Game machine, backup control program of game data and backup control method
US7654904B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 14, 2003 |
| Grant date | Feb 2, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 8, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA63F2300/636
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A game machine includes a CPU and, when a game cartridge is loaded in the game machine, the CPU is electrically connected to a ROM in the game cartridge and an electronically erasable non-volatile flash memory having at least two game data storage backup areas. Game data generated during the progress of a game is maintained in a volatile work memory and, in response to an instruction provided by a user, an attempt to save this data (referred to herein as “last” game data or as the “latest” game data) in an appropriate backup storage area of a non-volatile flash memory is made. Whenever the user instructs the game machine to save a game, the CPU compares the write age of each backup area and selects a game data backup area that is stored with game data having an oldest write age. Because electronically erasable non-volatile memories become less reliable and susceptible to degradation and failure after repeated usage, the CPU attempts a writing of the game data to the selected backup area, and then immediately performs a check to determine if the write operation to the selected backup area was successfully performed. If writing to the selected backup area can not be successfully perf…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.