PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING MOBILE COMMUNICATION CAPABILITY

• US 20140228116A1
• Filed: 04/17/2014
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: ECK, Charles P., KAMADA, Hiroshi, COMAIR, Claude
• Granted Patent: US 10,220,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• 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 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• 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 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games

Abstract

An example portable electronic device includes user controls; a display; a camera configured to capture images; wireless communication circuitry for mobile wireless communications; and a processing system configured to control the display to display images captured by the camera. An image displayed on the display is stored in memory in response to an input to the user controls, and the wireless communication circuitry, under control of the processing system, transmits the image stored in the memory while the processing system executes a program.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

user controls;

a display;

a camera configured to capture images;

wireless communication circuitry for mobile wireless communications; and

a processing system configured to control the display to display images captured by the camera,

wherein an image displayed on the display is stored in memory in response to an input to the user controls, and the wireless communication circuitry, under control of the processing system, transmits the image stored in the memory while the processing system executes a program.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the program executed by the processing system comprises a game program.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured for communication with one or more base stations.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication circuitry further transmits sound data.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the camera is configured to allow for capturing images on a rearward-side of the device.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the camera is configured to allow for capturing image on a rearward-side or a frontward-side of the device.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processing system controls the display to display an on-screen keyboard.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the image is transmitted to a recipient selected from an address book.

9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

external memory for storing an image captured by the camera.

10. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a speaker.

11. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an earphone jack.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication circuitry, under control of the processing system, receives an image from another apparatus.

13. The device according to claim 12, farther comprising:

notification circuitry for providing notification of a received image.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the notification circuitry provides aural notification.

15. The device according to claim 13, wherein the notification circuitry provides tactile notification.

16. The device according to claim 13, wherein the notification circuitry is configured to be selectively enabled/disabled.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is password protected.

18. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a connector for connecting to a removable memory device.

19. The device according to claim 1, wherein the image is compressed prior to transmitting by the wireless communication circuitry.

20. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processing system controls the display to display a signal strength meter.

21. A portable electronic device comprising:

user controls;

a display;

a camera configured to capture images;

wireless communication circuitry for mobile wireless communications; and

a processing system configured to control the portable electronic device, the processing system control the display to display an on-screen keyboard for composing a message addressed to a recipient selected from an address book and to display images captured by the camera,

wherein an image displayed on the display screen is stored in memory in response to a first predetermined input to the user controls, and the wireless communication circuitry, under control of the processing system, transmits the stored image in response to a second predetermined input to the user controls and transmits the message in response to a third predetermined input to the user controls.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein the processing system controls the display to display a list of one or more unread messages received via the wireless communication circuitry.

23. The device according to claim 21, wherein the processing system controls the display to display a list of one or more saved messages.

24. The device according to claim 23, wherein the saved messages are organized according to topic.

25. The device according to claim 21, wherein the processing system executes a program and controls the display to display images based on the executing.

26. The device according to claim 25, wherein, while the processing system executes the program, a visual indication is provided on the display when an incoming message is received.

27. The device according to claim 21, wherein the device is password protected.

28. The device according to claim 21, further comprising:

a connector for connecting to a removable memory device.

29. The device according to claim 21, wherein the image is compressed prior to transmitting by the wireless communication circuitry.

30. A portable electronic device comprising:

wireless communication circuitry for wireless mobile communication;

user controls;

a display;

a camera;

control circuitry configured to control the display to display images captured by the camera, to control the user interface to permit composing of an outgoing message, and to control the display to display a list incoming messages,

wherein an image displayed on the display is stored in memory in response to a first predetermined input to the user controls, and the wireless communication circuitry, under control of the control circuitry, transmits the image stored in the memory in response to a second predetermined input to the user controls and transmits the outgoing message in response to a third predetermined input to the user controls.

31. The device according to claim 30, further comprising:

a connector for connecting to a removable memory device.

32. The device according to claim 30, wherein the control circuitry controls the display to display a signal strength meter.

33. The device according to claim 30, wherein the control circuitry controls the display to display an on-screen keyboard for composing the outgoing message.

34. The device according to claim 30, further comprising:

notification circuitry for providing notification of an incoming message.

35. The device according to claim 34, wherein the notification circuitry provides aural notification of an incoming message.

36. The device according to claim 34, wherein the notification circuitry provides tactile notification of an incoming message.

37. The device according to claim 30, wherein the control circuitry controls the display screen to display a visual indication that an incoming message is received.

38. The device according to claim 37, wherein the visual indication is displayed while the control circuitry executes a program.

39. The device according to claim 30, wherein a recipient of the outgoing message is selected from an address book.

40. The device according to claim 30, wherein the outgoing message is composed using a library of stored message components.

41. The device according to claim 30, wherein the outgoing message is composed using a library of words.

42. The device according to claim 30, wherein the control circuitry controls the display to display saved messages.

43. The device according to claim 30, wherein the control circuitry provides an outgoing message alert based on message size.

44. The device according to claim 30, wherein the device is password protected.

45. The device according to claim 30, wherein the image is compressed prior to transmitting by the wireless communication circuitry.

46. A portable electronic device comprising:

a user interface configured to receive user inputs, the user interface including a touch-sensitive display;

a camera configured to capture images;

wireless communication circuitry for mobile wireless communications; and

a processing system configured to control the display to display images captured by the camera,

wherein an image displayed on the display is stored in memory in response to an input to the user interface, and the wireless communication circuitry, under control of the processing system, transmits the image stored in the memory while the processing system executes a program.