초록 ▼

An existing video game system is modified to include additional communication and storage capability via a modem and hard disk drive. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the primary system security features are incorporated into a video game system expansion device having a h

An existing video game system is modified to include additional communication and storage capability via a modem and hard disk drive. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the primary system security features are incorporated into a video game system expansion device having a hard disk drive. The security system does not rely on the relatively insecure video game system. The present exemplary embodiment focuses security control in a disk drive/mass media controlling engine which is physically disposed within the expansion device housing as close as possible to the hard disk drive and the downloaded video games and other data it is designed to protect. Security features are incorporated into, for example, a disk drive controlling processing engine to provide security features which extend far beyond simplistic password systems which have heretofore been utilized in conjunction with disk drive controllers. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the disk controller also incorporates an encrypting engine which encrypts in accordance with a highly secure encrypting algorithm. A further level of security is provided in the illustrative embodiments by partitioning the hard drive into various partitions whose security/accessibility is tightly controlled. Each application program, e.g., a video game, has a predetermined number of private partitions, including a read only encrypted partition.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A video game system for executing a video game program and generating game play graphics for display on a user's display comprising:a game processing system for executing a video game program and generating game play graphics on a user's display; communications circuitry, coupled in use to said g

1. A video game system for executing a video game program and generating game play graphics for display on a user's display comprising:a game processing system for executing a video game program and generating game play graphics on a user's display; communications circuitry, coupled in use to said game processing system and to a user's communications network, for linking said game processing system to a server; a writeable mass storage device coupled in use to said game processing system for storing at least graphics data loaded therein; a mass storage device controller for defining partitions in said mass storage device in response to encrypted commands received from said server.