Why would this require a patent?
So that Sony's competitors don't steal what is sure to be a gamechanging, industry-leading, innovative, consumer-driven and undoubtedly successful strategy from the metageniuses at Sony Corporation.
I mean, when potential consumers discover the convenience, entertainment and masterful implementation of advertisements that suspend your purchased game, try to sell you something, and eventually restore control of your purchased console to you after a predetermined amount of time, the market will flock to the Playstation Family in droves to experience such a graceful combination of gaming and product-exposure educational infomercials.
If
any console can do this, then the mass exodus of gamers to Sony due to this remarkable feature will not occur.
That's why we have patents, simple really.