Portable wireless game device and method for influencing an application executable from a fixed-location platform

• US 20030027634A1
• Filed: 08/03/2001
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: William F. Matthews III
• Original Assignee: William F. Matthews III
• Inventors: Matthews, William F. III
• Application Number:
  US09/922,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20030027634A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/39
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/323 between game devices with different hardware characteristics, e.g. hand-held game devices connectable to game consoles or arcade machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/201 Playing authorisation given at platform level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/208 for storing personal settings or data of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 : player location

Abstract

A portable wireless transceiver device (22) is carried by an individual (24) during the normal course of daily activities. The device (22) receives and records load instructions (84) from other transmitter devices (22, 26) at difference locations and at different instants in time through the day. Later, the device (22) interfaces a fixed-location platform (58) and the load instructions (84) are downloaded from the device (22) to the platform (58). A game application (64), executable from the fixed-location platform (58), is updated in response to the downloaded load instructions (84) to affect an outcome of the game application (64).

Claims

1. A method for influencing an application executable from a fixed-location platform comprising:

receiving a load instruction at a portable wireless transceiver;

recording said load instruction in a memory element of said portable wireless transceiver;

interfacing said portable wireless transceiver with said fixed-location platform;

downloading said load instruction from said portable wireless transceiver to said fixed-location platform; and

updating, at said fixed-location platform, said application in response to said load instruction to affect an outcome of said application.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said receiving operation occurs unknown to a user of said portable wireless transceiver.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said method further comprises periodically transmitting said load instruction from a wireless transmitter; and

said receiving operation comprises detecting said load instruction at said portable wireless transceiver when said portable wireless transceiver is positioned within a maximum transmission range of said wireless transmitter.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 further comprising utilizing a license free frequency band to periodically transmit said load instruction from said wireless transmitter.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said portable wireless transceiver is a first portable wireless transceiver and said wireless transmitter is a second portable wireless transceiver.

6. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said wireless transmitter is a fixed-location transmitter.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said portable wireless transceiver includes a sensor, and said receiving operation comprises:

producing a sensor signal at said sensor responsive to a location of said transceiver; and

configuring, prior to said receiving operation, said sensor signal as said load instruction.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

determining, at said fixed-location platform, that said load instruction includes an identification code identifying a second portable wireless transceiver transmitting said load instruction; and

recording, at said fixed-location platform, said identification code of said second portable wireless transceiver.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

determining, at said fixed-location platform, that said load instruction includes a pointer to a memory location associated with said application;

executing a script stored in said memory location in response to said determining operation; and

interpreting data within said script to affect said outcome of said application.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said memory location is at said fixed-location platform, said script is provided with said application, and said updating operation comprises enabling execution of said script in response to said downloaded load instruction.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said memory location is at a remote server accessible via the Internet, and said updating operation comprises enabling execution of said script in response to said downloaded load instruction.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said load instruction is one of a plurality of load instructions, and said method further comprises:

receiving, at said portable wireless transceiver, each of said plurality of load instructions at different instants in time;

recording said each load instruction in said memory element of said portable wireless transceiver;

downloading said each load instruction from said portable wireless transceiver to said fixed-location platform;

distinguishing said one of said plurality of load instructions as being associated with said application; and

performing said updating operation only for said one of said plurality of load instructions.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fixed-location platform is a first fixed-location platform, and said method further comprises:

uploading a second load instruction from said fixed-location platform to said portable wireless transceiver, said second load instruction being configured to affect an outcome of said application running on a second fixed-location platform, said second fixed-location platform operating independently from said first fixed-location platform; and

periodically transmitting from said portable wireless transceiver said second load instruction.

14. A portable wireless device for influencing an application executable from a fixed-location platform comprising:

a transceiver for detecting load instructions transmitted from wireless transmitters at different instants in time and positioned at different locations;

a processor in communication with said transceiver for receiving said load instructions;

a memory element in communication with said processor, said processor recording each of said load instructions in said memory element; and

an interface in communication with said processor and configured for coupling with said fixed-location platform so that said load instructions may be downloaded to said fixed-location platform, wherein at least one of said load instructions is operable to affect an outcome of said application.

15. A portable wireless device as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a sensor in communication with said processor and configured to produce a sensor signal responsive to a location of said wireless portable device, said processor recording said sensor signal in said memory as one of said load instructions.

16. A portable wireless device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said load instruction includes an identification code identifying a second portable wireless device transmitting said load instruction.

17. A portable wireless device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said load instruction includes a memory location associated with said game application, said memory location having a script stored therein for affecting said outcome of said game.

18. A portable wireless device as claimed in claim 14 wherein a second load instruction is uploaded from said fixed-location platform to said portable wireless device when said portable wireless device is coupled with said fixed-location platform via said interface, said second load instruction being configured to affect an outcome of said application executable from a second fixed-location platform, and said transceiver is configured to periodically transmit said second load instruction.

19. A method for influencing a game application executable from a fixed-location platform comprising:

periodically transmitting load instructions from a plurality of wireless game transceivers;

receiving, at one of said wireless game transceivers, said load instructions at different instants in time when said one wireless game transceiver is positioned within a maximum transmission range of others of said wireless game transceivers, said receiving operation occurring unknown to a user of said one wireless game transceiver;

recording said load instructions in a memory element of said one wireless game transceiver;

interfacing said one wireless game transceiver with said fixed-location platform;

downloading said load instructions from said one wireless game transceiver to said fixed-location platform;

distinguishing one of said load instructions as being associated with said game application; and

updating, at said fixed-location platform, said game application in response to said one load instruction to affect an outcome of said game application.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 further comprising:

uploading a second load instruction from said fixed-location platform to said one wireless game transceiver, said second load instruction being configured to affect an outcome of said game application running on a second fixed-location platform, said second fixed-location platform operating independently from said first fixed-location platform; and

periodically transmitting said second load instruction from said one wireless game transceiver for receipt by others of said wireless game transceivers.