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US5624316A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Video game enhancer with intergral modem and smart card interface

Assignee: HearMe
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Filing: 1994-06-06
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Granted: 1997-04-29
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Expires: 2014-06-06
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Abstract

Abstract A video game enhancement system for modifying and enhancing the operation of a video game is disclosed. The system includes: 1) a processor interface for coupling the video game enhancement system with a processor; 2) a memory interface for coupling the video game enhancement system with a first memory having executable game logic residing therein; 3) a second memory having executable enhancement logic residing therein; and 4) control logic including: a) logic for detecting an access to a patch address by the processor; b) logic for directing the processor to access an exception region in the second memory upon detection of the access to the patch address, the access to the exception region causing activation of an exception mode; and c) redirection logic for redirecting memory accesses by the processor from the first memory to the second memory for a plurality of memory accesses upon activation of the exception mode, the processor thereby executing a portion of the executable enhancement logic. The the control logic of the video game enhancement system also includes: 5) logic for detecting an access to a transition address by the processor; 6) logic for directing the processor to terminate the exception mode upon detection of the access to the transition address; and 7) the redirection logic further includes logic for redirecting memory accesses by the processor from the second memory to the first memory upon termination of the exception mode, the processor thereby continuing execution of the executable game logic.

Inventors

  • 👤 Steven G. Roskowski
  • 👤 Stephen G. Perlman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 13:08
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/45; A63F13/48; A63F13/90; A63F13/95; A63F13/98; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/20; A63F2300/206; A63F2300/60; A63F2300/63; A63F2300/636

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 179 words
A video game enhancement apparatus for modifying and enhancing the operation of a video game, said apparatus coupled to a processor and a first memory, said first memory having a means for executing said video game, said apparatus comprising: a processor interface for coupling said apparatus with said processor; a memory interface for coupling said apparatus with said first memory; a second memory having a means for enhancing the operation of said video game in said first memory, said means for enhancing the operation of said video game including: a means for generating a first trigger signal upon a predetermined processor access to said first memory; a means for redirecting said predetermined processor access from said first memory to a patch address in said second memory, said patch address having a pointer to a patch table having a plurality of instructions, each of said plurality of instructions corresponding to a plurality of data; a means for activating an exception mode; and a means for executing one of said plurality of instructions in said patch table in said second memory.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 179 words
A video game enhancement apparatus for modifying and enhancing the operation of a video game, said apparatus coupled to a processor and a first memory, said first memory having a means for executing said video game, said apparatus comprising: a processor interface for coupling said apparatus with said processor; a memory interface for coupling said apparatus with said first memory; a second memory having a means for enhancing the operation of said video game in said first memory, said means for enhancing the operation of said video game including: a means for generating a first trigger signal upon a predetermined processor access to said first memory; a means for redirecting said predetermined processor access from said first memory to a patch address in said second memory, said patch address having a pointer to a patch table having a plurality of instructions, each of said plurality of instructions corresponding to a plurality of data; a means for activating an exception mode; and a means for executing one of said plurality of instructions in said patch table in said second memory.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 68 words
The video game enhancement apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for enhancing the operation of said video game further includes: a means for generating a second trigger signal upon a predetermined processor access to said second memory; and a means for redirecting said predetermined processor access from said second memory to said first memory, thereby continuing operation of said video game in said first memory.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 44 words
The video game enhancement apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for redirecting said predetermined processor access from said first memory to said second memory includes a means for accessing said first memory that does not overlap access to said second memory.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 42 words
The video game enhancement apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for redirecting said predetermined processor access from said first memory to said second memory includes a means for accessing said first memory that overlaps access to said second memory.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 58 words
The video game enhancement apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for redirecting said predetermined processor access from said first memory to said patch address in said second memory further includes a means for substituting a new instruction from said plurality of instructions in said patch table for an original instruction stored in said first memory.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 18 words
The video game enhancement apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said new instruction is a trap instruction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 52 words
The video game enhancement apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for redirecting said predetermined processor access from said first memory to said patch address in said second memory further includes a means for substituting new data stored in said second memory for original data stored in said first memory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 22 words
The video game enhancement apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the contents of said patch table are modifiable by said processor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 60 words
The video game enhancement apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for redirecting said predetermined processor access from said first memory to said patch table in said second memory further includes a means for disabling said means for redirecting upon said processor access to a location outside of a predetermined address range while said exception mode is active.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 33 words
The video game enhancement apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said processor access to a location outside of a predetermined address range while said exception mode is active is a DMA access.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 59 words
The video game enhancement apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for redirecting said predetermined processor access from said first memory to said patch table in said second memory further includes a means for disabling said means for redirecting upon said processor access to a location within a predetermined address range while said exception mode is active.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 88 words
The video game enhancement apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including a counter for counting a number of times that said exception mode is activated, said counter also for counting a number of times that said exception mode is terminated, said means for redirecting said predetermined processor access from said first memory to said patch address in said second memory further including a means for incrementing said counter upon activation of said exception mode and terminating said exception mode only if said counter is equal to zero.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 26 words
The video game enhancement apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including an insertable removable card interface for coupling said apparatus to an insertable removable card.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 22 words
The video game enhancement apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including a modem connection for coupling said apparatus to a modem.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 230 words
A network video game enhancement system for modifying and enhancing the operation of a video game, said system comprising: a network; a processor; a modem coupled to said processor, said modem for connecting said processor to said network; a first memory coupled to said processor, said first memory having a means for executing said video game; and a second memory coupled to said processor, said second memory having a means for enhancing the operation of said video game, said means for enhancing the operation of said video game including a means for generating a first trigger signal upon a predetermined processor access to said first memory; a means for redirecting said predetermined processor access from said first memory to a patch address in said second memory, said patch address having a pointer to a patch table having a plurality of instructions, each of said plurality of instructions corresponding to a plurality of data; a means for activating an exception mode; a means for executing one of said plurality of instructions in said patch table in said second memory; a means for generating a second trigger signal upon a predetermined processor access to said second memory; and a means for redirecting said predetermined processor access from said second memory to said first memory upon activation of said second trigger signal, thereby continuing operation of said video game in said first memory.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 230 words
A network video game enhancement system for modifying and enhancing the operation of a video game, said system comprising: a network; a processor; a modem coupled to said processor, said modem for connecting said processor to said network; a first memory coupled to said processor, said first memory having a means for executing said video game; and a second memory coupled to said processor, said second memory having a means for enhancing the operation of said video game, said means for enhancing the operation of said video game including a means for generating a first trigger signal upon a predetermined processor access to said first memory; a means for redirecting said predetermined processor access from said first memory to a patch address in said second memory, said patch address having a pointer to a patch table having a plurality of instructions, each of said plurality of instructions corresponding to a plurality of data; a means for activating an exception mode; a means for executing one of said plurality of instructions in said patch table in said second memory; a means for generating a second trigger signal upon a predetermined processor access to said second memory; and a means for redirecting said predetermined processor access from said second memory to said first memory upon activation of said second trigger signal, thereby continuing operation of said video game in said first memory.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 18 words
The network video game enhancement system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said network is a telephone network.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 19 words
The network video game enhancement system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said network is a cable television network.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 57 words
The network video game enhancement system as claimed in claim 15 further including: a means for connecting said video game system to a server on said network; a means for downloading information from said server to said second memory; and a means for altering functionality of said video game based on said information received from said server.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2000-04-28 2000-10-28 2001-04-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2004-04-28 2004-10-28 2005-04-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2008-04-28 2008-10-28 2009-04-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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