US6468160B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Security system for video game system with hard disk drive and internet access capability
Assignee: Nintendo Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1999-08-27
•
Granted: 2002-10-22
•
Expires: 2019-08-27
Abstract
Abstract An existing video game system is modified to include additional communication and storage capability via a modem and hard disk drive. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the primary system security features are incorporated into a video game system expansion device having a hard disk drive. The security system does not rely on the relatively insecure video game system. The present exemplary embodiment focuses security control in a disk drive/mass media controlling engine which is physically disposed within the expansion device housing as close as possible to the hard disk drive and the downloaded video games and other data it is designed to protect. Security features are incorporated into, for example, a disk drive controlling processing engine to provide security features which extend far beyond simplistic password systems which have heretofore been utilized in conjunction with disk drive controllers. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the disk controller also incorporates an encrypting engine which encrypts in accordance with a highly secure encrypting algorithm. A further level of security is provided in the illustrative embodiments by partitioning the hard drive into various partitions whose security/accessibility is tightly controlled. Each application program, e.g., a video game, has a predetermined number of private partitions, including a read only encrypted partition.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott Eliott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:50
CPC Classifications
A63F13/12; A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/70; A63F13/71; A63F13/30; A63F13/77; G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/10; G06F21/50; G06F21/57; G06F21/575; A63F13/33; A63F13/335; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/20; A63F2300/206; A63F2300/40; A63F2300/401; A63F2300/407; A63F2300/50; A63F2300/53; A63F2300/532; A63F2300/55; A63F2300/552; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2109; G06F2221/2121
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 106
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A video game system for executing a video game program and generating game play graphics for display on a user's display comprising: a game processing system for executing a video game program and generating game play graphics on a user's display; communications circuitry, coupled in use to said game processing system and to a user's communications network, for linking said game processing system to a server; a writeable mass storage device coupled in use to said game processing system for storing at least graphics data loaded therein; a mass storage device controller for defining partitions in said mass storage device in response to encrypted commands received from said server.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A video game system for executing a video game program and generating game play graphics for display on a user's display comprising: a game processing system for executing a video game program and generating game play graphics on a user's display; communications circuitry, coupled in use to said game processing system and to a user's communications network, for linking said game processing system to a server; a writeable mass storage device coupled in use to said game processing system for storing at least graphics data loaded therein; a mass storage device controller for defining partitions in said mass storage device in response to encrypted commands received from said server.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A video game system according to claim 1 , wherein said mass storage device controller includes a digital processor and encryption processing circuitry coupled to said digital processor and to said mass storage device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A video game system according to claim 2 , further including a random access memory coupled to said digital processor and a read-only memory coupled to said digital processor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A video game system according to claim 1 , wherein said mass storage device has an associated unique ID which is used during encryption operations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A video game system according to claim 2 , wherein said mass storage device includes a partition table and wherein said digital processor is operable to maintain said partition table.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A video game system according to claim 5 , wherein said partition table associates a game program with a read-only partition for storing encrypted game program instructions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A video game system according to claim 6 , wherein said mass storage device controller includes encryption processing circuitry coupled to said digital processor for decrypting encrypted game program instructions accessed from said mass storage device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A video game system according to claim 5 , wherein an executing game program has access to a plurality of private partitions defined by said partition table.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
A video game system according to claim 1 , wherein said mass storage device controller includes a digital processor and encryption processing circuitry coupled to said digital processor and to said mass storage device, wherein said encryption processing circuitry is operable to compute a hash value for ensuring that transmitted data has not been corrupted.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A video game system according to claim 9 , wherein the data for which a hash value is determined is used as a key during the hash computation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A video game system according to claim 1 , wherein said mass storage device controller is operable to generate random data in response to its detection of a security fault.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A video game system according to claim 1 , wherein said mass storage device includes a plurality of partitions which are shared by a plurality of game programs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A video game system according to claim 1 , wherein said mass storage device stores unique data loaded during the manufacturing process which is used during cryptographic operations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A video game system according to claim 1 , wherein said unique data includes at least one private encryption key.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A video game system according to claim 14 , wherein said unique data includes a mass storage device identifier uniquely identifying a particular mass storage device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A video game system according to claim 1 , wherein an executing video game is only permitted to access predetermined partitions of said mass storage device under the control of said mass storage device controller.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A video game system according to claim 1 , wherein said server is operable to download a video game in response to an encrypted game request uniquely identifying the requesting mass storage device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A video game system according to claim 1 , wherein said mass storage device controller is operable to place said mass storage device in a write-only state.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A video game system according to claim 18 , wherein said write-only state is set during application downloading operations from said server to said mass storage device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A video game system according to claim 19 , wherein said write-only state is cleared at the completion of a successful download operation from said server to said mass storage device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
A video game system according to claim 1 , wherein said mass storage device controller includes a random access memory and wherein said mass storage device controller executes a security program, the location of which is distributed between said mass storage device and said random access memory.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
A video game system according to claim 1 , wherein said server includes a master server for receiving at least one encryption key from a mass storage device controller and for performing cryptographic operations therewith and an electronic commerce server associated with a user's Internet service provider.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
A video game system according to claim 1 , wherein messages are continuously transmitted between said server and said mass storage device controller, said messages including a message counter field which is incremented each time a message is sent.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
119 words
A video game system for executing a video game program and generating game play graphics for display on a user's display comprising: a game processing system for executing a video game program and generating game play graphics on a user's display; communications circuitry, coupled in use to said game processing system and to a user's communications network, for linking said game processing system to a server; a writeable mass storage device coupled in use to said game processing system for storing at least graphics data loaded therein; a mass storage device controller for controlling access to said writeable mass storage device, and for generating a game request packet and transmitting the game request packet in encrypted form to server.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
119 words
A video game system for executing a video game program and generating game play graphics for display on a user's display comprising: a game processing system for executing a video game program and generating game play graphics on a user's display; communications circuitry, coupled in use to said game processing system and to a user's communications network, for linking said game processing system to a server; a writeable mass storage device coupled in use to said game processing system for storing at least graphics data loaded therein; a mass storage device controller for controlling access to said writeable mass storage device, and for generating a game request packet and transmitting the game request packet in encrypted form to server.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
A video game system according to claim 24 , wherein said mass storage device has an associated unique ID which is associated with at least one encryption key that is used during encryption processing.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
A video game system according to claim 24 , wherein said mass storage device controller includes a digital processor and encryption processing circuitry coupled to said digital processor and to said mass storage device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
A video game system according to claim 26 , further including a random access memory coupled to said digital processor and a read-only memory coupled to said digital processor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
46 words
A video game system according to claim 24 , wherein said mass storage device is operable to store a partition table defining the mass storage device partitions which are accessible to a game program and wherein said digital processor is operable to maintain said partition table.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
A video game system according to claim 28 , wherein said partition table associates a game program with a read-only partition for storing encrypted game program instructions.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
40 words
A video game system according to claim 24 , wherein said mass storage device controller includes a digital processor and encryption processing circuitry coupled to said digital processor for decrypting encrypted game program instructions accessed from said mass storage device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
A video game system according to claim 28 , wherein an executing game program has access to a plurality of private partitions defined by said partition table.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
64 words
A video game system according to claim 24 , wherein said mass storage device controller includes a digital processor and encryption processing circuitry coupled to said digital processor and to said mass storage device, wherein said encryption processing circuitry is operable to compute a hash value for ensuring that information transmitted between said server and said mass storage device controller has not been corrupted.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
A video game system according to claim 32 , wherein the data on which a hash value is to be computed is used as a key during the hash computation.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
35 words
A video game system according to claim 24 , wherein said mass storage device controller is operable to detect security faults and to generate random data in response to its detection of a security fault.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
A video game system according to claim 24 , wherein said mass storage device includes a plurality of partitions which are shared by a plurality of game programs.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
A video game system according to claim 24 , wherein said mass storage device stores unique data loaded during the manufacturing process which is used during cryptographic operations.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
A video game system according to claim 36 , wherein said unique data includes at least one private encryption key.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
A video game system according to claim 36 , wherein said unique data includes a mass storage device identifier uniquely identifying a particular mass storage device.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
35 words
A video game system according to claim 24 , wherein an executing video game is only permitted to access predetermined partitions of said mass storage device under the control of said mass storage device controller.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
33 words
A video game system according to claim 24 , wherein said server is operable to download a video game in response to an encrypted game request uniquely identifying the requesting mass storage device.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
A video game system according to claim 24 , wherein said mass storage device controller is operable to place said mass storage device in a write-only state.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
A video game system according to claim 41 , wherein said write-only state is set during application downloading operations from said server to said mass storage device.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
31 words
A video game system according to claim 42 , wherein said write-only state is cleared at the completion of a successful download operation from said server to said mass storage device.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
47 words
A video game system according to claim 24 , wherein said mass storage device controller includes a random access memory and wherein said mass storage device controller executes a security program, the location of which is distributed between said mass storage device and said random access memory.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
47 words
A video game system according to claim 24 , wherein said server includes a master server for receiving at least one encryption key from a mass storage device controller and for performing cryptographic operations therewith and an electronic commerce server associated with a user's Internet service provider.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
39 words
A video game system according to claim 24 , wherein messages are continuously transmitted between said server and said mass storage device controller, said messages including a message counter field which is incremented each time a message is sent.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
17 words
A video game system according to claim 24 , wherein game request packet includes a hash field.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
122 words
A video game system for executing a video game program and generating game play graphics for display on a user's display comprising: a game processing system for executing any one of a plurality of video game programs selected by a user; communications circuitry, coupled in use to said game processing system and to a user's communications network, for linking said game processing system to a server; a writeable mass storage device coupled in use to said game processing system for storing at least graphics data loaded therein, a mass storage device controller for controlling access to said writeable mass storage device by determining the areas of the mass storage device to which a game selected by a user is permitted to access.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
122 words
A video game system for executing a video game program and generating game play graphics for display on a user's display comprising: a game processing system for executing any one of a plurality of video game programs selected by a user; communications circuitry, coupled in use to said game processing system and to a user's communications network, for linking said game processing system to a server; a writeable mass storage device coupled in use to said game processing system for storing at least graphics data loaded therein, a mass storage device controller for controlling access to said writeable mass storage device by determining the areas of the mass storage device to which a game selected by a user is permitted to access.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
47 words
A video game system according to claim 48 , wherein the user's selection of a particular video game for execution results in a command being generated which causes said mass storage device controller to determine the mass storage device partitions said particular program is permitted to access.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
33 words
A video game system according to claim 48 , wherein, wherein said mass storage device has an associated unique ID which is associated with at least one encryption key used during encryption operations.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
34 words
A video game system according to claim 48 , wherein said mass storage device controller includes a digital processor and encryption processing circuitry coupled to said digital processor and to said mass storage device.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
29 words
A video game system according to claim 51 , further including a random access memory coupled to said digital processor and a read-only memory coupled to said digital processor.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
48 words
A video game system according to claim 48 , wherein said mass storage device is operable to store a partition table defining the mass storage device partitions which are accessible to a game program and wherein said mass storage device controller is operable to maintain said partition table.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
27 words
A video game system according to claim 53 , wherein said partition table associates a game program with a read-only partition for storing encrypted game program instructions.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
40 words
A video game system according to claim 48 , wherein said mass storage device controller includes a digital processor and encryption processing circuitry coupled to said digital processor for decrypting encrypted game program instructions accessed from said mass storage device.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
27 words
A video game system according to claim 53 , wherein an executing game program has access to a plurality of private partitions defined by said partition table.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
64 words
A video game system according to claim 48 , wherein said mass storage device controller includes a digital processor and encryption processing circuitry coupled to said digital processor and to said mass storage device, wherein said encryption processing circuitry is operable to compute a hash value for ensuring that information transmitted between said server and said mass storage device controller has not been corrupted.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
30 words
A video game system according to claim 57 , wherein the data on which a hash value is to be computed is used as a key during the hash computation.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
35 words
A video game system according to claim 48 , wherein said mass storage device controller is operable to detect security faults and to generate random data in response to its detection of a security fault.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
28 words
A video game system according to claim 48 , wherein said mass storage device includes a plurality of partitions which are shared by a plurality of game programs.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
28 words
A video game system according to claim 48 , wherein said mass storage device stores unique data loaded during the manufacturing process which is used during cryptographic operations.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
20 words
A video game system according to claim 61 , wherein said unique data includes at least one private encryption key.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
26 words
A video game system according to claim 61 , wherein said unique data includes a mass storage device identifier uniquely identifying a particular mass storage device.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
35 words
A video game system according to claim 48 , wherein an executing video game is only permitted to access predetermined partitions of said mass storage device under the control of said mass storage device controller.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
33 words
A video game system according to claim 48 , wherein said server is operable to download a video game in response to an encrypted game request uniquely identifying the requesting mass storage device.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
27 words
A video game system according to claim 48 , wherein said mass storage device controller is operable to place said mass storage device in a write-only state.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
27 words
A video game system according to claim 66 , wherein said write-only state is set during application downloading operations from said server to said mass storage device.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
31 words
A video game system according to claim 67 , wherein said write-only state is cleared at the completion of a successful download operation from said server to said mass storage device.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
47 words
A video game system according to claim 48 , wherein said mass storage device controller includes a random access memory and wherein said mass storage device controller executes a security program, the location of which is distributed between said mass storage device and said random access memory.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
47 words
A video game system according to claim 48 , wherein said server includes a master server for receiving at least one encryption key from a mass storage device controller and for performing cryptographic operations therewith and an electronic commerce server associated with a user's Internet service provider.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
39 words
A video game system according to claim 48 , wherein messages are continuously transmitted between said server and said mass storage device controller, said messages including a message counter field which is incremented each time a message is sent.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
35 words
A video game system according to claim 48 , wherein a game may be accessed by a user by downloading the game from said server using a game request packet that includes a hash field.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
34 words
A video game system according to claim 72 , wherein, wherein said mass storage device has an associated unique ID which is associated with an encryption key used for encrypting said game request packet.
Claim 77
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of securely operating a video game system having a game processing system for executing a video game program and for accessing the Internet, said video game system including a mass storage device, comprising the steps of: requesting by a user a video game to be downloaded for storage on said mass storage device; transmitting an encrypted game request to a server which uniquely identifies said mass storage device, said request being generated by a mass storage device controller associated with said mass storage device; and downloading said game program in ecrypted form via the Internet to the video game system so as to define the areas of said mass storage device that said game program has permission to access; and writing said downloaded game program to said mass storage device.
Claim 78
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of securely operating a video game system having a game processing system for executing a video game program and for accessing the Internet, said video game system including a mass storage device, comprising the steps of: requesting by a user a video game to be downloaded for storage on said mass storage device; transmitting an encrypted game request to a server which uniquely identifies said mass storage device, said request being generated by a mass storage device controller associated with said mass storage device; and downloading said game program in ecrypted form via the Internet to the video game system so as to define the areas of said mass storage device that said game program has permission to access; and writing said downloaded game program to said mass storage device.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 74 , wherein said mass storage device has an associated unique ID and encrypting said game request with an encryption key associated with said unique ID.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 74 , wherein said mass storage device controller includes a digital processor and encryption processing circuitry coupled to said digital processor and to said mass storage device and wherein said game request is encrypted using said encryption processing circuitry.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 74 , further including the step of storing in said mass storage device a partition table defining the mass storage device partitions which are accessible to a game program and maintaining said partition table with said mass storage device controller.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 76 , further including the step of associating in said partition table a game program with a read-only partition for storing encrypted game program instructions.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 74 , further including the step of decrypting encrypted game program instructions accessed from said mass storage device.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 76 , permitting an executing game program to have access to a plurality of private partitions as defined by said partition table.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 24 , further including the step of computing a hash value for ensuring that information transmitted between said server and said mass storage device controller has not been corrupted.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 80 , wherein the data on which a hash value is to be computed is used as a key during the hash computation.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 74 , further including the step of detecting security faults and generating random data in response to a security fault.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 74 , further including the step of sharing a plurality of partitions by a plurality of game programs.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 74 , further including the step of storing unique data during the manufacturing process which is used during cryptographic operations.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 84 , wherein said unique data includes at least one private encryption key.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 84 , wherein said unique data includes a mass storage device identifier uniquely identifying a particular mass storage device.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 74 , further including the step of permitting an executing video game to only access predetermined partitions of said mass storage device under the control of said mass storage device controller.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 74 , further including the step of placing mass storage device in a write-only state.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 88 , wherein said write-only state is set during application downloading operations from said server to said mass storage device.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 89 , wherein said write-only state is cleared at the completion of a successful download operation from said server to said mass storage device.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 74 , wherein said mass storage device controller includes a random access memory and wherein said mass storage device controller executes a security program, and further including the step of distributing the location of said security program between said mass storage device and said random access memory.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 74 , further including the step of receiving at least one encryption key from a mass storage device controller and for performing cryptographic operations therewith by a master server for and performing electronic commerce operations with a server associated with a user's Internet service provider.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 74 further including the steps of transmitting messages between said server and said mass storage device controller, and incrementing a message counter field in a message each time a message is sent.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 74 , further including the step of including a hash field in the game request.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 74 , further including the steps of checking that information that is downloaded is valid using a hash computation and maintaining the mass storage device in a write only status until the data is confirmed as correct.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
119 words
An emulator for emulating on one computing system a video game system of a different hardware configuration than said one computing system, said emulator being operable to simulate a video game system including the following elements: a game processing system for executing a video game program and generating game play graphics; communications circuitry, coupled in use to said game processing system and to a user's communications network, for linking said game processing system to a server; a writeable mass storage device coupled in use to said game processing system for storing at least graphics data loaded therein; a mass storage device controller for defining partitions in said mass storage device in response to encrypted commands received from said server.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
119 words
An emulator for emulating on one computing system a video game system of a different hardware configuration than said one computing system, said emulator being operable to simulate a video game system including the following elements: a game processing system for executing a video game program and generating game play graphics; communications circuitry, coupled in use to said game processing system and to a user's communications network, for linking said game processing system to a server; a writeable mass storage device coupled in use to said game processing system for storing at least graphics data loaded therein; a mass storage device controller for defining partitions in said mass storage device in response to encrypted commands received from said server.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim
129 words
An emulator for emulating on one computing system a video game system of a different hardware configuration than said one computing system, said emulator being operable to simulate a video game system including the following elements: a game processing system for executing a video game program and generating game play graphics; communications circuitry, coupled in use to said game processing system and to a user's communications network, for linking said game processing system to a server; a writeable mass storage device coupled in use to said game processing system for storing at least graphics data loaded therein; a mass storage device controller for controlling access to said writeable mass storage device, and for generating a game request packet and transmitting the game request packet in encrypted form to server.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
129 words
An emulator for emulating on one computing system a video game system of a different hardware configuration than said one computing system, said emulator being operable to simulate a video game system including the following elements: a game processing system for executing a video game program and generating game play graphics; communications circuitry, coupled in use to said game processing system and to a user's communications network, for linking said game processing system to a server; a writeable mass storage device coupled in use to said game processing system for storing at least graphics data loaded therein; a mass storage device controller for controlling access to said writeable mass storage device, and for generating a game request packet and transmitting the game request packet in encrypted form to server.
Claim 105
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of emulating by a computing system having a first mass storage device, a video game system having a game processing system for executing a video game program and for accessing the Internet and having a second mass storage device, comprising the steps of: requesting by a user a video game to be downloaded; emulating the transmission of an encrypted game request by a mass storage device controller associated with said second mass storage device of said game processing system to a server which uniquely identifies said second mass storage device, downloading said game program in encrypted form via the Internet to the video game system so as to define the areas of said second mass storage device that said game program has permission to access in response to the transmission of an emulated encrypted game request; and writing said downloaded game program to said first mass storage device associated with the computing device performing the emulation.
Claim 106
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of emulating by a computing system having a first mass storage device, a video game system having a game processing system for executing a video game program and for accessing the Internet and having a second mass storage device, comprising the steps of: requesting by a user a video game to be downloaded; emulating the transmission of an encrypted game request by a mass storage device controller associated with said second mass storage device of said game processing system to a server which uniquely identifies said second mass storage device, downloading said game program in encrypted form via the Internet to the video game system so as to define the areas of said second mass storage device that said game program has permission to access in response to the transmission of an emulated encrypted game request; and writing said downloaded game program to said first mass storage device associated with the computing device performing the emulation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-10-21 | 2006-04-22 | 2006-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-10-21 | 2010-04-22 | 2010-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-10-21 | 2014-04-22 | 2014-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |