A new Nintendo patent ?

[Lycan]

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-...50&d=ptxt&S1=Nintendo&OS=Nintendo&RS=Nintendo

Is it a sort of hard-drive to be attached to the system ? Those who can make sense of the described modus operandi may enlighten us ...

 

[StefanS]

Good find!
Since it was filed Feb. 2004, this is probably of relevance to Revolution.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Makes sense for storing retro games bought over the internet, and the security suggests as much to stop copying of files onto other HDDs. Though of course like pretty much all patents, what's unique about this is anybody's guess!

 

[EndR]

Couldn´t it be the flash-rom storage it supposed to have??

 

[Titanio]

Seems a little strange, because it talks about a device with communcations and storage capability built in. Why would this be necessary for a Revolution HDD add-on, when the system itself has wifi etc.?

edit - one look at the images shows references to video game cartridges, and more explicitly, shows a 64DD

 

[StefanS]

edit - one look at the images shows references to video game cartridges, and more explicitly, shows a 64DD

But why was it filed in 2004?

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Here's a reminder that patents may be patented without any intention to actually implement them. It's a matter of securing IP to stop your rivals using an idea whether you use it yourself or not. eg. If XB360's HDD can be found to be infringing this patent then Nintendo can push for fees, even if they never launch and HDD for any of their systems.

 

[Powderkeg]

Here's a reminder that patents may be patented without any intention to actually implement them. It's a matter of securing IP to stop your rivals using an idea whether you use it yourself or not. eg. If XB360's HDD can be found to be infringing this patent then Nintendo can push for fees, even if they never launch and HDD for any of their systems.

QFT

Companies will develope ideas and patent them on a regular basis with little to no intent of implementing the idea themselves. They often just want to secure the potential to charge fees if someone else does.

 

[Evil_Cloud]

GameBoy Revolution anyone? A GameBoy with technological capabilities similar to that of the GameCube, between 5 and 40GB HDD storage, and WiFi/USB/FireWire.

Large SD cardridges for GameBoy Revolution titles, along with a slot for GameBoy Advance (and perhaps GameBoy/Color as well) titles. Standard SD cards could also be supported this way, with built-in Play-Yan like capabilities (music and movie playback).

Plus, full compatibility with Revolution's virtual console, meaning you could put all your online purchased titles on your GameBoy Revolution, even GameCube titles by 'ripping' the data through Revolution onto your GameBoy Revolution HDD. Battery life would be quite short for the latter, but it would still be do-able, as there wouldn't be any disc spinning.

 

[Rur0ni]

Hard Drives dont spin?!

 

[BlueTsunami]

I say stick an SD slot on the revolution and we'll be good to go.

 

[Guden Oden]

I say stick an SD slot on the revolution and we'll be good to go.

I believe it already has a pair of those, under the cover at the front of the unit.