Portable Game Terminal Position Data Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable game terminals equipped with GPS positioning units face storage capacity issues and data availability problems when unable to communicate with devices, affecting their ability to provide items and general data based on calculated positions.
Innovation Solution
An information processing system that repeatedly calculates positions, receives data for a predetermined area, notifies when the position falls within a smaller area, and executes programs using received data, even when communication is lost, by incorporating a positioning unit, data receiving unit, notification unit, and program executing unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all data indicating items available in a game are stored in the portable game terminal, then the terminal can provide items according to position, but the storage capacity runs out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the data storage function between the portable terminal and external servers. The terminal stores only essential data locally, while position-based item data is segmented and stored on external servers, allowing the terminal to access data without storing everything locally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-loads data for a predetermined first-size area containing the current position into the terminal before communication is lost. This preliminary action ensures that data is available even when the terminal cannot communicate with external devices, resolving the contradiction between storage capacity and data availability.
2Reliability
If the device provides data indicating items available at the current position for every time the position changes, then the terminal can access current position data, but communication dependency increases and data may not be provided when communication is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary data reception by acquiring data for a predetermined first-size area containing the current position before communication interruption occurs. This ensures data availability without continuous communication, reducing communication dependency while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a buffer of data by pre-loading information for a larger area (first-size area) than immediately needed (second-size area). This cushioning effect ensures that even if communication is lost, the terminal has sufficient data to continue operation.
3Reliability
If data for a large area is received to ensure coverage, then data availability increases, but storage capacity is consumed faster
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data reception strategy by receiving data for a first-size area (larger coverage) but only notifying the user when the position falls within a smaller second-size area. This segmentation allows comprehensive data coverage while managing storage capacity through selective notification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality levels to different areas: the first-size area receives complete data for coverage, while the second-size area triggers actual notifications. This local quality differentiation optimizes both data coverage and storage usage.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an information processing system capable of, while avoiding running out of storage capacity, increasing the possibility that a program executed in the information processing system can use data according to a calculated position, even when the information processing system cannot receive data from a device. An item communication section (72) receives, from a server that stores data used in the program in association with a position, data associated with a position in a first-size area containing a position calculated by a positioning section (60). An item notification section (74) notifies to outside when a position associated with data received by the item communication section (72) is present in a second-size area, which contains a position calculated by the positioning section (60) and is smaller than the first-size area. An application executing section (66) executes a program using data received by the item communication section (72).