the television broadcast signal is transmitted through a satellite line. The first image display device and the second image display device further include an image output auxiliary terminal for independently outputting each image signal based on a plurality of image data written in the memory. The information processing apparatus according to claim 21. 29. The information processing apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the two image signals output independently from each of the image display means are left and right independent image signals giving parallax. The first image display device and the second image display device further include a state change information input terminal to which state change information supplied based on a game application program is input. Information processing device. Each of the display control means measures a transmission time during which state change information from other image display means is transmitted through the communication line by using a television broadcast signal as common time information, and the transmission time. 31. The information processing apparatus according to claim 30, wherein synchronization control of each image signal is performed by using. The information processing apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the state change information is transmitted via a telephone line. A function for outputting a plurality of image data in synchronization with the synchronization information, having a memory to which a plurality of image data is written, and a synchronization information input terminal for inputting synchronization information from outside; Display control means, broadcast receiving means for receiving a television broadcast signal transmitted by a satellite line and supplying the synchronization information to the synchronization information input terminal, and an image output terminal for outputting the image data to the outside The image input terminal of the one image display apparatus and the image output terminal of the other image display apparatus are connected by a telephone line via a communication modem to mutually exchange image data. An information processing apparatus for transmitting. A function of outputting a picture signal based on picture data written in the memory in synchronization with the synchronization information, having a memory in which a plurality of picture data is written and a synchronization information input terminal for inputting synchronization information from the outside. Display control means, broadcast receiving means for receiving a television broadcast signal transmitted by a satellite line and supplying the synchronization information to the synchronization information input terminal, and an image output terminal for outputting the image data to the outside A plurality of image display devices, a host station having a function of relaying image data transmitted between the image display devices and controlling a satellite line, and the host station and the image display devices communicate with each other. An information processing apparatus comprising: a telephone line connected via a modem and transmitting image data to each other. A synchronization control method for outputting an image signal displayed on each display device in synchronization with an external synchronization signal in an information processing device in which image display devices for displaying an image signal on the display device are connected to each other via a communication line. A memory writing step for writing a plurality of image data into a memory, a synchronization control step for synchronizing an image signal based on the image data written in the memory with synchronization information input from the outside, and outputting the image signal And an image output process. 36. The synchronization control method according to claim 35, wherein in the synchronization control step, frame synchronization is achieved by matching frame numbers of image signals with each other using the synchronization information. 36. The synchronization control method according to claim 35, wherein in the synchronization control step, synchronization is performed using synchronization information of an image signal input from another image display device. 36. The synchronization control method according to claim 35, wherein in the synchronization control step, synchronization is performed using synchronization information of a television broadcast signal. 39. The synchronization control method according to claim 38, wherein the television broadcast signal is transmitted through a satellite line. In the synchronization control step, by using a television broadcast signal as common time information, a transmission time in which data from other image display means is transmitted through the communication line is measured, and the transmission time is used. 36. The synchronization control method according to claim 35, wherein synchronization control is performed. 36. The synchronization control method according to claim 35, wherein the communication line comprises a telephone line. 36. The synchronous control method according to claim 35, wherein in the image output step, each image signal based on a plurality of image data written in the memory is independently output. 43. The synchronization control method according to claim 42, wherein the two image signals output independently are left and right independent image signals giving parallax. 36. The synchronization control method according to claim 35, wherein state change information generated based on a game application program is supplied, and an image signal is generated in synchronization with the synchronization signal based on the state change information.

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