Game Device Switching Between Independent and Cooperative Processing Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable game terminals face limitations in processing performance due to size and power constraints, making it challenging to execute games with high processing requirements while maintaining low power consumption and reducing load on the device.
Innovation Solution
A game device system that includes a communication unit, an executing unit, and a rendering unit, allowing switching between independent use, task processing, and cooperative processing forms to distribute game processing tasks between the device and the terminal, utilizing a GPU for efficient arithmetic processing and reducing terminal load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the same game application is introduced into each portable terminal for multiplayer gaming, then players can play the game using their own terminals, but the processing performance of each terminal becomes insufficient for high-performance games due to size and power constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The game processing is divided into two segments: the game application and related data are stored and executed on the stationary game device, while the portable terminal handles input operations and displays game results. This segmentation allows each device to perform its specialized function within its performance capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The stationary game device acts as an intermediary server that receives operation signals from portable terminals, executes the game application, and transmits game result data back to the terminals for display. This intermediary approach enables high-performance game execution without requiring each portable terminal to have sufficient processing power.
2Volume of moving object
If portable terminals are made small for portability, then they can be carried easily, but their processing performance is limited due to constraints on size, power, and heat
Solution Approach 1:
The heavy processing workload of executing the game application is extracted from the portable terminal and transferred to the stationary game device. The terminal only needs to handle lightweight tasks such as receiving input signals and displaying results, allowing it to maintain a small size while still participating in high-performance gaming.
Solution Approach 2:
The stationary game device serves multiple functions: it acts as a game server for multiple portable terminals, provides processing power that individual terminals lack, and enables various game modes including single-player and multiplayer scenarios. This multi-functionality justifies its larger size and higher power consumption.
3Power
If the stationary game device independently executes the game application, then it can provide high processing performance, but it cannot be used in environments where communication with portable terminals is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two operational modes: independent execution mode where the stationary device runs the game application locally, and cooperative execution mode where it acts as a server for portable terminals. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to function in both connected and disconnected environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The stationary game device is designed with universal functionality to operate in multiple roles: it can independently execute game applications when terminals are unavailable, and it can also serve as a remote processing server when terminals are connected. This multi-functionality enhances operational flexibility across different usage scenarios.
4Productivity
If high processing performance is required for modern games, then better game experiences can be provided, but portable terminals cannot achieve this due to their inherent limitations
Solution Approach 1:
Processing tasks are segmented between devices based on their capabilities: the stationary game device handles computationally intensive game logic and rendering, while the portable terminal handles input processing and display output. This segmentation enables high-performance gaming without requiring the terminal to consume excessive power.
Solution Approach 2:
The stationary game device serves as an intermediary that performs power-intensive processing operations, allowing the portable terminal to maintain low power consumption while still accessing high-performance game capabilities through the network connection.
Data Source
AI summary
A game device (information processing device (4)) includes a communication unit communicable with a portable terminal (2), an executing unit that executes a game application, a rendering unit that renders a game screen of a game based on the game application, and a switching unit that switches an operating state. The game device is configured to be usable in an independent use form in which the executing unit executes the game application and the rendering unit renders the game screen to cause the game to progress and a task processing form in which the executing unit processes a partial task of a game application executed in the portable terminal (2) and transmits a processing result of the partial task to the portable terminal (2). The switching unit carries out switching to any of the independent use form and the task processing form to cause the game device to operate.