Method of making a game available for a mobile telephony terminal of a subscriber and program modules and means therefor

• US 20020049074A1
• Filed: 07/19/2001
• Published: 04/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Ullmann, Gottfried, Eisinger, Bernd
• Application Number:
  US09/907,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20020049074A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1066 Game playing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of making a game available for a mobile telephony terminal (TERA) of a subscriber (SUBA), a terminal program module (PMT) therefor, a server program module (PMS) therefor, a charge computer program module (PMAC) for calculating charges in association with the provision of the game, and a mobile telephony terminal (TERA), a server (SER) and a charge billing computer (ACC).

In the method, via a wireless network (NET) the mobile telephony terminal (TERA) sends a server (SER) a request message containing a request for participation in a game and containing an identification code (IDA) of the subscriber (SUBA) which is employed in particular for the use of the network (NET). As a function of the request message, the server executes a games program module (PL) for the execution of the desired game, thereby determines a games result (RESA) and sends this result to the mobile telephony terminal which outputs the result. Additionally, a memory device (DB) stores the at least one result in association with the identification code, it being possible for the result to be retrieved from the memory device (DB) after the game has ended.

Claims

1. A method of making a game available for a mobile telephony terminal (TERA) of a subscriber (SUBA) wherein

via a wireless network (NET) the mobile telephony terminal (TERA) sends a server (SER) a request message containing a request for participation in a game and containing an identification code (IDA) of the subscriber (SUBA) which is employed in particular for the use of the wireless network (NET),

as a function of the request message the server (SER) executes a games program module (PL) for the execution of the desired game and thereby determines at least one result (RESA) of the game,

the server (SER) sends the mobile telephony terminal (TERA) the at least one result (RESA) resulting from the execution of the games program module (PL),

the mobile telephony terminal (TERA) outputs the at least one result (RESA) and

a memory device (DB) stores the at least one result (RESA) in association with the identification code (IDA), it being possible for the at least one result (RESA) to be retrieved from the memory device (DB) after the game has ended.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that games billing data (BRESA, UN) are determined from the at least one result (RESA) of the game and/or for the use of the games program module (PL), and that the games billing data are entered in an account (KT) of the subscriber (SUBA), in particular a charge billing account of the subscriber (UBA) which is employed for the use of the wireless network (NET).

3. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the games program module (PL) executes a game of chance, a competitive game, or a game of knowledge.

4. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one result (RESA) of the game is entered in a results list (SCORE) in which at least one second result (RESB) of the game, obtained by a second subscriber (SUBB), is stored.

5. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the games program module (PL) sends an applications program module (LAP) to the mobile telephony terminal (TERA), the program code of which is executed by the mobile telephony terminal (TERA) for the execution of the game in interaction with the server (SER).

6. A terminal program module (PMT) for a mobile telephony terminal (TERA) of a subscriber (SUBA), which is provided for a wireless network (NET), for making a game available for the mobile telephony terminal (TERA), wherein the terminal program module (PMT) can be executed by a control means of the mobile telephony terminal (TERA), characterised in that

the terminal program module (PMT) comprises detection means (DETPMT) for detecting a start command given by the subscriber (SUBA) for the execution of the game, and for determining an identification code (IDA) of the subscriber (SUBA) employed in particular for the use of the wireless network (NET),

the terminal program module (PMT) comprises transmitting means (SNDPMT) for sending a request message, containing a request for participation in the game and containing the identification code (IDA), to a server (SER) via the wireless network (NET),

the terminal program module (PMT) comprises receiving means (RCVPMT) for receiving at least one result (RESA) resulting from the execution of the games program module (PL) and

the terminal program module (PMT) comprises output means (OUTPMT) for outputting the at least one result (RESA) on an output device of the mobile telephony terminal (TERA).

7. A mobile telephony terminal (TERA) for a wireless network (NET) comprising a terminal program module (PMT) according to claim 6 and comprising a control means (CPUTR) for the execution of the terminal program module (PMT).

8. A server program module (PMS) for a server (SER) for making a game available for a mobile telephony terminal (TERA) of a subscriber (SUBA), wherein the server program module (PMS) can be executed by a control means (CPUSV) of the server (SER), characterised in that

the server program module (PMS) comprises receiving means (RCVPMS) for receiving a request message containing a request, sent by a mobile telephony terminal (TERA), for participation in the game, and containing an identification code (IDA) of the subscriber (SUBA), employed in particular for the use of the wireless network (NET),

the server program module (PMS) comprises execution means (EXEPMS) for the execution of a games program module (PL) for the execution of the desired game as a function of the request message and for determining at least one result (RESA) of the game,

the server program module (PMS) comprises transmitting means (SNDPMS) for sending the at least one result (RESA), resulting from the execution of the games program module (PL), to the mobile telephony terminal (TERA),

and the transmitting means (SNDPMS) are designed to transmit the at least one result (RESA), resulting from the execution of the games program module (PL), in association with the identification code (IDA) to a memory device (DB) from which the at least one result (RESA) can be retrieved after the game has ended.

9. A server (SER) with a server program module (PMS) according to claim 8 and with a control means (CPUSV) for executing the server program module (PMS).

10. A charge computer program module (PMA) for a charge computer (ACC) for calculating charges in connection with a provision of a game for a mobile telephony terminal (TERA) of a subscriber (SUBA) for a wireless network (NET), wherein the charge computer program module (PMA) can be executed by a control means (CPUACC) of the charge computer (ACC), characterised in that

the charge computer program module (PMA) comprises receiving means (RCVPMA) for receiving an identification code (IDA) of the subscriber (SUBA), which is employed in particular for the use of the wireless network (NET), in association with at least one result (RESA) of the game which the server (SER) executes as a function of a request message, sent by the mobile telephony terminal (TERA) via a wireless network (NET), with the aid of a games program module (PL) for the execution of the desired game, where the server (SER) determines the at least one result (RESA) of the game and

the charge computer program module (PMA) comprises accounting means (ACCPMA) for entering games billing data, determined from the at least one result (RESA) of the game and/or for the use of the games program module (PL), in an account of the subscriber (SUBA), in particular a charge billing account of the subscriber (SUBA) which is employed for the use of the wireless network (NET).

11. A charge computer (ACC) comprising a charge computer program module (PMA) according to claim 10 and a control means (CPUACC) for the execution of the charge computer program module (PMA).

12. A memory means with a terminal program module (PMT) according to claim 6 and/or a server program module (PMS) according to claim 8 and/or a charge computer program module (PMA) according to claim 10.