Operating device, information processing system, information processing method, and computer program

Abstract

In an adjustment mode of an analog input device, a controller 6 generates operation information including a first value and a second value related to a user operation input to the analog input device. The controller 6 transmits the generated operation information to the information processing device 10. The first value is a value obtained by adjusting a value related to a user operation input to the analog input device using the setting information being adjusted in the adjustment mode. The second value is a value to which the setting information being adjusted is not applied.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a data processing technology, and particularly to an operating device, an information processing system, an information processing method, and a computer program. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, controllers including analog input devices such as analog sticks and trigger buttons are more widely used as controllers for users to input operations when playing games and the like. Summary of the invention

[0003] [Technical issues]

[0004] An operation interface that is easy for a user to intuitively understand is needed as an operation interface of an analog input device for adjusting a controller.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a technology for realizing an operation interface for adjusting an analog input device of a controller and which is easy for a user to intuitively understand.

[0006] [Solution to the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an operating device according to one aspect of the present invention includes: an analog input device for inputting user operation; a storage part, which stores setting information about the analog input device; a generating part, which generates operation information, the operation information including a value obtained by adjusting a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device with reference to the setting information; and a sending part, which sends the generated operation information to an external information processing device. In an adjustment mode of the analog input device, the generating part generates operation information, the operation information including a first value and a second value related to the user operation input to the analog input device. The first value is a value obtained by adjusting a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device by using the setting information being adjusted in the adjustment mode. The second value is a value without applying the setting information being adjusted.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is an operating device. The device includes: an analog input device for inputting user operations; a storage part for storing setting information about the analog input device; and a processor. The processor generates operating information, which includes a value obtained by adjusting a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device with reference to the sensitivity represented by the setting information. The processor sends the generated operating information to an external information processing device. In an adjustment mode of the analog input device, the processor generates operating information including a first value and a second value related to the user operation input to the analog input device. The first value is a value obtained by adjusting the value related to the user operation input to the analog input device by using the setting information being adjusted in the adjustment mode. The second value is a value without applying the setting information being adjusted.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is an information processing system. The information processing system includes an information processing device and an operating device. The operating device includes: an analog input device for inputting user operations; a storage part for storing setting information about the analog input device; a generating part, which generates operating information, the operating information including a value obtained by adjusting a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device with reference to the setting information; and a sending part that sends the generated operating information to the information processing device. In an adjustment mode of the analog input device, the generating part generates operating information, the operating information including a first value and a second value related to the user operation input to the analog input device. The first value is a value obtained by adjusting a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device by using the setting information being adjusted in the adjustment mode. The second value is a value without applying the setting information being adjusted. The information processing device arranges an image representing the relationship between the first value and the second value included in the operating information on the setting screen of the analog input device.

[0010] Another embodiment of the present invention is an information processing method. The method is performed by an operating device, the operating device including an analog input device for inputting user operations and a storage part for storing setting information about the analog input device, and the method includes: a step of generating operation information including a value obtained by adjusting a value related to a user operation input to the analog input device with reference to the setting information; and a step of sending the generated operation information from the operating device to an external information processing device. In the generating step, in an adjustment mode of the analog input device, operation information including a first value and a second value related to a user operation input to the analog input device is generated. The first value is a value obtained by adjusting a value related to a user operation input to the analog input device using the setting information being adjusted in the adjustment mode. The second value is a value without applying the setting information being adjusted.

[0011] Note that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and combinations obtained by converting expressions of the present invention between a computer program, a recording medium having the computer program stored thereon, and the like are also effective as aspects of the present invention.

[0012] [Beneficial Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The present invention can realize an operation interface which is used for adjusting an analog input device of a controller and is easy for a user to understand intuitively. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] [ Figure 1 ]

[0015] Figure 1 is a diagram depicting an information processing system according to an embodiment.

[0016] [ Figure 2 ]

[0017] Figure 2 is a diagram depicting the top side of the controller.

[0018] [ Figure 3 ]

[0019] Figure 3 is a diagram depicting the back side of the controller.

[0020] [ Figure 4 ]

[0021] Figure 4 is a diagram depicting the hardware configuration of the controller.

[0022] [ Figure 5 ]

[0023] Figure 5 It is a diagram depicting the hardware configuration of an information processing device.

[0024] [ Figure 6 ]

[0025] Figure 6 is a block diagram depicting the functional blocks of the controller.

[0026] [ Figure 7 ]

[0027] Figure 7 It is a block diagram depicting the functional blocks of an information processing device.

[0028] [ Figure 8 ]

[0029] Figure 8 is a diagram depicting an example of interaction between an information processing device and a controller.

[0030] [ Fig. 9]

[0031] Fig. 9 is a diagram depicting a configuration example of an output report.

[0032] [ Fig.10 ]

[0033] Fig.10 is a diagram depicting a configuration example of an output report.

[0034] [ Fig.11 ]

[0035] Fig.11 is a diagram depicting an example of an analog stick setting screen.

[0036] [ Fig.12 ]

[0037] Fig.12 is a diagram depicting a configuration example of an output report.

[0038] [ Fig.13 ]

[0039] Fig.13 is a diagram depicting an example of a sensitivity curve.

[0040] [ Fig.14 ]

[0041] Fig.14 is a diagram depicting an example of a trigger setting screen.

[0042] [ Fig.15 ]

[0043] Fig.15 is a diagram depicting a configuration example of an output report.

[0044] [ Fig.16 ]

[0045] Fig.16 This is a diagram for explaining the dead zone setting value.

[0046] [ Fig.17 ]

[0047] Fig.17 is a diagram depicting an example of a trigger setting screen.

[0048] [ Fig.18 ]

[0049] Fig.18 is a flow chart depicting the operations performed by the controller.

[0050] [ Fig.19 ]

[0051] Fig.19is a diagram depicting a configuration example of an input report.

[0052] [ Fig. 20 ]

[0053] Fig. 20 This is a diagram depicting a pattern of notification of profile switching to which the third feature is not applied.

[0054] [ Fig.21 ]

[0055] Fig.21 This is a diagram illustrating a mode of notification of profile switching to which the third feature of the application is applied. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] Figure 1 An information processing system 1 according to an embodiment is depicted. The information processing system 1 includes an information processing device 10, a display device 4, and a controller 6. The information processing device 10 according to the embodiment is a stationary game console. As a modified example, the information processing device 10 may be a computer, a tablet terminal, or a smartphone capable of executing an application (game).

[0057] The controller 6 is an operation device that accepts input from a user regarding information processing (e.g., video games) performed by the information processing device 10. The controller 6 continuously sends operation information representing the operation input from the user to the information processing device 10. The controller 6 can also be said to be a game controller. The information processing device 10 and the controller 6 are connected by wire or wirelessly. It is assumed that the information processing device 10 according to the embodiment is a device installed in the user's home, etc., but, as a modified example, the functions of the information processing device 10 in the embodiment can be implemented on a server that is installed in the cloud and provides cloud services (cloud games, etc.) via the Internet, etc. The controller 6 can also communicate with the server via a terminal or communication equipment set in the user's home, etc.

[0058] The display device 4 may be a television having a display for outputting images and a speaker for outputting sounds, or may be a computer display. The display device 4 may be connected to the information processing device 10 via a wired cable or wirelessly. Upon receiving the operation information provided from the controller 6, the information processing device 10 causes the processing at the system software or the application software to reflect the operation information, and causes the display device 4 to display an image related to the processing result.

[0059] An overview and features of an information processing system 1 according to the embodiment are described.

[0060] The controller 6 according to the present embodiment stores setting information (hereinafter, also referred to as "profile information" or simply "profile") on a non-volatile memory, the setting information being related to the operation of the controller 6 and being customized by the user. The profile information includes setting information on the behavior of the controller 6. The controller 6 can store a plurality of profile information pieces, and can switch the profile information to be applied in response to a user operation.

[0061] The profile information may include setting values ​​predetermined regarding operations on the controller 6, etc. In addition, the profile information may include setting information regarding generation of operation information input to the information processing device 10 according to an input operation on the controller 6. Furthermore, the profile information may include information to be referred to when an analog value sensed in response to an operation input to the controller 6 is converted into a digital value. Furthermore, the profile information may include setting information regarding the intensity of feedback (e.g., vibration, emission of light, sound, etc.) at the controller 6.

[0062] In addition, the profile information may include setting information about a change in an image generation mode of the information processing device 10 or an image display mode of the display device 4 according to an operation input to the controller 6. In addition, the profile information may include setting information about a change in a sound output mode of the information processing device 10, headphones (not depicted), etc. according to an operation input to the controller 6. Furthermore, the profile information may include setting information about a change in a chat mode according to an operation input to the controller 6.

[0063] In addition, the configuration file information may include microphone-related setting information. For example, the microphone-related setting information may include on / off information about a microphone noise cancellation function, on / off information about a microphone mute function, microphone volume setting information, and the like.

[0064] The profile information according to the embodiment includes an ID (identification) or name of the profile, button assignment information, sensitivity-related information about the analog input device, and corresponding button information. The button assignment information is information indicating various types of actions, commands, and functions assigned to the respective buttons of the controller 6 by the user. In other words, the button assignment information is information indicating the state in which various types of actions, commands, and functions are assigned to the corresponding buttons. The corresponding button information is identification information about the button of the controller 6 to which the profile information is associated, and is, for example, information indicating the circular button 72 or the cross button 73 mentioned later.

[0065] The sensitivity-related information about the analog input device includes information indicating a sensitivity-related setting value of the analog input device. The sensitivity of the analog input device specifies the degree of operation recognized by the information processing device 10 according to the degree of operation actually input to the analog input device by the user (e.g., the amount of tilt or the amount of rotation). The degree of operation recognized by the information processing device 10 can also be said to be the degree of operation input to the data processing at the information processing device 10. The sensitivity setting value may be a ratio between the amount of operation actually input to the analog input device and the amount of operation recognized by the information processing device 10.

[0066] In addition, the sensitivity-related information about the analog input device includes dead zone information about the analog input device, such as a set value related to the dead zone. The dead zone can also be said to be an insensitive zone, and is a range in which operations input to the analog input device are not accepted. In other words, the dead zone is a range in which operations input to the analog input device are ignored. The dead zone setting value can be a value range corresponding to the tilt amount or rotation amount of the dead zone. In this way, the profile information according to the embodiment includes setting information about the analog input device of the controller 6. As described later, the controller 6 according to the embodiment includes an analog joystick and a trigger button as an analog input device.

[0067] The present inventors have recognized the first problem that, as an operation interface of an adjustment mode of an analog input device for adjusting a controller, an operation interface that is easy for a user to intuitively understand is required.

[0068] As a first feature of the information processing system 1 for solving the above-mentioned first problem, in the adjustment mode, the controller 6 transmits both a first value adjusted using the setting information being adjusted and a second value to which the setting information being adjusted is not applied, as values ​​related to the user operation input to the analog input device, to the information processing apparatus 10. The information processing apparatus 10 causes the setting screen in the adjustment mode to display an image indicating the relationship between the first value and the second value.

[0069] Furthermore, the inventors have recognized a second problem in which, when a user switches profile information to be applied at controller 6, there is a possibility that a key assignment different from that expected by an application executed at controller 6 (also referred to as an active application) is undesirably applied.

[0070] As a second feature of the information processing system 1 for solving the above-mentioned second problem, the operation mode of the controller 6 includes a first mode in which the profile information is switched according to the control of the information processing device 10, and a second mode in which the profile information is switched in response to a predetermined input of the user. According to the execution state of the application, the information processing device 10 instructs the controller 6 to switch the profile information to be applied.

[0071] In addition, the inventors have recognized a third problem, namely, there is a possibility that, in the case where the user is notified of the switching of profile information by vibration, light emission, etc. of the controller 6, it is difficult to distinguish between the notification from the application to the user and the notification to the user accompanying the switching of the profile information, and this confuses the user.

[0072] As a third feature of the information processing system 1 for solving the third problem mentioned above, in the case of switching the profile information to be applied to the controller 6, the information processing device 10 gives a notification of the switching of the profile information by actuating the notification device of the controller 6 in a predetermined mode after a segmented period in which the notification device is not actuated.

[0073] The button arrangement of the controller 6 is described. Figure 2 The top side of the controller 6 is depicted. The user operates the controller 6 while gripping the left grip portion 78b with her / his left hand and gripping the right grip portion 78a with her / his right hand. The top side of the housing of the controller 6 is provided with a direction button 71, a right analog rocker 77a, a left analog rocker 77b and an operation button 76, which are input parts. The direction button 71 is configured to be able to be operated in eight directions, and the eight directions are an upward direction, a downward direction, a left direction, a right direction and a diagonal direction, and, in the present embodiment, the direction button 71 includes an upward button 71a, a left button 71b, a downward button 71c and a right button 71d. In order to distinguish between them, different graphics are drawn in different colors on four types of operation buttons 76. The operation button 76 includes a circular button 72, a cross button 73, a square button 74 and a triangle button 75.

[0074] The right analog stick 77a and the left analog stick 77b are also referred to as control sticks, thumb sticks or joysticks, and are used to input directions and tilt amounts by being tilted. The tilt amount can also be said to be the angle at which the right analog stick 77a and the left analog stick 77b are tilted. The right analog stick 77a and the left analog stick 77b also serve as buttons that sink downward by being pressed by the user, and return to the original position when the user moves his / her hand away from the right analog stick 77a and the left analog stick 77b. In the following, in the case where the right analog stick 77a and the left analog stick 77b are collectively referred to, they are also referred to as "analog sticks 77". The operation button 76, the direction button 71 and the analog stick 77 are used for the operation of applications (e.g., games) executed on the information processing device 10.

[0075] The touch pad 79 is provided in a flat area between the direction button 71 and the operation button 76 on the top side of the housing. The touch pad 79 senses the touch of the user's finger and also functions as a button that sinks downward by being pressed by the user and returns to the original position when the user removes his / her hand. In addition, a speaker 89 and a microphone 91 are also provided on the top side of the housing.

[0076] A home button 80 is provided between the right analog stick 77a and the left analog stick 77b. The home button 80 is used to turn on the power of the controller 6 or the information processing device 10, and is also used to activate the communication function to establish a wireless connection with the information processing device 10. After the controller 6 is connected to the information processing device 10, the home button 80 is also used to cause the information processing device 10 to display a menu screen or a home screen. The menu screen or the home screen is a screen for allowing the user to select a function or application to be executed by the information processing device 10.

[0077] A create button 81 is provided on the left side of the touch panel 79. An option button 82 is provided on the right side of the touch panel 79. The create button 81 and the option button 82 are used to input instructions from the user to the OS (Operating System) or system software of the information processing device 10. In other words, the create button 81 and the option button 82 are buttons to be used to call (operate) functions of the OS or system software of the information processing device 10. Both the create button 81 and the option button 82 may be formed as push buttons.

[0078] The light emitting portion 86 is provided to the lower edge of the touch panel 79. The light emitting portion 86 may include an LED (light emitting diode). The light emitting portion 86 includes a plurality of lamps (in Figure 2 ), and displays information about a controller number for identifying the controller or information about the state of the controller 6 by a lighting pattern (i.e., a combination of an ON state and an OFF state) of a plurality of lights. The light emitting portion 86 is controlled in a lighting pattern specified by an application executed on the information processing apparatus 10. In addition, in the case where profile information to be applied to the operation of the controller 6 is switched, the light emitting portion 86 is controlled for a short period of time in a predetermined lighting pattern indicating that the profile information of the controller 6 has been switched.

[0079] The vertically long light emitting portions 85 are provided to the left and right of the touch panel 79. The light emitting portions 85 have red (R), green (G), and blue (B) LEDs, and are lit according to light color information transmitted from the information processing device 10.

[0080] The right function button 88a and the left function button 88b (hereinafter, also referred to as the function button 88 in the case of collectively referring to them) are buttons for changing or expanding the functions of other buttons. In this embodiment, when the operation of the operation button 76 is input while the operation of the function button 88 is input, the profile information to be applied to the operation of the controller 6 is switched to the profile information associated with the type of the operation button 76 operated together with the function button 88. The right function button 88a and the left function button 88b may be completely the same in terms of function. In this case, the same function is provided regardless of which of the left and right buttons is operated.

[0081] Figure 3 The rear side of the controller 6 is depicted. The touch pad 79 extends from the top side of the housing of the controller 6 and is bent to the top side of the rear side of the housing. On the rear side of the housing, the R1 button 83a, the R2 button 84a, the L1 button 83b, the L2 button 84b, the right trigger stopper 87a, and the left trigger stopper 87b are provided at positions symmetrical to each other in the long side direction. The R1 button 83a and the R2 button 84a are operated by the index finger and the middle finger of the user's right hand, respectively, and the L1 button 83b and the L2 button 84b are operated by the index finger and the middle finger of the user's left hand, respectively.

[0082] The R1 button 83a and the L1 button 83b on the top side are configured as push buttons, and the R2 button 84a and the L2 button 84b on the bottom side are configured as trigger buttons that are rotatably supported. Similar to the right analog stick 77a and the left analog stick 77b, the R2 button 84a and the L2 button 84b are capable of analog output, and output a value according to the rotation amount. In the case of collectively referring to the R2 button 84a and the L2 button 84b, they are referred to as the trigger button 84.

[0083] The right trigger stopper 87a is a component for adjusting or limiting the rotation range of the R2 button 84a. The left trigger stopper 87b is a component for adjusting or limiting the rotation range of the L2 button 84b. In the case of collectively referring to the right trigger stopper 87a and the left trigger stopper 87b, they are referred to as trigger stopper 87. Each of the right trigger stopper 87a and the left trigger stopper 87b can be set to any one of a first position, a second position, and a third position. When the right trigger stopper 87a and the left trigger stopper 87b are in the first position, the maximum rotation angle is 26 degrees; when the right trigger stopper 87a and the left trigger stopper 87b are in the second position, the maximum rotation angle is 14 degrees; when the right trigger stopper 87a and the left trigger stopper 87b are in the third position, the maximum rotation angle is 10 degrees.

[0084] like Figure 2 and Figure 3As depicted in , the controller 6 has various input parts (various types of buttons and joysticks, etc.). The user inputs operations to the input part of the controller 6 while viewing the menu screen or the game screen displayed on the display device 4.

[0085] Figure 4 The hardware configuration of the controller 6 related to this embodiment is depicted. Figure 2 and Figure 3 In addition to the hardware depicted in FIG. 1 , the controller 6 includes a vibrator 90, a storage portion 92, a communication control portion 94, and a processor 96. The processor 96 performs various types of data processing and also controls operations performed by various types of hardware. The processor 96 may include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory, and a SoC (System on Chip).

[0086] The vibrator 90 provides tactile stimulation to the user by vibrating according to a control signal from the processor 96. The vibrator 90 may include a voice coil motor (VCM). The vibrator 90 and the light emitting portion 86 operate as a notification device that notifies the user of various types of information. The vibrator 90 gives notification through tactile information, and the light emitting portion 86 gives notification through visual information.

[0087] The storage section 92 stores data to be referenced or updated by the processor 96. The communication control section 94 controls communication with external devices. Whereas the communication control section 94 communicates with the information processing device 10 wirelessly in the embodiment, as a modified example, the communication control section 94 may communicate with the information processing device 10 via a wire.

[0088] Figure 5 The hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 10 related to the present embodiment is depicted. The information processing apparatus 10 includes a main power button 20, a power-on LED 21, a standby LED 22, a system controller 24, a clock 26, a device controller 30, a media drive 32, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) module 34, a flash memory 36, a wireless communication module 38, a wired communication module 40, a subsystem 50, and a main system 60.

[0089] The main system 60 includes a main CPU, a memory and a memory controller as a main storage device, a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), etc. The GPU is mainly used for the calculation process of the game program. These functions can be formed on one chip by being configured as an SoC (System on Chip). The main CPU has a function of activating the OS and executing an application installed on a storage part (for example, the flash memory 36 or an auxiliary storage device not shown) in an environment provided by the OS. In addition, the main system 60 has a function of controlling the display content of the display device 4.

[0090] The subsystem 50 includes a sub-CPU, a memory as a main storage device, a memory controller, etc., but does not include a GPU. The number of circuit gates of the sub-CPU is smaller than the number of circuit gates of the main CPU, and the operating power consumption of the sub-CPU is smaller than the operating power consumption of the main CPU. When the main CPU is in a standby state, the sub-CPU operates, and the processing function of the sub-CPU is limited to maintain low power consumption. Note that the sub-CPU and the memory can be formed on separate chips.

[0091] The main power button 20 is an input portion on which an operation input from a user is performed, is provided to the front surface of the housing of the information processing device 10, and is operated to turn on or off the power to the main system 60 of the information processing device 10. Hereinafter, the main power is in the on state means that the main system 60 is in the active state, and the main power is in the off state means that the main system 60 is in the standby state. The power LED 21 is turned on when the main power button 20 is turned on, and the standby LED 22 is turned on when the main power button 20 is turned off.

[0092] The system controller 24 senses a user's pressing of the main power button 20. In the case where the main power button 20 is pressed when the main power is in the off state, the system controller 24 acquires the pressing operation as a "turn-on instruction", and in the case where the main power button 20 is pressed when the main power is in the on state, the system controller 24 acquires the pressing operation as a "turn-off instruction". The system controller 24 can acquire a power on / off instruction similar to the above-mentioned instruction from the operation input from the controller 6.

[0093] The main CPU has a function of executing a game program installed on a predetermined storage section or ROM medium 44; on the other hand, the sub-CPU does not have such a function. However, the sub-CPU has a function of accessing a storage section and a function of sending and receiving data to and from an external device. The sub-CPU has only such a limited processing function, and therefore can operate with less power consumption than the main CPU. These functions of the sub-CPU are executed when the main CPU is in a standby state.

[0094] The clock 26 is a real-time clock that generates current date / time information and provides the current date / time information to the system controller 24 , the subsystems 50 , and the main system 60 .

[0095] The device controller 30 is configured as an LSI (Large Scale Integrated Circuit) that performs information exchange between devices like a south bridge. As shown in the figure, the device controller 30 is connected to devices such as the system controller 24, the media drive 32, the USB module 34, the flash memory 36, the wireless communication module 38, the wired communication module 40, the subsystem 50, and the main system 60. The device controller 30 absorbs the difference in electrical characteristics between the corresponding devices and the difference in data transfer speed between the corresponding devices, and controls the data transfer timing.

[0096] The media drive 32 is a drive to which a ROM (Read Only Memory) medium 44 on which application software such as games and license information are recorded is attached, and drives the ROM medium 44 and reads out programs, data, etc. from the ROM medium 44. The ROM medium 44 is a read-only recording medium such as an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc, a Blu-ray disc, etc.

[0097] The USB module 34 is a module connected with external equipment via a USB cable. The flash memory 36 is an auxiliary storage device included in the internal memory. The wireless communication module 38 wirelessly communicates with, for example, the controller 6 via the Bluetooth (trademark or registered trademark) protocol or a communication protocol such as the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 protocol. The wired communication module 40 communicates with external equipment via wires and is connected to the Internet, a server, etc., for example, via an access point not depicted.

[0098] Figure 6 is a block diagram depicting the functional blocks of the controller 6. Each block depicted in the block diagram in this specification can be implemented in hardware by an element, an electronic circuit or a mechanical device (such as a processor, a CPU or a memory of a computer), and can be implemented in software by a computer program loaded on the memory, etc. Here, the functional blocks implemented by their cooperation are depicted. Therefore, those skilled in the art understand that these functional blocks can be implemented in various forms by a combination of hardware and software.

[0099] The controller 6 includes a storage part 100 and a processing part 110. The storage part 100 corresponds to Figure 4 The storage section 92 in FIG. 1 and stores data to be referred to or updated by the processing section 110. The storage section 100 includes a configuration file storage section 102.

[0100] The profile storage section 102 includes a nonvolatile memory that stores a plurality of pieces of profile information. The profile storage section 102 stores corresponding pieces of the plurality of pieces of profile information in association with slots and operation buttons 76 that are different from each other. In this embodiment, the profile storage section 102 stores up to four pieces of profile information in association with four slots (slot 1 to slot 4) and four operation buttons 76 (circular button 72, cross button 73, square button 74, and triangle button 75).

[0101] In the embodiment, when the controller 6 is shipped from the factory, a default profile is stored in association with slot 1 (e.g., triangle button 75) on the profile storage portion 102. The default profile is profile information in which key assignment, sensitivity, dead zone, etc. are set to default values. The default profile can neither be edited nor deleted by the user. On slots 2 to 4, new profile information customized by the user can be stored, or existing profile information can be edited and deleted.

[0102] The processing section 110 includes an output report receiving section 112, an input report sending section 114, an operation sensing section 116, an operation information generating section 118, an operation information sending section 120, a switching section 122, and a notification control section 124. A computer program (e.g., firmware) that implements at least some of the plurality of these functions may be stored on the storage section 92 of the controller 6. The processor 96 of the controller 6 may implement at least some of the plurality of these functions by reading out the computer program onto the main memory and executing the computer program thereon.

[0103] The output report receiving section 112 receives an output report which is control data sent at predetermined intervals from the information processing device 10 to the controller 6. The input report sending section 114 sends an input report which is notification data sent from the controller 6 to the information processing device 10 in accordance with the reception of the output report.

[0104] The operation sensing portion 116 senses a user operation input to the controller 6. For example, the user operation includes an operation of pressing a button, an operation of tilting the analog joystick 77, and an operation of rotating the trigger button 84. The operation sensing portion 116 senses an analog value accompanying the operation of the analog input device (the analog joystick 77 and the trigger button 84 in the embodiment), performs analog-to-digital conversion on the analog value, and transmits the digital value obtained after the conversion to the operation information generating portion 118.

[0105] According to an instruction from the user or the information processing apparatus 10, the operation information generating section 118 identifies any one of the plurality of pieces of profile information stored on the profile storing section 102 as profile information (hereinafter, also referred to as an "application profile") that should be applied to an operation input to the controller 6. According to the applied profile and the user operation input to the controller 6 and sensed by the operation sensing section 116, the operation information generating section 118 generates user operation information to be sent from the controller 6 to the information processing apparatus 10. The operation information generating section 118 generates operation information including a value obtained by adjusting a value related to a user operation input to the analog input device according to the applied profile.

[0106] For example, in the case where an operation with a first tilt amount is input to the analog stick 77, the operation information generation section 118 may determine a second tilt amount that should be input to the analog stick 77 of the information processing device 10 based on the sensitivity and the size of the dead zone indicated by the applied profile. Further, the operation information generation section 118 may generate operation information indicating the second tilt amount of the analog stick 77.

[0107] The operation information transmission section 120 transmits the user operation information generated by the operation information generation section 118 to the information processing apparatus 10. Note that the operation information transmission section 120 may transmit the operation information to the information processing apparatus 10 using an input report transmitted from the controller 6 to the information processing apparatus 10.

[0108] In the case where a predetermined switching instruction is input, the switching portion 122 switches the profile information to be applied at the controller 6. The operation mode of the switching portion 122 includes a host master mode as a first mode and a device master mode as a second mode. The host master mode is an operation mode in which the applied profile is switched according to the control of the information processing apparatus 10. The device master mode is an operation mode in which the applied profile is switched in response to a predetermined input from a user. The device master mode can also be said to be an operation mode in which, regardless of whether there is an instruction from the information processing apparatus 10, the switching portion 122 switches the applied profile when a predetermined input from a user is sensed.

[0109] The default operation mode of the switching section 122 is the device master mode. The switching section 122 switches the operation mode from the device master mode to the host master mode under the condition that the switching section 122 accepts control data having contents instructing switching to the host master mode from the information processing apparatus 10. The switching section 122 stores information about the slot corresponding to the currently applied profile on the profile storage section 102.

[0110] The notification control portion 124 inputs an actuation signal to the notification device according to an instruction from the information processing device 10, and actuates the notification device. For example, the instruction from the information processing device 10 may be an instruction from an application being executed on the information processing device 10. In addition, in the case where the applied profile is switched at the controller 6, the notification control portion 124 inputs an actuation signal to the notification device, and actuates the notification device in a predetermined pattern representing the switching of the applied profile. As already mentioned, the notification device includes a light emitting portion 86 and a vibrator 90. The notification control portion 124 controls notification to the user by performing control to turn on or off the light emitting portion 86 and controlling the vibration of the vibrator 90.

[0111] Figure 7 2 is a block diagram depicting functional blocks of the information processing device 10. The information processing device 10 includes a storage section 200 and a processing section 210. The processing section 210 performs various types of information processing. The processing section 210 is implemented by a processor of the information processing device 10, and may be implemented by, for example, Figure 5 The storage part 200 stores data to be referenced or updated by the processing part 210. The storage part 200 may include Figure 5 Flash memory 36 or ROM media 44 is shown.

[0112] The storage section 200 includes an application storage section 202 and a configuration file storage section 204. The application storage section 202 stores data of an application (eg, a game program) that can be executed on the information processing apparatus 10.

[0113] The profile storage section 204 stores the profile information of the controller 6 notified from the controller 6. Similar to the profile storage section 102 of the controller 6, the profile storage section 204 stores up to four pieces of profile information in association with the four slots and the four operation buttons 76 (the circle button 72, the cross button 73, the square button 74, and the triangle button 75). In addition, the profile storage section 204 stores information about the currently applied profile of the controller 6 notified from the controller 6. Specifically, the profile storage section 204 stores information about which profile corresponding to any of the slots 1 to 4 is the applied profile.

[0114] The processing section 210 includes an input report receiving section 212, an output report sending section 214, a profile information acquiring section 216, an operation information accepting section 218, an application executing section 220, a setting screen generating section 222, a display controlling section 224, and a switching instructing section 226. A computer program that realizes at least some of a plurality of these functions may be stored on the storage section 200 of the information processing apparatus 10. The processor (e.g., the main system 60) of the information processing apparatus 10 may realize at least some of a plurality of these functions by reading out the computer program onto the main memory and executing the computer program thereon.

[0115] The output report sending section 214 sends an output report which is control data sent at predetermined intervals from the information processing apparatus 10 to the controller 6. The input report receiving section 212 receives an input report which is notification data sent to the information processing apparatus 10 in response to receiving an output report from the controller 6.

[0116] The profile information acquisition section 216 acquires information about a plurality of profiles stored on the controller 6 from the controller 6 connected to the information processing apparatus 10, and the user can select a profile from them. In addition, the profile information acquisition section 216 acquires information about a profile currently applied by the controller 6 from the controller 6. The profile information acquisition section 216 stores this information on the profile storage section 204.

[0117] The operation information acceptance section 218 accepts information transmitted from the controller 6 connected to the information processing apparatus 10 and related to a user operation of the controller 6 .

[0118] The application execution section 220 executes an application (e.g., a game program or system software) stored on the application storage section 202. For example, the application execution section 220 continues a game based on information about the user's operation on the controller 6, and continuously generates an image (hereinafter, also referred to as a "game screen") indicating the result of the continued game.

[0119] The setting screen generation section 222 generates data on a setting screen for the analog input device of the controller 6 with reference to information on user operations on the controller 6 during execution of an application (for example, when a game screen is being displayed).

[0120] The display control section 224 controls the display of information and images on the display device 4. For example, the display control section 224 causes the display device 4 to display a game screen generated by the application execution section 220 by outputting data of the game screen to the display device 4. In addition, the display control section 224 causes the display device 4 to display a setting screen generated by the setting screen generation section 222 by outputting data of the setting screen to the display device 4.

[0121] In the event of input of a predetermined user operation, or in response to an instruction from an application being executed, the switching instruction section 226 instructs the controller 6 to switch the profile of the application.

[0122] The operations performed by the information processing system 1 thus configured are explained.

[0123] First, operations related to the first feature of the information processing system 1 will be described. Figure 8 An example of interaction between the information processing device 10 and the controller 6 is depicted.

[0124] ( Figure 8 S1)

[0125] The operation sensing portion 116 of the controller 6 senses a user operation input to the analog input device. In the normal mode, the operation information generating portion 118 of the controller 6 adjusts a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device (hereinafter also referred to as an "operation amount") according to the applied profile, and generates operation information including the adjusted value. For example, the adjusted value may be a value representing the tilt amount of the right analog joystick 77a reflecting the applied profile, or may be a value representing the rotation amount of the R2 button 84a reflecting the applied profile. The operation information sending portion 120 of the controller 6 sends the operation information including the value adjusted according to the applied profile to the information processing apparatus 10.

[0126] ( Figure 8 S2)

[0127] The output report sending section 214 of the information processing apparatus 10 periodically repeats sending an output report to the controller 6. In the case where a user operation instructing switching to the adjustment mode of the analog input device of the controller 6 is input via the controller 6, the output report sending section 214 sends an output report including an instruction for switching to the adjustment mode to the controller 6.

[0128] Fig. 9 and Fig.10 Depicts a configuration example for outputting a report. Fig. 9 depicts the configuration of Project A in the output report, and Fig.10Describes the configuration of item B in the output report. In item A, flag data is set to enable or disable the setting values ​​of other items in the output report. In item B, data is set to specify the operating mode of the controller and the configuration file of the application. Fig. 9 In the case of the operation mode control bit in Project A, Fig.10 The operation mode bit string of item B in the output report is valid. In the operation mode bit string, any value of the normal mode, the left analog stick adjustment mode, the right analog stick adjustment mode, and the trigger button adjustment mode can be specified. The output report sending section 214 sets the value of the operation mode bit string according to the user operation in the setting mode. The controller 6 (operation information generating section 118) switches to the adjustment mode according to the value of the operation mode bit string in the received output report.

[0129] In addition, in the case of inputting a user operation instructing a switch to the adjustment mode of the analog input device of the controller 6, the setting screen generation section 222 of the information processing device 10 generates a setting screen for allowing the user to input a setting value related to the analog input device. The display control section 224 of the information processing device 10 causes the display device 4 to display the setting screen of the analog input device. The setting screen of the analog input device includes a setting screen of the analog joystick 77 and a setting screen of the trigger button 84.

[0130] First, the adjustment of the analog stick 77 of the controller 6 is described. In the case of switching to the adjustment mode of the analog stick 77, the setting screen generation section 222 of the information processing device 10 generates an analog stick setting screen.

[0131] Fig.11 An example of an analog stick settings screen 130 is depicted. Fig.11 The analog stick setting screen 130 in FIG. 1 shows the contents for setting the sensitivity and dead zone of the analog stick 77 of the controller 6 . The analog stick setting screen 130 includes a setting target selection field 132 , a sensitivity mode selection field 134 , a sensitivity curve adjustment gauge 136 , a dead zone adjustment gauge 138 , a sensitivity curve image 140 , and a setting status image 148 .

[0132] The setting target selection field 132 is a screen element for selecting the type of the analog stick 77 regarded as the setting target (the right analog stick 77a or the left analog stick 77b in the present embodiment) on the analog stick setting screen 130. Fig.11 The left analog stick 77b is selected.

[0133] The sensitivity mode selection bar 134 is a screen element for selecting a specific mode from a plurality of predetermined sensitivity curve modes. The sensitivity curve is a curve (including a straight line) that represents the relationship between the tilt angle of the analog stick 77 and the output value. Specifically, the sensitivity curve is a curve that associates the degree of operation input by the user to the analog stick 77 (hereinafter, also referred to as "user input operation amount") and the degree of operation recognized in the data processing at the information processing device 10 (hereinafter, also referred to as "system recognition operation amount"). The user input operation amount can also be said to be the actual tilt amount or tilt angle of the analog stick 77. In addition, the system recognition operation amount can also be said to be the tilt amount or tilt angle of the analog stick 77 input to the data processing at the information processing device 10 (the application execution part 220 in the embodiment).

[0134] The plurality of sensitivity curve modes may include a linear mode, a delay mode, and a fast mode. The linear mode is a mode in which the system recognition operation amount increases in proportion to the increase in the user input operation amount, and is, for example, a default mode in which the slope of the sensitivity curve is constant. The delay mode is a mode in which the increase in the system recognition operation amount is gentle when the user input operation amount is small, and the more the user input operation amount increases, the more significantly the system recognition operation amount increases. The fast mode is a mode in which the increase in the system recognition operation amount is large even when the user input operation amount is small, and the system recognition operation amount quickly reaches its upper limit.

[0135] The sensitivity curve adjustment gauge 136 is a screen element for adjusting the correspondence between the user input operation amount and the system recognition operation amount of the analog joystick 77, and specifically is a screen element for adjusting the inclination or curvature of the sensitivity curve. The sensitivity curve adjustment gauge 136 includes a slider that suggests a sensitivity value of the analog joystick 77. The dead zone adjustment gauge 138 is a screen element for adjusting the range of the dead zone (i.e., the size of the dead zone) of the analog joystick 77. The dead zone adjustment gauge 138 includes a slider that suggests a dead zone value of the analog joystick 77.

[0136] The analog stick setting screen 130 includes two images representing both the sensitivity and the dead zone of the analog stick 77 with a common scale (i.e., a common standard). One image is a sensitivity curve image 140 representing the sensitivity and the dead zone of the analog stick 77 along an axis representing the degree of operation input by the user to the analog stick 77. The other image is a setting state image 148 representing the sensitivity and the dead zone of the analog stick 77 by the distance from the center based on the degree of operation input by the user to the analog stick 77. The setting screen generation section 222 arranges the sensitivity curve image 140 and the setting state image 148 on the analog stick setting screen 130.

[0137] The sensitivity curve image 140 includes objects (initial sensitivity curve 146 and adjusted sensitivity curve 144) representing sensitivity curves arranged in a graphic area having a horizontal axis representing the degree of operation input to the analog stick 77 by the user and a vertical axis representing the degree of operation recognized by the information processing device 10. The initial sensitivity curve 146 represents the initial value of the sensitivity curve specified by the mode selected in the sensitivity mode selection field 134. The adjusted sensitivity curve 144 represents the sensitivity curve obtained after adjustment with the sensitivity curve adjustment gauge 136. In addition, the sensitivity curve image 140 contains an object representing the range of a dead zone (dead zone 142) arranged along the horizontal axis of the graphic area. Figure 6 The dead zone 142 in φ indicates that 18% of the tilt amount that the user can input from the rest position (ie, the initial position) of the analog stick 77 is the dead zone.

[0138] The setting state image 148 includes a setting target input portion ( Fig.11 , and information about the sensitivity and dead zone is superimposed on the image. Specifically, the setting state image 148 includes a plurality of concentric circles (level lines 150) whose centers are located at the static position (i.e., the initial position) of the analog stick 77, and represent a plurality of levels of the degree of operation from the static position. The plurality of level lines 150 may include three level lines 150 representing 100%, 75%, and 50% of the maximum value of the degree of operation. The level lines 150 may also be said to be contour lines of the degree of operation.

[0139] A dead zone 152 as a first object representing an insensitive zone is arranged on the setting state image 148. The dead zone 152 represents the range of the dead zone by the distance from the static position of the analog stick 77 (i.e., from the center of the circle represented by the grade line 150). An adjusted operation amount indicator 154 and an unadjusted operation amount indicator 156 are also arranged on the setting state image 148. Both the adjusted operation amount indicator 154 and the unadjusted operation amount indicator 156 represent the degree of operation of the analog stick 77 from the above-mentioned center. In addition, both the adjusted operation amount indicator 154 and the unadjusted operation amount indicator 156 represent the tilt direction of the analog stick 77 by the direction of the line extending from the above-mentioned center.

[0140] The adjusted operation amount indicator 154 indicates a value obtained by adjusting a value related to a user operation input to the analog stick 77 using the profile information adjusted in the adjustment mode (e.g., the left analog stick adjustment mode). That is, the adjusted operation amount indicator 154 indicates the operation amount of the analog stick 77 recognized by the information processing device 10 in the case where the profile information being adjusted is applied to the controller 6. For example, the adjusted profile information includes a set value of the sensitivity specified by the sensitivity curve adjusted by the sensitivity curve adjustment gauge 136 and the dead zone adjustment gauge 138.

[0141] The unadjusted operation amount indicator 156 indicates a value in the case where the profile information being adjusted in the adjustment mode is not applied to the value related to the user operation input to the analog stick 77. Specifically, the unadjusted operation amount indicator 156 indicates a value derived using the user operation amount input to the analog stick 77 and the linear sensitivity curve, regardless of the profile information being adjusted in the adjustment mode. The value indicated by the unadjusted operation amount indicator 156 is a default value of the operation amount of the analog stick 77 recognized by the information processing device 10 with reference to the user operation amount input to the analog stick 77. Note that although the term "unadjusted" is used, the adjustment of the analog stick 77 is completed at the time of manufacturing or shipment of the controller 6 in the factory.

[0142] The setting state image 148 is an image showing the sensitivity of the analog stick 77 based on the sensitivity curve set by the user on the analog stick setting screen 130. Specifically, the setting state image 148 is an image showing the relationship between the value represented by the adjusted operation amount indicator 154 and adjusted using the profile information being adjusted and the value represented by the unadjusted operation amount indicator 156 and not applying the profile information being adjusted.

[0143] On the analog stick setting screen 130, the user selects a desired mode from a plurality of predetermined sensitivity curve modes in the sensitivity mode selection column 134. It is assumed here that the delay mode is selected. The setting screen generation section 222 arranges the initial sensitivity curve 146 specified in the delay mode on the sensitivity curve image 140. In addition, the setting screen generation section 222 arranges the adjusted sensitivity curve 144 reflecting the setting values ​​of the sensitivity curve adjustment gauge 136 and the dead zone adjustment gauge 138 on the sensitivity curve image 140.

[0144] ( Figure 8 S3)

[0145] The output report sending section 214 of the information processing device 10 sends an output report including a line graph ( Fig.11 The information of the vertex of the adjusted sensitivity curve 144 in the image is provided.

[0146] Fig.12 Depicts a configuration example for outputting a report. Fig.12 The configuration of item C in the output report in the left analog stick adjustment mode or the right analog stick adjustment mode is shown. In item C, a setting value input to a setting screen (eg, analog stick setting screen 130 or trigger setting screen 300 mentioned later) is set. Fig.12 Each cell in includes a one-byte value. In "Number of set points", the number of vertices of the adjusted sensitivity curve 144 is specified. Although it is assumed in the embodiment that the maximum number of vertices that can be specified is four, the maximum number of vertices is not limited thereto, and four or more vertices may be specified.

[0147] In "set point n" (n is any value from 1 to 4), the level of the input value from the return position of the analog stick 77 (i.e., the initial position when there is no operation) as the center is specified for the vertex n of the adjusted sensitivity curve 144. The position specified here is represented by a circle whose center is at the return position of the analog stick 77. In "set point n", any value from 0 to 255 is specified. The value 0 indicates the center, and the value 255 indicates the outermost periphery.

[0148] In "Set gain n" (n is any one of values ​​from 1 to 4), the level of the output value from the above center is specified for vertex n of the adjusted sensitivity curve 144. In "Set gain n", any one of values ​​from 0 to 255 is specified. The value 0 represents the center, and the value 255 represents the output value of the outermost periphery.

[0149] Fig.13 An example of a sensitivity curve is depicted. Fig.13 In the example of , the output report sending section 214 of the information processing apparatus 10 sets information on Vertex 1, Vertex 2, Vertex 3, and Vertex 4 of the adjusted sensitivity curve 144 in Item C in the output report.

[0150] Describes the Fig.13 144 in FIG. 14 .

[0151] Number of setting points: 4

[0152] Set point 1: Enter value 1, set gain 1:0 (information about vertex 1)

[0153] Set point 2: Input value 2, Set gain 2: Output value 1 (information about vertex 2)

[0154] Set point 3: Input value 3, Set gain 3: Output value 2 (information about vertex 3)

[0155] Set point 4: 255, Set gain 4: 255 (information about vertex 4)

[0156] Reference again Figure 8 S2 in FIG. 6 illustrates adjustment of the trigger button 84 of the controller 6. When the adjustment mode of the trigger button 84 is switched, the setting screen generation section 222 of the information processing device 10 generates a trigger setting screen.

[0157] Fig.14 An example of a trigger settings screen 300 is depicted. Fig.14 The trigger setting screen 300 in FIG. 6 includes contents for setting the dead zone of the trigger button 84 (R2 button 84a and L2 button 84b) of the controller 6. The trigger setting screen 300 includes an R2 dead zone setting area 302a, an R2 behavior check area 304a, an L2 dead zone setting area 302b, and an L2 behavior check area 304b.

[0158] The R2 dead zone setting area 302a is an area for setting the dead zone of the R2 button 84a, and the L2 dead zone setting area 302b is an area for setting the dead zone of the L2 button 84b. In the present embodiment, the start point and the end point of the effective range are specified by percentage in the R2 dead zone setting area 302a and the L2 dead zone setting area 302b. In other words, the boundary between the effective range and the dead zone on each of the start point side and the end point side is specified. Fig.14 In the example in , the entire inputtable range of the R2 button 84a is designated as the effective range, and 50% on the end point side of the inputtable range of the L2 button 84b is designated as the effective range.

[0159] The R2 behavior check area 304a is an area that displays the level of the system input value according to the rotation operation of the R2 button 84a, and an operation amount indicator 306 ( Fig.14 The L2 behavior check area 304a is an area where the level of the system input value according to the rotation operation of the L2 button 84b is displayed, and an operation amount indicator 306 indicating the operation amount (system input value) of the L2 button 84b is displayed in the L2 behavior check area 304b. The portion corresponding to the dead zone is displayed with relatively low brightness, and the portion corresponding to the effective range is displayed with relatively high brightness.

[0160] As Figure 8In S3, the user inputs the dead zone setting value of the R2 button 84a to the R2 dead zone setting area 302a, and / or inputs the dead zone setting value of the L2 button 84b to the L2 dead zone setting area 302b. The output report sending section 214 of the information processing device 10 sends an output report including the setting value input to the R2 dead zone setting area 302a and the setting value input to the L2 dead zone setting area 302b to the controller 6.

[0161] Fig.15 Depicts a configuration example for outputting a report. Fig.15 The configuration of item C in the output report in the trigger button adjustment mode is depicted. Fig.15 Each cell in contains a one-byte value. Fig.16 : is a diagram for explaining the dead zone setting value. In each cell in item C, any value from 0 to 255 is specified. The value 0 represents the state in which the trigger button 84 is released, and the value 255 represents the state in which the trigger button 84 is operated with a full stroke. The dead zone on the start side is called a release dead zone, and the dead zone on the end side is called a full stroke dead zone.

[0162] Reference again Fig.15 As described above, the output report sending section 214 sets a value obtained by converting an input value of the L2 dead zone setting area 302b: start point on the trigger setting screen 300 into any value from 0 to 255 in the left trigger release dead zone in item C. In addition, the output report sending section 214 sets a value obtained by converting an input value of the L2 dead zone setting area 302b: end point on the trigger setting screen 300 into any value from 0 to 255 in the left trigger full stroke dead zone in item C. In addition, the output report sending section 214 sets a value obtained by converting an input value of the R2 dead zone setting area 302a: start point on the trigger setting screen 300 into any value from 0 to 255 in the right trigger release dead zone in item C. In addition, the output report sending section 214 sets a value obtained by converting an input value of the R2 dead zone setting area 302a: end point on the trigger setting screen 300 into any value from 0 to 255 in the right trigger full stroke dead zone in item C.

[0163] ( Figure 8 S4)

[0164] In the adjustment mode of the analog input device, the operation information generating section 118 of the controller 6 acquires the setting value of the analog input device set in the output report acquired by the output report receiving section 112. In order to generate the operation information, the operation information generating section 118 uses the setting value of the analog input device set in the output report as the profile information being adjusted (hereinafter, also referred to as "profile being adjusted"). For example, the profile being adjusted includes the characteristics of the sensitivity curve being adjusted and the range of the dead zone being adjusted.

[0165] The operation sensing portion 116 performs A / D (analog-to-digital) conversion on the output from the analog input device related to the user's operation on the analog input device at a predetermined sampling rate, and acquires the output value. In the adjustment mode of the analog input device, the operation information generating portion 118 generates operation information including both an adjusted operation value and an unadjusted operation value as a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device with respect to the output value. The adjusted operation value is a value obtained by adjusting the value related to the user operation input to the analog input device using the profile being adjusted. The unadjusted operation value is a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device and to which the profile being adjusted is not applied.

[0166] The operation information transmission section 120 of the controller 6 transmits operation information including both the adjusted operation value and the unadjusted operation value to the information processing apparatus 10. Both the adjusted operation value and the unadjusted operation value are arbitrary values ​​within the range of 0 to 255. Note that in the case of setting a dead band of the analog input device, the adjusted operation value is a system input value (any value from 0 to 255) within the effective range excluding the dead band.

[0167] In the present embodiment, using a default sensitivity curve indicating a linear relationship between the operation amount input to the analog input device and the system input value, the operation information generating section 118 derives a system input value corresponding to the operation amount input to the analog input device, and regards the system input value as an unadjusted operation value. Therefore, the unadjusted operation value is linearly related to the operation amount input to the analog input device. On the contrary, for example, Fig.13 As represented by the adjusted sensitivity curve 144 in FIG. 1 , the adjusted operation value may be non-linearly related to the operation amount input to the analog input device.

[0168] In the adjustment mode, the setting screen generation section 222 of the information processing apparatus 10 updates the display content of the setting screen of the analog input device with reference to the adjusted operation value and the unadjusted operation value indicated by the operation information transmitted from the controller 6 .

[0169] For example, referring to the adjusted operation value, the setting screen generation section 222 updates Fig.11The position of the adjusted operation amount indicator 154 in the setting state image 148 on the analog stick setting screen 130 shown in FIG. 1 is shown. In addition, referring to the unadjusted operation value, the setting screen generation section 222 updates the position of the unadjusted operation amount indicator 156 in the setting state image 148. In this way, in the setting state image 148, the relationship between the adjusted operation amount indicator 154 (adjusted operation value) and the unadjusted operation amount indicator 156 (unadjusted operation value) changes according to the user's setting of the sensitivity curve of the analog stick 77. Thus, the sensitivity characteristics of the analog stick 77 based on the current adjustment value can be presented to the user in an easily understandable manner.

[0170] Furthermore, the setting screen generation section 222 updates the setting screen based on the unadjusted operation value and the adjusted operation value. Fig.14 The operation amount indicator 306 on the trigger setting screen 300 is shown. Fig.14 As shown, in a case where the operation amount of the L2 button 84b is within the range of the dead zone, the screen generation part 222 is set so that the operation amount indicator 306 having a length corresponding to the unadjusted operation value is displayed relative to the movable range of the operation amount indicator 306 including both the dead zone and the effective range, and the movable range is represented by a value from 0 to 255.

[0171] On the other hand, Fig.17 As shown in the trigger setting screen 300 in FIG. 2 , when the operation amount of the L2 button 84b is within the effective range (outside the range of the dead zone), the setting screen generation section 222 causes the operation amount indicator 306 having a length corresponding to the adjusted operation value to be displayed with respect to the allowable range of the operation amount indicator 306 within the effective range, which is represented by values ​​from 0 to 255. Thus, the sensitivity characteristics of the trigger button 84 based on the current adjustment value can be presented to the user in an easily understandable manner.

[0172] In S4, the following processes (1) and (2) are repeatedly performed. (1) The information processing device 10 sends an output report to the controller at a predetermined communication interval. (2) The controller 6 generates operation information including both adjusted operation values ​​and unadjusted operation values ​​for values ​​related to user operations input to analog input devices such as the analog joystick 77 or the trigger button 84 acquired at a predetermined sampling timing, based on the adjustment profile set in S3, and sends the operation information to the information processing device 10.

[0173] ( Figure 8 S5)

[0174] When checking the setting status image 148 on the analog stick setting screen 130, the user adjusts / updates the sensitivity curve (including the dead zone) of the analog stick 77. In addition, when checking the R2 behavior check area 304a and the L2 behavior check area 304b on the trigger setting screen 300, the user adjusts / updates the dead zone of the trigger button 84. The output report transmission section 214 of the information processing device 10 transmits an output report including information on the adjusted updated profile to the controller 6.

[0175] ( Figure 8 S6)

[0176] Referring to the information about the updated configuration file being adjusted, the operation information generating section 118 of the controller 6 generates new operation information including the adjusted operation value and the unadjusted operation value in response to the user's operation on the analog input device. The operation information transmitting section 120 of the controller 6 transmits the new operation information to the information processing apparatus 10.

[0177] ( Figure 8 S7)

[0178] The user checks the setting state image 148 on the analog stick setting screen 130, or checks the R2 behavior check area 304a and the L2 behavior check area 304b on the trigger setting screen 300, and inputs an operation instructing to end the adjustment mode to the controller 6. In the case where the user operation instructing to end the adjustment mode is input via the controller 6, the output report transmission section 214 of the information processing device 10 transmits an output report including an adjustment mode end instruction (i.e., an instruction to return to the normal mode) to the controller 6. The controller 6 (operation information generation section 118) shifts to the normal mode according to the received output report.

[0179] The advantage of the first feature of the information processing system 1 according to the embodiment is described. The output value of the analog input device from the controller 6 is subjected to analog / digital conversion at the controller 6. Therefore, the information processing apparatus 10 itself cannot make the setting screen correctly reflect the output values ​​available before and after the change of the sensitivity curve of the analog input device. In the information processing system 1 according to the embodiment, both the adjusted operation value reflecting the profile being adjusted and the unadjusted operation value not reflecting the profile being adjusted are provided from the controller 6 to the information processing apparatus 10. Therefore, a setting screen can be provided to the user, on which the correct adjusted operation value and the unadjusted operation value are displayed, and the sensitivity characteristics of the analog input device can be intuitively and easily understood through the setting screen.

[0180] Next, operations related to the second feature of the information processing system 1 are described. Fig.18is a flow chart depicting operations performed by controller 6 related to the second feature.

[0181] The initial state of the controller 6 (switching portion 122) is the device master mode, and the controller 6 (switching portion 122) is activated in the device master mode (S10). The switching portion 122 selects a profile that has been used most recently, for example, a profile that has been used at a point in time when the power supply is turned off, as an application profile to be used for generating operation information by referring to the profile storage portion 102 (S11). The switching portion 122 acquires information about a slot corresponding to the applied profile (hereinafter, also referred to as an "active slot") from the profile storage portion 102.

[0182] The input report sending section 114 of the controller 6 sends an input report including information about the applied profile, and specifically, information about the active slot, to the information processing device 10 (S12). The profile information acquisition section 216 of the information processing device 10 stores information about the active slot of the controller 6 indicated by the input report, that is, information about the currently applied profile of the controller 6, on the profile storage section 204.

[0183] Fig.19 Depicts an example configuration for an input report. Fig.19 The configuration of item D in the input report is depicted. In item D in the input report, a value indicating the state of the controller is set. As the operation mode bit, a value indicating the current operation mode of the controller 6 is set, and, specifically, a value indicating the host master mode or a value indicating the device master mode is set. As the active slot bit string, a value indicating the current active slot (any one of slots 1 to 4) is set.

[0184] In the case where the information processing device 10 supports switching of the profile of the controller 6, when the connection of the controller is sensed, the switching instruction section 226 of the information processing device 10 causes an output report including an instruction to switch to the host master mode to be sent to the controller 6. The data of the output report here will be explained. Fig. 9 The output report depicted in the figure is: In the case of switching the mode control bit in Project A, the Fig.10 The output depicted in the report: The toggle mode bit in item B is valid. Here, a value indicating the host master mode is specified as the toggle mode bit, but a value indicating the device master mode may also be specified as the toggle mode bit.

[0185] When the output report receiving section 112 of the controller 6 receives an output report including an instruction to switch to the host master mode (Y in S13), the switching section 122 of the controller 6 switches the operation mode to the host master mode (S14). In the case where an output report including an instruction to switch to the host master mode is not received (N in S13), the processing in S14 is skipped and the device master mode is continued.

[0186] In the host master mode, an instruction for switching the profile of the application from the information processing device 10 to the controller 6 is given in the case where a predetermined profile switching operation is input, and the instruction is given according to the execution state of the application at the information processing device 10. The profile switching operation is to press the function button 88 and the operation button 76 of the controller 6 at the same time. For example, pressing the left function button 88b and the square button 74 at the same time is a profile switching operation to designate the profile associated with the square button 74 as the profile to be newly applied. In addition, pressing the right function button 88a and the round button 72 at the same time is a profile switching operation to designate the profile associated with the round button 72 as the profile to be newly applied.

[0187] In the case where the operation information received from the controller 6 indicates a profile switching operation, the switching instruction section 226 of the information processing apparatus 10 sends an output report including an instruction to switch to the profile specified by the profile switching operation to the controller 6 .

[0188] In addition, according to the execution state of the application at the application execution section 220, the switching instruction section 226 causes an output report including an instruction to switch the configuration file of the application to be sent to the controller 6. For example, the switching instruction section 226 may cause an output report to be sent to the controller 6, which specifies the configuration file (e.g., the default configuration file) specified for the execution target application as the configuration file of the new application. In addition, the switching instruction section 226 may cause an output report to be sent to the controller 6, which specifies the configuration file for which an instruction has been given from the application being executed as the configuration file of the new application.

[0189] In the output report here, 1 is designated as Fig. 9 The output report depicted in: Item A switches the mode control bit, and the value indicating the host master mode is specified as Fig.10 Output report depicted in: Toggle mode bit in item B. In addition, identification information about the slot corresponding to the profile to be newly applied (active slot) is specified as an active slot string in item B. Note that in the case where 0 is specified as the toggle mode bit, that is, in the case where a value indicating the main mode of the device is specified as the toggle mode bit, the value of the active slot string is ignored.

[0190] In the case where the switching indication part 226 sends an output report including an instruction to switch the applied profile to the controller 6, the switching indication part 226 stores information representing the profile to be newly applied on the profile storage part 204, and stores, for example, information about the active slot on the profile storage part 204.

[0191] In the case where the profile switching mode is the host master mode (Y in S15) and an output report specifying a new active slot is received (Y in S16), the switching section 122 of the controller 6 checks whether a profile corresponding to the new active slot specified in the output report is stored by referring to the profile storage section 102. In the case where a profile corresponding to the new active slot specified in the output report is stored (Y in S17), the switching section 122 switches the applied profile to the profile corresponding to the new active slot (S18). In other words, in the case where the information specifying the specific profile included in the output report corresponds to any one of the multiple profile information stored on the profile storage section 102, the switching section 122 switches the applied profile to the above-mentioned specific profile.

[0192] In the case where the profile corresponding to the new active slot specified in the output report is not stored on the profile storage section 102 (No in S17), the processing in S18 is skipped, and the applied profile that has been applied until then remains applied. In addition, in the case where the output report specifying the new active slot is not received (N in S16), the processing in S17 and S18 is skipped, and the applied profile that has been applied until then remains applied.

[0193] In the case where the profile switching mode is the device master mode (N in S15), the profile switching is performed autonomously at the controller 6, that is, the profile switching is performed only by the processing inside the controller 6. Specifically, when the operation sensing section 116 senses the input of the profile switching operation (Y in S19), in the case where the profile corresponding to the operation button 76 (slot) specified by the profile switching operation is stored, the switching section 122 switches the applied profile to the profile specified by the profile switching operation (S20). In the case where the input of the profile switching operation is not sensed (No in S19), the processing in S20 is skipped, and the application profile that has been applied until then remains applied.

[0194] When a predetermined end condition such as the condition that the power supply of the controller 6 is turned off is satisfied (Y in S21), the process ends. Fig.18When the end condition is not satisfied (N in S21), the process returns to S12. During operation, the controller 6 periodically sends an input report including information about the profile of the current application to the information processing device 10.

[0195] Referring to the input report sent from the controller 6, the profile information acquisition section 216 of the information processing device 10 identifies the profile of the current application of the controller 6. In the case where the profile of the application of the controller 6 stored on the profile storage section 204 does not match the profile of the application that has been notified through the input report, the profile information acquisition section 216 causes the display device 4 to display predetermined information via the display control section 224. The information may include content indicating an error or an alarm. In addition, the information may also include content prompting the user to take a predetermined measure, such as restarting or initializing the controller 6 or the information processing device 10.

[0196] According to the second feature of the information processing system 1 of the embodiment, since the controller 6 can operate in the first mode, it is possible to reduce instances in which a profile (e.g., key assignment) different from a profile desired by an application executed on the information processing apparatus 10 is applied to the controller 6. Furthermore, since the controller 6 can operate in the second mode, even in the case where the controller 6 is connected to a device that does not support profile control, the user can select a desired profile.

[0197] Next, the third feature of the information processing system 1 will be described. Fig. 20 A mode of notification of profile switching to which the third feature is not applied is depicted. Fig. 20 A case where the applied profile is switched from the profile of slot 1 to the profile of slot 2 is depicted. In accordance with the execution state of the application, the application execution section 220 of the information processing device 10 causes an output report including data indicating notification to the user by vibration or light emission to be sent to the controller 6. The notification control section 124 of the controller 6 actuates the vibrator 90 in accordance with the vibration pattern sent from the information processing device 10 and specified by the application, and actuates the light emitting section 86 in accordance with the light emission pattern sent from the information processing device 10 and specified by the application.

[0198] In addition, in the case where the applied profile is switched by the switching portion 122, the notification control portion 124 controls the vibrator 90 and the light emitting portion 86 to notify the user of the profile switching. The profile switching vibration pattern is a predetermined vibration pattern for giving a notification of the profile switching, and includes a vibration pattern and a vibration time. Similarly, the profile switching lighting pattern is a predetermined lighting pattern (which can also be said to be a lighting pattern) for giving a notification about the profile switching, and includes a lighting pattern and a lighting time. Note that the notification can be given using the light emitting portion 85.

[0199] like Fig. 20 As shown, if profile switching is performed in a state where the vibrator 90 is actuated as specified by the application, the duration of the profile switching vibration mode between the vibration modes specified by the application becomes shorter, and it becomes difficult for the user to distinguish between the vibration specified by the application and the profile switching vibration. Similarly, if profile switching is performed in a state where the light-emitting portion 86 is actuated as specified by the application, the duration of the profile switching lighting mode between the lighting modes specified by the application becomes shorter, and it becomes difficult for the user to distinguish between the lighting specified by the application and the profile switching lighting.

[0200] In view of this, the controller 6 according to the embodiment provides a predetermined segmented period at least before the period in which a notification about profile switching is given by vibration. The segmented period is a period in which the stimulation pattern or information provided to the user's sensory system (e.g., tactile system or visual system) is different from the stimulation pattern or information provided from the application (i.e., a period in which the stimulation pattern or information is changed from the pattern provided by the application). The segmented period in the embodiment includes a silent period in which the vibrator 90 is not vibrated and a silent period in which the light-emitting portion 86 is not illuminated. In the embodiment, further, after the period in which the notification about profile switching is given by vibration, a silent period in which the vibrator 90 is not vibrated is provided. Similarly, a silent period in which the light-emitting portion 86 is not illuminated is provided before and / or after the period in which the notification of profile switching is given by illumination.

[0201] Fig.21 The pattern of notification of profile switching of the third feature of the application is depicted. The above-mentioned silent period includes a first vibration silent period 310, a second vibration silent period 312, a first luminous silent period 314, and a second luminous silent period 316. In an embodiment, the length of the first vibration silent period 310, the second vibration silent period 312, and the second luminous silent period 316 is 70 milliseconds, and the length of the first luminous silent period 314 is 71 milliseconds. The length of each silent period is not limited thereto. Different lengths of silent periods can be set for vibration and light emission, and different lengths of silent periods can be set for those periods before the notification period and those periods after the notification period.

[0202] In the case where the applied profile of the controller 6 is switched by the switching portion 122, the notification control portion 124 senses the switching. In the case where the switching of the applied profile of the controller 6 is sensed, the notification control portion 124 actuates the vibrator 90 in the profile switching vibration mode after the first vibration silent period 310 has passed. At the same time, in the case where the applied profile of the controller 6 is switched, the notification control portion 124 actuates the light emitting portion 86 in the profile switching lighting mode after the first lighting silent period 314 has passed.

[0203] In the case where the switching of the applied profile of the controller 6 is sensed, the notification control section 124 stops the actuation of the vibrator 90 instructed by the information processing device 10. For example, in the case where the switching of the applied profile of the controller 6 is sensed and the vibrator 90 is actuated as instructed by the information processing device 10, the notification control section 124 stops the actuation of the vibrator 90 instructed by the information processing device 10, and starts the first vibration silent period 310. Note that in the following description, the instruction from the information processing device 10 can also be said to be an instruction from an application being executed on the information processing device 10.

[0204] Note that in the case where the application profile of the controller 6 is switched, the notification control portion 124 may gradually reduce the actuation level of the vibrator 90 indicated by the information processing device 10 before the first vibration silent period 310 begins, and then stop the actuation of the vibrator 90 (this is generally referred to as fade-out).

[0205] The notification control section 124 restricts actuation of the vibrator 90 in the first vibration silent period 310. In the embodiment, in the first vibration silent period 310, the notification control section 124 does not actuate the vibrator 90 even in the case where an instruction for actuating the vibrator 90 is accepted from the information processing device 10. As a modified example, in the first vibration silent period 310, the notification control section 124 may actuate the vibrator 90 in a predetermined pattern indicating that the current period is a silent period, regardless of whether an instruction for actuating the vibrator 90 is accepted from the information processing device 10.

[0206] In the case where the switching of the applied profile of the controller 6 is sensed, the notification control portion 124 stops the actuation of the light emitting portion 86 according to the instruction from the information processing device 10. For example, in the case where the switching of the applied profile of the controller 6 is sensed and the light emitting portion 86 is actuated as instructed by the information processing device 10, the notification control portion 124 stops the actuation of the light emitting portion 86 instructed by the information processing device 10, and starts the first light emission silent period 314.

[0207] The notification control portion 124 restricts actuation of the light emitting portion 86 in the first light emission silent period 314. In this embodiment, in the first light emission silent period 314, the notification control portion 124 does not actuate the light emitting portion 86, and keeps the light emitting portion 86 off even in the case where an instruction for actuating the light emitting portion 86 is accepted from the information processing apparatus 10. As a modified example, in the first light emission silent period 314, the notification control portion 124 may actuate the light emitting portion 86 in a predetermined pattern indicating that the current period is a silent period, regardless of whether an instruction for actuating the vibrator 90 is accepted from the information processing apparatus 10.

[0208] After giving notification of profile switching by actuating the vibrator 90 according to the profile switching vibration mode, the notification control portion 124 restricts actuation of the vibrator 90 in the second vibration silent period 312. In the present embodiment, the notification control portion 124 does not actuate the vibrator 90 in the second vibration silent period 312. As a modified example, in the second vibration silent period 312, the notification control portion 124 may actuate the vibrator 90 in a predetermined pattern indicating that the current period is a silent period, regardless of whether an instruction for actuating the vibrator 90 is accepted from the information processing device 10.

[0209] After the second vibration silent period 312 has passed, the notification control portion 124 returns to the state of actuating the vibrator 90 according to the instruction from the information processing device 10. Note that after the second vibration silent period 312 ends, the notification control portion 124 may gradually increase the actuation level of the vibrator 90 instructed by the information processing device 10 to a normal level (generally referred to as fade-in).

[0210] After giving notification of mode switching by actuating the light emitting portion 86 according to the switching lighting mode of the profile, the notification control portion 124 restricts actuation of the light emitting portion 86 in the second light emission silent period 316. In this embodiment, in the second light emission silent period 316, the notification control portion 124 does not actuate the light emitting portion 86 even in the case where an instruction for actuating the light emitting portion 86 is accepted from the information processing apparatus 10. As a modified example, in the second light emission silent period 316, the notification control portion 124 may actuate the light emitting portion 86 in a predetermined pattern indicating that the current period is a silent period, regardless of whether an instruction for actuating the vibrator 90 is accepted from the information processing apparatus 10. After the second light emission silent period 316 has passed, the notification control portion 124 returns to the state of actuating the light emitting portion 86 according to the instruction from the information processing apparatus 10.

[0211] After the first vibration silent period 310, the notification control part 124 actuates the vibrator 90 for the time specified by the profile switching vibration mode. In addition, after the first luminous silent period 314, the notification control part 124 actuates the luminous part 86 for the time specified by the profile switching luminous mode. In an embodiment, the time specified by the profile switching vibration mode is 140 milliseconds, and the time specified by the profile switching lighting mode is 500 milliseconds. That is, together with the profile switching, the notification control part 124 actuates the luminous part 86 for a time longer than the actuation time of the vibrator 90. Compared with the notification by vibration, the duration of the luminous notification is longer, so that the user can more reliably identify the profile switching. Note that the actuation time of the vibrator 90 and the luminous part 86 in the profile switching notification is not limited to the above content.

[0212] The notification control section 124 inputs the actuation instruction signal to the vibrator 90 after the first vibration silent period 310 has passed, and inputs the actuation instruction signal to the light emitting section 86 after the first light emission silent period 314 has passed. As already mentioned, the first light emission silent period 314 (71 milliseconds) is longer than the first vibration silent period 310 (70 milliseconds). That is, the notification control section 124 inputs the actuation instruction signal to the vibrator 90 after the first vibration silent period 310 has passed, and, after a predetermined waiting time has passed after the input, inputs the actuation instruction signal to the light emitting section 86.

[0213] The waiting time can also be said to be the difference between the first vibration silent period 310 and the first light emission silent period 314. The waiting time is specified with reference to a pre-measured delay (e.g., a drive delay of the VCM) occurring between the input of the actuation instruction signal to the vibrator 90 and the start of actuation of the vibrator 90. The waiting time in the embodiment is 1 millisecond. Note that the waiting time can be specified with reference to the difference between the time required for a person to sense vibration and the time required for a person to sense light determined by experiments, etc.

[0214] The third feature of the information processing system 1 according to the embodiment can help make it easy to distinguish between notifications to the user from an application being executed on the information processing device 10 and notifications to the user via the notification device of the controller 6 (the vibrator 90 and the light-emitting portion 86 in the embodiment) related to the switching of the profile applied at the controller 6.

[0215] The present invention has been explained with reference to the embodiments so far. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the embodiments are illustrated as examples, and various modifications may be made to the combinations of the corresponding constituent elements or the various processing processes, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention.

[0216] A modification example is described. The information processing device 10 may further include a notification control section. In the case where the switching indication section 226 has switched the profile applied to the controller 6, the notification control section of the information processing device 10 may cause the display device 4 to display content related to the profile switching via the display control section 224. The content related to the profile switching may include the name of the profile to be newly applied or key assignment information.

[0217] Another modification example is described. In the case where the application profile of the controller 6 is switched according to the execution state of the application, the switching instruction section 226 of the information processing device 10 may store information (slot number, etc.) of the profile that has been applied before the switching on the profile storage section 204. In the case where the execution of the application that caused the switching of the application profile of the controller 6 (for example, the execution of the application that requested a specific profile (the system setting screen that requested the default profile, etc.)) has ended, the switching instruction section 226 may switch the profile applied by the controller 6 back to the profile that was stored on the profile storage section 204 and that had been applied before the switching.

[0218] A further modification example is described. Although vibration and light emission are used as means for giving notification of profile switching in the above-described embodiment, as a modification example, sound may be used. In the case where the applied profile is switched by the switching section 122, the notification control section 124 of the controller 6 may notify the user of the profile switching by controlling the speaker 89 according to a predetermined profile switching sound mode so that the speaker 89 outputs a predetermined sound indicating the profile switching. Further, the notification control section 124 may provide a silent period in which no sound is output from the speaker 89 before and after the period in which the notification of the profile switching is given by sound.

[0219] Any combination of the above-mentioned embodiments and modified examples is also useful as an embodiment of the present invention. The new embodiment generated by the combination combines the corresponding advantages of the combined embodiments and modified examples. In addition, those skilled in the art should also understand that the function to be realized by each constituent requirement described in the claims is realized by each constituent element alone, or by the cooperation between the constituent elements described in the embodiments and modified examples.

[0220] The technical concepts described in the above-described embodiments and modified examples can be expressed as modes described in the following corresponding items.

[0221] [Item 1-1]

[0222] An operating device, comprising:

[0223] an analog input device to which user operations are input;

[0224] a storage section storing setting information about the analog input device;

[0225] a generating section that generates operation information including a value obtained by adjusting a value related to a user operation input to the analog input device with reference to the setting information; and

[0226] a sending part, wherein the sending part sends the generated operation information to an external information processing device, wherein

[0227] The generating section generates operation information including a first value and a second value related to the user operation input to the analog input device in an adjustment mode of the analog input device,

[0228] the first value is a value obtained by adjusting a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device by using the setting information being adjusted in the adjustment mode,

[0229] The second value is a value to which the setting information being adjusted is not applied.

[0230] The operating device can assist the information processing device in providing an operating interface based on the first value of the setting information being adjusted that has been applied and the second value of the setting information being adjusted that has not been applied, that is, for adjusting the analog input device and which is easy for the user to intuitively understand.

[0231] [Item 1-2]

[0232] The operation device according to item 1-1, wherein the second value is linearly related to the operation amount input to the analog input device, and the first value is non-linearly related to the operation amount input to the analog input device.

[0233] The operating device can assist the information processing device in providing an adjustment operation interface that is easy for the user to intuitively understand by providing the information processing device with a first value that can deviate from the user's feeling mode and providing a second value that corresponds to the user's feeling mode together with the first value.

[0234] [Items 1-3]

[0235] The operating device according to item 1-1 or 1-2, wherein the setting information is information on sensitivity.

[0236] The operating device can assist in adjusting the sensitivity of the analog input device.

[0237] [Items 1-4]

[0238] The operating device according to item 1-3, wherein the information on the sensitivity includes a value for converting an operation amount input to the analog input device.

[0239] The operating device can assist in adjusting the operation amount value converted into the analog input device as the sensitivity of the analog input device.

[0240] [Items 1-5]

[0241] An operating device according to item 1-3 or 1-4, wherein the information about the sensitivity includes a dead zone setting value of the analog input device.

[0242] The operating device may assist in adjusting a dead band of the analog input device as a function of the sensitivity of the analog input device.

[0243] [Items 1-6]

[0244] An operating apparatus according to any one of items 1-1 to 1-5, wherein the analog input device is an analog joystick.

[0245] The operating device can assist in adjusting the analog joystick.

[0246] [Items 1-7]

[0247] An operating apparatus according to any one of items 1-1 to 1-5, wherein the analog input device is a trigger button.

[0248] The operating device can assist in adjusting the trigger button.

[0249] [Items 1-8]

[0250] An operating device, comprising:

[0251] an analog input device to which user operations are input;

[0252] a storage section storing setting information about the analog input device; and

[0253] A processor, wherein:

[0254] the processor generates operation information including a value obtained by adjusting a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device with reference to the sensitivity indicated by the setting information,

[0255] The processor sends the generated operation information to an external information processing device,

[0256] The processor generates operation information including a first value and a second value related to the user operation input to the analog input device in an adjustment mode of the analog input device,

[0257] the first value is a value obtained by adjusting a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device by using the setting information being adjusted in the adjustment mode,

[0258] The second value is a value to which the setting information being adjusted is not applied.

[0259] The operating device can assist the information processing device in providing an operating interface based on the first value of the setting information being adjusted that has been applied and the second value of the setting information being adjusted that has not been applied, that is, for adjusting the analog input device and which is easy for the user to intuitively understand.

[0260] [Items 1-9]

[0261] An information processing system, comprising:

[0262] information processing device; and

[0263] An operating device, wherein:

[0264] The operating device comprises

[0265] a simulated input device to which user operations are input,

[0266] a storage section storing setting information about the analog input device,

[0267] a generating section that generates operation information including a value obtained by adjusting a value related to a user operation input to the analog input device with reference to the setting information, and

[0268] a sending section that sends the generated operation information to the information processing device,

[0269] the generating section generates operation information including a first value and a second value related to the user operation input to the analog input device in an adjustment mode of the analog input device,

[0270] the first value is a value obtained by adjusting a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device by using the setting information being adjusted in the adjustment mode,

[0271] the second value is a value to which the setting information being adjusted is not applied,

[0272] The information processing apparatus arranges, on a setting screen of the analog input device, an image representing a relationship between the first value and the second value included in the operation information.

[0273] In this information processing system, the information processing apparatus is capable of providing a setting screen based on a first value of setting information being adjusted that has been applied and a second value of setting information being adjusted that has not been applied, i.e., for adjusting an analog input device and which is easy for a user to intuitively understand.

[0274] [Items 1-10]

[0275] The information processing system according to item 1-9, wherein the image representing the relationship between the first value and the second value is an image representing the sensitivity of the analog input device.

[0276] The information processing system can present the sensitivity of the analog input device of the operating apparatus in a mode that is easy to intuitively understand.

[0277] [Items 1-11]

[0278] An information processing system according to item 1-9 or 1-10, wherein:

[0279] The information processing device repeatedly sends control data to the operating device,

[0280] In a case where the user selects adjustment of the analog input device, the information processing apparatus transmits control data including an instruction for switching to the adjustment mode to the operating apparatus.

[0281] The information processing system may cause the operating device to switch to the adjustment mode in response to a user operation.

[0282] [Items 1-12]

[0283] An information processing system according to any one of items 1-9 to 1-11, wherein the information processing device sends control data to the operating device, the control data including information on vertices of a line graph representing sensitivity characteristics of the analog input device specified on the setting screen.

[0284] An information processing system capable of efficiently transmitting the sensitivity characteristic of an analog input device designated on a setting screen to an operation apparatus.

[0285] [Items 1-13]

[0286] The information processing system according to any one of items 1-9 to 1-12, wherein the information processing device transmits control data including information on a dead zone of the analog input device specified on the setting screen to the operating device.

[0287] The information processing system may transmit information on the dead zone of the analog input device designated on the setting screen to the operating apparatus.

[0288] [Items 1-14]

[0289] An information processing method performed by an operating device, the operating device comprising an analog input device for inputting user operations and a storage portion for storing setting information about the analog input device, the information processing method comprising:

[0290] a step of generating operation information including a value obtained by adjusting a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device with reference to the setting information; and

[0291] The step of sending the generated operation information from the operation device to an external information processing device, wherein:

[0292] In the generating step, in an adjustment mode of the analog input device, generating operation information including a first value and a second value related to the user operation input to the analog input device,

[0293] the first value is a value obtained by adjusting a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device by using the setting information being adjusted in the adjustment mode,

[0294] The second value is a value to which the setting information being adjusted is not applied.

[0295] The information processing method can assist the information processing apparatus in providing an operation interface based on a first value of the setting information being adjusted that has been applied and a second value of the setting information being adjusted that has not been applied, i.e., for adjusting an analog input device and which is easy for a user to intuitively understand.

[0296] [Items 1-15]

[0297] A computer program that causes an operation device including an analog input device for inputting a user operation and a storage section for storing setting information about the analog input device to implement the following functions:

[0298] a function of generating operation information including a value obtained by adjusting a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device with reference to the setting information; and

[0299] A function of transmitting the generated operation information from the operation device to an external information processing device, wherein:

[0300] generating, by a generating function, operation information including a first value and a second value related to the user operation input to the analog input device in an adjustment mode of the analog input device,

[0301] the first value is a value obtained by adjusting a value related to a user operation input to the analog input device by using the setting information being adjusted in the adjustment mode,

[0302] The second value is a value to which the setting information being adjusted is not applied.

[0303] A computer program can implement an operating device that assists an information processing device in providing an operating interface based on a first value of the setting information being adjusted that has been applied and a second value of the setting information being adjusted that has not been applied, that is, for adjusting an analog input device and which is easy for a user to understand intuitively.

[0304] [Item 2-1]

[0305] An operating device for inputting user operations, the operating device comprising:

[0306] a storage section storing a plurality of pieces of setting information regarding the behavior of the operating device;

[0307] a transmitting section that transmits operation information indicating the input user operation to an external information processing device, the operation information being operation information of any one of the plurality of pieces of setting information that has been applied; and

[0308] a switching portion that switches setting information to be applied at the operating device, wherein

[0309] The operation mode of the switching part includes a first mode and a second mode, in which the setting information to be applied at the operating device is switched according to the control of the information processing device, and in which the setting information to be applied at the operating device is switched in response to a predetermined input of the user.

[0310] Since the first mode is provided, the operating device can reduce instances where setting information different from setting information expected by an application executed on the information processing device is applied to the operating device. In addition, since the second mode is provided, the user can select a desired profile even when the controller 6 is connected to a device that does not support profile control.

[0311] [Item 2-2]

[0312] The operating device according to item 2-1, wherein the switching portion operates in the first mode when accepting control data having predetermined contents from the information processing device, and operates in the second mode when not accepting control data having predetermined contents.

[0313] The operating device can implement operation in a first mode if the information processing device supports setting information switching control, and implement operation in a second mode if the information processing device does not support setting information switching control.

[0314] [Item 2-3]

[0315] The operating device according to item 2-2, wherein the switching section accepts the control data, the control data including information specifying specific setting information stored on the storage section.

[0316] The operating device can switch the setting information to be applied to the operating device in response to the designation from the information processing device.

[0317] [Item 2-4]

[0318] An operating device according to item 2-2 or 2-3, wherein, when information specifying setting information accepted during operation in the first mode corresponds to any one of the plurality of setting information stored on the storage portion, the switching portion switches the setting information to be applied to the operating information.

[0319] The operating device can prevent unauthorized operation of the operating device by switching the setting information when the designation from the information processing device is correct.

[0320] [Item 2-5]

[0321] The operating device according to any one of items 2-1 to 2-4 further includes:

[0322] A notification section notifies the information processing apparatus of an operation mode of the switching section and setting information being applied.

[0323] The operation device can cause the operation mode of the switching portion and the setting information being applied to be recognized and managed on the information processing device side.

[0324] [Item 2-6]

[0325] An operating device according to any one of items 2-1 to 2-5, wherein the switching portion operates in the second mode when the operating device is activated.

[0326] Using the second mode as the default operating mode, the operating device can effect switching to the first mode in response to an instruction from the information processing device.

[0327] [Item 2-7]

[0328] The operating device according to any one of items 2-1 to 2-6, wherein, when the operating device is activated, the switching portion applies the most recently applied setting information to the operating information.

[0329] The operating device can apply suitable setting information when activated.

[0330] [Item 2-8]

[0331] An operating device for inputting user operations, the operating device comprising:

[0332] a storage section storing a plurality of pieces of setting information regarding the behavior of the operating device; and

[0333] A processor, wherein:

[0334] the processor sending operation information indicating the input user operation to the external information processing device, the operation information being operation information of any one of the plurality of setting information that has been applied,

[0335] The processor switches setting information to be applied at the operating device, and

[0336] The operation mode of the processor related to the switching of the setting information includes a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the setting information to be applied at the operating device is switched according to the control of the information processing device, and in the second mode, the setting information to be applied at the operating device is switched in response to a predetermined input of the user.

[0337] Since the first mode is provided, the operating device can reduce instances where setting information different from setting information expected by an application executed on the information processing device is applied to the operating device. In addition, since the second mode is provided, the user can select a desired profile even when the controller 6 is connected to a device that does not support profile control.

[0338] [Item 2-9]

[0339] An information processing system, comprising:

[0340] an operating device to which a user operation is input; and

[0341] An information processing device, the information processing device executing an application, wherein

[0342] the operating device storing a plurality of pieces of setting information regarding the behavior of the operating device,

[0343] the information processing device transmitting control data to the operating device according to an execution state of the application, the control data instructing switching of setting information to be applied to the operating device,

[0344] Referring to the control data transmitted from the information processing device, the operation device switches the setting information to be applied.

[0345] Since the first mode is provided for the operating device, the information processing system can reduce instances where setting information different from setting information expected by an application executed on the information processing device is applied to the operating device. In addition, since the second mode is provided for the operating device, the user can select a desired profile even when the operating device is connected to a device that does not support profile control.

[0346] [Item 2-10]

[0347] The information processing system according to item 2-9, wherein the control data includes data specifying setting information to be newly applied.

[0348] In the information processing system, the information processing apparatus can control setting information to be newly applied in the operating apparatus.

[0349] [Item 2-11]

[0350] The information processing system according to item 2-10, wherein, in a case where a specific application is executed, the information processing device transmits control data to the operating device, the control data specifying setting information specified for the specific application as setting information to be newly applied.

[0351] In the information processing system, setting information expected by an application executed on the information processing device can be applied to the operating device.

[0352] [Item 2-12]

[0353] An information processing system according to any one of items 2-9 to 2-11, wherein:

[0354] the information processing device storing setting information being applied to the operating device,

[0355] the operating device notifying the information processing device of the setting information being applied, and

[0356] In a case where the setting information applied to the operating device and stored on the information processing device does not match the setting information being applied and of which a notification has been given from the operating device, the information processing device causes a screen to display predetermined information.

[0357] In the case where the setting information being applied between the operating device and the information processing device is inconsistent, the information processing system can present predetermined information for alarm reporting, error display, etc. to the user.

[0358] [Item 2-13]

[0359] An information processing method performed by an operation device to which a user operation is input and which includes a storage section storing a plurality of setting information regarding behavior of the operation device, the information processing method comprising:

[0360] a step of transmitting operation information indicating the input user operation to an external information processing device, the operation information being operation information of any one of the plurality of setting information that has been applied; and

[0361] a step of switching setting information to be applied at the operating device, wherein:

[0362] The operation mode of the switching step includes a first mode and a second mode, in which the setting information to be applied at the operating device is switched according to the control of the information processing device, and in the second mode, the setting information to be applied at the operating device is switched in response to a predetermined input of the user.

[0363] Since the operating device can operate in the first mode, the information processing method can reduce instances where setting information different from setting information expected by an application executed on the information processing device is applied to the operating device. In addition, since the operating device can also operate in the second mode, the user can select a desired profile even when the operating device is connected to a device that does not support profile control.

[0364] [Item 2-14]

[0365] A computer program in which a user operation is input to an operating device, and the operating device includes a storage section storing a plurality of setting information regarding the behavior of the operating device, the computer program causing the operating device to implement:

[0366] a function of transmitting operation information indicating an input user operation to an external information processing device, the operation information being operation information of any one of the plurality of pieces of setting information that has been applied; and

[0367] a function of switching setting information to be applied at the operating device, wherein

[0368] The operation mode of the switching function includes a first mode and a second mode, in which the setting information to be applied at the operating device is switched according to the control of the information processing device, and in the second mode, the setting information to be applied at the operating device is switched in response to a predetermined input of the user.

[0369] Since the computer program can cause the operating device to operate in the first mode, the computer program can reduce instances where setting information different from setting information expected by an application executed on the information processing device is applied to the operating device. In addition, since the operating device can also operate in the second mode, the user can select a desired profile even when the operating device is connected to a device that does not support profile control.

[0370] [Item 3-1]

[0371] An operating device, into which operations performed by a user playing an application are input, the operating device comprising:

[0372] a notification device for giving a notification to the user;

[0373] a notification control section that actuates the notification device;

[0374] a storage section storing a plurality of pieces of setting information regarding the behavior of the operating device; and

[0375] a switching section that switches setting information to be applied to the operating device when a predetermined switching instruction is input, wherein

[0376] In a case where the switching of the setting information to be applied to the operating device is sensed, the notification control section gives notification of the switching of the setting information by actuating the notification device in a predetermined pattern after a predetermined first segment period of time has elapsed.

[0377] The operation device can assist in enabling easy distinction between a notification to the user from an application being executed and a notification to the user accompanying switching of setting information.

[0378] [Item 3-2]

[0379] An operating device according to item 3-1, wherein, when the switching of the setting information to be applied to the operating device is sensed and the notification device is actuated according to an instruction from the application, the control part is notified to stop the actuation of the notification device according to the instruction from the application and start a first segmented period.

[0380] The operating device can reliably provide the first segment period by stopping actuation of the notification device even in the presence of an instruction from the application.

[0381] [Item 3-3]

[0382] The operation device according to item 3-1 or 3-2, wherein after the notification device is actuated and notification of the switching of the setting information is given, the notification control portion restricts actuation of the notification device in a predetermined second segment period.

[0383] The operation device can assist in enabling easy distinction between notification of switching of setting information and notification from an application to a user by reliably providing the second segment period in which actuation of the notification device is limited (eg, the notification device is not actuated).

[0384] [Item 3-4]

[0385] The operating device according to item 3-3, wherein, after the second segment period has elapsed, the notification control portion returns the notification device to a state in which the notification device is activated according to an instruction from the application.

[0386] The operating device can return to a normal state in which the notification device is actuated according to an instruction from the application while clearly separating the actuation from the actuation of the notification device accompanying the switching of the setting information.

[0387] [Item 3-5]

[0388] The operation device according to any one of items 3-1 to 3-4, wherein, in the first segment period, even in the case of accepting an instruction for activating the notification device from the application, the notification control portion restricts actuation of the notification device.

[0389] The operating device can reliably provide the first segment period in which actuation of the notification device is restricted (eg, the notification device is not actuated).

[0390] [Item 3-6]

[0391] An operating device according to any one of items 3-1 to 3-5, wherein:

[0392] The notification device includes a vibration device and a light emitting device,

[0393] After the first segmented period has elapsed, the notification control portion activates the vibration device for a first time period and activates the light emitting device for a second time period longer than the first time period.

[0394] The operation device enables the user to recognize the switching of setting information more easily and more reliably.

[0395] [Item 3-7]

[0396] An operating device according to any one of items 3-1 to 3-6, wherein:

[0397] The notification device includes a vibration device and a light emitting device,

[0398] The notification control section inputs an actuation instruction signal to the vibration device after the first segment period has elapsed, and inputs an actuation instruction signal to the light emitting device after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed from the input of the actuation instruction signal to the vibration device, and

[0399] The waiting time is specified according to a delay between inputting the actuation instruction signal to the vibration device and starting actuation of the vibration device.

[0400] The operating device can reduce the difference between the timing of the start of activation of the light emitting device and the timing of the start of activation of the vibration device; in other words, the operating device can reduce the difference between the timing when the user recognizes the light emission of the light emitting device and the timing when the user recognizes the vibration of the vibration device. This makes it less likely that the user will feel a sense of strangeness.

[0401] [Item 3-8]

[0402] An operating device to which an operation of a user playing an application is input, the operating device comprising:

[0403] processor;

[0404] a notification device that is controlled by the processor and gives a notification to the user; and

[0405] a storage section storing a plurality of pieces of setting information regarding the behavior of the operating device, wherein

[0406] the processor switches setting information to be applied to the operating device when a predetermined switching instruction is input,

[0407] In a case where the switching of the setting information to be applied to the operating device is sensed, the processor gives a notification of the switching of the setting information by actuating the notification device in a predetermined pattern after a predetermined first segmented period of time has elapsed.

[0408] The operation device can assist in enabling easy distinction between a notification to the user from an application being executed and a notification to the user accompanying switching of setting information.

[0409] [Item 3-9]

[0410] An information processing method performed by an operation device to which an operation of a user playing an application is input, and the operation device includes a notification device that gives a notification to the user and a storage section that stores a plurality of setting information about the behavior of the operation device, the information processing method comprising:

[0411] a step of switching setting information to be applied to the operating device in a case where a predetermined switching instruction is input; and

[0412] A step of giving a notification of the switching of the setting information to be applied to the operating device by actuating the notification device in a predetermined pattern after a predetermined first segmented period of time has elapsed, in a case where the switching of the setting information to be applied to the operating device is sensed.

[0413] The information processing method can assist in enabling easy distinction between a notification to a user from an application being executed and a notification to the user accompanying switching of setting information.

[0414] [Item 3-10]

[0415] A computer program in which an operation of a user playing an application is input to an operation device, and the operation device includes a notification device that gives a notification to the user and a storage section that stores a plurality of setting information on the behavior of the operation device, the computer program causing the operation device to implement:

[0416] actuating a control function of a notification by the notification device; and

[0417] In the case where a predetermined switching instruction is input, the function of the setting information to be applied to the operating device is switched, wherein:

[0418] In a case where the switching of the setting information to be applied to the operating device is sensed, the notification control function gives notification of the switching of the setting information by actuating the notification device in a predetermined pattern after a predetermined first segmented period of time has elapsed.

[0419] The computer program may realize operating means that assists in enabling easy distinction between a notification to a user from an application being executed and a notification to the user accompanying switching of setting information.

[0420] [Industrial Applicability]

[0421] The present invention can be applied to an operating device, an information processing system, an information processing method, and a computer program.

[0422] [reference numerals list]

[0423] 1: Information Processing System

[0424] 6: Controller

[0425] 10: Information processing device

[0426] 77: Analog stick

[0427] 84: Trigger button

[0428] 118: Operation information generation part

[0429] 120: Operation information sending part

[0430] 122: Switching section

[0431] 124: Notification control part

[0432] 220: Application execution part

[0433] 222: Set the screen generation part

[0434] 224: Display control part

[0435] 226: Switch indication section

Claims

1. An operating device, comprising: an analog input device to which user operations are input; a storage section storing setting information about the analog input device; a generating section that generates operation information including a value obtained by adjusting a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device with reference to the setting information; as well as a sending part, wherein the sending part sends the generated operation information to an external information processing device, wherein the generating section generates operation information including a first value and a second value related to a user operation input to the analog input device in an adjustment mode of the analog input device, the first value is a value obtained by adjusting a value related to a user operation input to the analog input device by using the setting information being adjusted in the adjustment mode, The second value is a value to which the setting information being adjusted is not applied. 2 . The operation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second value is linearly related to an operation amount input to the analog input device, and the first value is nonlinearly related to the operation amount input to the analog input device.

3. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein: The setting information is information about sensitivity.

4. The operating device according to claim 3, wherein: The information on the sensitivity includes a value for converting an operation amount input to the analog input device.

5. The operating device according to claim 3, wherein: The information about sensitivity includes a deadband setting value of the analog input device.

6. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein: The analog input device is an analog joystick.

7. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein: The analog input device is a trigger button.

8. An operating device, comprising: an analog input device to which user operations are input; a storage section storing setting information about the analog input device; as well as processor, where the processor generates operation information including a value obtained by adjusting a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device with reference to the sensitivity indicated by the setting information, The processor sends the generated operation information to an external information processing device, In an adjustment mode of the analog input device, the processor generates operation information, the operation information including a first value and a second value related to the user operation input to the analog input device, the first value is a value obtained by adjusting a value related to a user operation input to the analog input device by using the setting information being adjusted in the adjustment mode, The second value is a value to which the setting information being adjusted is not applied.

9. An information processing system comprising: information processing devices; as well as An operating device, wherein The operating device comprises Input the simulated input device for user operation, a storage section storing setting information about the analog input device, a generating section that generates operation information including a value obtained by adjusting a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device with reference to the setting information, and a sending section that sends the generated operation information to the information processing device, the generating section generates operation information including a first value and a second value related to the user operation input to the analog input device in an adjustment mode of the analog input device, the first value is a value obtained by adjusting a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device by using the setting information being adjusted in the adjustment mode, the second value is a value to which the setting information being adjusted is not applied, The information processing apparatus arranges, on a setting screen of the analog input device, an image representing a relationship between the first value and the second value included in the operation information.

10. The information processing system according to claim 9, wherein: The image representing the relationship between the first value and the second value is an image representing the sensitivity of the analog input device.

11. The information processing system according to claim 9, wherein The information processing device repeatedly sends control data to the operating device, In a case where the user selects adjustment of the analog input device, the information processing apparatus transmits control data including an instruction for switching to the adjustment mode to the operating apparatus.

12. The information processing system according to claim 9, wherein: The information processing device transmits control data including information on vertices of a line graph representing sensitivity characteristics of the analog input device designated on the setting screen to the operating device.

13. The information processing system according to claim 9, wherein: The information processing apparatus transmits control data including information on a dead zone of the analog input device specified on the setting screen to the operating apparatus.

14. An information processing method performed by an operation device, the operation device comprising an analog input device for inputting user operations and a storage section for storing setting information about the analog input device, the information processing method comprising: a step of generating operation information including a value obtained by adjusting a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device with reference to the setting information; as well as The step of sending the generated operation information from the operation device to an external information processing device, wherein: In the generating step, in the adjustment mode of the analog input device, generating operation information including a first value and a second value related to a user operation input to the analog input device, the first value is a value obtained by adjusting a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device by using the setting information being adjusted in the adjustment mode, The second value is a value to which the setting information being adjusted is not applied.

15. A computer program for causing an operation device including an analog input device for inputting user operations and a storage section for storing setting information about the analog input device to implement the following functions: a function of generating operation information including a value obtained by adjusting a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device with reference to the setting information; and A function of transmitting the generated operation information from the operation device to an external information processing device, wherein: generating, by a generating function, operation information including a first value and a second value related to the user operation input to the analog input device in an adjustment mode of the analog input device, the first value is a value obtained by adjusting a value related to the user operation input to the analog input device by using the setting information being adjusted in the adjustment mode, The second value is a value to which the setting information being adjusted is not applied.

Images