Memory cartridge for a handheld electronic video game

• US 5,646,629 A
• Filed: 05/16/1994
• Issued: 07/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Loomis, Peter Van Wyck, Farmer, Dominic G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, Theodore M.
• Application Number:
  US08/243,211
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357, 342/389, 340/990, 340/995
• US Class Current: 701/300
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/045 Receivers

Abstract

An apparatus combining a handheld, electronic video game device, a location determination receiver, an electronic map and/or electronic yellow pages, and geocoding. The apparatus provides a user with his location and locations of map features and/or yellow page addresses proximate to his location. The handheld, electronic video game display displays the user'"'"'s location and a map and/or yellow pages and hosts a memory cartridge that includes software for a user interface, for maps and/or yellow pages database, and for geocoding. The apparatus benefits from the high manufacturing and sales volumes of existing handheld games devices.

Claims

1. A handheld game playing apparatus which receives removable game cartridges and operates only with removable game cartridges having predetermined security keys comprising:

a display;

a global positioning satellite receiver;

a removable game cartridge having a predetermined security key and operating instructions;

a game port for receiving the removable game cartridge;

a port for receiving information from the global positioning satellite receiver; and

a processing system including;

(1) means for controlling the display;

(2) means for operating in accordance with the operating instructions from the removable game cartridge, the operating instructions including instructions for receiving information from the global positioning satellite receiver and displaying a representation of a location on the display based on the information; and

(3) means for verifying the predetermined security key and for activating the means for operating only if the predetermined security key has been verified.

2. The handheld game playing apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the removable game cartridge further comprises a database of predetermined location information; and

the processing system further comprises means for displaying representations of the predetermined locations on the displays when the predetermined locations are proximate the location based on the global positioning satellite information.

3. The handheld game playing apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the removable game cartridge further comprises a database of predetermined map feature information; and

the processing system further comprises means for displaying map features on the display when the map features are proximate the location based on the global positioning satellite information.