Mobile terminal, method for controlling games, and computer readable recording medium

• US 6,761,638 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2000
• Issued: 07/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Inventors: Narita, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): HOTALING, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US09/537,106
• Time in Patent Office: 1,567 Days
• Field of Search: 463/40-43, 463/1-5, 463/29
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/47 involving branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible scenarios at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• 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 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5566 by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/632 by branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible story developments at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1066 : Game playing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 : wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 : Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

Progression of a game executed at a mobile terminal is changed in response to the current location of the mobile terminal. A portable telephone set receives a control signal transmitted via radio from a base station controlling the radio area in which the portable telephone set is currently located. Then, the received control signal is demodulated to detect the base station ID code, which is in turn stored in an ID code storage area. The update processing of the base station ID code is successively carried out during the waiting time and a latest base station ID code is stored in the ID code storage area. Then, in the course of the progression of a game, enemy characters to combat, items to be generated, and the branching of the game scenario are controlled in accordance with the value of the base station ID code stored in the ID code storage area.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a branch point determination system that determines which branch point is reached during game progress;

a detector that detects a base station identification signal;

a storage that stores, for each branch point, a correspondence between branch scenarios and base station information; and

a progress system that progresses the game in accordance with a branch scenario selected based upon the base station identification signal and the determined branch point.

2. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the base station identification information is provided uniquely for each of a plurality of base stations with which the mobile terminal communicates.

3. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a character storage that stores a correspondence relationship between base station information and at least one game character, wherein

the progress system determines a game character to be displayed from the at least one game character stored in the character storage corresponding to the base station information to vary the progression of the game.

4. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, further comprising an item storage that stores a correspondence relationship between base station information and at least one item having an attribute for varying a game progression, wherein

the progress system determines an item to be displayed from the at least one item stored in the item storage corresponding to the base station information to vary the progression of the game.

5. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a data acquisition system that acquires programs and data of a game from another apparatus which can communicate with a plurality of base stations, wherein

the progress system allows the game to proceed in accordance with programs and data of the game, which the data acquisition system acquired.

6. A computer readable recording medium in which programs of a game to be executed on a mobile terminal are stored, the computer readable recording medium storing programs for allowing a computer:

to determine which branch point is reached during game progress;

to detect a base station identification signal;

to store, for each branch point, a correspondence between branch scenarios and base station information; and

to progress the game in accordance with a branch scenario selected based upon the base station identification signal and the determined branch point.

7. The computer program according to claim 6, wherein the base station identification information is provided uniquely for each of a plurality of base stations.

8. The computer program according to claim 6, wherein when the game proceeds, a game character to be displayed is determined from at least one previously stored game character corresponding to the base station information, to vary the progression of the game.

9. The computer program according to claim 6, wherein when the game proceeds, an item to be displayed is determined from at least one previously stored item corresponding to the base station information to vary the progression of the game, each item having an attribute for varying a game progression.

10. The computer program according to claim 6, wherein

before a game is allowed to proceed, programs and data of the game are acquired from one of a base station and another apparatus which can communicate with the base station, and

when the game proceeds, the game proceeds in accordance with the acquired programs and data of the game.