Multiplayer Game Image Sharing With Guest-Specific Rendering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing game systems face inefficiencies in processing game images during communication between information processing apparatuses, particularly in multi-player games, where the generation of common or individual images is not optimally managed, leading to suboptimal processing efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A game system and method that selectively generates and transmits common or individual game images based on game-specific instructions, using frame buffers and memory areas to optimize image generation and transmission, and employs both local and Internet communication methods to balance processing load and communication delay.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If game images are generated and transmitted for each guest apparatus individually, then the gaming experience is customized for each player, but the processing load and communication bandwidth requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomized gaming experienceVSAvoidprocessing load

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments game image generation into two parts: common image data generated once by the host apparatus and guest-specific image data generated individually. This segmentation allows the system to balance customization with processing efficiency by separating the heavy computation (common parts) from the lightweight customization (guest-specific parts).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by generating a common game image once on the host apparatus and then transmitting it to multiple guest apparatuses. This eliminates the need to generate identical image data multiple times, significantly reducing the processing load while maintaining consistent gaming experience across all players.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If common game images are generated once and transmitted to all guest apparatuses, then processing efficiency improves, but the ability to provide customized gaming experiences for each player is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidcustomized gaming experience

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the game image into common portions (shared across all players) and individual portions (customized for each guest). The host generates the common image once for high processing efficiency, while each guest generates their own personalized overlays or modifications, thus achieving both efficiency and customization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the common game image generated by the host with guest-specific image data generated locally on each guest apparatus. This combination allows the system to leverage centralized processing for efficiency while maintaining decentralized customization capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If individual game images are generated for each guest apparatus, then customized gaming experiences are enabled, but communication bandwidth requirements and transmission time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomized gaming experienceVSAvoidtransmission time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the time-consuming image generation process from the communication path by generating common image data on the host apparatus and transmitting only the essential game state data to guests. Guests then generate their own personalized image portions locally, eliminating the need to transmit large amounts of individualized image data over the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Quantity of substance

If common game images are generated and transmitted to all guests, then communication bandwidth is reduced, but the gaming experience lacks personalization for each player

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication bandwidthVSAvoidpersonalized gaming experience

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the image data transmission into common image data (transmitted once to all guests) and individual image data (generated locally by each guest). This segmentation minimizes network bandwidth usage while preserving personalization capabilities through local generation of guest-specific portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250387702A1Game system, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having game program stored therein, and method implemented in computer

Publication Date: 2025.12.25 NINTENDO CO LTD

AI summary

A game system is capable of executing a multi-player game. A host apparatus selectively starts a stored game program, receives operation data from a guest apparatus, acquires own operation data, generates a game image by executing the game program using the own operation data and the operation data from the guest apparatus, displays the game image on a display, and transmits the game image to the guest apparatus. The guest apparatus transmits the operation data to the host apparatus, receives the game image from the host apparatus, and displays the game image on a display. The game program includes, for each game program, as a command for generating the game image, an instruction for generating a game image that is common to the host apparatus and the guest apparatus and/or an instruction for generating game images respectively for the host apparatus and the guest apparatus.