Information processing apparatus

A storage stores content information for a trial version of an application program assigned identification information and content information for a product version; a license information acquisition unit acquires license information for the application program by referring to request information acknowledged by an input acknowledging unit; a determination unit determines whether the license information for the application program is stored in the memory by referring to the identification information; and a display processing unit generates a display screen using first content information until the determination unit determines that the license information is stored, and generates a display screen using second content information when the determination unit determines that the license information is stored.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an information processing technology executed in an information processing apparatus such as a game device.

BACKGROUND ART

A conventional menu screen proposed to improve operability of user interface includes a two-dimensional arrangement of a plurality of function icons and a plurality of media icons.

Manufacturers of games develop a variety of game software and attempt to introduce new games to users by distributing trial versions of software free of charge as well as advertising their products through TV commercials or the like. Many game devices recently available are designed to store game software in a large capacity storage such as a hard disk and allow users to enjoy the installed game without a game disk. These game devices also allow users to download game software from a virtual game shop on the Internet. Attempts are made to distribute trial versions of software from a virtual game shop and gain new users.

When a user likes the trial version of software, the user purchases the product version via the Internet and downloads the product. Therefore, the user has to download the software twice, i.e., the trial version and the product version. Various steps for purchase that should be gone through in a virtual game shop force users to experience hassle. As the trial version and the product version of game software are stored in the storage of the game device in a duplicate manner, the storage capacity is wastefully consumed. Since icons of executable game software are displayed in a menu screen of the game device, the icon of the trial version and that of the product version are both displayed, resulting in less user-friendly interface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this background, a purpose of the present invention is to provide a technology of effectively presenting the availability of application software to the user and reducing the hassle of running the application software for the user.

An information processing apparatus comprising: an input acknowledging unit configured to acknowledge request information from a user; a storage configured to store at least first content information and second content information for an application program assigned identification information; a display processing unit configured to read any of the content information for the application program and generate a display screen to display on an output device; a memory capable of storing license information; and a determination unit configured to determine whether the license information for the application program is stored in the memory by referring to the identification information. The display processing unit generates a display screen using the first content information until the determination unit determines that the license information is stored, and generates a display screen using the second content information when the determination unit determines that the license information is stored.

Optional combinations of the aforementioned constituting elements, and implementations of the invention in the form of methods, apparatuses, systems, recording mediums and computer programs may also be practiced as additional modes of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1shows a game system according to an embodiment of the present invention. A game system1comprises a game controller40, a game device10configured to run a game program, and an output device12configured to output a result of processing by the game device10. The game controller40is an input interface device that lets a user to enter a control input in the game device10. The game controller40may transmit a control input wirelessly or may be connected to the game device10by a cable. The output device12may be a television set provided with a display for outputting an image and a speaker for outputting sound. The output device12may be connected to the game device10by a cable or wirelessly connected to the device using wireless local area network (wireless LAN). The game device10is connected to the a provider server18connected to a network16via a router15such that the device10can communicate with the server18and can transmit and receive desired data.

The provider server18is run by a game producer or a game vendor and provides the game device10with game software or license information related to the execution of game software.

The game device10of the game system1downloads a trial version of game software from the provider server18in accordance with a user direction provided via the game controller40. Generally, a trial version of game software comes with certain restrictions of executable functions of the game program, unlike the product version. By way of example of restriction of the functions, the player can only play up to a certain stage or can only use limited characters.

According to the embodiment, the provider server18provides the game device10with a trial version of game software in which the function of the product version of game software is restricted, free of charge. The user can play the downloaded game software as a trial version. If the user likes the game, the user can access the provider server18to purchase the product version. In this process, the game device10may only have to pay for license information that permits expansion of the executable functions of the game program, instead of downloading the product version of game software. Once the license information is acquired, the game device10can remove the restriction of functions established in the game program to the extent permitted by the license information. The user can thus play the product version of game software.

Thus, the game system1is configured such that an extra step of downloading the product version is not necessary by allowing the product version of game software with restricted functionality to be downloaded as a trial version. In contrast to the related art, the inventive approaches removes the hassle of downloading the product version of game software and also prevents the wasteful step of storing the software of the same game in the game device10in a duplicated manner.

The technology disclosed in the embodiment can be implemented in information processing apparatus adapted to run other types of application programs as well as in the game device10. The technology disclosed in the embodiment can not only be used in a trial version and a product version of software but also when functions of a product version are expanded in stages. In this case, too, the information processing apparatus initially downloads the application software that includes all of the functions of a product version. Each time license information is acquired from the provider server18, the apparatus removes restriction on functions to the extent permitted by the license information and expands the functions accordingly. In this way, the information processing apparatus can upgrade application functions simply by acquiring license information. The hassle of downloading software repeatedly can be eliminated.

FIG. 2is a functional block diagram of the game device10. The game device10comprises a power button20, an LED22, a system controller24, a device controller30, a media drive32, a hard disk drive34, a switch36, an air interface38, a main controller100, a main memory102, and an output processor200.

The power button20is an input unit where a control input from the user is provided. The button is used to turn the game device10on or off. The power button20may be a down pressure button so that power may be turned on or off by pressing the button20. Other structures, such as a touch sensor, that allow the user to turn the power on or off may be used to implement the power button20. The LED22is turned on or off to indicate whether the power is turned on or off. The system controller24detects the pressed state or the non-pressed state of the power button20. Upon detecting transition from the power-off state to the pressed state, the controller24activates the main controller100, starts the boot sequence of the operating system, and turns the LED22on. When a power cable is connected to the game device10, the system controller24maintains the standby mode even in the power-off state and monitors the depression of the power button20.

Like a south bridge, the device controller30is configured as a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI) that supports delivery of information between devices. As illustrated, the system controller24, the media drive32, the hard disk drive34, the switch36, and the main controller100are connected to the device controller30. The device controller30controls the timing of data transfer, canceling differences in electrical property of the devices or differences in data transfer rates thereof. The hard disk drive34drives a built-in hard disk so as to write and read data. The built-in hard disk functions as a storage for storing data. The media drive32is configured to drive and read a read-only recording medium50storing game software when the medium50is mounted and reads necessary data from the recording medium50. The recording medium50may be a medium such as an optical disk and a magneto-optical disk.

The switch36is an Ethernet (registered trademark) switch and is a device connected wirelessly or by cable to an external device for transmission and reception of data. The switch36receives game software and license information from the provide server18via the network16. The switch36is also connected to the air interface38. The air interface38is connected to the game controller40provided with the function of communicating wirelessly using a communication protocol such as the Bluetooth protocol (registered trademark) or the IEEE802.11 protocol. User control information entered via the game controller40is provided to the main controller100via the air interface38, the switch36, and the device controller30.

The main controller100is provided with a multicore CPU. One general-purpose processor core and a plurality of simple processor cores are provided in a single CPU. The general-purpose processor core is referred to as a power processing unit (PPU) and the processor cores are referred to as synergistic-processing units (SPU). The main controller100provides a function and an environment for using the game device efficiently. The main controller100runs the operating system (hereinafter, simply referred to as “OS”) for controlling the entirety of the device. The OS layers of the game device10according to the embodiment comprises three layers, namely, the user layer, the kernel layer, and the hypervisor layer from top to bottom. Software for the user layer, kernel layer, and hypervisor layer is integrated and functions as the “OS” of the game device10.

When power is turned on using the power button20, the system controller24supplies power to the main controller100and the output processor104via the device controller30. When power is supplied to the main controller100, PPU first runs the boot loader of the OS and starts the hypervisor layer. Subsequently, PPU starts the kernel layer of the OS and then starts the user layer so as to be ready for data supplied from the hard disk drive34or the recording medium50. This allows the main controller100to run the game program.

The main controller100is provided with a memory controller connected to the main memory102. The PPU is provided with a register and a main processor as an entity of execution. The PPU itself may execute a task. The SPU is provided with a register, a subprocessor as an entity of execution, and a local memory as a local storage area. The main memory102and the local memory are configured using a random access memory (RAM). The SPU is provided with a dedicated direct memory access (DMA) controller as a control unit. By performing data transfer between the main memory102and the local memory, a stream of data can be processed at a high speed, and high-speed data transfer is achieved between a frame memory built in the output processing unit104and the local memory.

The output processing unit104is connected to the display device12and outputs a video signal and an audio signal resulting from executing the application. The output processing unit104is provided with a graphics processing unit (GPU) that implements image processing functions. High definition multimedia interface (HDMI) is employed in the GPU so that the GPU is capable of outputting the video signal in the digital format.

In addition to the function of reading the game software stored in the storage medium50into the main memory102or the local memory to run the software, the game device10according to the embodiment is also provided with the function of reading the game software installed in the hard disk of the hard disk drive34into the main memory102or the local memory to run the software. Hereinafter, games that are directly read from the storage medium50into the RAM for execution will be referred to as “disk-based games”. Games that become executable by being installed in a storage such as a hard disk will be referred to as “installed games”.

Game software includes an execution program that runs the game, game data used by the execution program, parameter information defining the setting information related to the execution of the game, and content information for the game.

The execution program is a program to progress the game. The game data includes data for stages deployed in the game, character data, etc. The parameter information is data that defines the operation of the game device10, such as rendering resolution of the game, and information on age subject to restricted access by parental lock. The parameter information is read into the game device10before the execution program is started and is used for setting of the output resolution, determination on whether the execution program is permitted to be run under parent control, etc.

The parameter information also includes game type designation information indicating whether functions of the game are expandable. For example, a game with expandable functionality may be a game that can be converted from a trial version into a product version of the game. Alternatively, an expandable game may be a product version of the game in which functions can be upgraded or playable stages (fields) can be added. Whether expansion of functions of a game is permitted is determined by whether license information liked to the identification information of the game program is available. For this reason, the game device10refers to the game type identification information upon reading the parameter information. If it is found that functions of the game are expandable, the game device10verifies whether license information is stored in a predetermined memory area in the hard disk. When the license information is stored, the game device10runs functions permitted according to the license information.

The content information is data that includes icon images or explanatory notes of an application. The content information is used in the Menu screen of the game device10to let the user know the content of the game by displaying a game title using an icon or displaying an explanatory note. The content information may include a still image icon and/or moving image icon for display.

FIG. 3shows the directory structure of game software stored in the hard disk. In the example shown inFIG. 3, two items of game software, ABCTENNIS and ABCGOLF are stored in the hard disk. The storage medium50also has the same directory structure. Normally, the recording medium stores only one item of game software but may store two items of game software as shown inFIG. 3. A description will now be given of directories below ABCTENNIS.

BOOT_GAME is a directory for storing the execution program of the game and the game data used by the program. On the same level as the BOOT_GAME directory are stored parameter information (PARAMETER.A) and content information (CONTENT_INFO.B) used in the trial version of the game.

Similarly, CONTENT_INFO.B may be the content information itself. Alternatively, CONTENT_INFO.B may be information uniquely identifying the content information. For example, CONTENT_INFO.B may be path information indicating the address in a storage area storing the content information. Alternatively, CONTENT_INFO.B may be a file describing the path information for the content information, or information converted into the path information for the content information by a predetermined rule. Hereinafter, CONTENT_INFO.B is assumed to be a content information file itself. In this specification, CONTENT_INFO.B represents a set of a plurality of data files for convenience sake.

FIG. 4show the content of parameter information (PARAMETER.A) for the trial version. PARAMETER.A may be a file of the XML format. The parameter information includes the title name, rendering resolution, sound output format, information on age defined by parental lock, etc. The information also includes game type designation information indicating whether functions of the game are expandable. If the game type designation information indicates “ON”, it means that functions of the game are expandable. If the information indicates “OFF”, it means that functions of the game cannot be expanded. If the parameter information does not include game type designation information, the game device10deals with the game software having such parameter information as not being expandable in terms of the functionality.

PARAMETER.A, which is used in the trial version, defines that the title name is ABC tennis, the rendering resolution is 480, the sound output format is 2ch, the age defined by parental lock is 12, and the game type designation information indicates ON. The title name included in the parameter information is used to indicate the title of the game software identified by an icon image in the menu screen and is displayed to the right of the icon image.

FIG. 5shows the content of the content information (CONTENT_INFO.B) for the trial version. As mentioned above, CONTENT_INFO.B represents a set of a plurality of data files in this specification. More specifically, CONTENT_INFO.B represents three kinds of data files ICON.IMG, PIC0.IMG, and PIC1.IMG. ICON.IMG is a data file for the icon image of the trial version. PIC0.IMG is a data file for a background image. PICO.IMG is used as a background image when the icon image of the trial version of the game is located in a selection area in the menu screen displayed on the output device12. PICO.IMG may be used as a background image when the icon image is located in the selection area and when a control input is provided by the user. PIC1.IMG is a data file for an explanatory image of the game. PIC1.IMG is displayed on the background image and used to show the game content.

Referring back toFIG. 3, D00 is a directory for storing parameter information and content information related to the product version of the game. In the case of game software in which the state of execution is changed in two stages, i.e., the trial version and the product version, only the D00 directory may be provided. In the case of game software in which the state of execution is changed in three or more stages, an additional directory such as the D01 directory may be provided in addition to the D00 directory. In the illustrated example, it is assumed that three stages of execution state are available so that the D01 directory is provided.

CONTENT_ID is identification information of the game program and uniquely identifies the game program. In the game system1, identification information is assigned to all game programs. Game programs (game software) are identified using the identification information.

FIG. 7shows the content of the content information (CONTENT_INFO—0.B) for the product version. Like the content information (CONTENT_INFO.B) for the trial version, the content information (CONTENT_INFO—0.B) for the product version also represents a set of a plurality of data files. ICON_O.IMG is a data file for the icon image of the product version of the game. PICO_O.IMG is a data file for a background image. PICO_O.IMG is used as a background image when the icon image of the product version of the game is located in a selection area in the menu screen displayed on the output device12. PICO_O.IMG may be used as a background image when the icon image is located in the selection area and when a control input is provided by the user. PIC1_O.IMG is a data file for an explanatory image of the game. PIC1_O.IMG is displayed on the background image and used to show the game content. The file name of the content information for the product version may be identical to the file name of the content information for the trial version. For ease of understanding of the embodiment, different file names are used in the specification.

FIG. 8shows the internal configuration of the main controller100. The main controller100is provided with an input acknowledging unit110, a communication control unit112, a read/write control unit114, an execution processing unit120, an acquisition unit130, a license information verification unit140, and a display processing unit150. The execution processing unit120is provided with an OS execution unit122and an application execution unit124. The acquisition unit130is provided with a program acquisition unit132and a license information acquisition unit134. The license information verification unit140is provided with a reference unit142and a determination unit144. The display processing unit150is provided with a background processing unit152, an icon processing unit154, a menu screen generation unit156, a purchase screen generation unit158, and a game screen generation unit160. The display processing unit150reads the content information for a game program using the read/write control unit114and generates a display screen for display on the output device12.

The elements depicted inFIG. 8as functional blocks for performing various processes are implemented in hardware such as a CPU, memory, or other LSI's, and in software such as a program, etc., loaded into the memory. As mentioned before, the main controller100is provided with a single PPU and a plurality of SPUs. The PPU and the SPUs can form functional blocks either alone or in combination. Therefore, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the functional blocks may be implemented in a variety of manners by hardware only, software only, or a combination of thereof.

The input acknowledging unit110acknowledges the user's control input entered in the game controller40via the device controller30. In the game system1, the user can use the game controller40to progress the game and can also enter information requesting the downloading of game software or acquisition of license information. When the game software is downloaded, the game device10accesses the provider server18and the output device12displays the graphical user interface (GUI) for downloading the game software. To facilitate the step of acquiring license information, the API (application program interface) of the OS displays a GUI for acquisition of license information on the output device12. The user uses the game controller40, viewing the screen of the output device12.

When the input acknowledging unit110acknowledges information requesting the downloading of game software, the communication control unit112accesses the provider server18via the switch36and downloads the designated game software. The program acquisition unit132acquires the downloaded game software. As mentioned already, the game software is configured to include a game program, game data, parameter information, and content information. At least two kinds of parameter information are available. In this case, it is assumed that parameter information (PARAMETER.A) for the trial version and parameter information (PARAMETER—0.A) for the product version are included. Similarly, at least two kinds of content information are available, namely, content information (CONTENT_INFO.B) for the trial version and content information (CONTENT_INFO—0.B) for the product information. The downloaded game software is temporarily stored in the main memory102and stored in the hard disk by the read/write control unit114. As the user requests the installation of the game, the game software can be executed by the game device10. The hard disk stores the game program, game data, at least two kinds of parameter information, and content information, using the directory structure shown inFIG. 3. It will be assumed here that “ABC tennis game” is installed in the game software

The license information verification unit140verifies whether the license information for the game software is stored in the hard disk. As already mentioned, license information permits expansion of executable functions of the game program. In this embodiment, if the license information is not stored in the hard disk, executable functions of the game program remain restricted and the game device10deals with the program as a trial version. More specifically, the reference unit142refers to the identification information of the game software and identifies a storage area in the hard disk that should store the license information, and refers to data stored in the storage area. The reference unit142acquires game type designation information included in the parameter information and performs the reference process when the designation information indicates “ON”. The determination unit144receives the result of reference by the reference unit142and determines whether the license information for the game software is stored in the storage area. The determination unit144may determine whether the information stored in the storage area thus referred to is authentic information so that, if authentic, the determination unit144may determine that the license information is stored. The verifying process by the license information verification unit140is performed according to a predetermined timing schedule. As mentioned later, the verifying process by the license information verification unit140may be performed when the product version is purchased. The license information verification unit140generates a license information table describing whether the license information for the executable game program is available. The description below assumes that the trial version of the game software (ABC tennis game) is installed and the product version has not been purchased yet, i.e., the license information has not been acquired yet.

The menu screen generation unit156generates a menu screen based on the background image acquired by the background processing unit152and the icon image acquired by the icon processing unit154. When the game device10is turned on, the background processing unit152reads the default background image present in the game device10from the hard disk driver34using the read/write control unit114. The icon processing unit154reads a plurality of icon images identifying executable processes from the hard disk drive34using the read/write control unit114. The icon processing unit154reads the icon of the game software from the hard disk drive34by referring to the license information table generated by the license information verification unit140. The menu screen generation unit156generates a menu screen comprising a criss-cross vertical and horizontal arrangement of the plurality of icon images on the default background image provided by the background processing unit152, and supplies the menu screen to the output processing unit104.

FIG. 9shows a menu screen displayed on the display when the game device10is turned on. The menu screen shows a criss-cross arrangement of a plurality of icon images206on the default background image200. By using the controller40to scroll and move a desired icon to the position of a selection area205, the user can run the process associated with the icon.

FIG. 10shows a menu screen in which an icon208of the trial version of the game is located in the selection area. By locating the icon208of the trial version of the game in the selection area, the background processing unit152acquires a background image210of the trial version of the ABC tennis game using the read/write control unit114, resulting in the menu screen as shown.

Since the license information for the ABC tennis game has not been acquired yet, the icon processing unit154acquires ICON.IMG from CONTENT_INFO.B shown inFIG. 5. As a result, the icon208of the trial version of the game is displayed as an icon of the ABC tennis game in the menu screen shown inFIGS. 9 and 10. When the icon208of the trial version of the game is located in the selection area, the background processing unit152acquires PICO.IMG from CONTENT_INFO.B. The menu screen generation unit156switches the background image from the default background image200to the background image210for the trial version of the game and generates the menu screen shown inFIG. 10. When the user uses a predefined button of the game controller40in this menu screen, the input acknowledging unit110acknowledges the control input and supplies the input to the menu screen generation unit156. The menu screen generation unit156displays a menu list showing the contents of processes that can be performed for the trial version of the ABC tennis game.

The “startup” item is used to request the starting of the trial version of the ABC tennis game.

When the “startup” item is selected, the execution processing unit120reads the game program of the trial version of the ABC tennis using the read/write control unit114and runs the game. The “delete” item is used to request the uninstalling of the trial version of the ABC tennis game. The “game description” item is used to display explanatory information on the ABC tennis game.

The “purchase” item is used to request the purchase of the product version of the ABC tennis game. In this embodiment, purchase of a game means acquisition of paid license information. When the user selects the “purchase” item, the input acknowledging unit110acknowledges a request for acquiring the license information for the ABC tennis game and the communication control unit112transmits the request for acquiring the license information of the ABC tennis game to the provider server18via the switch36. The request for acquisition includes the identification information of the ABC tennis game.

FIG. 12shows a purchase screen of the game software. Upon receipt of the request for acquiring the license information for the ABC tennis game, the provider server18generates configuration data for the game purchase screen based on the identification information of the ABC tennis game and transmits the data to the game device10. The purchase screen generation unit158receives the configuration data for the game purchase screen and generates the purchase screen accordingly. When the user selects a purchase button214in the purchase screen, the input acknowledging unit110acknowledges the request for purchase. The communication control unit112transmits the purchase request including the identification information of the ABC tennis game to the provider server18. In response, the provider server18bills the user and replies with the license information for the ABC tennis game. The communication control unit112supplies the received license information to the license information acquisition unit134so that the license information acquisition unit134acquires the information. The purchase screen shows File Size, which represents the file size of the product version for information purpose only. It should be noted that the data file for the product version is not downloaded in this embodiment.

When the license information for the ABC tennis game is acquired, the license information acquisition unit134generates a directory in the hard disk based on the identification information so as to store the license information. Hereinafter, the storage area in the hard disk that stores the license information will be referred to as a memory area. It is desirable that the algorithm for generating a directory in the memory area in the hard disk be not publicly known so that the data in the memory area cannot be altered.

In this way, the step of purchasing game software is quite simplified in the game system1. When the user selects an item for purchase in the menu screen ofFIG. 11, the display displays the purchase screen shown inFIG. 12. Therefore, the user can easily purchase the game software without taking complicated steps in a virtual game shop. Since the game software need not be downloaded, time required for communication with the provider server18is advantageously shortened.

Upon detecting that the process of purchasing software is performed, the license information verification unit140verifies whether the license information for the game software is stored in the memory area in the hard disk. When the process of purchasing the ABC tennis game is detected as being completed, the license information verification unit140verifies whether the license information for the ABC tennis game is stored in the memory area. Meanwhile, if it is not known that the process of purchase is completed but it is not known which software is purchased, software that has not been purchased yet is scrutinized to determine whether license information is available. More specifically, the reference unit142extracts the identification information of the game software not purchased yet from the license information table and, based on the identification information, identifies the memory area in the hard disk using the directory generating algorithm used in the license information acquisition unit134. The reference unit142then refers to the data in the memory area. Upon receipt of the result of reference, the determination unit144determines whether the license information of the game software is stored in the memory area. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the determination unit144determines that the license information for the ABC tennis game is stored in the memory area and updates the license information table accordingly.

The determination unit144communicates the information on determination to the display processing unit150. The determination unit144may notify the display processing unit150that the license information table is updated, and the display processing unit150may respond to this notification by referring to the license information table for verification. Alternatively, an update to the table may not be communicated to the display processing unit150so that the display processing unit150may refer to the license information table as needed when displaying the icon image206. In any case, when the license information for the ABC tennis game is stored in the memory area, the icon processing unit154acquires ICON_O.IMG (icon of the product version of the game) from CONTENT_INFO—0.B shown inFIG. 7. The menu screen generation unit156generates a menu screen using the icon of the product version of the game instead of the icon208of the trial version of the game. When the icon of the product version of the game is located in the selection area, the background processing unit152acquires PICO_O.IMG from CONTENT_INFO—0.B. The menu screen generation unit156generates a menu screen using the background image for the product version of the game instead of the background image210for the trial version of the game.

FIG. 13shows a menu screen in which an icon216of the product version of the game is displayed on a background image218for the product version of the game. In this embodiment, the display processing unit150uses CONTENT_INFO.B to generate a display screen until the determination unit144determines that the license information is stored. Once the determination unit144determines that the license information is stored, CONTENT_INFO—0.B is used to generate a display screen. These items of content information are not available in the game device10but are created by a game producer and represent the world view of the game. This helps maintain the user's high interest in the game software.

By switching the icon208of the trial version of the game to the icon216of the product version of the game after the license information is acquired, coexistence of two icons in the menu screen is avoided. This helps eliminated the chance of selecting the icon208of the trial version of the game after the product version is purchased, thereby achieving an environment in which the user can only select the icon216for the product version of the game once the product version is purchased.

The discussion above concerns the menu screen of an installed game. The same discussion applies to a disk-based game.

As explained with reference toFIG. 3, the read-only recording medium50is configured with substantially the same directory structure as shown inFIG. 3. The recording medium50includes an execution program, game data used by the execution program, parameter information defining configuration information related to the execution of the game, and game content information. The recording medium50, when inserted into the media drive32, is dealt with by the game device10as a storage including the game program, game data, at least two kinds of parameter information, and content information. The difference between a disk-based game and an installed game resides only in the place of storage of the game software. The menu screen is identically generated in both types of games.

A description will now be given of the execution of a game program. When the “startup” item is selected in the menu screen shown inFIG. 11, the application execution unit124starts the game program. In this process, the application execution unit requests the OS execution unit122to start the API processing module. The OS execution unit122responds to this request by starting the API processing module for the execution of games in the user layer of the OS.

In this embodiment, the API processing module determines whether the license information is stored in the memory area in the hard disk based on the identification information of the game software that is run. The function for determination is identical to the function of determination in the license information verification unit140. The menu screen shown inFIG. 11is the menu screen occurring before the license information for the ABC tennis game is acquired. Therefore, the memory area is not storing the license information when the game program is started from this menu screen. Thus, the API processing module determines that the license information is not stored and reads the parameter information (PARAMETER.A) based on the identification information of the game software, thereby configuring the rendering resolution, sound output format, etc. In this way, an environment for the execution of the trial version of the game is established.

After the game program is started, the application execution unit124inquires the API processing module about the state (mode) in which the game program should be executed, in accordance with a request from the game program. Responsive to the inquiry, the API processing module returns the license information to the application execution unit124, if the information is available. Alternatively, the module may return information indicating that the license information is acquired. If the license information is not available, the module returns information indicating that the license information is not acquired to the application execution unit124. The game program is provided with the function of determining the mode of execution upon reception of the value returned to the inquiry and operating in the mode thus determined. It will be assumed that the API processing module returns information indicating that the license information is not acquired to the application execution unit124. In response, the game program determines that the program should be run as the trial version, imposing restrictions on executable functions. The application execution unit124runs the trial version of the game program with restricted functions and outputs processing results to the display processing unit150at the rendering resolution configured by the API processing module. The game screen generation unit160generates a game screen and supplies the screen to the output processing unit104. The application execution unit124may output game sound to the output processing unit104in the sound output format configured by the API processing module. The API processing module may provide the output processing unit104with the rendering resolution and sound output format so that the output processing unit104processes the output from the application execution unit124.

When the OS execution unit122starts the API processing module for the execution of games in reply to a request from the application execution unit124while the license information is stored in the memory area, the API processing module determines that the license information is stored in the memory area in the hard disk based on the identification information of the game software that is run. The API processing module reads the parameter information (PARAMETER—0.A) based on the identification information of the game software, thereby configuring the rendering resolution, sound output format, etc. In this way, the execution environment of the product version of the game is established.

After the game program is started, the application execution unit124inquires the API processing module about the mode of execution of the game program, in accordance with a request from the game program. In reply to the inquiry, the API processing module returns the license information or the information indicating that the license information is acquired to the application execution unit124. In response, the game program determines that the program should be run as the product version. The application execution unit124runs the product version of the game program outputs the processing result to the display processing unit150. The game screen generation unit160generates a game screen and supplies the screen to the output processing unit104. Thus, advantageously, the game program need not have a complicated configuration by allowing the API processing module to determine whether the license information is available.

Described above is an explanation based on an exemplary embodiment. The embodiment is intended to be illustrative only and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications to constituting elements and processes could be developed and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. For example, it is assumed in the embodiment that an icon is selected by locating the icon in the selection area205. Alternatively, a pointing device such as a mouse pointer may be used so that the user can select an icon. The icon processing unit154may refer to the age defined by parental lock and defined in the parameter information so as not to display an icon of the game software that users under the defined age cannot play.

The description of the embodiment assumes that the license information indicates a product version. Alternatively, the license information may indicate increase in executable functions in stages. Referring toFIG. 3, if the license information is not stored, PARAMETER.A and CONTENT_INFO.B are used. If the first license information is stored, PARAMETER—0.A and CONTENT_INFO—0.B in the D00 directory are used. If the second license information is stored, PARAMETER—1.A and CONTENT_INFO—1.B in the D01 directory are used. By including the information associated with the D00 directory in the first license information and including the information associated with the D01 directory in the second license information, the license information is uniquely mapped into the directory so that the directory used can be determined by referring to the information included in the license information. Thus, by ensuring that expansion of functions by the second information is greater than expansion of functions by the first license information so as to enable expansion of executable functions in stages, a novel method of distributing game software is achieved.

A case is considered where license information is acquired in order to increase game stages while the game is being run. It will be assumed that the player can proceed up to the third stage without the license information and that the player can proceed up to the tenth stage when the license information is acquired. In this case, the screen that prompts the player to purchase the game software may be displayed on the display when the player has cleared the third stage. This allows the user to acquire the license information that lets the user to play up to the tenth stage by selecting the purchase button. It would be ruthless, however, to have the user starting over at the first stage. In this respect, the application execution unit124may save the status information on the game occurring when the third stage is cleared, and, internally, may reset and restart the game program, reflecting the saved data in the fourth stage to make it appear to the user that the game is proceeding continuously.

According to the present invention, a technology is provided capable of effectively presenting the availability of application software to the user and reducing the hassle of running application software for the user.