METHOD AND APPARATUS USING INSERTABLY-REMOVABLE AUXILIARY DEVICES TO PLAY GAMES OVER A COMMUNICATIONS LINK

• US 20080020843A1
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: New Illuminations, LLC
• Original Assignee: New Illuminations, LLC
• Inventors: Wolinsky, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,951,007 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/41
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• 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 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations

Abstract

A method and apparatus that identifies and safely couples an insertably-removable auxiliary device (IRAD) to a processor so that games can be played over a communications link without damaging the IRAD or the processor. An auxiliary connector, into which the IRAD is inserted, is not connected to the processor until after the identity of the IRAD is determined. The processor resides in a communications device, such as a wireless telephone, walkie-talkie, toy, or the like. Upon the activation of an auxiliary mode, a user is prompted to insert an IRAD into the auxiliary connector. An IRAD used to play a game can be an auxiliary keypad, an auxiliary processor, an auxiliary display, a supplemental program module that stores computer-readable code, an electronic board game, an auxiliary graphical user interface (GUI) (e.g., auxiliary steering wheel, auxiliary joystick, virtual reality viewer), or a headset including a microphone and speaker.

Claims

1. An apparatus utilized by a game player to play a game with at least one other game player over a communication link, comprising:

a processor, wherein the processor is configured to process information for playing the game;

a wireless medium receiver; and

at least one connector, wherein the connector is mounted to the apparatus, and further wherein at least one connector is configured to receive through the wireless medium receiver the information for playing the game from an auxiliary device containing the information for playing the game.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a wireless telephone.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one connector is mounted to a surface of the apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a keypad, wherein the keypad is utilized to establish the communication link.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a keypad, wherein the keypad is utilized to dial a telephone number to establish the communication link.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a gateway circuit, wherein the gateway circuit is linked to at least one connector and to the processor, wherein the gateway circuit links at least one connector to the processor subsequent to identification of the game contained in the auxiliary device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an auxiliary device identification sensor, wherein the auxiliary device identification sensor is coupled to at least one connector and to the processor, and further wherein the auxiliary device identification sensor is configured to identify the game contained in the auxiliary device.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

an auxiliary device identification sensor, wherein the auxiliary device identification sensor is coupled to the gateway circuit, and further wherein the auxiliary device identification sensor is configured to generate the identification of the game contained in the auxiliary device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one connector comprises:

at least one first connector, wherein the at least one first connector facilitates a connection for obtaining game information; and

at least one second connector, wherein the at least one second connector facilitates a connection for obtaining game identification information.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary device comprises a keypad.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary device comprises an auxiliary processor.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary device is comprises a display device for use in viewing information regarding the game.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary device comprises a storage medium for storing computer-readable information, wherein the computer-readable information contains the information for playing the game.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary device comprises an electronic game board.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary device comprises a graphical user interface.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary device comprises a headset, wherein the headset comprises:

a microphone; and

a speaker.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the game is tic-tac-toe.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the game is checkers.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the game is chess.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the game is battleship.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one connector comprises a plurality of connectors, wherein each connector of the plurality of connectors is capable of receiving an insertably removable auxiliary device.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

the auxiliary device.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary device comprises at least one of a joystick, a steering wheel, a virtual reality viewer, and a control device.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus automatically prompts the game player to couple a particular auxiliary device to the at least one connector in response to the apparatus receiving information over the communication link from a second apparatus which has identified an insertably removable auxiliary device being utilized in the second apparatus.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a display for displaying at least one of game information and information utilized for establishing the communication link.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is connected to at least one of a set-top box, a television, and a video player/recorder.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the game player is remotely located from the at least one other game player.

27. An apparatus utilized by a game player to play a game with at least one other game player over a communication link, comprising:

a processor, wherein the processor is configured to process information for playing the game;

a connector, wherein the connector is mounted to the apparatus;

an insertably removable auxiliary device, wherein the insertably removable auxiliary device contains information utilized to play the game; and

means for coupling via a wireless medium the insertably removable auxiliary device to the connector.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the apparatus is a wireless telephone.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the apparatus is connected to at least one of a set-top box, a television, and a video player/recorder.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

a gateway circuit, wherein the gateway circuit couples the processor to the connector subsequent to coupling of the insertably removable auxiliary device to the connector and subsequent to identification of the game stored in the insertably removable auxiliary device.