Mobile communications apparatus adapted for executing computer game programs

• US 6,650,892 B1
• Filed: 02/24/1998
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Solaic
• Original Assignee: Solaic
• Inventors: Thiriet, Fabien
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZEWDU, MELESS NMN
• Application Number:
  US09/028,706
• Time in Patent Office: 2,093 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550, 455/551, 455/556, 455/557, 455/558, 455/575, 455/413-420, 455/466, 455/425, 455/550.1, 273/236, 273/292, 273/293, 273/237, 273/269, 273/143, 273/148.B, 273/148.R, 235/380, 463/40-42, 463/25-29, 463/9-12, 463/16-20, 463/36-39, 463/43, 463/44
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• 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: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations

Abstract

A mobile apparatus includes a cellular telephone and a subscriber identification module (“SIM”). SIMs include an interpreter written in a computer language. A game program, which is written in the same computer language, is loaded into the memory of the SIM and is interpreted by the SIM'"'"'s interpreter. The game program is then executed by the cellular telephone so that the game can be played.

Claims

1. A method of using a mobile apparatus (ME) having a screen, a keyboard and a loudspeaker, the mobile apparatus being provided with a subscriber identification module (SIM) including an interpreter of programs written in a computer language, the mobile apparatus being part of a telecommunications network managed by an operator, the method comprising the steps of:

loading a game program written in the computer language into a memory of the subscriber identification module and storing the program therein;

interpreting the game program using the interpreter of the subscriber identification module; and

executing the game program, which was interpreted by the interpreter of the subscriber identification module, with resources located in the mobile apparatus and wherein said resources do not include the resources of the subscriber identification module, so that the game can be played even if the mobile apparatus is off-line with respect to the telecommunication network.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting the game program by base station (BTS) from the network to the mobile apparatus (ME).

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of loading the game program into the memory of the subscriber identification module is carried out during a customization operation for said module.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the network is a GSM network.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile apparatus (ME) is a mobile telephone.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the subscriber identification module is in a card format.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the computer language is a Java language and the interpreter is a Java interpreter.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of a subscriber introducing his subscriber identification module (SIM) into the mobile apparatus, and the subscriber enters an identification number with the keyboard of the mobile apparatus.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of the subscriber giving a game instruction to the keyboard of the mobile apparatus in order to execute the game program.

10. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of the operator enabling the game program to be loaded into the subscriber identification module when the subscriber has used the services offered by the operator a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined period of time.

11. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of the operator enabling the game program to be loaded into the memory of the subscriber identification module when said subscriber has used a predetermined number of telephone units.

12. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of indicating with the mobile telephone that the game program is loaded into the memory of the subscriber identification module.

13. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of controlling the mobile apparatus so that the game is played off-line.