Interactive communication system for communicating video game and karaoke software

Abstract

A communication system is proposed for transmitting at least one of the data, the program, and a combination of them from a host facility to a communicator such as a communication terminal device. In this communication system, the data or the program becomes unable to be used when a predetermined time has elapsed after it is transmitted from the host facility to the communicator. This communication system is provided with the function of giving a warning before the use of the transmission becomes unable and the function of resuming the use in accordance with the user's instruction even after the use becomes unable.

Description

[0001] This is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No. 08 / 642,560 filed May 3, 1996.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to an interactive communication system for transmitting video game and karaoke software from a host facility to communication terminal devices. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Video games have become a very popular form of family entertainment. In order to play a video game, a game cassette is first installed in a video game machine body. Game data, contained in the cassette and including video information and usually audio information, is read and outputted to a common television receiver. Accordingly, the one who wishes to play a video game must have a video game machine and a game cassette, besides a television set. Once the game cassette is installed, the player can play the game whenever and as many times as the player wishes. [0004] However, therein lies a problem: the player has to purchase each and every game cassette he wishes to...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] By utilizing the communication system, the player need not purchase a game cassette or other software for playing video games, since the game data is provided by the host facility, which received the game data request sent by the player from his communication terminal device. Further, the game data provided to the player is temporarily stored in the temporary storage means of the communication terminal device, thereby releasing the host facility to serve other communication terminal devices requesting game data. The host facility is thus able to respond to a greater number of callers having communication terminal devices.

[0013] Furthermore, the game data stored in the temporary storage means is deleted in a predetermined time period after it was received at the communication terminal device. In other words, the useful life of the game data at the communication terminal devices is limited. As a result of this arrangement, in order to continue the game play at the end of the predetermined time period, the player again needs to request the game data from the host facility. This arrangement is therefore prerequisite so long as the game data transmission service is not free of charge. In contrast, if it were possible to keep the game data at the communication terminal device at the end of game play, the player could play the game permanently without calling the host facility. Consequently, the service cost per each transmission would be higher than the normal price of the game cassettes. The above described arrangement solves this problem and meets the need of software distributors.

[0014] The arrangement is also beneficial to players since the service cost per each transmission can be considerably lower than the price of each game cassette. Therefore, the game player who conventionally has to buy an expensive game cassette, even if he plays the game only once, can be satisfied with the reasonable cost of the transmission. The arrangement is also superior with respect to child discipline, since children can only play a limited time.

Problems solved by technology

However, therein lies a problem: the player has to purchase each and every game cassette he wishes to play, which can be very costly.

Thus, there arise problems of accumulated expenditure and limited storage space for the increasing number of karaoke programs.

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