Gametenna, interfacing wireless telephone and method

• US 20060258345A1
• Filed: 05/11/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert S. Wolinsky, Scott Wolinsky
• Original Assignee: Robert S. Wolinsky, Scott Wolinsky
• Inventors: Wolinsky, Scott, Wolinsky, Robert S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,272,424 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations

Abstract

A Gametenna used in conjunction with a wireless telephone to play a game. The Gametenna includes an antenna for receiving and transmitting wireless signals, and a memory device which is physically coupled to the antenna. The wireless telephone includes a transceiver, a first external interface electrically coupled to the transceiver, a processor and a second external interface electrically coupled to the processor. The Gametenna expands the capabilities of the wireless telephone when connected to the first and second external interfaces. The transceiver receives and transmits wireless signals via the first external interface and the antenna. The processor accesses data stored in the memory device via the second external interface. The data may include instructions for playing a game. The Gametenna may be exchanged with another Gametenna to play a different game. The data may be used to activate software in the wireless telephone.

Claims

1. A Gametenna comprising:

(a) an antenna for receiving and transmitting wireless signals; and

(b) a memory device which is physically coupled to the antenna.

2. The Gametenna of claim 1 wherein the memory device includes data which is used by a wireless telephone coupled to the Gametenna to activate software stored in a memory within the wireless telephone.

3. The Gametenna of claim 1 wherein the memory device includes instructions which are used by a wireless telephone coupled to the Gametenna to play a game.

4. The Gametenna of claim 1 wherein the Gametenna is electrically coupled to a wireless telephone having a transceiver and a processor, the Gametenna further comprising:

(c) an interface for electrically coupling the antenna to the transceiver of the wireless telephone for receiving and transmitting the wireless signals.

5. The Gametenna of claim 1 wherein the antenna comprises a plurality of extendable interlocking hollow metallic cylindrical elements and the memory device is mounted inside at least one of the hollow elements.

6. The Gametenna of claim 1 wherein the memory device is mounted on an external surface of the antenna.

7. The Gametenna of claim 1 wherein the Gametenna is electrically coupled to a wireless telephone having a transceiver and a processor, the Gametenna further comprising:

(c) an interface for electrically coupling the memory device to the processor of the wireless telephone for providing the processor with access to data stored in the memory device.

8. The Gametenna of claim 7 wherein the data is used by the wireless telephone to activate software stored in a memory within the wireless telephone.

9. The Gametenna of claim 7 wherein the data is used by the wireless telephone to play a game.

10. A method of expanding the capabilities of a wireless telephone having a transceiver, a first external interface electrically coupled to the transceiver, a processor and a second external interface electrically coupled to the processor, the method comprising:

(a) connecting a Gametenna to the first and second external interfaces of the wireless telephone, the Gametenna including an antenna and a first memory device;

(b) the transceiver of the wireless telephone receiving and transmitting wireless signals via the first external interface and the antenna; and

(c) the processor of the wireless telephone accessing data stored in the first memory device via the second external interface.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the first memory device includes instructions which are used by the wireless telephone to play a first game.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

(d) disconnecting the Gametenna from the first and second external interfaces of the wireless telephone; and

(e) connecting a different Gametenna to the first and second external interfaces of the wireless telephone, wherein a second memory device in the different Gametenna includes instructions which are used by the wireless telephone to play a second game.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the first memory device includes data which is used by the wireless telephone to activate software stored in a memory within the wireless telephone.

14. A wireless telephone comprising:

(a) a transceiver;

(b) a first external interface electrically coupled to the transceiver;

(c) a processor;

(d) a second external interface electrically coupled to the processor; and

(e) a Gametenna electrically coupled to the first and second external interfaces.

15. The wireless telephone of claim 14 wherein the Gametenna comprises:

(e1) an antenna electrically coupled to the first external interface for receiving and transmitting wireless signals; and

(e2) a memory device physically coupled to the antenna and electrically coupled to the second external interface.

16. The wireless telephone of claim 15 wherein the memory device includes instructions which are used by the processor of the wireless telephone to play a game.

17. The wireless telephone of claim 15 wherein the antenna comprises a plurality of extendable interlocking hollow metallic cylindrical elements and the memory device is mounted inside at least one of the hollow elements.

18. The wireless telephone of claim 15 wherein the memory device is mounted on an external surface of the antenna.

19. The wireless telephone of claim 15 wherein the second interface electrically couples the memory device to the processor of the wireless telephone for providing the processor with access to data stored in the memory device.

20. The wireless telephone of claim 19 wherein the data is used by the wireless telephone to activate software stored in a memory within the wireless telephone.