WO2000028732A1

WO2000028732A1 - Portable electronic device, method for operating same and software recording medium

Info

Publication number: WO2000028732A1
Application number: PCT/JP1999/006163
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ken Kutaragi; Teiyu Goto; Mariko Hino; Keiso Shimakawa
Original assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Priority date: 1998-11-06
Filing date: 1999-11-05
Publication date: 2000-05-18
Also published as: JP2002530017A; TW448638B; EP1046287A1; CA2317685A1; AU1077500A; KR100664367B1; CN1288636A; BR9909198A; RU2000120680A; KR20010033920A

Abstract

There can be obtained a medium on which a remote-control information is recorded and a portable electronic device serving as a remote control operation device for transferring the information. A portable electronic device is one that can be connected to a host machine (1) having a program executing function and that includes an input and output function and a processing function independent from the host machine (1). The portable electronic device (100) also includes means (46) for storing remote control operation information that has been transferred from a recording medium in the host machine (1), a control means (41) for executing remote control operation programs, and means (130) for displaying the remote control operation information in accordance with the remote control operation program. The remote control operation information is displayed in accordance with a hierarchical structure of operation.

Description

DESCRIPTION

PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE, METHOD FOR OPERATING SAME AND SOFTWARE RECORDING MEDIUM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable electronic device that is used as an auxiliary memory unit of an information device containing an entertainment system such as a video game unit, and a method and a software recording medium for operating this portable electronic device.

Background of the Invention

A conventional memory card (child machine or ancillary machine) that is loaded into a host device such as an information device, e.g., a video game machine, and thus used is normally provided with an interface for connection with the main unit

(parent machine or host machine) as an information device and a nonvolatile memory element for storing data.

Fig. 1 A shows an example of the constitution of the main elements of a conventional memory card. The conventional memory card 10 is provided with a control unit 11 for controlling the operation, a connector 12 for connection with a terminal provided inside the slot of the information device, etc., and a nonvolatile memory 16 for storing data, and the connector 12 and nonvolatile memory 16 are connected to the control unit 11.

The control unit 11 consists of a microcomputer. Additionally, a flush memory such as an EEPROM, for example, is used as the nonvolatile memory 16. Furthermore a microcomputer is used as the control means for interpreting the protocols in the connection interface with the information device, etc. Fig. IB shows the control elements in the control unit 11 of a conventional memory card 10.

Thus, conventional memory card 10 is provided only with a main unit connection interface for connecting with the main unit such as an information device and a memory interface for inputting/outputting data to/from the nonvolatile memory. Additionally, conventional video game units such as household TV game devices possess a function whereby game data, etc., is stored in an auxiliary memory unit. The memory card is used as this type of auxiliary storage device for a video game unit. Fig. 2 shows an example of a conventional video game unit which uses a memory card as an auxiliary storage device. The main unit 2 of the conventional video game unit 1 is housed in a roughly square-shaped case, and includes a disk loading part 3, into the center portion of which is loaded an optical disk that is the recording medium on which the application program of the video game is recorded, a reset switch 4 for resetting the game as desired, a power switch 5, a disk operation switch 6 for operating the insertion of the aforesaid optical disk, and, for example, two slots 7A and 7B.

The memory card 10 that is used as the auxiliary storage device is inserted into slot 7A or 7B, and, for example, the results, etc., of a game that has been played on the video game unit 1 are sent from a control means (CPU) 19 and written into the nonvolatile memory 16. Multiple operating units (controllers), not shown in the drawing, are also connected to the slots 7A and 7B, allowing competitive games, etc., to be played simultaneously by multiple players.

In this connection, providing the ancillary machine that is connected through the memory card slot of the video game machine, etc., which is the host machine, with other program executing functions has been considered. Such an ancillary machine could be used unmodified as a portable electronic device, and by facilitating communication with other devices, could lead to an expanded range of applications and the creation of new demand.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable electronic device that can be connected to a host machine and enables a remote operation of other devices by using the ancillary machine itself, a method for operating this portable electronic device and a memory medium for storing application programs .

In order to achieve this and other objects the portable electronic device of the present invention is a portable electronic device, which can be connected to a host machine having program execution functions, which has, independently from the aforesaid host machine, an input means, an output means, and a control means, and which comprises: a means which stores a remote control operation program transferred from a recording medium of the host machine, a control means which executes said remote control operation program, a display means which displays a remote control operation information in accordance with said remote control operation program; and an output means which outputs operating signals to an object machine in accordance with said remote control operation information.

The remote control operation information has a hierarchical structure of operation wherein each hierarchy is selected by the input means and displayed by said display means.

Additionally, a recording medium according to the present invention is a recording medium which is loaded into a host machine having a program executing function and in which information is stored that can be transferred to a portable electronic device connected to the host machine, wherein remote control operation information is recorded as contents of a menu in addition to the transfer program and the transfer menu display program.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figs. 1 A and IB show an example of the configuration of important parts of a conventional memory card device;

Fig. 2 shows an example of a video game unit that uses a memory card of Fig. 1A as an auxiliary memory unit;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the exterior of a video game unit as a host device which uses a portable electronic device that constitutes an embodiment of the present invention as an ancillary machine;

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the video game unit of Fig. 3, showing the form of a slot in the video game unit used as a host machine;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the video game unit used as a host machine; Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing a specific example of the configuration of the main parts of the video game unit used as a host machine;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the exterior of an embodiment of a portable electronic device according to the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the exterior of an embodiment of the portable electronic device of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the portable electronic device according to the present invention in a state in which the cover member is open;

Fig. 10 is a front view of the exterior of an embodiment of the portable electronic device of the present invention; Figs. 11 A and 11B show a block diagram of an example of the configuration of the important parts of the portable electronic device according to the present invention; Fig. 12 shows the wireless communication function of the portable electronic device according to the present invention;

Fig. 13 shows the coordinated operation between the portable electronic device as the ancillary machine and the video game unit main unit used as the host machine; Fig. 14 shows the flow of program data that is downloaded from the video game unit main unit (host machine) to the portable electronic device (ancillary machine);

Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing the procedure for downloading of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 shows a separate flow of program data that is downloaded from the aforesaid video game unit main unit (host machine) to the portable electronic device (ancillary machine);

Fig. 17 is a flowchart showing the procedure for downloading of Fig. 14;

Fig. 18 is a diagram for explaining the recorded content of the CD-ROM;

Fig. 19 is a flowchart showing a series of steps in processing on the host machine side;

Fig. 20 diagrammatically shows a display screen of the television receiver;

Fig. 21 is a flowchart showing a series of steps in the processing on the ancillary machine side;

Fig. 22 is a block diagram showing from the nonvolatile memory of the ancillary machine to the display part;

Fig. 23 diagrammatically shows display contents and the operating elements of the ancillary machine;

Figs. 24A-24C show lower-layer display contents;

Fig. 25 shows one example of the display contents of "+"; Fig. 26 is an enlargement view of the display contents of Fig. 23;

Fig. 27 shows an example of character display contents;

Fig. 28 is an enlargement view of the display contents of Fig. 25; Fig. 29 is an explanatory view of the hierarchical display for operations of an air conditioner; and

Fig. 30 is a flowchart of the hierarchical display.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are next described referring to the drawings. Here, the portable electronic device which serves as an embodiment of the present invention can be used both as a memory card used in an entertainment system such as a video game unit which serves as the host machine or the parent machine and alone as a portable miniature game machine. The host device is not limited to the video game machines, and the portable electronic device which serves as the ancillary machine or the child machine need not necessarily have a memory card function.

In the following description, first, an example of a video game machine as the host machine is described in which the portable electronic device which serves as an embodiment of the present invention is used as an ancillary machine.

Fig. 3 shows the external appearance of a video game unit serving as the host machine to which the portable electronic device that serves as an embodiment of the present invention is attached. The video game unit 1 has the purpose of reading a game program recorded on an optical disk, for example, and executing the game in accordance with directions from the user (game player). Here the phrase "executing the game" means principally controlling the progress, display, sound effects, etc., of the game.

A main unit 2 of the video game unit 1 is housed in a roughly square-shaped case, and comprises a disk loading part 3, into the center portion of which is loaded an optical disk such as a CD-ROM that is the recording medium on which the application program of the video game is recorded, a reset switch 4 for resetting the game as desired, a power switch 5, a disk operation switch 6 for operating the insertion of the aforesaid optical disk, and, for example, two slots 7A and 7B.

The recording medium for supplying the application program is not limited to optical disks, and the application program may also be supplied via a communication line.

Two operating devices 20 can be connected to slots 7A and 7B, allowing two users to play competitive games, etc. Additionally, the aforesaid memory card or portable electronic device that serves as an embodiment of the present invention may also be inserted into slot 7A or 7B. Fig. 3 shows, as an example, a structure in which twin slots 7A and 7B are provided, but the number of slots is not limited to a twin system.

The operating device 20 has first and second operating parts 21 and 22, an L button 23 L, an R button 23R, a start button 24, and a selection button 25, and also has operating parts 31 and 32 which are able to perform an analog operation, a mode selection switch 33, which selects the operating mode of these operating parts 31 and 32, and a display part 34, which displays the operating mode selected. A vibrating mechanism not shown in the figure is also provided inside the operating devices 20.

Fig. 4 shows the form of slots 7A and 7B provided on the front face of the main unit 2 of the video game unit 1. In the embodiment, slots 7A and 7B each are formed in two stages. The upper stages are provided with memory card insertion parts 8A and 8B, into which the memory card 10 or a portable electronic device 100 described below is inserted, and the lower stages are provided with controller connection parts (jacks) 9A and 9B, to which the connection terminal part (connector) 26 of the controller 20 is connected. The insertion openings (slots) of the memory card insertion parts 8A and 8B are formed so as to have an oblong shape in the horizontal direction, and the corners at both ends on the lower side thereof are given a more rounded form than the corners at both ends on the upper side, thereby providing a structure which prevents the memory card or portable electronic device from being mistakenly inserted upside-down. The memory card insertion parts 8A and 8B are also provided with shutters which protect the connection terminals that are provided inside in order to obtain electrical connection.

The controller connection parts 9A and 9B also are formed so that the two corners on the lower side of the insertion openings, which have an oblong shape in the horizontal direction, are given a more rounded form than the corners at both ends on the upper side, thereby providing a structure which prevents the connection terminal part 26 of controller 20 from being mistakenly inserted upside-down, and also have structure in which the insertion holes are given a different form than the memory card insertion parts 8A and 8B, in order to prevent the insertion of the memory card or portable electronic device by error.

Fig. 5 shows a state in which a portable electronic device 100 which serves as an embodiment of the present invention described below is inserted into the memory card insertion part 8 A of the slot 7A on the front of the video game machine 1.

Next, Fig. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of a circuit configuration of the important parts of the video game unit 1.

The video game unit 1 includes a control system 50 having a central processing unit (CPU) 51 and its peripherals, a graphics system 60 having a graphic processing unit (GPU) 62 or like device which performs graphic functions on a frame buffer 63, a sound system 70 comprising a sound processing unit (SPU) or like device which generates music, sound effects, etc., an optical disk control part 80, which controls the optical disk on which application programs are recorded, a memory card 10 which stores signals from the controller 20 and to which the commands from the user are input, game settings, etc., a communication control part 90, which controls the input and output of data from the portable electronic device 100 described below and a bus BUS or the like by which the aforesaid parts are connected.

The control system 50 includes a CPU 51, a peripheral control part 52, which performs control functions such as an interrupt control and direct memory access (DMA) transfer control, a main memory 53 comprising a random access memory (RAM), and a read-only memory (ROM) 54, which stores programs for the so-called operating system, etc., that controls the main memory 53, graphics system 60, sound system 70, etc. The term "main memory" here refers to one that is able to execute programs on its memory. The CPU 51 performs control of the entire video game unit 1 by running the operating systems stored in the ROM 54, and comprises, for example, a 32-bit RISC (restricted instruction set computer)-CPU.

When the power is switched on, this video game unit 1 runs the operating systems stored in the ROM 54, and thereby the CPU 51 of the aforesaid control system 50 carries out control of the aforesaid graphics system 60, sound system 70, etc. When the operating systems are run, the CPU 51, after performing general initiation of the video game unit 1 such as operation validation, controls the aforesaid optical disk control part 80, and runs the application program such as a game stored in the optical disk. As it runs this game or other program, the CPU 51 controls the graphics system 60, sound system 70, etc., in accordance with input from the user, and controls the display of images in the generation of sound effects and music.

Additionally, the graphics system 60 is provided with a geometry transfer engine (GTE) 61, which performs processing such as coordinate transformation, a GPU 62, which performs plotting in accordance with plotting directions from the CPU 51, a frame buffer 63, which stores the images plotted by the GPU 62, and an image decoder 64, which decodes image data that has been compressed and encoded by means of orthogonal transformation such as discrete cosine transformation. The GTE 61 is provided with, for example, a parallel processor which performs a plurality of calculations in parallel, and is able to perform at a high speed coordinate transformation, light source calculation, and matrix or vector operations in accordance with the operation requirements from the aforesaid CPU 51. Specifically, for example, when this GTE 61 performs an operation of flat shaping whereby plotting is performed in the same color on 1 triangular polygon, it is able to perform the coordinate calculation of a maximum of about 1,500,000 polygons in 1 sec, and by this means, high-speed coordinate calculation can be performed while the load on the CPU 51 in this video game unit is reduced. Additionally, the GPU 62 performs plotting of polygons, etc., on the frame buffer 63 in accordance with plotting commands from the CPU 51. The GPU 62 is able to perform plotting of a maximum of approximately 360,000 polygons in 1 sec.

Furthermore, the frame buffer 63 has a so-called duel port RAM, and is able to perform plotting from the GPU 62 or data transfer from the main memory and read-out of data for display at the same time. The frame buffer 63 has a capacity of, e.g., 1 MB, and is handled as a matrix composed of 1024 horizontal pixels and 512 vertical pixels each having 16 bits. This frame buffer 63, in addition to a display region that is output as video output, is also provided with a color lookup table (CLUT) region, which stores a CLUT which is referred to when the GPU 62 performs the plotting of polygons, etc., and a texture region, which stores the raw material (texture) to be inserted (mapped) into the polygons, etc., plotted by the GPU 62 by coordinate transformation during plotting. The CLUT region and texture region are automatically changed according to changes, etc., in the display region.

The aforesaid GPU 62, in addition to the aforesaid flat shading, is able to perform Gouraud shading, which determines the color inside a polygon by interpolation from the color of the vertices of the polygon, and texture mapping whereby a texture stored in the aforesaid texture region is pasted on a polygon. When Gouraud shading or texture mapping is performed, the aforesaid GTE 61 is able to perform the coordinate calculation of a maximum of approximately 500,000 polygons in 1 sec.

Additionally, the image decoder 64, by means of control from the aforesaid CPU 51, decodes image data for still or moving pictures that is stored in the main memory 53 and stores it in the main memory 53.

The reproduced image data is stored via the GPU 62 in the frame buffer 63, and thereby can be used as background for images plotted by the aforesaid GPU 62. The sound system 70 is provided with an SPU 71, which generates music, sound effects, etc., as directed from the CPU 51, a sound buffer 72, in which sound wave data, etc., from this SPU 71 is stored, and speakers 73, which emanate the music, sound effects, etc., generated by the SPU 71.

The SPU 71 is provided with an adaptive differential PCM (ADPCM) decoding function, whereby voice data obtained by, e.g., performing ADPCM on 16-bit voice data using a 4-bit differential signal, is reproduced, a reproducing function whereby sound effects, etc., are obtained by reproducing waveform data stored in the sound buffer 72, a modulation function, which modulates and reproduces waveform data stored in the sound buffer 72, etc.

Being provided with these functions, the sound system 70 can be used as a so- called sampling sound source that generates music, sound effects, etc., based on waveform data stored in the sound buffer 72 as directed from CPU 51.

The optical disk control part 80 is provided with an optical disk unit 81, which reproduces programs, data, etc., recorded on the optical disk, a decoder 82, which decodes programs, data, etc., that have been recorded with an error correction code (ECC) added, and a buffer 83, which accelerates the read-out of data from the optical disk 81 by temporarily storing data from the optical disk device. The sub-CPU 84 is connected to the aforesaid decoder 82. Additionally, as the voice data or audio data(referred to as audio data hereinafter) that is read from the optical disk unit 81 and recorded on the optical disk, in addition to the aforesaid ADPCM data, so-called PCM data obtained by analog/digital conversion of audio signals can also be used. As ADPCM data, for example, audio data recorded by representing the differential in 16-bit digital data in 4 bits, is decoded by the decoder 82, then is supplied to the aforesaid SPU 71, and after processing such as digital/analog conversion is performed by the SPU 71, is used to drive the speaker 73.

Additionally, as PCM data, for example, audio data recorded as 16-bit digital data is decoded by the decoder 82 and then used to drive the speaker 73.

The communication control part 90 includes a communication control unit 91, which controls communications with the CPU 51 via the bus BUS, and said communication control unit 91 is provided with a controller connecting part 9, to which the controller 20 that inputs directions from the user is connected, and memory card insertion parts 8A and 8B, to which the memory card 10, which serves as an auxiliary memory unit for storing game setting data, etc., and the portable electronic device 100 described below are connected.

The controller 20 connected to the controller connecting parts 9A and 9B has, e.g., 16 direction keys, which allow the user to inputs directions, and in accordance with directions from the communication control unit 91, transmits status of the direction keys at a rate of approximately 60 times per second to the communication control unit 91 by synchronous communication. The communication control unit 91 then transmits the direction keys status of the controller 20 to the CPU 51.

By this means, directions from the user are input into the CPU 51, and the CPU 51 performs processing according to the directions from the user based on the game program, etc., it is running. Here, in performing program read-out, image display, or plotting, etc., it is necessary to transmit large quantities of image data among the aforesaid main memory 53, GPU 62, image decoder 64, decoder 82, etc., at a high speed. For this reason, in this video game unit, by performing control from a peripheral control part 52 bypassing the CPU 51, it is possible to perform so-called DMA transmission, whereby data can be transmitted directly among the aforesaid main memory 53, CPU 62, image decoder 64, decoder 82, etc. By this means, the load placed on the CPU 51 by data transmission can be lightened, and high-speed data transmission can be achieved.

Furthermore, when it is necessary to store setting data, etc., of a game that is being run, the aforesaid CPU 51 transmits stored data to the communication control unit 91, and the communication control unit 91 writes this data from the CPU 51 into the memory card 10 or portable electronic device 100 that is inserted into the aforesaid memory card insertion part 8A or memory card insertion part 8B.

Here, a protection circuit for preventing electrical damage is incorporated into the aforesaid communication control unit 91. The aforesaid memory card 10 and portable electronic device 100 are isolated from the bus BUS, and can be detached while the power of the device main unit is switched on. Accordingly, when, for example, the storage capacity of the aforesaid memory card 10 or portable electronic device 100 is no longer sufficient, a new memory card can be inserted without switching of the power to the device main unit. Thus, a new memory card can be inserted without losing necessary game data required to be backed up, and the necessary game data can be written into the new memory card.

The parallel 1/0 interface (PIO) 96 and serial 1/0 interface (SIO) 97 are interfaces for connecting the video game unit 1 with the aforesaid memory card 10 or portable electronic device 100.

Next, the portable electronic device that serves as an embodiment of the present invention is described. The following description is based on the premise that the portable electronic device 100 according to the present invention is inserted into the host machine video game unit 1 described above and is used as an ancillary machine. The portable electronic apparatus 100 which serves as an ancillary machine is inserted into the memory card insertion part 8A or 8B provided in the slot 7A or 7B of the video game unit 1 that serves as the host machine, and can be used as an independent memory card for the multiple operating devices 20 that are connected. For example, in the case where two users (game players) are playing the game, two portable electronic devices 100 may be provided with conventional functions of recording individual game results, etc. In order to bring the connecting terminal and the ground terminal in their electrically connected states first when the memory card 10 or portable electronic device 100 is inserted into a memory card insertion part 8, the conductor of the connecting terminal for grounding or for electrical connection with the connector of the aforesaid memory card 10 or portable electronic device 100 is formed so as to be longer than the other terminals. The reason for this is to secure the safety and stability of the electrical operation, and the connecting conductor of the memory insertion part 8 of the video game unit 1 may be formed so as to be longer, or both may be formed so as to be longer. In order to prevent insertion errors, the left and right forms of the connector part are made asymmetrical. Figs. 7 through 9 show the exterior of the portable electronic device 100 of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portable electronic device 100, Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the state in which the cover member 110 for protection of the connector parts is closed, and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a state in which the cover member 110 is open. As shown in Figs. 7 through 9, the portable electronic device 100 of the present invention is constituted so as to have a housing 101 and is provided with an operating part 120 having one or more operating elements 121 and 122 for performing event input, various selections, etc., the display part 130, comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD) or similar device, and a window part 140 for wireless communication by infrared rays, for example, using a wireless communication means described below. The housing 101 comprises an upper shell 101a and lower shell 101b, and houses a substrate 151 (see Fig. 10) on which a memory element and the like are mounted. This housing 101 can be inserted into a slot 7A or 7B in the main unit of the video game unit 1, and on the side face of one side thereof is provided with a connector part 150 (see Fig. 9 and Fig. 10) on which an oblong window is formed.

The window part 140 is formed on the front-end portion of the housing 101, which is formed in a roughly semicircular shape. The display part 130 is formed on the upper face of the housing 101 and occupies approximately half of the region of this upper face positioned near the window part 140. The operating part 120 is disposed on the part which forms the side opposite to the window part 140 on the upper face of the housing 101, occupying approximately half of the surface of this upper face. This operating part 120 is formed in a roughly square shape and is supported so that it can be turned (opened and closed) in relation to the housing 101, comprising a cover member 110, which has one or more operating elements 121 and 122, and switch depression parts 102 and 103, which are placed in positions where they can be opened and closed by means of said cover member 110 on the housing 101. The operating elements 121 and 122 are arranged so as to be pierced through the cover element 110 from the upper face to the lower face of the cover element 110. These operating elements 121 and 122 are supported by means of said cover element 110 and can be moved in a protruding or sinking direction in relation to the upper face of the cover member 110. The switch depression parts 102 and 103 have depression elements that can be moved in a protruding or sinking direction in relation to the upper face of the housing 101 and are held on said housing 101. The depression elements when depressed from above depress a depression switch such as a diaphragm switch formed on the surface of the substrate 151 inside the housing 101.

The switch depression parts 102 and 103 are placed in a position corresponding to the position of the operating elements 121 and 122 when the cover member 110 is closed. Specifically, when the cover member 110 is in its closed position, if either of the operating elements 121 and 122 is pressed in a sinking direction with regard to the upper face of the cover member 110, this operating element 121 or 122 depresses the corresponding depression switch inside the housing 101 via the depression element of the corresponding switch depression part 102 or 103. Inside the window of the connector part 150, as shown in Fig. 10, the power and signal terminals 152 are arranged together on the substrate 151.

The form, dimensions, etc., of the connector part 150 are made so as to be compatible with a conventional memory card 10 used in the video game unit 1.

Fig. 11 A is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the main parts of the portable electronic device.

The portable electronic device 100, like the conventional memory card 10 described above, is provided with a control unit 41 for controlling its operation, a connector 42 for connecting with the slot of the information device, etc., and a nonvolatile memory 46 which is an element used to store data. The control unit 41 consists of a microcomputer; for example, and has a program memory part 41a which serves as the program storage means. Additionally, a semiconductor memory device such as a flush memory, in which the recording status remains even after power is cut off, may be used as the nonvolatile memory 46. The portable electronic device 100 according to the present invention is constituted so as to be provided with a battery 49 as described below, but it may also use a static random access memory (SRAM) that is able to input and output data at a high speed as nonvolatile memory 46. The portable electronic device 100 differs in that, in addition to the constitution described above, it is also provided with an operation (event) input unit 43 such as operating buttons for operating the programs that are stored in it, a display unit 44 such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), which serves as a display means for displaying various types of information according to the aforesaid program, a wireless communication device 48, for transmitting and receiving data with another memory card, etc., by means of an infrared rays, etc., and a battery 49, which provides power to the aforesaid parts.

The portable electronic device 100 also houses the miniature battery 49 as a power supplying means. Thus, it can be operated independently even after being removed from the slot 7A or 7B of the video game unit 1 that is the host machine. A rechargeable secondary battery may also be used as the battery 49. The portable electronic device 100 (ancillary machine) is constituted so that when it is inserted into a slot 7A or 7B of the video game unit 1 that is the host machine, it is supplied with power from the host video game unit 1. That is, a power terminal 49t is connected to the connection terminal of the battery 49 with a diode 49d interposed therebetween to prevent reverse flow, and inserted into a slot on the host machine such as the aforesaid video game unit 1, power is supplied from the host machine to the ancillary machine, and when a secondary battery is used, recharging of the secondary battery can also be performed.

The portable electronic device 100 is further provided with a clock 45, a speaker 47 or the like which is a sound emanating means that emanates sound in accordance with the aforesaid program, or the like. The aforesaid parts are each connected to the control unit 41 and are operated under the control of the control unit 41.

Fig. 11B shows control elements of the control unit 41. In the conventional memory card 10, only a main unit connection interface for connection with the information device and a memory interface for inputting and outputting data to and from the memory are provided. However, in the portable electronic device 100 of the present invention, in addition to the aforesaid interfaces, a display interface, an operating input interface, a voice interface, a wireless communication interface, a clock control, and a program download interface are also provided.

Thus, since the portable electronic device 100 is constituted so as to provide the control unit (microcomputer) 41 with an interface (driver) for controlling the functions added by means of this embodiment independently from the main unit (host machine) connection interface and nonvolatile memory control that are its conventional functions, compatibility with the conventional functions can be maintained.

Moreover, since the portable electronic device 100 is constituted so as to be provided with features such as an input means 43 such as button switches for operating the program being run and a display unit 44, which uses a liquid crystal display (LCD), etc., when running game applications, it can be used as a portable game unit. Furthermore, since this portable electronic device 100 has a function whereby application programs downloaded from the main unit of the video game unit 1 are stored in a program memory part 41a in the microcomputer 41, application programs and various types of driver software that are run on the portable electronic device 100 can be easily changed. As explained above, the portable electronic device 100 of the present invention is able to control operations independently from the video game unit 1. Thus, on the portable electronic device 100 side, data produced by applications stored in the program memory part 41a that is the program storage means can be created independently from the application software on the side of the video game unit 1. Furthermore, coordinated operation (linking) between the portable electronic device 100 and video game unit 1 also can be achieved by exchanging this data with the video game unit 1. Moreover, since the portable electronic device 100 is provided with a clock 45, time data can be shared with the side of the video game unit 1. Specifically, not only can time data be mutually synchronized, but also data for controlling in real time the progress of the games being run independently can be shared. Fig. 12 schematically shows the state in which wireless communication is performed between portable electronic devices 100 according to the present invention. In this way, by sending and receiving data via the window part 140 which forms a wireless communication window for carrying out wireless communication by infrared rays, etc., in the wireless communication device 48, the portable electronic device 100 is able to exchange internal data with a plurality of memory cards. The aforesaid internal data may also include data stored in the memory means in a memory card transferred from an information device such as a video game unit.

In the embodiment described above, the portable electronic device 100 is used as an auxiliary memory unit of the video game unit, but the object of application is not limited to video game units, and the device may also be used, e.g., for retrieval of various types of information.

As described above, the portable electronic device 100 is able to share with the main unit of a video game unit 1 game data produced by a microcomputer 41 as a control means, time data obtained by the clock 45 in the memory card, data produced by a separate memory card and obtained through the wireless communication device 48, etc.

Fig. 13 schematically shows the state in which coordinated operation is performed between a video game unit 1 as a host machine and a portable electronic device 100 as an ancillary machine. As a coordinated operation, an example is described in which an optical disk

(CD-ROM), as a recording medium on which an application software program is recorded, is loaded into the host machine video game unit 1, and a program read from this disk is downloaded to an ancillary machine, i.e., portable electronic device 100, inserted into slot 7A or 7B in the main unit of the video game unit 1.

Fig. 14 shows the flow of data when the application program of a video game supplied from an optical disk (CD-ROM) loaded into a disk loading part 3 of a video game unit 1, i.e., a host machine, is directly transferred (downloaded) to the program memory part 41a which serves as the program storage means in a microcomputer 41 that is the control means of the portable electronic device 100 used as an ancillary machine via a CPU 51 which is the control means of the video game unit 1. Fig. 15 shows the downloading procedure in Fig. 14. In step ST1, the application program of a video game that is run on the microcomputer inside the portable electronic device 100 which serves as an ancillary machine (and is referred to below simply as the "ancillary machine") is read as data from a CD-ROM loaded into the disk loading part 3 of the video game unit 1 which serves as the host machine (and is referred to below simply as the "host machine"). As described above, this application program is separate from that generally run on the parent machine video game unit 1.

Next, in step ST2, the CPU 9 which is the control means of the host machine issues a "program download request command" to the microcomputer 41 which is the control means of the portable electronic device 100, i.e., the ancillary machine. The CPU 9 then carries out polling in order to receive "program download permission status" from the microcomputer 41. Here, the term "polling" refers to a process that performs a service in conjunction with determining whether there has been a service request.

In step ST3, the microcomputer 41 on the side of the portable electronic device 100 which is the ancillary machine receives a "program download request command" from the CPU 9 of the host machine. Then, in step ST4, when the microcomputer 41 on the ancillary machine side completes the routine being performed, if a status becomes one in which it is able to download the program, it sends "program download permission status" to the CPU 9 of the host machine. Next, in step ST5, when the CPU 9 of the host machine receives the "program download permission status" from the microcomputer 41 on the ancillary machine side, it transfers (downloads) the program that has been read from the CD-ROM, etc., in step ST1 to the program memory 41a which is the program storage means of the portable electronic device 100 and then writes the program therein. The CPU 9 then performs polling in order to receive the "program start permission status" from the microcomputer 41.

At this time, the address of the program memory part 41a in which the downloaded data is written is managed by the microcomputer 41. In the foregoing description, an example was discussed in which a program downloaded from a host machine is stored in the program memory part 41a in the microcomputer 41, but it may also be stored in a memory device such as an SRAM that is able to input and output data at a high speed.

In step ST6, the microcomputer 41 of the memory card receives the program transferred from the host machine as data and writes it into the program memory part 41a. At this time, from the view of the CPU 9 of the host machine, it appears that the program data is being written directly into the program memory part 41a of the portable electronic device 100. Moreover, as explained above, the address of the program memory 41a is managed by the microcomputer 41.

Next, in step ST7, when the microcomputer 41 of the portable electronic device 100 that is the ancillary device assumes a status in which it is able to receive and execute final program data from the host machine, it sends "program start permission status" back to the CPU 9 of the main unit. In step ST8, the CPU 9 of the host machine receives the "program start permission status" from the microcomputer 41 of the portable electronic device 100 and issues a "program start command."

Next, when the microcomputer 41 of the portable electronic device 100 receives the "program start command" from the CPU 9 of the host machine, it operates the program from a predetermined specified address.

By means of the procedure described above, an application program can be transferred directly (downloaded) from the video game unit 1 which is the host machine to the program memory part 41a of the microcomputer 41 of the portable electronic device 100 that is the ancillary machine inserted therein.

As described above, the means for providing the application program is not limited to a recording medium such as an optical disk, and a program may also be supplied via a communication line. In this case, only step ST1 in the procedure described above differs. In this connection, the foregoing description of the downloading procedure concerns a downloading procedure used in the direct downloading of an application program from a video game unit 1 that is the host machine to the program memory part 41a in the microcomputer 41 that is the control means of the portable electronic device 100 which is the ancillary machine inserted therein. In contrast, there may also be cases where, after the CPU 9 of the host machine has downloaded the data of the application program into the nonvolatile memory 46 in the portable electronic device 100 that is the ancillary machine, this data is copied into the program memory part 41a in the microcomputer 41 and run.

Fig. 16 shows the flow of data in such a case. Specifically, after the application program of the video game supplied from the optical disk, etc., that is loaded into the disk loading part 3 of the video game unit 1 that is the host machine has been transferred (downloaded) to the nonvolatile memory 46 in the portable electronic device 100 that is the ancillary machine via the CPU 9 that is the control means of the video game unit 1, it is copied into the program memory part 41a in the microcomputer 41 that is the control means and executed.

Fig. 17 shows the above-mentioned downloading procedure. In step ST11, first a video game application program that is to be run on the microcomputer in the portable electronic device 100 that is the ancillary machine is read out as data from a CD-ROM that is loaded into the disk loading part 3 of the video game unit 1, i.e., the host machine.

Next, in step ST12, the CPU 9 that is the control means of the host machine transfers (downloads) the program data that has been read from the CD-ROM to the nonvolatile memory 46 of the portable electronic device 100 that is the ancillary machine. This procedure is the same as when data backup is performed in a conventional video game unit.

Next, in step ST13, the microcomputer 41 that is the control means of the portable electronic device 100 receives as data the application program transferred from the CPU 9 of the host machine by the same procedure as used in a conventional data backup, and writes it into the nonvolatile memory 46.

Next, in step ST14, when the microcomputer 41 of the portable electronic device 100 receives a "program start request command" from the CPU 9 of the host machine, it copies data of a designated size from the address designated by the aforesaid command in the nonvolatile memory 46 to the program memory part 41a in the microcomputer 41.

The microcomputer 41 of the portable electronic device 100 then executes the program copied to the program memory part 41a from that start address. By means of this procedure, a program of application software can be transferred (downloaded) as data from the video game unit 1 that is the host machine via the nonvolatile memory 46 to a program memory part 41a in the microcomputer 41 of the portable electronic device 100 that is the ancillary machine inserted therein.

The application program that is downloaded from the video game unit 1 that is the host machine to the portable electronic device 100 that is the ancillary machine is generally separate from that which is operated on the video game unit 1 that is the host machine. Of course, the aforesaid application program that has been downloaded may be run on both the video game unit 1 and the portable electronic device 100. However, in this case, the CPU on the video game unit 1 side and the microcomputer on the portable electronic device 100 side are restricted to being the same processor. Next, a coordinated operation is described whereby the application software program downloaded by the procedure described above from the video game unit 1 that is the host machine is executed independently by the portable electronic device 100 that is the ancillary machine, and operation is performed while those execution results are again exchanged with the video game unit 1. Here, attribute data of a protagonist or character appearing in a so-called role- playing game or the like that is run on the video game unit 1 that is the host machine is downloaded to the portable electronic device 100 that is the ancillary machine. The aforesaid attribute data is data expressing level of growth, qualities, etc.

Next, by developing a protagonist or character in a program carried out by the microcomputer 41 in the portable electronic device 100 that is the ancillary machine, those attributes can be changed independently of the program that is run on the main unit of the video game unit 1 that is the host machine.

The portable electronic device 100 that is this embodiment of the invention is constituted so that it can be operated independently and is small in size so that it is convenient for carrying. The user (game player) is able to import and develop a protagonist or character by means of a program that is run on this portable electronic device 100. The attributes of the protagonist or character who has been developed by the user can be transferred (uploaded) from the portable electronic device 100 to the main unit of the video game unit 1. In this case, the protagonist or character having changed attributes can be imported into and operated in the program that is being run on the video game unit 1 that is the host machine. As described above, it is possible to construct video games that can be run in coordinated operation by sharing and changing attribute data of protagonists, etc., in both the video game unit 1 that is the host machine and the portable electronic device 100 that is the ancillary machine.

Up to this point it has been described how the portable electronic device 100 that is the ancillary machine can be used as a portable game in relation to the video game unit, and how a video game can be run in coordinated operation with the video game unit. However, the present inventor also discovered in developing this invention that when removed from a conventional game machine, this portable device 100 can be used as an operating device having independent input/output operation functions. Specifically, by further development of the independent game function by downloading, this portable electronic device 100 can be used as a general-use operating device by downloading software, and in this embodiment includes application as a remote control unit.

Furthermore, since this ancillary machine, i.e., the portable electronic device 100 itself, has a size that allows it to be enclosed in the palm of the hand of an adult, the surface 130 has a limited surface area, and the operating parts 120 include only operating elements 121 and 122. Thus, a function that is able to substitute for a plurality of input operation buttons as in a remote control unit (abbreviated as a "remote") that is an attachment to a normal television receiver, etc., becomes necessary. In this embodiment, an arrangement is used whereby simple and clear operations are performed by display and operation along the lines of the thinking process of the operator using the small display part 130 and the few operating elements 121 and 122. Fig. 18 shows an example of a recording medium such as an optical disk which is loaded into the disk loading part 3 of the host machine, showing a CD-ROM on which an operation application program for an operating device is recorded. As is clear from this drawing, a download program, menu display program, remote operating program and calculator program are recorded on the CD-ROM.

Here, the procedure related to downloading is described. First the process sequence on the device side is described referring to the flowchart shown in Fig. 19.

In the initial step S441 the CD-ROM is driven, in step S442 a database is read, and in step S443 control menus are displayed. The process flow then advances to the next step S444.

Step S444 branches depending upon whether or not a menu displayed in step S443 has been selected. Specifically, if a menu has been selected, then as "YES" the process advances to step S445, and if a menu has not been selected, it returns to step S443 as "NO." In step S445 a preview of the selected menu is displayed. The process then advances to step S446.

Step S446 branches according to whether or not selection has been made. Specifically, if the selected menu is decided upon, then as "YES" the process advances to step S447, and if the selected menu is not decided upon, then the process returns to step S443 as "NO."

In step S447, the selected menu data, i.e., the remote menu, is transferred to the ancillary machine, and the process advances to the next step S448.

Step S448 branches according to whether or not this sequence of processes has been ended. If "finished" has been selected, then as "YES" the series of processes is ended, and if "finished" is not selected, then as "NO" the process returns to step S443. Next, the screen display is described referring to the screen display shown in Fig. 20. In Fig. 20, the display screen of, for example, a television receiver is shown. Here, a roughly rectangular display window 231 on the left side of the display screen 200 and a roughly rectangular preview window 233 on the upper right of the display screen 200 are opened.

An operating menu is shown in the display window 231. The menu displayed in this display window 231 is displayed inverted so that a specified operation such as remote control can be performed.

A preview image of the menu selected is displayed in the preview window 233.

Next, the series of steps in the processing performed on the ancillary machine side are described referring to the flowchart shown in Fig. 21. The initial step S451 branches according to whether or not the device is connected to the host machine. Specifically, when connected to the host machine, it advances to step S452 as "YES," and when not connected to the host machine, it returns as "NO."

In step S452, data is saved according to directions from the host machine. This series of processes is then ended.

In this way, the operating menu (remote control) of the CD-ROM can be downloaded to the ancillary machine from the host machine. By means of this downloading, the remote control application program and graphic data are stored in the nonvolatile memory 46 as shown in Fig. 22 in the ancillary machine. This program and data are necessary to the ancillary machine for remote control operation and display, and the remote control operation program is started and run while a user is viewing the display screen of the display part 130. In this case, graphic data is first displayed on the initial screen in the display part 130 via a buffer 46B shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 22 shows the initial screen displayed on the ancillary machine. The size of display is one which can be easily viewed in light of the size of the display part 130 of the ancillary machine. In other words, several characters can be displayed in the display part 130 in the vertical and horizontal directions. As an initial screen, the operating menu of a television receiver, VTR recorder, or air conditioner is displayed. Specifically, remote control switching-on "TV" for a television receiver, channel selection "CH" and volume selection "VOL" of a television receiver, remote control switching-on "VTR" for a VTR recorder, and channel selection "CH" and operation selection "CONT" for a VTR recorder are displayed.

Additionally, as an air conditioner operating menu, although not shown in Fig. 23, remote control switching on "AIRCON" of the air conditioner, or the air conditioner operation selections of cooling "CL," warming "WA," and drying "DY" may be displayed. In this display, by shifting the display screen upward by the operation of depressing the upper stage 121U of the operating elements 121R, 121D, 121U, 121R, 122 of the ancillary machine, for example, the air conditioning functions of "AIRCON, CL, WA, DY" can be displayed on the display part 130, and the operating menu of "TV, CH, VOL" of the television receiver "TV" that is here removed from display part 130 can be displayed again on the display part 130 by depressing the lower stage 121 D of the operating elements.

Thus, although depending upon the capacity of the nonvolatile memory 46 of the ancillary machine, several types of operating menus to be performed by remote control operation besides those for a television receiver, VTR recorder, or air conditioner can be stored, and their operating menus can be displayed by shift operation using the operating elements 121U and 121D.

The operating menu of the television receiver will be now described. When remote control operation of a television receiver is performed, for example, by moving a cursor under the "TV" display inside the display part 130 in Fig. 21, and setting "TV" in the operating element 122 of the confirmation key, power to the television receiver can be switched on. When the operating element 122 is depressed in this case, naturally it is necessary for the window part 140 to which the command is transmitted by infrared rays to be facing the television receiver. After power to the television receiver has been switched on by selection setting of the "TV" display, channel selection can be performed by switching the cursor to the "CH" display. When the channel selection "CH" is set in the operating element 122, a display of "+" or "-" appears in the display part 130, and as shown in Fig. 24A, in the case of "+," for example, by depressing the operating element 121 R, the channel number can be switched in the direction of increase as shown in Fig. 24 A, or the case of "-," the channel number can be switched in the downward direction by depressing the operating element 121L. Thus, the desired channel can be confirmed by depressing the operating element 122. In this case, the display "+" or "-" can be returned to the initial screen of the display part 130 by means of this confirmation.

Additionally, the volume display "VOL" exists to the side of the channel display "CH," and by moving the cursor to this volume display "VOL," e.g., movement of the operating element 120R, the volume can be selected. Then, when the selection "VOL" of volume is set using the operating element 122, a display of "+" or "-" appears in the display part 130 in the same way as in channel selection described above, and in the case of "+," for example, by depressing the operating almond 121R, volume is increased as shown in Fig. 24B, or, by depressing the operating element 121 L in the case of "-," volume is reduced. Then, by depressing the operating element 122 at the desired volume, that volume can be confirmed, and the display screen returns to the initial screen.

Fig. 25 shows the image display of the volume increase display "+," and Fig. 26 shows an enlarged image display. Here, for example, the numbers 1, 8, 16, 24, and 32 in the vertical and horizontal directions in the display shown in Fig. 26 indicate pixel numbers of the liquid crystal, and indirectly represent the size of the liquid crystal screen.

In inputting power, channel selection, and volume selection in the aforesaid television receiver, power input is selected, for example, by setting the cursor on "TV" by means of the operating element 122, "+" and "-" display can be made together with the power input by moving the cursor to the channel "CH" or volume "VOL" display, or the setting confirmation and screen return operations can be performed merely by depressing operating element 121U, 121D, 121R, or 121L without moving the cursor. For example, after displaying of "+" and "-" in the next hierarchy by confirmation by depressing the operating element 122 after moving the cursor by the depression of operating elements 121U, 121D, 121R, and 121L and in selection using operating elements 121R and 121L, a method or operating system for the same operating elements can be set as those suitable for returning to the initial screen by depressing operating element 121U or 121D after confirmation, for example, by depressing the same operating elements twice. This can also be said with regard to the remote control operation of a VTR recorder and the remote control operation of an air conditioner.

Next, returning to Fig. 23, the remote control operation of a VTR recorder is discussed. By moving the cursor to the "VTR" display in the initial screen and depressing the operating element 122, the power of that VTR recorder facing the window part 140 is switched on. Then, by moving the cursor to the channel display "CH" in the initial screen and depressing the operating element 122, the screen is switched to the same display of "+" or "-" in the same way as with the channel display "CH" of the television receiver described above.

Next, by operating the operating elements 121L and 121R, in the case of "+," by depressing the operating element 121 R, the channel number can be switched in the increasing direction, or in the case of "-," by depressing the operating element 121L, the channel number can be switched in the downward direction. The device may also be constituted so that, when the operating element 121L is operated with a "+" display, the display switches to a "-" display, and when the operating element 121R is operated in a "-" display, the display switches to a "+" display. In this way, after switching to the desired channel, that channel can be confirmed by depressing the operating element 122, and at the same time the display screen of the display part 130 is returned to the initial screen.

Furthermore, in the remote control operation of the VTR 32 recorder shown in Fig. 3, when the cursor is moved to the "CO NT" display of the initial screen and the operating element 122 is depressed, the operating display shown in Fig. 24C appears on the screen. Specifically, a character display of the operating functions of a VTR recorder appears, the display is moved in the right-hand direction in Fig. 24C by depressing the operating element 122R, i.e., the display is switched in the order of F --> FF -> RW - ST - PO -> RE, and the display is moved in the left-hand direction in Fig. 24C by depressing the operating element 122L, i.e., the display is switched in the order of F -» RE -_ PO -» ST -> RW -_> FF -^■ F.

Then, by depressing the operating element 122 in the desired operating mode, that operating mode is established, and the screen display returns to the original screen. Fig. 27 shows the actual display status in the remote control operation of a

VTR recorder when the "CONT" display of the initial screen is set. Here, the character display of "forward" or "F" is shown.

Fig. 28 shows an enlarged view of the liquid crystal display screen of Fig. 27.

Fig. 29 shows the remote control operation display of an air conditioner. In Fig. 29, the air conditioner display is shown in the initial screen in the upper stage, the middle stage shows the screen display of the next hierarchy when the cooling "CL" display is set in the initial screen, and the lower stage indicates the display of the lower-level hierarchy when the temperature "TEMP" display is set on the screen of the middle stage. In this lower-level hierarchy, "+" display or "-" display is performed as in the case of "CH" display or "VOL" display in the television receiver described above or "CH" display in a VTR recorder. Thus, the screen display of the next hierarchy is shown when the display is set, and the lower stage shows the display of a lower-level hierarchy when the temperature "TEMP" display is set in the mid-level screen. In this lower-level hierarchy, "+" display or "-" display is performed as in the case of "CH" display or "VOL" display in the television receiver described above or "CH" display in a VTR recorder.

In the operation shown in Fig. 29, by confirming the setting by depressing the operating element when cursor designation of the "AIRCON" display has been made by means of an operating element 121U, 121D, 121R or 121L, the power to the air conditioner is switched on, by cursor designation and confirming the setting of the "CL" display for cooling, the cooling "CL" display is performed, and the temperature is selected by cursor designation of the temperature "TEMP" display and the display thereof, and the selection of temperature is performed in accordance with the "+" display or "-" display.

In this example, the movement of the cursor is performed, for example, by means of operating elements 121U, 121D, 121R and 121L, the confirmation of setting is performed by operation of the operating element 122, increase and decrease are performed, for example, by the operating elements 121 R and 121 L, and by determination of the lowest-level display "+" or "-", the display can be made to return to the initial screen. In this remote control display for an air conditioner, it is clear from the size of the screen that the initial screen can be obtained as described above by, for example, shifting the information, but this operation can easily be obtained by a shift operation, etc., using the buffer 46B shown in Fig. 22. In Fig. 29, the "WA" display indicates warming, the "DY" display indicates drying, and "AIRVOL" display indicates blow volume. Using the initial screen of Fig. 23 as a standard, the remote control operation of a television receiver, remote control operation of the VTR recorder, and remote control operation of an air conditioner were explained above.

A flowchart of the remote control operation is shown referring to Fig. 30. By initiating the program routine, first determination of whether or not the initial screen is displayed is made in step 200, and when operation has not yet been performed, the initial screen shown in Fig. 23 is displayed (step ST201).

Next, moving to the next evaluation block ST202, it is determined whether or not the type of machine has been selected. Specifically, in the example given above, it is determined whether the remote control display "TV" for the television receiver, the remote control display (VTR) a VTR recorder, or the remote control display "AIRCON" of the air conditioner has been selected, and if none has been selected, display remains in the initial screen.

When one of the machine types has been selected by moving the cursor, in the next step ST203, it is determined whether the operation object (OP object) has been selected. Specifically, it is determined whether "CH" display or "VOL" display has been selected in remote control display of the television receiver, whether "CH" display or "CO NT" display has been selected in the remote control display of the VTR recorder, or whether "CL," "WA," or "DY" display has been selected in the remote control display of the air conditioner. In this step ST203, if it is found that selection has not been made, the initial screen remains, and if selection has been made, the process advances to step ST204.

In this step ST204, "-1" is displayed; this "-1" designates the layer immediately below in the hierarchical display and here indicates moving to the display in the layer immediately below the initial screen. In other words, in the television receiver, this indicates the "+" and "-" display, which is the display in the layer immediately below "CH" and "VOL" display, in a VTR recorder it indicates the "+" or "-" the display or the F, FF, RW, ST, RE, PO, etc., character display, which is the display in the layer immediately below "CU" and "CONT", and in the air conditioner, it indicates the display of the middle level shown in Fig. 29.

After processing in step ST204, the process flow again returns to step ST200, and it is determined whether or not the initial screen is displayed. Here, since the designation of lower- layer display has been designated in step ST204, step ST204 is "NO," and moves to the display in step ST205. In step ST205, the lower-layer display designated as described above in step 204 is performed.

In other words, the "+" and "-" display or character display is performed in the television receiver, and in the air conditioner, for example, the display of the middle row in Figure 29 is performed.

Next, in step ST206, it is determined whether or not selection has been made with regard to display of the aforesaid second hierarchy; when such selection has not been made, the process remains in the display screen of step ST205, and when selection has been made, the process flow moves to the evaluation block for completion or noncompletion. In this evaluation block ST207, for example, return to the initial screen in accordance with the operating element 122 as described above is made a trigger, and when display exists as far as a third hierarchy as shown in the bottom row in Fig. 29, selection is not yet completed, the process advances to step ST208, and designation of the third hierarchy in the bottom row in Fig. 29, i.e., "+" display or "-" display, is performed. In this case, the flow returns to step ST200, and in step ST205, the "+" display or "-" display in the bottom row in Fig. 29 is performed. Then, when the hierarchical displays are finally exhausted, step ST207 is completed, and program reaches END. In the foregoing description, the invention was based on the concept of wireless remote control operation by infrared rays using the wireless communication function of the ancillary machine, i.e., the portable electronic device. Accordingly, numerous types of devices can be controlled merely by changing the software, so long as they are devices having wireless remote control operation of this type, and, for example, the invention can be used in a wide variety of devices such as remote commanders for so- called radio cassettes, including portable radios, tape, and CD players, and remotes for electric fans, etc.

In particular, application programs or graphic data on a CD-ROM, or, in some cases, audio output, can be downloaded to the portable electronic device, and by making the display have a hierarchical structure irrespective of the type of device, a simple universal operation becomes possible. Moreover, the portable electronic device as stated above is extremely compact, and by downloading becomes highly useful as an independent remote control operating device.

In the present invention, the starting point is an auxiliary device for the videogame machine, and the downloading of videogame software, but the usefulness of such a portable electronic device in the future may serve high-density recording of programs and changing the programs in recording media, and goes beyond game machines in its universal applicability to all types of devices.

As explained above, by means of the present invention including a means which stores a remote control operation program transferred from the recording medium of the host machine, a control means, which executes this remote control operation program, a means which displays remote control operation information in accordance with the aforesaid remote control operation program, and an output means, which outputs operating signals to an object machine in accordance with the aforesaid remote control operation information in a portable electronic device, which can be connected to a host machine having program execution functions, and which has, independently from the aforesaid host machine, an input means, output means, and control means, the portable electronic device can be provided with a remote control function independent from the game machine, and an operating device having universal application that is able to perform a remote control operation easily can be obtained.

Moreover, in a recording medium which can be loaded into a host machine having a program executing function, and in which information that can be transferred to a portable electronic device connected to that host machine is recorded, by obtaining a recording medium in which remote control operation information is recorded as the contents of a menu in addition to the transferred program and transferred menu display program, the transfer of the remote control operation using that game machine becomes possible and a remote control operation having universal application becomes possible.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A portable electronic device which can be connected to a host machine having program execution functions and which includes input means, output means and control means that are independent from said host machine, comprising: means which stores remote control operation program transferred from a recording medium of the host machine; control means, which executes said remote control operation program; display means which displays remote control operation information in accordance with said remote control operation program; and output means, which outputs operating signals to an object machine in accordance with said remote control operation information.

2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said remote control operation information has a hierarchical structure of operation, and each hierarchy is displayed by display means and selected by said input means.

3. The portable electronic device according to claim 2, wherein said hierarchical structure of operation is constituted in stages by classification according to at least one of a machine type and a processing object and further classification into lower-layer operations.

4. An operating method for a portable electronic device, which can be connected to a host machine having program execution functions, and which has, independently from the host machine, input means, output means, and control means, said operating method comprising the steps of: storing a remote control operation program transferred from a recording medium of the host machine; executing said remote control operation program; displaying remote control operation information in accordance with said remote control operation program; and outputting operating signals to an object machine in accordance with said remote control operation information.

5. The operating method for portable electronic device according to claim 4, wherein said remote control operation information is displayed in a hierarchical structure of an operation and is selected by an input operation.

6. The operating method for portable electronic device according to claim 5, wherein said hierarchical structure of operation is constituted in stages by classification according to at least one of a machine type and a processing object, and is further classified into lower-layer operations, and is selected in stages following a sequence.

7. A recording medium which can be loaded into a host machine having a program executing function, and in which information that can be transferred to a portable electronic device connected to that host machine is recorded, wherein remote control operation information is recorded as contents of a menu in addition to the transferred program and a transferred menu display program.

8. The recording medium according to claim 7, which has at least one item selected from the group consisting of a remote control application program, graphic data, and audio data in said remote control operation information.

9. The recording medium according to claim 7, which stores a game software, and additionally records remote control operating information.