Remote game system and remote game machine

Abstract

A remote game system has a game machine, which has a manual operation unit receiving a manual operation instruction, and a remote controller. The remote controller communicates with the game machine through a communication network, and controls operation of the game machine through the communication network. The game machine has an exclusion unit, and when one of a remote operation instruction for playing a game from the remote controller and a manual operation instruction for directly playing the game from the manual operation unit has been received, inhibits one of the remote operation instruction or the manual operation instruction.

1 . A remote game system comprising:
 a game machine having a manual operation unit receiving a manual operation instruction; and   a remote control device having a communication unit communicating with the game machine through a communication network, and a remote operation unit operating the game machine through the communication network,   wherein the game machine comprises an exclusion unit, when one of a remote operation instruction for playing a game from the remote control device and a manual operation instruction for directly playing the game from the manual operation unit has been received, inhibiting one of the remote operation instruction or the manual operation instruction.   
   
   
       2 . The remote game system according to  claim 1 , wherein the remote control device further comprises:
 a receiving unit receiving a reservation for the game, the reservation designating the game machine; and   a requesting unit requesting establishment of connection with the game machine based upon the received reservation.   
   
   
       3 . The remote game system according to  claim 2 , wherein the exclusion unit comprises:
 a refusing unit , when the manual operation instruction to play the game has been received from the manual operation unit, refusing the request for the establishment of the connection from the remote control device;   a receiving unit receiving the reservation by permitting the requested establishment of the connection; and   a inhibiting unit, when the connection has been established, inhibiting the manual operation instruction for the game from the manual operation unit.   
   
   
       4 . The remote game system according to  claim 1 , wherein the remote control device further comprises:
 a search condition receiving unit receiving a search condition relating to a game machine; and   a search result display unit for displaying game machine information indicating a game machine that satisfies the received search condition.   
   
   
       5 . The remote game system according to  claim 4 , wherein the remote control device further comprises a connection unit establishing connections with a plurality of game machines. 
   
   
       6 . The remote game system according to  claim 1 , wherein the game machine further comprises:
 a video-image capturing unit capturing a displayed video image visually indicating a status of the game;   a acquisition unit acquiring sound from around the game machine; and   a communication unit transmitting to the remote control device video image information based on the video image captured by the video-image capturing unit and sound information based on the sound acquired by the acquisition unit.   
   
   
       7 . The remote game system according to  claim 1 , wherein the game machine further comprises:
 a detecting unit detecting a status of the game has been shifted to a predetermined status; and   a transmitting unit transmitting to the remote control device status information indicating the detected status.   
   
   
       8 . The remote game system according to  claim 1 , wherein the game machine further comprises video-image capturing unit capturing a displayed video image visually indicating a status of the game, and
 wherein the remote control device further comprises:
 a display displaying a video image based on received video image information; 
 an output unit outputting sound based on received sound information; and 
 a video image capture operating unit operating the video-image capturing unit of the game machine. 
   
   
   
       9 . The remote game system according to  claim 1 , wherein the remote control device further comprises a control unit for, when video image information is received from a plurality of game machines, preferentially displaying a video image based on video image information received from one of the plurality of game machines, from which status information has been received. 
   
   
       10 . A game machine in communication via a communication network with a remote control device, comprising:
 communication unit receiving a remote operation instruction from the remote control device through the communication network;   a manual operation unit receiving a manual operation instruction; and   a inhibiting unit, when one of a remote operation instruction for playing a game through the communication unit and a manual operation instruction for playing the game from the manual operation unit has been received, inhibiting one of the remote operation instruction or the manual operation instruction.   
   
   
       11 . The game machine according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a video-image capturing unit capturing a displayed video image visually indicating a status of the game;   an acquisition unit acquiring sound from around the game machine; and   a transmitting unit transmitting to the remote control device video image information based on the video image captured by the video-image capturing unit and sound information based on the sound acquired by the acquisition unit.   
   
   
       12 . The game machine according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a detecting unit detecting a status of the game has been shifted to a predetermined status; and   a transmitting unit transmitting to the remote control device status information indicating the detected status.   
   
   
       13 . A method of remotely playing a game on a game machine, comprising:
 receiving a manual game machine operation instruction directly at the game machine;   communicably via a network receiving a game machine remote instruction at the game machine;   inhibiting one of the game machine remote operation instruction or the manual game machine operation instruction; and   transmitting visual image information of a video image displayed at the game machine, upon permitting the game machine remote operation instruction according to the inhibiting.