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

Abstract

The controller (6) transmits, to the information processing device (10), operation information indicating the inputted user operation, said operation information being operation information to which any one of the plurality of pieces of setting information has been applied. Operating modes of the controller 6 related to switching of the setting information include a first mode and a second mode. The first mode is an operation mode in which setting information to be applied at the controller 6 is switched in accordance with control by the information processing apparatus 10. The second mode is an operation mode in which setting information to be applied at the controller 6 is switched in response to a predetermined input by a user.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] In recent years, controllers that allow storage of multiple pieces of setting information about the operation of the controller and allow the user to switch the setting information are more widely used. For example, the setting information includes information about key assignments customized by the user. Summary of the invention

[0003] [Technical issues]

[0004] In the case where the user switches the setting information on the controller, a key assignment different from the key assignment expected by the active application is applied in some cases.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a technology for reducing the cases where setting information different from setting information expected by an active application is applied to a controller.

[0006] [Solution to the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an operation device according to one aspect of the present invention is an operation device to which a user operation is input, the operation device comprising: a storage unit storing a plurality of setting information about the behavior of the operation device; a transmission unit transmitting operation information indicating the input user operation to an external information processing device, the operation information being operation information to which any one of the plurality of setting information has been applied; and a switching unit switching the setting information to be applied at the operation device. The operation mode of the switching unit comprises a first mode in which the setting information to be applied at the operation device is switched according to the control of the information processing device, and a second mode in which the setting information to be applied at the operation device is switched in response to a predetermined input of the user.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is an operating device. The device is an operating device to which a user operation is input, and includes a storage unit and a processor, the storage unit storing multiple setting information about the behavior of the operating device. The processor sends operation information representing the input user operation to an external information processing device, the operation information being operation information to which any of the multiple setting information has been applied. The processor switches the setting information to be applied at the operating device. The operating mode of the processor related to the switching of the setting information 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 by the user.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is an information processing system. The information processing system includes an operating device to which a user operation is input and an information processing device that executes an application. The operating device stores a plurality of setting information about the behavior of the operating device. According to the execution state of the application, the information processing device sends control data for giving an instruction to switch the setting information to be applied to the operating device to the operating device. Referring to the control data sent from the information processing device, the operating device switches the setting information to be applied.

[0010] Another aspect of the present invention is an information processing method. The method is performed by an operation device to which a user operation is input, and the operation device includes a storage unit that stores multiple setting information about the behavior of the operation device, and the method includes a step of sending operation information representing the input user operation to an external information processing device, the operation information being operation information to which any one of the multiple setting information has been applied, and a step of switching the setting information to be applied at the operation device, wherein 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 operation device is switched according to the control of the information processing device, and in which the setting information to be applied at the operation device is switched in response to a predetermined input of the user.

[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 reduce the cases where setting information different from setting information expected by an active application is applied to a controller. 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 It 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.19 is 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 depicting a pattern of notification of profile switching to which the third feature 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 machine. As a modified example, the information processing device 10 may be a computer, a tablet terminal, or a smartphone capable of executing an application such as a game.

[0057] The controller 6 is an operating device that accepts operations input by a user regarding information processing (e.g., video games) performed by the information processing device 10. The controller 6 serially sends operation information representing the operations 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 equipment 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 installed 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 the information processing system 1 according to the embodiment are explained.

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

[0061] The profile information may include setting values ​​predetermined about operations on the controller 6, etc. In addition, the profile information may include setting information about 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 about 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 profile 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 various 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 various 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 related to the analog input device includes dead zone information related to the analog input device, for example, includes setting values ​​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 of the tilt amount or rotation amount corresponding to 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 an operation interface that is easy for a user to intuitively understand is needed as an operation interface in an adjustment mode of an analog input device for adjusting a controller.

[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 sends 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] In addition, the inventors have recognized a second problem, namely, when a user switches profile information to be applied at controller 6, there is a possibility that a key assignment different from the key assignment expected by an application executed at controller 6 (also called 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 of notifying the user of a switch in 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 switch in 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 a case where the profile information to be applied to the controller 6 is switched, the information processing device 10 gives a notification of the profile information switching 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 has passed.

[0073] The button arrangement of the controller 6 is described. Figure 2The top side of the controller 6 is depicted. The user operates the controller 6 while gripping the left grip 78b with her / his left hand and gripping the right grip 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. Different graphics are drawn in different colors on four types of operation buttons 76 to distinguish between them. 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 are also used as push 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 serves as a push 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 can be formed as push buttons.

[0078] The light emitting unit 86 is provided to the lower edge of the touch panel 79. The light emitting unit 86 may include an LED (Light Emitting Diode). The light emitting unit 86 includes a plurality of lamps (in Figure 2 ), and information about a controller number for identifying the controller or information about the state of the controller 6 is displayed by a lighting pattern of a plurality of lights (i.e., a combination of an on state and an off state). The light emitting section 86 is controlled in a lighting pattern specified by an application executed on the information processing device 10. In addition, in a case where profile information to be applied to the operation of the controller 6 is switched, the light emitting section 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] Vertically long light emitting sections 85 are provided on the left and right of the touch panel 79. The light emitting section 85 has red (R), green (G), and blue (B) LEDs, and is 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 extending 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 identical in 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, an R1 button 83a, an R2 button 84a, an L1 button 83b, an L2 button 84b, a right trigger stopper 87a, and a left trigger stopper 87b are provided at positions symmetrical 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. When the right trigger stopper 87a and the left trigger stopper 87b are collectively referred to as trigger stopper 87. The right trigger stopper 87a and the left trigger stopper 87b can each be set in any one of the first position, the second position and the third position. The maximum rotation angle of the right trigger stopper 87a and the left trigger stopper 87b when they are in the first position is 26 degrees, the maximum rotation angle of the right trigger stopper 87a and the left trigger stopper 87b when they are in the second position is 14 degrees, and the maximum rotation angle of the right trigger stopper 87a and the left trigger stopper 87b when they are in the third position is 10 degrees.

[0084] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the controller 6 has various input parts (various types of buttons and joysticks, etc.) The user inputs operations to the input parts of the controller 6 while viewing a menu screen or a 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 unit 92, a communication control unit 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 a 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 notifications through tactile information, and the light emitting portion 86 gives notifications 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 wires.

[0088] Figure 5 The hardware configuration of the information processing device 10 related to the present embodiment is depicted. The information processing device 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 a SoC (System on a chip). The main CPU has the function of activating the OS and executing the application installed on the storage unit (for example, the flash memory 36 or the auxiliary storage device not shown) in the environment provided by the OS. In addition, the main system 60 has the 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 works, 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 section 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 on 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 the 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 the storage section and a function of sending and receiving data to and from an external device. The sub-CPU has only such limited processing functions, 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 devices and the difference in data transmission speed between the devices, and controls the data transmission 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 disk, a magneto-optical disk, a Blu-ray disk, etc.

[0097] The USB module 34 is a module connected to external equipment via a USB cable. The flash memory 36 is an auxiliary storage device included in the internal storage. 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 66 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 the cooperation between them 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 unit 100 and a processing unit 110. The storage unit 100 corresponds to Figure 4 The storage section 92 in FIG. 1 includes a profile storage section 102 and stores data to be referred to or updated by the processing section 110 .

[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 each of the plurality of pieces of profile information in association with different slots and operation buttons 76. 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, at the time of factory shipment of the controller 6, a default profile is stored in association with slot 1 (e.g., triangular button 75) on the profile storage section 102. The default profile is profile information in which key assignment, sensitivity, dead zone, etc. are set to default values. The user can neither edit nor delete the default profile. 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 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 functions by reading the computer program out to the main memory and executing the computer program thereon.

[0103] The output report receiving unit 112 receives an output report which is control data transmitted from the information processing device 10 to the controller 6 at predetermined intervals. The input report transmitting unit 114 transmits an input report which is notification data transmitted from the controller 6 to the information processing device 10 in response to reception of the output report.

[0104] The operation sensing section 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 section 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 section 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 multiple pieces of profile information stored on the profile storage 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 application 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 application 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 indicated by the application profile and the size of the dead zone. 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 transmitting section 120 transmits the user operation information generated by the operation information generating section 118 to the information processing device 10. Note that the operation information transmitting section 120 may transmit the operation information to the information processing device 10 using an input report transmitted from the controller 6 to the information processing device 10.

[0108] When a predetermined switching instruction is input, the switching section 122 switches the profile information to be applied at the controller 6. The operation modes of the switching section 122 include 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 application profile is switched according to the control of the information processing device 10. The device master mode is an operation mode in which the application profile is switched in response to a predetermined input from the 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 device 10, the switching section 122 switches the application profile when a predetermined input from the user is sensed.

[0109] The default operation mode of the switching unit 122 is the device master mode. The switching unit 122 switches the operation mode from the device master mode to the host master mode under the condition that the switching unit 122 receives control data having contents indicating switching to the host master mode from the information processing apparatus 10. The switching unit 122 stores information about the slot corresponding to the profile of the current application on the profile storage unit 102.

[0110] The notification control unit 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 application profile is switched at the controller 6, the notification control unit 124 inputs an actuation signal to the notification device, and actuates the notification device in a predetermined mode indicating the switching of the application profile. As already mentioned, the notification device includes a light emitting unit 86 and a vibrator 90. The notification control unit 124 controls notification to the user by performing control to turn the light emitting unit 86 on and off and to control 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 unit 200 and a processing unit 210. The processing unit 210 performs various types of information processing. The processing unit 210 is implemented by a processor of the information processing device 10, and may be implemented by, for example, Figure 5 The storage unit 200 stores data to be referenced or updated by the processing unit 210. The storage unit 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 profile storage section 204. The application storage section 202 stores data of an application executable on the information processing device 10 (for example, a game program).

[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 circular 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 profile of the current application 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 an application 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 the plurality of these functions may be stored on the storage section 200 of the information processing device 10. The processor (e.g., the main system 60) of the information processing device 10 may realize 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.

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

[0116] From the controller 6 connected to the information processing device 10, the profile information acquisition section 216 acquires information about a plurality of profiles stored on the controller 6, and the user can select a profile therefrom. In addition, the profile information acquisition section 216 acquires information about the current application profile of 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 accepting 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 a user operation on the controller 6, and continuously generates an image (hereinafter, also referred to as a "game screen") indicating the result of the game continuation.

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

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

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

[0126] ( Figure 8 S2)

[0127] The output report sending section 214 of the information processing device 10 periodically repeats sending an output report to the controller 6. When a user operation instructing a transition 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 transitioning 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.10 The configuration of item B in the output report is depicted. 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 specifying the operation mode and application profile of the controller is set. Fig. 9 In the case of the operation mode control bit in Project A, enable Fig.10In 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 unit 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 unit 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 setting values ​​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 explained. 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. 6 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 column 132, a sensitivity mode selection column 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 unit 220 in the embodiment).

[0134] A plurality of sensitivity curve modes may include linear, delayed, and fast. Linear 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. Delay 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. Fast 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 adjustment sensitivity curve 144) representing sensitivity curves arranged in a graph 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 column 134. The adjustment sensitivity curve 144 represents the sensitivity curve obtained after adjustment with the sensitivity curve adjustment gauge 136. In addition, the sensitivity curve image 140 includes an object (dead zone 142) representing the range of a dead zone configured along the horizontal axis of the graph 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 (horizontal lines 150) whose centers are located at the static position (i.e., the initial position) of the analog stick 77, and represents a plurality of levels of the degree of operation from the static position. The plurality of horizontal lines 150 may include three horizontal lines 150 representing 100%, 75%, and 50% of the maximum value of the degree of operation. The horizontal 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 joystick 77 (i.e., from the center of the circle represented by the horizontal line 150). An adjusted operation amount indicator 154 and an unadjusted operation amount indicator 156 are also configured 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 joystick 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 joystick 77 by the direction of the line extending from the above-mentioned center.

[0140] The adjustment 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 adjustment operation amount indicator 154 indicates the operation amount of the analog stick 77 recognized by the information processing device 10 in a case where the adjusted profile information is applied to the controller 6. For example, the adjusted profile information includes a setting 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 a case where the profile information 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 a linear sensitivity curve that is independent of the profile information 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 identified 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 at the time of shipment of the controller 6 at 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 indicated by the adjusted operation amount indicator 154 and adjusted using the profile information being adjusted and the value indicated 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 pattern on the sensitivity curve image 140. In addition, the setting screen generation section 222 arranges the adjustment 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 to the controller 6, the output report including a line graph ( Fig.11 Information about the vertex of the adjustment sensitivity curve 144).

[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.12Each cell in includes a one-byte value. In "Number of setting points", the number of vertices of the adjustment 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 adjusting the vertex n of the 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 adjusting the vertex n of the 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 transmitting section 214 of the information processing device 10 sets information on the vertex 1, the vertex 2, the vertex 3, and the vertex 4 of the adjustment sensitivity curve 144 in item C in the output report.

[0150] Describes the Fig.13 144 is a setting example of item C of the adjustment sensitivity curve 144.

[0151] Number of settings: 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 In S2 of the control unit 6, the adjustment of the trigger button 84 of the controller 6 is explained. In the case of switching to the adjustment mode of the trigger button 84, 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 8 In 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 unit 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 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 point side is called a release dead zone, and the dead zone on the end point 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 to any value from 0 to 255 in the left trigger release dead zone in item C. Furthermore, 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 to any value from 0 to 255 in the left trigger full stroke dead zone in item C. Furthermore, 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 to any value from 0 to 255 in the right trigger release dead zone in item C. Furthermore, 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 to 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 in adjustment (hereinafter, also referred to as "profile in adjustment"). For example, the profile in adjustment includes the characteristics of the sensitivity curve being adjusted and the range of the dead zone being adjusted.

[0165] The operation sensing section 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 section 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 regarding 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 transmitting 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 zone 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 zone.

[0167] In this 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 generation unit 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. Accordingly, 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 adjustment sensitivity curve 144 in FIG. 1 , the adjusted operation value may be nonlinearly 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 simulated 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.11 14. The position of the adjustment operation amount indicator 154 in the setting state image 148 on the analog stick setting screen 130 shown in FIG. 14 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 adjustment 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] In addition, the setting screen generation section 222 updates the setting screen according to 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 generating unit 222 is set so that an operation amount indicator 306 having a length corresponding to the unadjusted operation value is displayed relative to a 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. 1 , 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 displays the operation amount indicator 306 having a length corresponding to the adjusted operation value with respect to the allowable range of the operation amount indicator 306 within the effective range, the allowable range being 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] While 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, the user adjusts / updates the dead zone of the trigger button 84 while confirming the R2 behavior confirmation area 304a and the L2 behavior confirmation area 304b on the trigger setting screen 300. The output report transmission section 214 of the information processing device 10 transmits an output report including information on the updated profile being adjusted to the controller 6.

[0175] ( Figure 8 S6)

[0176] Referring to the information about the updated profile 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 sending section 214 of the information processing device 10 sends 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 generating section 118) switches 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 analog / digital converted at the controller 6. Therefore, the information processing device 10 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 by itself. 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 device 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.18 is a flow chart depicting operations performed by the controller 6 related to the second feature.

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

[0182] The input report sending section 114 of the controller 6 sends an input report including information about the application profile, and specifically, information about the active slot, to the information processing device 10 (S12). The profile information acquiring 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 current application 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 profile switching of the controller 6, when the connection of the controller is sensed, the switching instruction unit 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 described. Fig. 9 The output report depicted in the figure is: In the case of the switch mode control bit in Project A, the Fig.10 The output report depicted in FIG: 1 is a switching mode bit in item B. Here, a value indicating a host master mode is designated as the switching mode bit, but a value indicating a device master mode may also be designated as the switching 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 control mode (Y in S13), the switching section 122 of the controller 6 switches the operation mode to the host master control mode (S14). In the case where an output report including an instruction to switch to the host master control mode is not received (N in S13), the processing in S14 is skipped and the device master control mode is continued.

[0186] In the host master mode, an instruction for switching the application profile 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 that specifies 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 that specifies 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 device 10 transmits 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 application profile 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, the output report specifying the profile (e.g., the default profile) specified for the execution target application as the new application profile. In addition, the switching instruction section 226 may cause an output report to be sent to the controller 6, the output report specifying the profile for which an instruction has been given from the application being executed as the new application profile.

[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: Switching 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 the active slot bit string in item B. Note that in the case where 0 is specified as the switching mode bit, that is, in the case where a value indicating the device master mode is specified as the switching mode bit, the value of the active slot bit string is ignored.

[0190] When switching instruction section 226 sends an output report including an instruction to switch the application profile to controller 6, switching instruction section 226 stores information indicating the profile to be newly applied on profile storage section 204 and, for example, information about the active slot on profile storage section 204.

[0191] In the case where the profile switching mode is the host master mode (Y in S15) and an output report designating 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 designated in the output report is stored by referring to the profile storage section 102. In the case where the profile corresponding to the new active slot designated in the output report is stored (Y in S17), the switching section 122 switches the application profile to the profile corresponding to the new active slot (S18). In other words, in the case where the information of the specific profile included in the designated output report corresponds to any one of the multiple profile information stored on the profile storage section 102, the switching section 122 switches the application 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 application profile that has been applied before 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 application profile that has been applied before 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 application 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 before then remains applied.

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

[0195] With reference to the input report sent from the controller 6, the profile information acquisition unit 216 of the information processing device 10 identifies the current application profile of the controller 6. In the case where the application profile of the controller 6 stored in the profile storage unit 204 does not match the application profile that has been notified through the input report, the profile information acquisition unit 216 causes the display device 4 to display predetermined information via the display control unit 224. The information may include content indicating an error or an alarm. In addition, the information may also include content that prompts the user to take a predetermined response 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 where 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, the user can select a desired profile even in a case where the controller 6 is connected to a device that does not support profile control.

[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. 20A case where the application profile is switched from the profile of slot 1 to the profile of slot 2 is depicted. According to 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 according to the vibration pattern sent from the information processing device 10 and specified by the application, and actuates the light emitting section 86 according to the light emission pattern sent from the information processing device 10 and specified by the application.

[0198] In addition, in the case of switching the application profile by the switching unit 122, the notification control unit 124 controls the vibrator 90 and the light emitting unit 86 to notify the user of the profile switching. The profile switching vibration mode is a predetermined vibration mode for giving a notification of the profile switching, and includes a vibration mode and a vibration time. Similarly, the profile switching lighting mode is a predetermined lighting mode (which can also be said to be a lighting mode) for giving a notification about the profile switching, and includes a lighting mode and a lighting time. Note that the notification can be given using the light emitting unit 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 the 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 (such as a tactile system or a visual system) is different from the stimulation pattern or information provided from the application (that is, a period in which the stimulation pattern or information is changed from the pattern provided by the application). The segmented period in the implementation 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 the 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 set before and / or after the period in which the notification of the profile switching is given by emitting light.

[0201] Fig.21The mode of notification of profile switching applying the third feature 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 application profile of the controller 6 is switched by the switching section 122, the notification control section 124 senses the switching. In the case where the switching of the application profile of the controller 6 is sensed, the notification control section 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 application mode of the controller 6 is switched, the notification control section 124 actuates the light emitting section 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 application 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 application 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 when the application profile of the controller 6 is switched, the notification control section 124 may gradually reduce the actuation level of the vibrator 90 indicated by the information processing device 10 before the start of the first vibration silent period 310 and then stop the actuation of the vibrator 90 (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 application profile of the controller 6 is sensed, the notification control section 124 stops the actuation of the light emitting section 86 according to the instruction from the information processing device 10. For example, in the case where the switching of the application profile of the controller 6 is sensed and the light emitting section 86 is being actuated as instructed by the information processing device 10, the notification control section 124 stops the actuation of the light emitting section 86 instructed by the information processing device 10 and starts the first light emission silent period 314.

[0207] The notification control section 124 restricts actuation of the light emitting section 86 in the first light emission silent period 314. In this embodiment, in the first light emission silent period 314, the notification control section 124 does not actuate the light emitting section 86, and keeps the light emitting section 86 off even in the case where an instruction for actuating the light emitting section 86 is accepted from the information processing device 10. As a modified example, in the first light emission silent period 314, the notification control section 124 may actuate the light emitting section 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 device 10.

[0208] After giving notification of profile switching by actuating the vibrator 90 according to the profile switching vibration mode, the notification control section 124 restricts actuation of the vibrator 90 in the second vibration silent period 312. In the present embodiment, the notification control section 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 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.

[0209] After the second vibration silent period 312 has passed, the notification control section 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 section 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 a notification of the profile switching by actuating the light emitting section 86 according to the profile switching lighting mode, the notification control section 124 restricts the actuation of the light emitting section 86 in the second light emission silent period 316. In this embodiment, in the second light emission silent period 316, the notification control section 124 does not actuate the light emitting section 86 even in the case where an instruction for actuating the light emitting section 86 is accepted from the information processing device 10. As a modified example, in the second light emission silent period 316, the notification control section 124 may actuate the light emitting section 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 device 10. After the second light emission silent period 316 has passed, the notification control section 124 returns to the state in which the light emitting section 86 is actuated according to the instruction from the information processing device 10.

[0211] After the first vibration silent period 310, the notification control unit 124 actuates the vibrator 90 for the time specified by the profile switching vibration mode. In addition, after the first light emission silent period 314, the notification control unit 124 actuates the light emitting unit 86 for the time specified by the profile switching lighting 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 unit 124 actuates the light emitting unit 86 for a time longer than the actuation time of the vibrator 90. Continuous notification by light emission is longer than notification by vibration, so that the user can more certainly identify the profile switching. Note that the actuation time of the vibrator 90 and the light emitting unit 86 in the profile switching notification is not limited to the above content.

[0212] The notification control unit 124 inputs the actuation instruction signal to the vibrator 90 after the first vibration silent period 310, and inputs the actuation instruction signal to the light emitting unit 86 after the first light emission silent period 314. 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 unit 124 inputs the actuation instruction signal to the vibrator 90 after the first vibration silent period 310, and, after a predetermined waiting time after the input, inputs the actuation instruction signal to the light emitting unit 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 the pre-measured delay (e.g., the drive delay of the VCM) that occurs between the input of the actuation command signal to the vibrator 90 and the start of the 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 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 unit 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 understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments are exemplified and various modifications may be made to the combination of the constituent elements or the processing procedures, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention.

[0216] The modified example is explained. The information processing device 10 may further include a notification control unit. In the case where the switching indication unit 226 has switched the profile applied to the controller 6, the notification control unit of the information processing device 10 may cause the display device 4 to display content related to the profile switching via the display control unit 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 requesting a specific profile (the system setting screen requesting the default profile, etc.)) has ended, the switching instruction section 226 may switch the application profile of 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] Another modification example is described. However, in the above-described embodiment, vibration and light emission are used as means for giving notification of profile switching, and as a modification example, sound may be used. In the case where the application 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 respective 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 ideas described in the above-described embodiments and modified examples can be expressed as the modes described in the following items.

[0221] [Item 1-1]

[0222] An operating device, comprising:

[0223] A simulated input device, to which user operations are input;

[0224] A storage unit for 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 unit sends the generated operation information to an external information processing device, wherein:

[0227] In the adjustment mode of the analog input device, the generating unit generates operation information, the operation information including a first value and a second value related to a user operation input to the analog input device.

[0228] 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,

[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 for adjusting the analog input device based on a first value of the setting information being adjusted and a second value of the setting information being adjusted that has not been applied and is easy for a 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 operation device can help the information processing device provide 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 corresponding 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 help adjust 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 operation means may assist in adjusting a value for converting the operation amount input to the analog input device as the sensitivity of the analog input device.

[0240] [Items 1-5]

[0241] The operating apparatus 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 can assist in adjusting the dead band of the analog input device as the sensitivity of the analog input device.

[0243] [Items 1-6]

[0244] An operating device 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 the adjustment of the analog stick.

[0246] [Items 1-7]

[0247] An operating device 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] A simulated input device, to which user operations are input;

[0252] a storage unit 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 a 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 the external information processing device,

[0256] The processor 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,

[0257] 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,

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

[0259] The operating device can help the information processing device provide an operating interface, which is based on the first value of the setting information being adjusted and the second value of the setting information being adjusted that has not been applied. The operating interface is used to adjust the analog input device and is easy for users to understand intuitively.

[0260] [Items 1-9]

[0261] An information processing system, comprising:

[0262] information processing device; and

[0263] An operating device, wherein:

[0264] Operating device includes

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

[0266] A storage unit for 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 unit, which sends the generated operation information to an external information processing device,

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

[0270] 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,

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

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

[0273] In an information processing system, an information processing apparatus is capable of providing a setting screen for adjusting an analog input device 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, the setting screen being used to adjust the analog input device and being 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 the case where the user selects adjustment of the analog input device, the information processing device transmits control data including an instruction for switching to the adjustment mode to the operating means.

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

[0284] The information processing system can effectively transmit the sensitivity characteristic of the analog input device specified on the setting screen to the operating apparatus.

[0285] [Items 1-13]

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

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

[0288] [Items 1-14]

[0289] An information processing method performed by an operating device, the operating device including an analog input device to which a user operation is input and a storage unit 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 a 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 the adjustment mode of the analog input device, operation information is generated, the 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 a user operation input to the analog input device 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 for adjusting an analog input device based on a first value of setting information being adjusted and a second value of setting information being adjusted not yet applied, and is easy for a user to intuitively understand.

[0296] [Items 1-15]

[0297] A computer program causes an operating device to implement the following functions, the operating device including an analog input device to which a user operation is input and a storage unit storing setting information about the analog input device, the storage unit storing the setting information about the analog input device:

[0298] a function 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 setting information; and

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

[0300] By means of a generating function, in an adjustment mode of the analog input device, operation information is generated, the operation information including a first value and a second value related to a user operation input to 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 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 that is 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, and is used to adjust an analog input device and is easy for a user to intuitively understand.

[0304] [Item 2-1]

[0305] An operating device to which a user operation is input, the operating device comprising:

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

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

[0308] A switching unit switches setting information to be applied at the operating device, wherein

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

[0310] Since the first mode is provided, the operating device can reduce the instances in which setting information different from the setting information expected by the 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 section 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 may implement operation in the first mode if the information processing device supports the setting information switching control, and implement operation in the second mode if the information processing device does not support the setting information switching control.

[0314] [Item 2-3]

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

[0316] The operating device may 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] The operating device according to item 2-2 or 2-3, wherein the switching section switches the setting information to be applied to the operating information when the information specifying the setting information accepted during the operation in the first mode corresponds to any one of the plurality of setting information stored on the storage section.

[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 device of the operation mode of the switching section and the setting information being applied.

[0323] The operating device may cause the operating mode of the switching section 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 switch 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 the switching section applies the setting information that was most recently applied to the operating information when the operating device is activated.

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

[0330] [Item 2-8]

[0331] An operating device to which a user operation is input, the operating device comprising:

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

[0333] A processor, wherein:

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

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

[0336] The operation mode of the processor related to the switching of 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 the instances in which setting information different from the setting information expected by the 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 for executing an application, wherein:

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

[0343] The information processing device transmits control data to the operating device according to the execution state of the application, the control data instructing to switch the setting information to be applied to the operating device,

[0344] Referring to the control data transmitted from the information processing device, the operating 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 the specific application is executed, the information processing device transmits control data to the operating device, the control data designating setting information designated for the specific application as setting information to be newly applied.

[0351] In the information processing system, setting information desired 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 stores setting information applied to the operating device,

[0355] The operating device notifies the information processing device of the setting information being applied,

[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 notification has been given from the operating device, the information processing device causes the screen to display predetermined information.

[0357] In the case where the setting information 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 operating device, to which a user operation is input and the operating device includes a storage unit storing a plurality of setting information regarding behavior of the operating 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 to which any one of the plurality of setting information has been applied; and

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

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

[0363] Since the operating device can be operated 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 be operated 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 that causes an operating device to which a user operation is input to achieve:

[0366] A function of transmitting operation information indicating an input user operation to an external information processing device, the operation information being operation information to which any one of a plurality of setting information is applied; and

[0367] A function to switch the setting information to be applied at the operating device, wherein

[0368] The operation modes of the switching function include a first mode in which setting information to be applied at the operating device is switched according to control of the information processing apparatus and a second mode in which setting information to be applied at the operating device is switched in response to a predetermined input of a 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 to which an operation performed by a user playing an application is input, the operating device comprising:

[0372] A notification device for giving notifications to users;

[0373] a notification control unit to actuate the notification device;

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

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

[0376] In a case where a switch of setting information to be applied to the operation device is sensed, the notification control section gives a notification of the switch 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 operating device may help enable easy distinction between a notification to the user from an application being executed and a notification to the user accompanying a switching of setting information.

[0378] [Item 3-2]

[0379] An operating device according to item 3-1, wherein, when a switch of setting information to be applied to the operating device is sensed and the notification device is actuated according to an instruction from an application, the notification control unit stops the actuation of the notification device according to the instruction from the application and starts the first segment period.

[0380] Even in the presence of an instruction from the application, the operating device can surely provide the first segment period by stopping actuation of the notification device.

[0381] [Item 3-3]

[0382] The operating 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 help enable easy distinction between notification of switching of setting information and notification from the application to the user by certainly 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 section returns the notification device to a state in which the notification device is activated according to an instruction from the application.

[0386] The operation 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 to activate the notification device from the application, the notification control section restricts activation of the notification device.

[0389] The operating device may deterministically provide a 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 section activates the vibration device during a first time period and activates the light emitting device during a second time period that is longer than the first time period.

[0394] The operation device enables the user to recognize the switching of the 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 a first segment period of time has passed, and inputs an actuation instruction signal to the light emitting device after a predetermined waiting time has passed since the actuation instruction signal was input to the vibration device.

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

[0400] The operation device can reduce the difference between the actuation start timing of the light emitting device and the actuation start timing of the vibration device; in other words, the operation device can reduce the difference between the moment when the user recognizes the light emission of the light emitting device and the moment 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 performed by a user playing an application is input, the operating device comprising:

[0403] processor;

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

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

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

[0407] In the case of sensing the switching of the setting information to be applied to the operation device, 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 passed.

[0408] The operating device may help enable easy distinction between a notification to the user from an application being executed and a notification to the user accompanying a switching of setting information.

[0409] [Item 3-9]

[0410] An information processing method performed by an operating device, an operation performed by a user playing an application is input to the operating device, and the operating device includes a notification device that gives a notification to the user and a storage unit that stores a plurality of setting information about the behavior of the operating 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 segment period of time has passed in the 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 making it possible to easily distinguish between a notification to a user from an application in execution and a notification to the user accompanying switching of setting information.

[0414] [Item 3-10]

[0415] A computer program that causes an operation device to realize the following functions, an operation performed by a user playing an application being input to the operation device, and the operation device including 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:

[0416] a notification control function for activating a 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 the case of sensing switching of setting information to be applied to the operation device, 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 segment 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 unit

[0429] 120: Operation information sending unit

[0430] 122: Switching Department

[0431] 124: Notify Control Department

[0432] 220: Application execution unit

[0433] 222: Setting screen generation section

[0434] 224: Display control unit

[0435] 226: Switching instruction unit

Claims

1. An operating device to which a user operation is input, the operating device comprising: a storage unit storing a plurality of pieces of setting information regarding the behavior of the operating device; a sending unit that sends operation information indicating an input user operation to an external information processing device, the operation information being operation information to which any one of the plurality of setting information has been applied; as well as a switching section for switching setting information to be applied at the operating device, The operation mode of the switching section 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.

2. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein: The switching section 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.

3. The operating device according to claim 2, wherein: The switching section accepts control data including information specifying specific setting information stored on the storage section.

4. The operating device according to claim 2, wherein: The switching section switches the setting information to be applied to the operation information in a case where the information specifying the setting information accepted during the operation in the first mode corresponds to any one of the plurality of setting information stored on the storage section.

5. The operating device according to claim 1, further comprising: A notification section notifies the information processing device of an operation mode of the switching section and setting information being applied.

6. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein: The switching portion operates in the second mode when the operating device is activated.

7. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein: The switching section applies the setting information that was applied most recently to the operation information when the operation device is activated.

8. An operating device to which a user operation is input, the operating device comprising: a storage unit storing a plurality of pieces of setting information regarding the behavior of the operating device; as well as processor, where the processor sending operation information indicating the input user operation to the external information processing device, the operation information being operation information to which any one of the plurality of setting information has been applied, the processor switches setting information to be applied at the operating device, and The operation mode of the processor related to the switching of the setting information 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.

9. An information processing system comprising: an operating device to which user operations are input; as well as An information processing device for executing an application, wherein the operating device storing a plurality of pieces of setting information regarding the behavior of the operating device, the information processing device transmits control data instructing switching of setting information to be applied to the operating device to the operating device according to an execution state of the application, and Referring to the control data transmitted from the information processing device, the operation device switches the setting information to be applied.

10. The information processing system according to claim 9, wherein: The control data includes data specifying setting information to be newly applied.

11. The information processing system according to claim 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 designating setting information designated for the specific application as setting information to be newly applied.

12. The information processing system according to claim 9, wherein: the information processing device storing setting information applied to the operating device, the operating device notifying the information processing device of the setting information being applied, In a case where setting information applied to the operating device and stored on the information processing device does not match setting information being applied and of which notification has been given from the operating device, the information processing device causes a screen to display predetermined information.

13. 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: a step of transmitting operation information indicating the input user operation to an external information processing device, the operation information being operation information to which any one of the plurality of setting information has been applied; as well as a step of switching setting information to be applied at the operating device, wherein: The operation mode of the switching step includes a first mode in which setting information to be applied at the operating device is switched according to control of the information processing apparatus and a second mode in which setting information to be applied at the operating device is switched in response to a predetermined input of a user.

14. A computer program that enables an operating device for inputting user operations to: a function of transmitting operation information indicating an input user operation to an external information processing device, the operation information being operation information to which any one of the plurality of setting information is applied; and a function of switching setting information to be applied at the operating device, wherein The operation modes of the switching function include a first mode in which setting information to be applied at the operating device is switched according to control of the information processing apparatus and a second mode in which setting information to be applied at the operating device is switched in response to a predetermined input of a user.

Images