Did You Know...
...that the video game, Pong, was invented by a guy who graduated at the bottom of his engineering class? Nolan Bushnell spent more time running the games at a local amusement park than he did on his studies at the University of Utah. His dreams of working for Disney's amusement empire were dashed when the company wouldn't hire him. Taking a boring job, Nolan daydreamed about electronic versions of popular games. He invented Pong, the first video game, and went on to found Atari Co.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7129855 | Device control system, method, and apparatus A system, method and apparatus for controlling consumer electronic (CE) devices. A control unit obtains CE device command codes and “metadata” from an interactive, wirelessly accessible database. The control unit uses the metadata, which is data relating to the ... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7121462 | User programmable smart card interface system A user programmable smart card interface system is disclosed having a smart card (10) and a reader/writer (1) which is able to read data from, and write data into, an electronic memory (19) carried by the card. A user terminal (100) havin... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7118482 | Game system using game cards and game machine A game system includes a plurality of game cards, a game cartridge and a game machine. Each game card visually portrays a figure of a character, stores ability data for the character, and mechanically readably records an identification code and individuality express... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7116241 | Removable memory cartridge system for use with a server or other processor-based device A processor-based device having a plurality of memory cartridges secured within a chassis by a lever system. The processor-based device comprises an indication system to indicate memory system operating conditions. Each memory cartridge has a protective assembly to ... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7112134 | Method and system for photographic gaming A system or method receives digital image sets from a player of a game in which money is wagered and prizes of more than a nominal value may be won. A player may leave the digital image sets he supplied with the system and method for use in the games of other player... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7109783 | Method and apparatus for voltage regulation within an integrated circuit Method and apparatus for regulating voltage within an integrated circuit is described. For example, a voltage regulator receives a first reference voltage and produces a regulated voltage. A comparator includes a first input for receiving a second reference voltage ... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7091955 | Multi-purpose keyboard Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for a keyboard. A removable part of a keyboard includes keyboard keys and stores identification data for indicating software for the particular removable keyboard or model of removable keyboard. The removable part of a keyboard ... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7092935 | Customizable filter interface A customizable data filter system is disclosed, that is adapted to reduce the dimension of a searchable data base (100), and to enable performance of a database search and/or a data item selection, in relation to the reduced search space. The system comprises... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7093164 | Information processing apparatus and memory cartridge system An information processing apparatus includes a high-speed processor, and the high-speed processor processes a game program restored in a memory cartridge. A power control routine is then executed, and capacitors (C4, C5) included in a charge pump circu... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7089427 | Security system method and apparatus for preventing application program unauthorized use A semiconductor storage device includes a program ROM and a flash memory, and the program ROM includes a program data storing area and a dummy data storing area, and the flash memory includes a program data storing area and a dummy address storing area. An address c... | 08/08/2006 |
| 7081033 | Toy figure for use with multiple, different game systems A game includes a toy figure that includes memory for storing information relating to the toy figure, a first game system configured to communicate with the toy figure, and a second game system configured to communicate with the toy figure. The first game system is ... | 07/25/2006 |
| 7077751 | Portable and stationary game machine system A game system including a stationary game machine requiring an external power supply, such as a coin-operable business-use game machine or a home game machine, and a portable game machine having an internal power supply. Game programs for raising game characters are... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7080410 | Protecting decrypted compressed content and decrypted decompressed content at a digital rights management client Theft of decompressed digital content as the content is being rendered is prevented. A requested slow-down of the rendering of the content is detected. Transfers of relatively large amounts of data are detected. A re-compressor-based requested slow-down of the rende... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7068239 | Data processing method and system A data processing system and method in which, by way of example, a memory system is coupled to a video game program processing system. The video game program processing system has a predetermined address space for executing programs stored in a program memory portio... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7066817 | Video game with a specific point of view selection device based on a parameter Game scenes are flexibly switched to different points of view selected according to character status and game progress, thereby preventing a loss of interest in the game. A specified hit count HPX and threshold value T1 are compared, and if HPX>T1, con... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7048632 | Image processing method, video game apparatus and storage medium A video game apparatus produces a image of a player character whose motion is operated by a player and a scene image which changes according to the motion of the player character, and displays the produced player character image and scene image on a display unit. Th... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7050306 | Plug-in module for portable computing device A plug-in module adds functionality to a portable electronic device. The module includes a housing that is accepted by a housing port of the portable electronic device. The module includes at least one latch to secure the module to the electronic device. Each latch ... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7033275 | Game device, game processing method and recording medium having a program recorded thereon An object of this invention is to provide a game device that can add much to the production of the game. The invention is a game device for displaying a game image which expresses a virtual three-dimensional space, which is characterized in that it displays the firs... | 04/25/2006 |
| 7002553 | Active keyboard system for handheld electronic devices An active keyboard system includes a processor, a memory, and a display communicatively connected to one another. The system includes input means for inputting data and commands into the system. The input means include at least one selector, and a plurality of keys.... | 02/21/2006 |
| 7003588 | Peripheral devices for a video game system A peripheral device is provided for connection to a home video game system having a recess formed in an external surface thereof. The peripheral device includes an electrical component, an electrical connector coupled to the electrical component for connecting to a ... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6989818 | Input controller for a game system having a combination move feature A manual input video game controller to be used with various video game machines for the purpose of controlling a game displayed upon a video monitor. The manual input video controller would include a plurality of digital action buttons along with a separate combina... | 01/24/2006 |
| 6978933 | Card for service access An interface card comprising a substrate with indicia formed thereon. The card is configured for insertion into a read device. The read device has a substantially transparent touch sensitive membrane arranged to overlay the interface card so as to present the indici... | 12/27/2005 |
| 6975241 | Removable memory cartridge system for use with a server or other processor-based device A processor-based device having a plurality of memory cartridges secured within a chassis by a lever system. The processor-based device comprises an indication system to indicate memory system operating conditions. Each memory cartridge has a protective assembly to ... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6971583 | Method of securely preserving volatile data while powering down a smart card A method and apparatus for restoring state information associated with a software application executing within an electronic card (100), is disclosed. The electronic card (100) comprises a card portion (270) having an electronic apparatus (25... | 12/06/2005 |
| 6961904 | Digital image viewing—I A system for displaying a user's personal digitized photographic image data in a comparable manner to a photo album is described. The system comprises a combination of: a gaming console for playing a video game; a domestic television for displaying the video game to... | 11/01/2005 |
| 6956613 | Photographing device CPU 10 generates memory card loading/unloading information, based on memory card loading/unloading detection signals inputted from memory I/O 16. Memory I/O 16 works even when the power supply is in the OFF condition. CPU 10 also generate... | 10/18/2005 |
| 6951516 | Method and apparatus for multi-user communications using discrete video game platforms A multi-user video game with communications capabilities allows players to communicate with one another via simulated mail, leaflets and conversations. Different installations of the game on different discrete video game playing platforms may be unique or different ... | 10/04/2005 |
| 6948073 | Protecting decrypted compressed content and decrypted decompressed content at a digital rights management client Theft of decompressed digital content as the content is being rendered is prevented. A requested slow-down of the rendering of the content is detected. Transfers of relatively large amounts of data are detected. A re-compressor-based requested slow-down of the rende... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6937080 | Current-controlled CMOS logic family Various circuit techniques for implementing ultra high speed circuits use current-controlled CMOS (C3MOS) logic fabricated in conventional CMOS process technology. An entire family of logic elements including inverter/buffers, level shifters, NAND, NOR, X... | 08/30/2005 |
| 6929547 | Recording medium, method of using a computer and computer for executing role-playing games To provide a user interface for exchanges among on-screen characters which is easier-to-use than selecting certain items by a player pushing a simple ON/OFF switch, a computer, a recording medium and a method use a controller which has pressure-sensitive units for s... | 08/16/2005 |
| 6921336 | Linked electronic game systems A video game system that includes a console and hand-held controllers with LCD screens. Each game operates in a simulated world populated with animated characters and static objects which are displayed on a TV screen, and are also displayed on the LCD screens of the... | 07/26/2005 |
| 6915957 | User interface for interaction with smart card applications A method of providing an interface to a first application is disclosed. The first application is retained within a memory means (276) of an electronic card (100), with at least one of a plurality of user interface elements (154) being associated... | 07/12/2005 |
| 6910627 | Smart card systems and electronic ticketing methods Disclosed is an electronic ticketing system (100, 200) and method (60) utilizing a smart card (31) The smart card can be loaded with pre-purchased tickets which are then booked at a subsequent date. Alternatively, the booking and payment for the... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6908386 | Game device changing sound and an image in accordance with a tilt operation Character data including an image generation program, image data, a sound program, and sound data, which are previously determined for each of characters used in a game, is stored in a game device 10. A controller 12 having a built-in tilt sensor 12... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6895470 | External memory system having programmable graphics processor for use in a video game system or the like A fully programmable, graphics microprocessor is disclosed which is designed to be embodied in a removable external memory unit for connection with a host information processing system. In an exemplary embodiment, a video game system is described including a host vi... | 05/17/2005 |
| 6868480 | Removable active application specific medium A removable medium is equipped with at least a first storage unit, a processor and an interface. The first storage unit includes first programming instructions designed to implement an embedded application. The embedded application is designed to dynamically generat... | 03/15/2005 |
| 6852034 | PORTABLE TERMINAL APPARATUS, A GAME EXECUTION SUPPORT APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING EXECUTION OF A GAME, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUMS HAVING RECORDED THEREON PROCESSING PROGRAMS FOR ACTIVATING THE PORTABLE TERMINAL APPARATUS AND GAME EXECUTION SUPPORT APPARATUS A game production is effected by utilization of a ringing melody registered in a portable terminal apparatus. With reference to a fruit image table (152), a processing section (110) fetches a fruit image corresponding to a ringing melody number assigne... | 02/08/2005 |
| 6820265 | System method and data storage medium for sharing data between video games A system for sharing information between separately executable programs is provided. The data sharing system includes a control unit (11) having a processor (12) and a memory (16) coupled to the processor (12). The memory (16) stor... | 11/16/2004 |
| 6805634 | Method for downloading data to gaming devices Memories coupled to a gaming terminal, are reprogrammed by a method and apparatus which includes identification, negotiation, downloading and verification information from an external information source to a gaming terminal. Hardware devices are used to identify gam... | 10/19/2004 |
| 6789802 | Partnering game and method of playing same A new partnering game and method of playing same for enabling male and female players to anonymously select a player of their liking and determining whether or not the selected player likes them in such manner that only a mutually self-selected male-female couple kn... | 09/14/2004 |
