MXPA99009178A - Method of and system to add information and regis register - Google Patents

Abstract

An entertainment apparatus has a hand controller for admitting control information, a main memory for loading an information program to be used by the program, a CPU for carrying out the processing in accordance with the program based on the information of control supported by the hand controller, a GTE and a GPU to generate at least the image information based on such processing carried out for the CPU, and a presentation monitor to present the image information generated by the GTE and the GPU A method of adding information for use by the program carried out in the entertainment apparatus has the step of adding additional information by loading the additional information through a memory card or a portable information terminal into the main memory of the entertainment apparatus. . The method allows game characters, background, etc. which can be used during the game program, for example, are increased in number or added to allow the user to enjoy a game that is rich in variety, even when the game's program is of a nature

Description

"METHOD OF AND SYSTEM TO ADD INFORMATION AND MEANS OF REGISTRATION" BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method of and a system for adding information to be used in a program that is being executed by an image information processing apparatus for presenting generated image information, and a recording medium that stores a program and data capable of adding information for use in a program that is being executed by an image information processing apparatus for presenting generated image information.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNIQUE Software programs for video game machines and various data for use in these software programs are provided in the form of ROM cassettes and CD-ROMs to users. The various data to be used in the software programs include character data, for example, that are moved in game spaces by any of the users with manual controllers or CPUs. For example, combat games have several tens of characters ready to be used in them. The user of a combat game can select one of those characters as desired to be used in the combat game. Up to now it has been impossible for the user to easily increase the number of characters prepared in a game program. Specifically, when the user purchases a ROM cassette or a CD-ROM that stores a combat game program and various data, the user is allowed to selectively use only the game characters registered in the purchased record medium, and is unable to increase the number of game characters that can be used in the combat game program.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method of and a system for adding information, such as various data to be used in an application program, subsequent to the application program. Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium that stores a program registered therein that is capable of adding various data for use in an application program, subsequent to the application program. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for adding information for use in a program in an image information processing apparatus having an input means for admitting the control information, a memory for charging in the same a program and the information to be used by the program, a means of control to carry out the processing in accordance with the program based on the control information admitted by the input means, a means generating image information to generate by at least the image information based on the processing carried out by the control means, and a presentation means for displaying the image information generated by the image information generating means, the method comprises the step of adding additional information loading the additional information through the additional interface means towards the memory and the processing apparatus or image information. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for adding information for use in a program in an image information processing apparatus having a means for input to support the control information, a memory for charging in the same a program and information to be used by the program, a means of control to carry out the processing in accordance with the program based on the control information admitted by the input means, a means generating image information to generate at minus the image information based on the processing carried out by the control means, and a display means for presenting the image information generated by the image information generating means, the system comprises an additional interface means for transferring the additional information to the image information processing apparatus, and a means for adding information to load the additional information through the additional interface means towards the memory of the processing apparatus. image information. With the aforementioned method and system, it is possible to add different data to be used by an application program subsequent to the application program. The method and system allow game characters, backgrounds, etc. which can be used by the game program, for example, to be increased in number or added to allow the user to enjoy a game that is rich in variety even when the game program is of an existing nature.

In the method and system, the additional information may be recorded in a recording medium, and the additional interface means may comprise a memory. Alternatively, the additional information may comprise the information to be transmitted to the image information processing apparatus, and the additional interface means may comprise a communication interface means. The information may comprise a model data, texture data and movement data to be used by the program. In the aforementioned method, the step of adding additional information may comprise the steps of saving a plurality of additional data, constituting an additional information item, successively towards the additional interface means and loading a plurality of additional data constituting an article. of the additional information, reading successively the additional data of the additional interface means, and transferring the additional data read into the memory. In the aforementioned method, the step of saving a plurality of additional data may comprise the steps of reading the additional data successively from an additional information article, transferring the read additional data to the additional interface means and saving the additional data in the medium. of additional interface and determine if all the additional data, which constitute an additional information article, have been saved in the medium of additional interface or not. In the aforementioned method, the step of loading a plurality of additional data may comprise the steps of checking the stored content of the additional interface means, and reading the additional data stored in the additional interface means, transferring the additional data read to the memory and write the additional data in the memory and determine if all the additional data, which constitute an additional information article, have been transferred to the memory or not. In the aforementioned system, the information addition means may comprise a means of storing additional information to store a plurality of additional data, which constitutes an additional information item, successively in the additional interface means and an information loading means. additional to view a plurality of additional data constituting an article of the additional information, successively from the additional interface means and transfer the additional reading data to the memory.

In the aforementioned system, the means of storing additional information may first comprise an additional data reading means for reading the additional data successively from an article of the additional information, a first means of transferring additional data to transfer the additional data of reading to the additional interface means and saving the additional data in the additional interface means, the first determining means to determine whether all the additional data constituting an article of the additional information, have been saved in the additional interface means or not . In the aforementioned system, the additional information loading means may comprise a checking means for checking the stored content of the additional interface means, a second means for reading additional data to read the additional data stored in the additional interface means. , a second means of transferring additional data to transfer the additional data read to the memory and write the additional data into the memory, a second means of determination to determine whether all the additional data, constituting an article of the additional information, have been transferred to memory or not. In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, a recording means is provided that stores a program and the readable and executable data by the image information processing apparatus having an input means for admitting the control information., a memory for loading therein an information program to be used by the program, a control means for carrying out the processing, in accordance with the program based on the control information admitted by the input means, a generating means of image information to generate at least the image information based on the processing carried out by the control means and a presentation means for presenting the image information generated by the image information generating means, the program has the step of adding additional information to be used by the program by loading the additional information through the additional interface means to the image information processing apparatus. In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a recording means is provided that stores a program and the readable data executable by an image information processing apparatus, which has an input means to support the control information, a memory for loading a program into it, and the information to be used by the program, a control means for carrying out the processing in accordance with the program based on the control information admitted by the input means, a generator means of image information to generate at least the image information based on the processing carried out by the control means, and a presentation means for displaying the image information generated by the image information generating means, the program has the steps to load the program and information to be used by the program, and add additional information supplied from a source externally through the additional interface means, so that additional information and information to be used by the program can be used selectively. With the aforementioned recording means, it is possible to add various data to be used by an application program subsequent to the application program. The method and the system allow the characters of the game, the background, etc. which can be used by the game program, for example, are increased in number or added to allow the user to enjoy a game that is rich in variety even when the game program is of an existing nature. In the aforementioned recording means, the additional information may be recorded in a recording medium and the additional interface means may comprise a memory. Alternatively, the additional information may comprise the information to be transmitted to the image information processing apparatus, and the additional interface means may comprise a communication interface means. The information may comprise a model data, a texture data and movement data to be used by the program. In the recording medium, the step of adding additional information may comprise the steps of saving a plurality of additional data, constituting an additional information article, successively in the additional interface means and loading a plurality of additional data constituting an article. of the additional information, reading the additional data successively from the additional interface means, and transferring the additional data read into the memory. In the recording medium, the step of saving a plurality of additional data may comprise the steps of reading the additional data successively from an article of the additional information, transferring the read additional data to the additional interface means and saving the additional data in the Additional interface means and determine if all additional data, which constitute an article of additional information, have been saved in the additional interface medium or not.

In the recording medium, the step of loading a plurality of additional data may comprise the steps of checking the stored content of the additional interface means, reading the additional data stored in the additional interface means, transferring the read signal data to the memory and write the additional data in the memory, and determine if all the additional data that constitute an article of the additional information, have been transferred to the memory or not. The above objects, features and advantages and others of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein the preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a plan view of an entertainment system to which a method for adding the information in accordance with the present invention is applied; Figure 2 is a front view of an entertainment apparatus, showing the slots thereof; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the entertainment apparatus; Figure 4 is a functional diagram of a specific arrangement of the main components of the entertainment apparatus; Figure 5 is a plan view of a portable information terminal; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the portable information terminal; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the portable information terminal with a lid being open; Figure 8 is a front elevational view of the portable information terminal; Figure 9 is a functional diagram of a layout of the main component of the portable information terminal; Figure 10 is a diagram showing the control items that are carried out by a portable information terminal control means; Figure 11 is an illustrative view of a wireless communication function carried out by the portable information terminal; Figure 12 is an illustrative view of the cooperation operation of the entertainment apparatus (master unit) and the portable information terminal (subordinate unit); Figure 13 is a functional diagram showing a flow of the program data downloaded from the entertainment apparatus (master unit) to the portable information terminal (slave unit); Figure 14 is a flow chart of a sequence of the download of the program data shown in Figure 13; Figure 15 is a functional diagram showing another flow of the program data downloaded from the entertainment apparatus (master unit) to the portable information terminal (subordinate unit); Figure 16 is a flow chart of a sequence of the download of the program data shown in Figure 15; Figure 17 is a diagram showing the concept of a method for adding information in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 18 is a functional block diagram of a means of saving additional information; Figure 19 is a functional block diagram of an additional information loading means; Figure 20 is a flow chart of the processing sequence of the means of saving additional information; Figure 21 is a flow chart of a processing sequence of the means of loading additional information; and Figure 22 is a diagram showing the concept of a method for adding information in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES The embodiments of a method of and a system for adding information in accordance with the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 22. As shown in Figure 1, an entertainment system, generally represented by 500 to which method is applied to add the information in accordance with the present invention, has an entertainment apparatus 1 to which a portable information terminal 100 or a conventional memory card 10 is detachably connected (see Figure 4). The entertainment apparatus 1 reads a program registered on an optical disk or the like, for example, and executes a game, for example based on the program depending on the user's commands, e.g. the game player. The execution of the game mainly represents controlling the progress of the game and the presentation of images and the generation of sounds. The entertainment apparatus 1 has a rectangular box 2 which houses a disk loading unit 3 almost centrally therein as a recording means for supplying an application program registered therein. The box 2 supports a reset switch 4 for resetting a program currently being executed, a power supply switch 5, a disk control switch 6 for controlling the load of the optical disk and two slots 7A, 7B. The entertainment apparatus 1 can be supplied with the application program via a communication link instead of being supplied from the optical disk, as the recording medium. The entertainment system 500 also includes a manual controller 20 for supplying user commands to the entertainment apparatus 1. Two manual controllers 20 can respectively be connected to the slots 7A, 7B to allow two users or players of the game to play a competitive game, for example. A memory card that has been conventionally used or a terminal in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention can also be inserted into the slots 7A, 7B. While the two slots 7A, 7B are shown in Figure 1, the entertainment apparatus 1 may have more or less than two slots. The manual controller 20 has first and second control pads 21, 22, a left button 23L, a right button 23R, a start button 24, a selector button 25, analog control pads 31, 32, a mode selector switch 33 to select the control modes for the analog control pads 31, 32 and an indicator 34 to indicate a selected control mode. The manual controller 20 also has a mechanism for imparting vibration (not shown) placed thereon to impart vibrations to the manual controller 20, depending on the manner in which the video game progresses. The manual controller 20 is electrically connected to the slot 7B in the box 2 via the connector 26. Figure 2 shows the slots 7A, 7B which are defined in a front panel of the box 2 of the entertainment apparatus 1. Each of the slots 7A, 7B have upper and lower units. Specifically, slots 7A, 7B have respective memory card insertion units 8A, 8B as their upper units for inserting a memory card or terminal 100 therein, and control connectors (jacks) 9A, 9B as their lower units for connection to a connection terminal (connector) 26 of the manual controller 20. The memory card insertion units 8A, 8B have respective insertion holes (slots) that are rectangular in shape horizontally elongated. These insertion grooves have opposite lower round corners in contrast to the opposite upper corners thereof so that the memory card will not be inserted into the memory card insertion units 8A, 8B in a wrong orientation. The memory card insertion units 8A, 8B also have shutters to protect the connection terminals placed thereon for electrical connection. The controller connectors 9A, 9B also have respective insertion holes (slots) which are rectangular in shape horizontally elongated. These insertion slots have opposite lower round corners in contrast to the opposite upper corners thereof so that the connector terminal 26 of the manual controller 20 does not connect to the 9A connectors, 9B of the controller in the wrong orientation. The insertion holes of the controller connectors 9A, 9B are different in shape from the insertion holes of the memory card insertion units 8A, 8B so that the memory card is not inserted into the insertion holes of the memory cards. 9A, 9B controller connectors. In Figure 3, the portable information terminal 100 is inserted into the memory card insertion unit 8A in the slot 7A that is defined in the front panel of the entertainment apparatus 1. A specific arrangement of the entertainment apparatus 1 will be described below with reference to Figure 4. As shown in Figure 4, the entertainment apparatus 1 comprises a control system 50 that includes a central processing unit.

(CPU) 51 and its peripheral devices, a graphic system 60 including a graphic processing unit (GPU) 62 to generate and store the image data in a frame buffer 63, a sound system 70 that includes a sound processing unit (SPU) 71 for generating music sounds and sound effects, an optical disk controller 80 for controlling an optical disk where the application programs are registered, a communication controller 90 for controlling the signals of the manual controller 20 that support user instructions and data supplied to and from a memory card 10 that stores the game settings and a BUS to which the control system 50, the graphic system 60, the sound system 70, the optical disk controller 80 and the controller 90 are connected Communication. The control system 50 comprises a CPU 51, a controller 52 of the peripheral device for controlling the interrupts and directing the memory access data transfer (DMA), a main memory 53 comprising a random access memory (RAM) and a read-only memory (ROM) 54 which stores the various programs such as in an operating system for managing the main memory 53, the graphic system 60, the sound system 70, etc. The main memory 53 is a memory capable of storing a program that is executed. The CPU 51 controls the entertainment apparatus 1 in its entirety, executing the operation system stored in the ROM 54. The CPU 51 comprises a 32-bit RISC-CPU, for example. When the entertainment apparatus 1 is connected, the CPU 51 executes the operating system stored in the ROM 54 to initiate control of the graphic system 60, the sound system 70, etc. For example, when the operating system is executed, the CPU 51 starts the operation of the entertainment apparatus 1 in its entirety to check its operation, and then controls the optical disk controller 80 to execute an application program registered on the optical disc. . As the application program is executed, the CPU 51 controls the graphic system 60, the sound system 70, etc. depending on the commands supported from the user, in this way controlling the presentation of images and the generation of music sounds and sound effects. The graphic system 60 comprises a geometry transfer engine 61 (GTE) to carry out the transformation of the coordinate and other processing, a GPU 62 to generate the image data according to the instructions of the CPU 51, a memory intermediate frame 63 for storing the image data generated by the GPU 62 and an image decoder 64 for decoding the data of the compressed and encoded image by an orthogonal transformation, such as a discrete cosine transformation. The GTE 61 has a parallel arithmetic mechanism to perform a plurality of arithmetic operations parallel to each other, and can carry out coordinate transformations, light source calculations, matrices or vectors at a high speed in response to a request from the CPU 51. Specifically, the GTE 61 can calculate the coordinates of a maximum of 1.5 million polygons per second for a flat shading process to plot a triangular polygon with a color, for example. With the GTE 61, the entertainment apparatus 1 is able to reduce the load on the CPU 51 and carry out coordinate calculations at high speed. In accordance with an image generating instruction from the CPU 51, the GPU 62 generates and stores the data of a polygon or the like in the frame buffer 63. The GPU 62 is capable of generating and storing a maximum of 3.60,000 polygons per second. The frame buffer 63 comprises a double port RAM and is capable of simultaneously storing the data of the image generated by the GPU 62 or the data of the image transferred from the main memory 53, and read the image data for presentation. The frame buffer 63 has a storage capacity of 1 Mbytes, for example, and is handled as a 16-bit array consisting of a horizontal row of 1024 pixels and a vertical column of 512 pixels. The frame buffer 63 has a display area for storing the data of the image to be sent as the video output data, an area of CLUT (color query box) for storing a color query box at which will be referred to by the GPU 62 when it generates a polygon or similar, and a texture area to store the texture data that is going to undergo transformations of the coordinate when a polygon is generated by the GPU 62 and is going to be projected towards the polygon generated The CLUT area and the texture area are dynamically varied as the presentation area is varied. The GPU 62 can carry out, in addition to the flat shading process, a Gouraud shading process to determine the colors in the polygons by interpolating the intensities of the vertices of the polygons and a texture project process to project the textures stored in the polygons. texture areas in polygons. To carry out the Gouraud shading process or texture project process, the GTE 61 can perform coordinate calculations for a maximum of approximately 500,000 polygons per second. The image decoder 64 is controlled by the CPU 51 to decode the image data of a motionless or movable image stored in the main memory 53 and store the decoded image in the main memory 53. The data of the image reproduced by the image decoder 64 is transferred to the frame box buffer 63 by the GPU 62 and can be used as a background for an image plotted by the GPU 62. The sound system 70 comprises a SPU 71 to generate music sounds, sound effects, etc. based on the instructions of the CPU 51, a sound buffer 72 for storing the data of the waveform from the SPU 71 and a loudspeaker 73 for sending music sounds, sound effects, etc. generated by SPU 71. The SPU 71 has an ADPCM (Adaptive Differential PCM) function to reproduce the 16-bit sound data that has been encoded with 4-bit differential sound data by ADPCM, a playback function to reproduce the waveform data stored in the sound buffer 72 in order to generate sound effects, etc. and a modulation function for modulating and reproducing the waveform data stored in the sound buffer 72. The sound system 70 can be used as a source of sampling sound that generates music sounds, sound effects, etc. based on the waveform data stored in the sound buffer 72 according to the commands from the CPU 51.

The optical disk controller 80 comprises an optical disc driver 81 for reproducing the application programs and data recorded on an optical disk such as CD-ROM or the like, a decoder 82 for decoding the programs and the data that is recorded with a error correction code added thereto, and a buffer 83 for temporarily storing the read data from the optical disk drive 81 in order to allow the optical disk data to be read at a high speed. An auxiliary CPU 84 is connected to the decoder 82. The sound data recorded on the optical disc that is read by the optical disk drive 81 includes the PCM data converted from the analog sound signals, in addition to the ADPCM data. The ADPCM data, which is recorded as a 4-bit differential data of the 16-bit digital data, is decoded by the decoder 82 supplied to the SPU 71, converted in this way into analog data and applied to drive the loudspeaker 73 The PCM data, which is recorded as the 16-bit digital data, is decoded by the decoder 82 and then applied to drive the loudspeaker 73. The communication controller 90 comprises a communication control mechanism 91 for controlling communication with the CPU 51 through the BUS. The communication control mechanism 91 has the connectors of the controller 9A, 9B to which the manual controller 20 is connected to support the user commands, and the memory card insertion units 8A, 8B to receive a memory card 10 as an auxiliary memory device for storing game settings, etc. and the portable information terminal 100. The manual controller 20 connected to one of the connectors of the controller 9A, 9B has 16 command keys, for example, to support commands from the user and transmit the current states of the control keys, approximately 60 times per second to the control mechanism 91 communication through a synchronous communication according to the instruction of communication control mechanism 91. The communication control mechanism 91 transmits the current states of the control keys to the CPU 51. In this way, the user commands are applied to the CPU 51 which carries out a process according to the commands based on the program of the game that is being executed. A large amount of the image data needs to be transferred at high speed between the main memory 53, the GPU 62, the image decoder 64 and the decoder 82 to read a program, present an image, or generate and store the image data . In the entertainment apparatus 1, the data is transferred directly from the main memory 53, the GPU 62, the image decoder 64 and the decoder 82 in accordance with the DMA data transfer under the control of the peripheral device controller 52 instead of the CPU 51. Therefore, the load on the CPU 51 can be reduced for data transfer and a high-speed data transfer between the main memory 53, the GPU 62, the image decoder 64 and the decoder can be achieved. 82. When the ranking data of a game being executed needs to be stored, the CPU 51 transmits the adjustment data to the communication control mechanism 91 which writes the adjustment data transmitted on the memory card 10 or the terminal 100 of portable information that is inserted into the memory card insertion unit 8A or 8B. The communication control mechanism 91 has an integral protection circuit for protection against electrical disintegration. The memory card 10 and the portable information terminal 100 are separated from the BUS, and can be connected and disconnected, while the entertainment apparatus 1 is energized. Therefore, when the memory card 10 and the portable information terminal 100 suffer from a decrease in storage capacity, a new memory card or terminal can be connected without having to disconnect the entertainment apparatus 1. Consequently, any game data that needs to be backed up can be stored in a new memory card connected to the entertainment apparatus 1, without danger of being lost. As shown in Figure 4, the entertainment apparatus 1 further includes a parallel I / O interface (PIÓ) 96 and a serial interface 1/0 (SIO) 97, which serve to connect the memory card 10 and the terminal 100 of portable information with the entertainment apparatus 1. The portable information terminal 100 in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention will be described below. It is assumed that the portable information terminal 100 will be used as a slave unit connected to the entertainment apparatus 1 which serves as a master unit. The portable information terminal 100 is inserted into one of the memory card insertion units 8A, 8B in the slots 7A, 7B of the entertainment apparatus 1, and can be used as an inherent memory card in the connected manual controller. For example, if two users or players of the game play a game in the entertainment apparatus 1, then two terminals 100 are connected to store the game results of the respective users. In order to electrically connect the power supply terminals and the ground terminals in advance to the other terminals when the memory card 10 and the portable information terminal 100 are inserted into the memory card insertion units 8A, 8B, those power supply terminals and ground terminals of the connectors of the memory card 10 and the portable information terminal 100 are made longer than the other terminals in order to achieve safety and stability of the electrical operation. The corresponding connector conductors of the memory card insertion units 8A, 8B can be made longer than the other connector conductors, or both the power supply terminals and the ground terminals of the connectors of the memory card 10 and the the portable information terminal 100 and the connecting conductors of the memory card insertion units 8A, 8B can be made longer than the other terminals and the connecting conductors. In addition, the connectors of the memory card 10 and the portable information terminal 100 can be configured asymmetrically in their longitudinal direction to prevent them from being inserted in the wrong direction. As shown in Figures 5 to 8, the terminal 10 has a housing 101 holding a manual control pad 120 having one or more steering buttons 121 and a decision button 122 for admitting the events and making several selections, one presentation unit 130 such as a liquid crystal display unit (LCD) or the like, and a window 140 for wireless communication such as infrared communication with the wireless communication control unit. The housing 101 comprises an upper helmet 101a and a lower helmet 101b, which houses a board 151 that holds the memory devices, etc. in the same. The housing 101 is configured so that it can be inserted into any of the slots 7A, 7B in the box 2 of the entertainment apparatus 1. The housing 101 has a connector 150 on one side of one end thereof that includes a rectangular window. The window 140 is mounted on a substantially semicircular end of the housing 101 remote from the connector 150. The display unit 130 occupies essentially half of the upper hull 101a of the housing 101, and is positioned near the window 140.

The manual control pad 120 essentially occupies the other half area of the upper hull 101 a and is positioned at a distance from the window 140. The manual control pad 120 comprises an essentially square cover 110 which is movably supported in an angular direction and the housing 101 and it holds on the same the steering buttons 121 and the decision button 122 and the pressers 102, 103 of the switch placed in an area of the housing 101 that can be opened and closed by the lid 110. The steering buttons 121 and the travel button decision 122 extend through the lid 110 from its upper surface to its lower surface. The steering buttons 121 and the decision button 122 are held in the lid 110 to move in and out of the upper surface of the lid 110. The pressers 102, 103 of the switch have respective pressure elements held in the housing 101 to move in and out of the upper surface of the housing 101. When one of the pressing elements is pressed from above, press a corresponding pressure switch such as the diaphragm switch, for example, mounted on the board 151 in the housing 101. With the lid 110 closed, the pressers 102, 103 of the switch are held in the vertical element with the direction buttons 121 and the decision button 122, respectively. Therefore, while the lid 110 is being closed above the housing 101, when the steering buttons 121 and the decision button 122 are pressed from above to the upper surface of the lid 110, the steering buttons 121 and the decision button 122 causes the pressure elements of the corresponding switch pressers 102, 103 to press the corresponding pressure switches in the housing 101. As shown in Figure 8, the power and signal terminals 152 are mounted in the board 151 and placed in the connector window 150. The connector 150 has a shape and dimensions that are identical to those of the memory card 10 used in the entertainment apparatus 1. An arrangement of the main components of the portable information terminal 100 will be described below with reference to Figures 9 and 10. As shown in Figure 9, the portable information terminal 100 comprises a control means 160 for controlling the operation of the portable information terminal 100, a connector 162 for connecting the apparatus to connect to a slot of an information handling apparatus, and a non-volatile memory 164 for storing data, such as with the normal memory card 10 described above . The control means 160 comprises a microcomputer, for example. The control means 160 has a program memory 160a placed therein as a program storage means. The non-volatile memory 164 comprises a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory that is capable of retaining the stored data even when the portable information terminal 100 is disconnected. The portable information terminal 100 has a battery 166 as will be described later, it can use a static random access memory (SRAM) to support and send data at high speed, instead of the non-volatile memory 164. The portable information terminal 100 further has an event input means 168, such as control buttons to control a stored program, a display means 170 such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) unit or the like, to present various information articles, depending on the program, a wireless communication means 172 for sending data to and receiving data from another memory card or the like through infrared or similar radiation and a battery 166 for supplying electrical power to various terminal components 100 of portable information. The battery 166, which serves as a small-sized power supply means, allows the portable information terminal 100 to operate independently even when it is removed from the slots 7A, 7B of the entertainment apparatus 1. The battery 166 may comprise a secondary chargeable battery. When the portable information terminal 100 is inserted into one of the slots 7A, 7B of the entertainment apparatus 1, the portable information terminal 100 is supplied with electrical power from the entertainment apparatus 1. The battery 166 has a connection terminal which is connected to a power supply terminal 174 through a reverse current prevention diode 176.

When the portable information terminal 100 is inserted into one of the slots 7A, 7B of the entertainment apparatus 1, electrical power is supplied from the entertainment apparatus 1 to the portable information terminal 100, and if the secondary battery is used as the battery 166, the secondary battery is charged by a part of the electric power supplied. The portable information terminal 100 also has a clock 178 and a loudspeaker 180 such as a piezoelectric buzzer, for example, as a sound generating means for generating sounds in accordance with the program. The aforementioned components of the portable information terminal 100 are connected to the control means 160 and operate under the control of the control means 160. Figure 10 shows the control articles that are carried out by the control means 160. When the regular memory card 10 only has a connection interface of the apparatus for connecting to the information handling apparatus and a memory interface for admitting the data to and retrieving the data from this memory, the portable information terminal 100 has, in addition to those interfaces, a presentation interface, a control command input interface, a sound interface, a wireless communication interface, a clock management interface, and a program download interface. Since the control means 160 of the portable information terminal 100 has interfaces (drivers) for managing the added functions in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, independently of the administration for the device connection interface and the memory interface. which are conventional functions, the portable information terminal 100 is compatible with conventional functions. The portable information terminal 100 can be used as a portable gaming device when a game application is executed, because it has the event input means 168 such as the control buttons to control a program that is running, and the display means 170 in the form of a liquid crystal display unit (LCD) or the like. The portable information terminal 100 has a function for storing a program downloaded from the entertainment apparatus 1 to the program memory 160a of the microcomputer 160. Therefore, an application program and various driver software operating in the information terminal 100 portable, can be easily changed. As described above, the portable information terminal 100 can be controlled in operation independently of the entertainment apparatus 1. Therefore, the portable information terminal 100 can generate compliance data with an application stored in the program memory 160a as the program storage medium, independently of the application software in the entertainment apparatus 1. If the data generated in this way is exchanged between the portable information terminal 100 and the entertainment apparatus 1, then the portable information terminal 100 and the entertainment apparatus 1 is capable of cooperative operation, i.e., one can be linked the other. The clock 178 allows the portable information terminal 100 to share the time data with the entertainment apparatus 1. Specifically, not only the portable information terminal 100 and the entertainment apparatus 1 may have time data matched to each other, but they can share the data to control the progress of the games that run independently of each other, in accordance with real time. A specific example of the cooperation operation between the portable information terminal 100 and the entertainment apparatus 1 will be described later. Figure 11 schematically illustrates the manner in which wireless communications are carried out between the two terminals 100. The wireless communication means 172 of the terminals 100 can send data to and receive data from each other through the windows 140 that they serve as wireless communication windows for wireless communications with infrared or similar. Therefore, a plurality of memory cards are allowed to exchange internal data with each other. The internal data includes data transferred from the information handling apparatus such as the entertainment apparatus 1 and stored in the memories in the memory cards. The portable information terminal 100 has been described as an auxiliary storage unit for the entertainment apparatus 1. However, the portable information terminal 100 can be used in various applications. For example, the portable information terminal 100 is applicable to the retrieval of various information items. A specific example of the cooperation operation between the portable information terminal 100 and the entertainment apparatus 1 will be described below. As described above, the portable information terminal 100 can share the game data generated by the control means or the microcomputer 160, the time data produced by the clock 178 on the memory card and the data generated by the another memory card and transmitted through the wireless communication means 172, with the entertainment apparatus 1.

Figure 12 is illustrative of the cooperation operation of the entertainment apparatus 1 as the master unit and the portable information terminal 100 as the subordinate unit. In the specific example of the cooperation operation, an optical disc (CD-ROM) as a recording medium with an application software program registered therein is loaded into the entertainment apparatus 1, and the program read from the optical disc it is downloaded to the portable information terminal 100 inserted in the slot 7A of the entertainment apparatus 1. Before describing the specific example of the cooperation operation, a process of downloading the program as a basis for this cooperation operation will be described first with reference to Figures 13 and 14. Figure 13 shows a program data stream that occurs when an application program such as a video game supplied from the optical disc (CD-ROM) loaded in the disk loading unit 3 of the entertainment apparatus 1 is transferred directly (download) through the CPU 51 of the entertainment apparatus 1 to the program memory 160a in the microcomputer 160, of the portable information terminal 100. Figure 14 shows a sequence of downloading the program data shown in Figure 13.

In step SI shown in Figure 14, an application program of a video game to be operated by the microcomputer 160 in the portable information terminal 100 (hereinafter also referred to as "subordinate unit"). ") is read as the data of the CD-ROM loaded in the disk loading unit 3 of the entertainment apparatus 1 (hereinafter also referred to as" master unit "). In general, the application program read in this manner is different from an application program that is operated by the entertainment apparatus 1. In step S2, the CPU 51 issues a "program download request command" to the microcomputer 160. The CPU 51 carries out the voting in order to receive a "current status of program download permission" from the microcomputer. 160. Voting refers to an interrogation process to determine whether there is a service request or not. In step S3, the microcomputer 160 receives the "program download request command" from the CPU 51. In step S4, when the microcomputer 160 finishes a routine that is currently running and is capable of executing the download of the program, the microcomputer 160 returns the "status program download permission "to the CPU 51. In step S5, when the CPU 176 receives the" current program download permission status "from the microcomputer 160, the CPU 51 transfers (downloads) the program read from the CD-ROM in step SI to the memory 160a of the program of the portable information terminal 100 and stores the program in the program memory 160a. The CPU 51 carries out the polling to receive a "current program start permission status" from the microcomputer 160. The addresses of the memory 160a of the program where the downloaded data is stored are managed by the microcomputer 160. Even when the program downloaded from the master unit has been described as being stored in the memory 160a of the program, the program can be stored in a memory such as an SRAM or the like capable of supporting and sending the data at high speed. In step S6, the microcomputer 160 receives the transferred program from the master unit as a data, and stores the received program in the memory of the program 160a. During this time, the CPU 51 sees the data of the program as being stored directly in the memory 160a of the program of the portable information terminal 100.

As described above, the addresses of the program memory 160a are administered by the microcomputer 160. In step S7, when the microcomputer 160 receives the data of the final program of the master unit and is ready to execute the program, the microcomputer 160 returns the "current program start permission state" to the CPU 51. In step S8, the CPU 51 receives the "current program start permission status" from the microcomputer 160, and issues a "start command". of program ". In step S9, when the microcomputer 160 receives the "program start command" from the CPU 51, the microcomputer 160 begins to operate the program from a predetermined direction. In accordance with the aforementioned processing sequence, the application program is directly transferred (downloaded) from the entertainment apparatus 1 to the program memory 160a in the microcomputer 160 of the portable information terminal 100, which is inserted into the apparatus 1. of entertainment . As described above, the means for supplying the application program is not limited to the recording medium such as an optical disk or the like, but the application program can be supplied through a communication link. If the application program is supplied via a communication link, only then the processing in step SI shown in Figure 14 is changed. The aforementioned download process downloads the application program directly from the entertainment apparatus 1 to the memory 160a of the program in the microcomputer 160 of the portable information terminal 100, which is inserted into the entertainment apparatus 1. However, the CPU 51 may first download the data from an application program to the non-volatile memory 164 in the portable information terminal 100, and then the data from the application program may be copied into the program memory 160a in the microcomputer 160. , after which the application program can be executed. Figure 15 shows a data flow of the program, and Figure 16 shows a download sequence of the program data shown in Figure 15. As shown in Figure 15, a program of application of a video game that is supplied from the loaded CD-ROM in the disk loading unit 3 of the entertainment apparatus 1 is transferred (downloaded) through the CPU 51 of the entertainment apparatus 1 to the non-volatile memory 164 in the portable information terminal 100, it is then copied into the memory 160a of the program in the microcomputer 160, and then executed. In step Sil shown in Figure 16, an application program of a video game to be operated by the microcomputer 160 in the portable information terminal 100 is read as the data of the CD-ROM loaded in the unit 3. of disk loading of the entertainment apparatus 1. In step S12, the CPU 51 transfers (downloads) the data of the read program from the CD-ROM to the non-volatile memory 164 in the portable information terminal 100. This process is the same as when the data is backed up in the conventional entertainment device. In step S13, the microcomputer 160 receives the program transferred from the CPU 51 as the data, and stores the received program data in the non-volatile memory 164, in the same way as with the conventional data backup process. In step S14, the entertainment apparatus 1 issues a "program start request command" with an added address where the downloaded program should begin.

In step S15, when the microcomputer 160 receives the "program start request command" from the CPU 51, the microcomputer 160 copies the data of a size indicated in the program memory 160a from the address indicated by the previously mentioned command in the non-volatile memory 164. In step S16, the microcomputer 160 executes the program copied into the program memory 160a from its initial address. In accordance with the aforementioned process, the application software program is transferred (downloaded) from the entertainment apparatus 1 through the non-volatile memory 164 to the program memory 160a in the microcomputer 160 of the portable information terminal 100. As usual, the application program downloaded from the entertainment apparatus 1 to the portable information terminal 100 is different from an application program that is carried out by the entertainment apparatus 1. However, the downloaded application program can be operated both in the entertainment apparatus 1 and in the portable information terminal 100. In this case, the CPU of the entertainment apparatus 1 and the microcomputer of the portable information terminal 100 need to comprise identical processors. Two embodiments of the method of adding information will be described below with reference to Figures 17 to 22. As shown in Figure 17, the method of adding information according to the first embodiment employs the entertainment apparatus 1, the entertainment card 10. memory or the portable information terminal 100 for use as an external memory for the entertainment apparatus 1, and a recording medium DK, for example a CD-ROM or similar. The entertainment apparatus 1 has a CPU 51 for processing the information in accordance with a program and the data read from the recording means DK loaded in the entertainment apparatus 1, the main memory 53, the manual controller 20 to support the user's commands to the entertainment apparatus 1, an image processor for generating the images based on the information processed by the CPU 51 in response to the user commands supported by the manual controller and other components. The recording medium DK stores at least the additional information to be added to the program that is being carried out in the entertainment apparatus 1, and a program of adding information to selectively store the additional information in the memory card 10 or the portable information terminal 100. The additional information and the program of adding information are recorded readable and executable in the DK means of registration. As shown in Figure 17, in the method of adding information according to the first embodiment, the information to be used in the program that is being carried out in the entertainment apparatus 1 can be added in the following two processes: A saving process to record the additional information and selectively record the additional information in the memory card 10 or the portable information terminal 100. 2. A loading process for loading the additional information stored in the memory card 10 or the portable information terminal 100 in the entertainment apparatus 1. As shown in Figure 17, the program adds information to store the additional information and selectively store the additional information in the memory card 10 or the portable information terminal 100, and also to store the additional information stored in the card 10. of memory or the portable information terminal 100 to the main memory of the entertainment apparatus 1 is recorded in the recording medium DK in order to be able to be readable and executable by the entertainment apparatus 1. When the program for adding the information recorded in the recording medium DK is carried out in the entertainment apparatus 1, it is possible to selectively imagine the additional information recorded in the recording medium DK in the memory card 10 or the recording terminal 100. portable information, and store the additional information in the main memory. As shown in Figure 17, the main memory 53 of the entertainment apparatus 1 has a main area A for storing information for use in an application program such as a game where the application program is loaded into the entertainment apparatus 1 , and an auxiliary area A2 to store the additional information. The application program includes a main program such as a game and a program for loading the various items of information stored in the memory card 10 or the portable information terminal 100 in the entertainment apparatus 1. The program for adding information stores additional information loaded from the memory card 10 or the portable information terminal 100 in the auxiliary area A2. As shown in page 17 when the additional information is loaded, the main area stores the model data, the texture data, the movement data, etc. which are information items that are registered together with the application program in the registration medium DK and the auxiliary area A2 stores the model data, the texture data, the movement data, etc. which are additional information articles. The data of the model refers to the data of the objects such as the characters of the game, in a space of the game. In the entertainment system 500 that uses polygons, the point of view and line of sight change in response to a manual controller command or as game processing continues and then the positions of the objects in a three-dimensional space are calculated using the vertex data of the polygon of the objects, after which three-dimensional information is converted into two-dimensional images by transformation into perspective. In the entertainment system 500, the data of the model comprises data of the vertex of the polygon of the objects such as the characters, antecedents, etc. and the texture data written in a corresponding memory to be projected, by means of texture projection towards the polygon areas generated by the transformation in perspective. The texture data refers to the texture data described above. The texture data is handled independently of, not in conjunction with, the polygon vertex data, making it possible to select textures to be projected onto the objects. The movement data refers to the placement data. Placement data is referred to as movement data because the movements are determined by the initial placement information. For example, the movement data represent the placement of a first stone in the game Gomoku (a game of Go) or the placement of an enemy or an obstacle in a stage in the shooting game or an action game. Shooting games and action games usually employ the concept of "stages". Each of the stages can be completed, that is, cleared. As the player of the game clears each one of the stages, the level of difficulty with which a stage can be cleared increases. The movement data represents, for example, the initial values for adjustment stages. In the first embodiment, as described above, the model data, texture data or movement data can be added to the model data, texture data or movement data already used in the program that is being carried out. in the entertainment apparatus 1, and can be used by the program. For example, a game character can be added in a game that plays a role or the like, an antecedent can be added in a combat game and a stage (n + l) th can be added in a shooting game or an action game that they only have n stages. A means for adding information (program for adding information) to carry out the method of adding information according to the first embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 18 to 21. The means for adding information has a means 200 of save additional information shown in Figure 18 and an additional information loading means 202 shown in Figure 19. The additional information saving means 200 has a function to store a plurality of additional data constituting an item of additional information, successively towards the memory card 10 or the portable information terminal 100. The additional information loading means 202 has a function to read a plurality of additional data, which constitute an additional information item successively from the memory card 10 or the portable information terminal 100, and transfer the additional data read to the memory 53 principal. As shown in Figure 18, the means 200 for storing additional information comprises a first menu display means 210 for displaying a menu image to select additional data to be stored on the presentation monitor 204, a first means 212 of key input determination for determining the control inputs from the manual controller 20, a first means 214 for reading additional data to read the additional data recorded in the recording means DK through the optical disk controller 80, a first means 216 of transferring additional data to transfer the additional data read to the memory card 10 or the portable information terminal 100 and save the additional data to the memory card 10 or the portable information terminal 100, and a first means 218 of determination to determine whether all additional data that constitutes an additional information item has been saved in the memory card 10 or the portable information terminal 100 or not. As shown in Figure 19, the additional information loading means 202 comprises a checking means 220 for checking the stored contents of the memory card 10 or the portable information terminal 100, a second menu display means 222 for displaying a menu image for selecting the additional data to be read on the presentation monitor 204, a second key input determining means 224 for determining the control inputs from the manual controller 20, a second means 226 for reading additional data to read the additional stored data in the memory card 10 or the portable information terminal 100, a second means 228 for transferring additional data to transfer the additional data read to the main memory 53 and write the additional data transferred to the auxiliary area A2 of the main memory 53 , and a second means 230 of determination to determine whether all the additional data that constitute an additional information article have been transferred to the main memory 53 or not. A processing sequence of the means for adding information in order to carry out the method of adding information in accordance with the first embodiment will be described below with reference to. Figures 20 and 21.

First, the processing of the means 200 of saving the additional information will be described below with reference to Figure 20. In step S101 shown in Figure 20, the means 200 for saving the additional information is activated when the means for adding registered information in the recording medium DK is loaded into the entertainment apparatus 1 by a program of the entertainment apparatus 1. Then, in step S102, the CPU 51 allows the first menu display means 210 to send a selection menu image to select the additional data to the display monitor 204 having therein the selection menu image. In step S103, the CPU 51 allows the first key input determining means 212 to determine whether there is a control input from the manual controller 20 or not. If there is a control input from the manual controller 20, then the control proceeds to step S104 where the first key input determining means 212 determines whether the present control input is a decision key entry or not. If there is no control input from the manual controller 20, then the control goes to step S108 where the CPU 51 enables the first menu display means 210 to present a menu image with a cursor image in a forward position of the 204 presentation monitor. The information regarding the additional data and the address data, data length data of the recording medium DK are stored as a frame in the main memory 53 of the entertainment apparatus 1. In step S105, the CPU 51 enables the first additional data reading means 214 to supply address data to the selected additional data to the optical disk controller 80. The optical disk controller 80 then reads the additional data from the corresponding addresses in the recording medium DK and transfers the read additional data to the main memory 53. In step S106, the CPU 51 enables the first additional data transfer means 216 to transfer the selected additional data in the main memory 53 to the memory card 10 or the portable information terminal 100 and stores the additional data transferred in the 100 memory card of the portable information terminal 100. In step S107, the CPU 51 enables the first determination means 218 to determine whether all additional data constituting an additional information item has been stored in the memory card 10 or the portable information terminal 100 or not. If not all the additional data has been saved, then the control goes back to step S102 to save the following additional data. If all the additional data has been saved, then the processing of the means 200 of saving the additional information is terminated. The processing of the additional information loading means 202 will now be described below with reference to Figure 21. During the time that the processing of the additional information loading means 202 is carried out, it is assumed that an application program such as of a game has been carried out in the entertainment apparatus 1, and the additional information charging means 202 for storing the additional information stored in the memory card 10 of the portable information terminal 100 towards the memory auxiliary area A2 53 principal, has been in operation. In step S201 shown in Figure 21, the CPU 51 enables the checking means 220 to check the stored contents of the memory card 10 or the portable information terminal 100.

In step S202, the CPU 51 enables the second menu display means 222 to send a selection menu image to select the additional data to the presentation monitor 204 having therein the selection menu image. In step S203, the CPU 51 enables the second key input determining means 224 to determine whether there is a control input from the manual controller 20 or not. If there is a control input from the manual controller 20, then the control proceeds to step S204 where the second key entry determination means 224 determines whether the present control entry is a decision key entry or not. If there is no control input from the manual controller 20, then the control goes to step S208 where the CPU 51 enables the second menu display means 222 to present a menu image with a picture of the cursor in a forward position of the presentation monitor 204. The information as to the additional data, and the address data and the data length data of the memory card 10 or the portable information terminal 100 are stored as a frame in the main memory 53 of the apparatus 1 entertainment.

In step S205, the CPU 51 enables the second additional data reading means 226 to read the additional data selected from the corresponding addresses in the memory card 10 or the portable information terminal 100. In step S206, the CPU 51 enables the second additional data transfer means 228 to transfer the read additional data to the main memory 53 and store the additional data transferred in the auxiliary area A2 of the main memory 53. In step S207, the CPU 51 enables the second determination means 218 to determine whether all additional data constituting an additional information item has been stored in the main memory 53 or not. If not all the additional data has been saved, then the control goes back to step S202 to save the following additional data. If all the additional data has been saved, then the processing of the additional information loading means 202 is terminated. Therefore, a program such as a game program that is operated in the entertainment apparatus 1 can selectively use the data stored in the main area A of the main memory 53 and also the additional data stored in the auxiliary area A2 of the the main memory 53 in accordance with the instructions of the program or the user commands. A method for adding the information in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figure 22. In accordance with the second embodiment, as shown in Figure 22, the same entertainment system 500 is used as with the first modality. In addition, an IF communication interface such as a modem, a LAN card or the like, is used to download the additional information supplied from a transmission source TR such as a server, a personal computer or the like to the entertainment system 500. To download this additional information, it is necessary that a dedicated Internet or communication software that is included in the game program is being carried out in the entertainment system 500. When the dedicated Internet or communication software works while it is being run out the game program, the additional information is downloaded and stored in the auxiliary area A2 of the main memory 53. Then, the information stored in the area To the main and the additional information in the auxiliary area A2 can be used selectively through the game program.

Although certain preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (28)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S

1. A method for adding additional information for use in a program in an image information processing apparatus having an input means for admitting control information, a memory for loading a program into it and information for use by the program , a control means for carrying out the processing in accordance with the program based on the control information supported by the cited input means, a means for generating image information to generate at least the image information based on the processing carried out by the control means, and a presentation means for presenting the image information generated by the image information generating means, the method comprises the step of: adding the additional information by loading the additional information through the medium of additional interface in the memory of the image information processing apparatus.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the additional information is recorded in a recording medium, and the additional interface means comprises a memory.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the additional information comprises the information to be transmitted to the image information processing apparatus and the additional interface means comprises a communication interface means.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the information comprises model data, texture data and movement data for use by the program.

A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of adding the additional information comprises the steps of: saving a plurality of additional data constituting an article of the additional information, successively in the additional interface means; and loading a plurality of additional data constituting an additional information article, reading the additional data successively from the additional interface means and transferring the additional data read to the memory.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the step of saving a plurality of additional data comprises the steps of: reading the additional data successively from an article of the additional information; transfer the additional data read to the additional interface means and save the additional data in the additional interface means; and determining whether all additional data, which constitutes an additional information article, has been saved in the additional interface means or not.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the step of loading a plurality of additional data comprises the steps of: checking the stored content of the additional interface means; read the additional data stored in the additional interface medium; transfer the additional data read to the memory and write the additional data in the memory; and determine if all the additional data constituting an additional information item has been transferred to the memory or not.

8. A system for adding information for use in a program in an image information processing apparatus having an input means for admitting control information, a memory for loading a program into it, and information for use with the program , a control means for carrying out the processing in accordance with the program based on the control information supported by the input means, a means for generating image information to generate at least the image information based on the processed processing performed by the control means, and a display means for displaying the image information generated by the image information generating means, the system comprises: an additional interface means for transferring the additional information to the information processing apparatus of the image; and a means for adding information to load the additional information through the additional interface means in the memory of the image information processing apparatus.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the additional information is recorded in a recording medium, and the additional interface means comprises a memory.

A system according to claim 8, wherein the additional information comprises information to be transmitted to the image information processing apparatus and the additional interface means comprises a communication interface means.

11. A system according to claim 8, wherein the information comprises model data, texture data and movement data for use by the program.

A system according to claim 8, wherein the means of adding the information comprises: a means for storing the additional information in order to store a plurality of additional data constituting an article of the additional information, successively in the middle of additional interface; and a means for loading the additional information to read a plurality of additional data constituting an additional information item, successively from the additional interface means and transferring the additional data read to the memory.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the means for storing the additional information comprises: a first means of reading additional data to read the additional data successively from an additional information article; a first means of transferring additional data to transfer the additional data read to the additional interface means and saving the additional data in the additional interface means; and a first determining means for determining whether all additional data constituting an article of the additional information has been stored in the additional interface means or not.

A system according to claim 12, wherein the additional information loading means comprises: a checking means for checking the stored content of the additional interface means; a second means for reading additional data to read the additional data stored in the additional interface means; a second means of transferring additional data to transfer the additional data read to the memory and describe the additional data in the memory; and a second determining means for determining whether all additional data constituting an article of the additional information has been transferred to the memory or not.

15. A recording medium that stores a program and data that is readable and executable by the image information processing apparatus having an input means for admitting the control information, a memory for loading a program into it, and information for used by the program, a control means for carrying out the processing according to the program based on the control information supported by the input means, a means for generating image information to generate at least the image information based on in the processing carried out by the control means, and a presentation means for displaying the image information generated by the image information generating means, the program has the step of adding the additional information to be used by the program loading the additional information through the additional interface means in the image information processing apparatus.

16. A recording medium according to claim 15, wherein the additional information is recorded in a recording medium, and the additional interface means comprises a memory.

17. A recording medium according to claim 15, wherein the additional information comprises information that is to be transmitted to the image information processing apparatus and the additional interface means comprises a communication interface means.

18. A recording medium according to claim 15, wherein the information comprises a model data, a texture data and movement data to be used by the program.

19. A recording medium according to claim 15, wherein the step of adding additional information comprises the steps of: saving a plurality of additional data constituting an article of the additional information successively in the additional interface means; and loading a plurality of additional data constituting an additional information item, reading the additional data successively from the additional interface means and transferring the additional data read to the memory.

20. A recording medium according to claim 19, wherein the step of saving a plurality of additional data comprises the steps of: reading the additional data successively from an additional information article; transfer the additional data read to the additional interface means and save the additional data in the additional interface means; and determining whether all additional data constituting an additional information item has been stored in an additional interface means or not.

21. A recording medium according to claim 19, wherein the step of loading a plurality of additional data comprises the steps of: checking the stored content of the additional interface means; read the additional data stored in the additional interface medium; transfer the additional data read to the memory and write the additional data in the memory; and determine whether all additional data constituting an additional information item has been transferred to the memory or not.

22. A recording medium that stores a program and readable and executable data by an image information processing apparatus having an input means for admitting control information, a memory for loading a program and information to be used by it. the program, a control means for carrying out the processing in accordance with the program based on the control information supported by the input means, a means for generating image information to generate at least the image information based on the processing carried out by the control means, and a presentation means for presenting the image information generated by the image information generating means, the program has the steps of loading the program and the information to be used by the program and add the additional information provided from an external source through an additional interface means, so that the Additional information or information to be used for the program can be used selectively.

23. A recording medium according to claim 22, wherein the additional information is recorded in a recording medium, and the additional interface means comprises a memory.

24. A recording medium according to claim 22, wherein the additional information comprises information to be transmitted to the image information processing apparatus and the additional interface means comprises a communication interface means.

25. A recording medium according to claim 22, wherein the information comprises a model data, texture data and movement data to be used by the program.

26. A registration means according to claim 22, wherein the step of adding additional information comprises the steps of: saving a plurality of additional data constituting an additional information item successively in the additional interface means; and loading a plurality of additional data constituting an additional information item, reading the additional data successively from the additional interface means and transferring the additional data read to the memory.

27. A recording medium according to claim 26, wherein the step of saving a plurality of additional data comprises the steps of: reading the additional data successively from an additional information article; transfer the additional data read to the additional interface means and save the additional data in the additional interface means; and determining whether all additional data constituting an additional information item has been saved in the additional interface means or not.

28. A recording medium according to claim 26, wherein the step of loading a plurality of additional data comprises the steps of: checking the stored content of the additional interface means; read the additional data stored in the additional interface medium; transfer the additional data read to the slot and write the additional data into the memory; and determine if all the additional data constituting an additional information item has been transferred to the memory or not.