Device with game-dependent user interface, method, game module and computer program product therefor

• US 7,812,814 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Foxenland, Eral
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu; Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rainey; Robert R
• Application Number:
  US10/587,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20080030455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,112 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 715/765, 715/866, 715/864, 463/29
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/49 Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/209 characterized by low level software layer, relating to hardware management, e.g. Operating System, Application Programming Interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/537 for exchanging game data using a messaging service, e.g. e-mail, SMS, MMS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/554 by saving game or status data
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6027 : using adaptive systems learning from user actions, e.g. for skill level adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 : Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 : involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 : for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 : Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 : Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 : Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 : for supporting games or graphical animations

Abstract

A device is provided with a user interface, a control unit for controlling the operations of the device including changeable parameters of the user interface, and a game platform for running a game. The control unit is configured to change parameters of the user interface based on events occurring in the game.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a user interface;

a control unit for controlling operations of the device including changeable parameters of the user interface;

and a game platform for running a game, wherein the control unit is configured to change the parameters of the user interface associated with operation of the device outside a game session whenever the parameters of the user interface associated with operation of the device within the game session in the game change based on events occurring in the game.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein themes with changeable parameters are defined for the user interface and at least one of the themes is associated with the game.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein different parameters of one of the themes are associated with different levels of the game.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the themes is associated with each level of the game.

5. A device according to claim 2 wherein the device is configured to save a changed user interface theme in a format that may be transmitted with a message to another device.

6. A device according to claim 2 wherein said theme includes a set of picture settings comprising picture parameters such as colour, contrast, light intensity;

picture objects;

animation effects and bitmap shapes;

sound settings comprising sound parameters;

sound objects vibration settings comprising vibration parameters, said theme being associated with operations of the device.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein different parameters are associated with different scores of the game.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein the device is configured to save a game score in a format that may be transmitted with a message to another device.

9. A device according to claim 1 wherein the control unit is configured to change parameters of the user interface when the game is interrupted.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the control unit is configured to change parameters automatically when a user exits the game.

11. A device according to claim 9, wherein the control unit is configured to change parameters by a user command.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to be locked by a user command to stop future changes of the parameters of the user interface.

13. A device according to claim 1 wherein the user interface comprises a display for showing information related to the operations of the device by means of a graphical interface of the display.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the user interface comprises a sound system.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the user interface comprises a vibration element.

16. A device according to claim 1 wherein the device is a portable telephone, a pager, a communicator, a smart phone, an electronic organiser, a calculator or a positioning device.

17. A method for providing a changeable user interface in a device including a user interface, a control unit for controlling the operations of the device including changeable parameters of the user interface, and a game platform for running a game comprising:

receiving game related data from the game at the control unit; and

changing parameters of the user interface associated with operation of the device outside a game session whenever the parameters of the user interface associated with operation of the device within the game session changes based on events occurring during the game session.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising:

defining themes with changeable parameters for the user interface; and

associating at least one theme with the game.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein different parameters of one of the themes are associated with different levels of the game.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the themes is associated with each level of the game.

21. A method according to claim 18 further comprising:

saving a changed user interface theme in a format that may be transmitted with a message to another device.

22. A method according to claim 18, wherein said theme includes a set of picture settings comprising picture parameters such as colour, contrast, light intensity;

picture objects;

animation effects and bitmap shapes;

sound settings comprising sound parameters;

sound objects;

vibration settings comprising vibration parameters, said theme being associated with operations of the device.

23. A method according to claim 17, wherein different parameters are associated with different scores of the game.

24. A method according to claim 23, further comprising:

saving a game score achieved in a format that may be transmitted with a message to another device.

25. A method according to claim 17 further comprising:

changing of the user interface when the game is interrupted.

26. A method according to claim 25, further comprising:

automatically changing parameters of the user interface when the user exits the game.

27. A method according to claim 25, further comprising:

changing parameters of the user interface by a user command.

28. A method according to claim 27, further comprising:

locking the control unit by a user command to stop future changes of the parameters of the user interface.

29. A computer program product loadable in a device and comprising a computer readable medium having computer readable program code stored thereon for implementing a game module when the computer readable program code is run on the device, the game module comprising a user interface, a control unit for controlling operations of the device including changeable parameters of the user interface, and a game platform for receiving and running a game associated with said game module, further comprising game related data comprising the changeable parameters of the user interface associated with operation of the device within a game session, wherein the game module comprises:

transmission means for transmitting game related data from the game to the control unit; and

means for causing the control unit to change parameters of the user interface associated with operation of the device outside the game session whenever the parameters of the user interface associated with operation of the device within the game session change based on events occurring in the game.

30. A computer program product according to claim 29, wherein themes with changeable parameters are defined for the user interface and at least one of the themes is associated with the game.

31. A computer program product according to claim 30, wherein different parameters of one of the themes are associated with different levels of the game.

32. A computer program product according to claim 30, wherein at least one of the themes is associated with each level of the game.

33. A computer program product according to claim 29, wherein different parameters are associated with different scores of the game.

34. A computer program product according to claim 29, wherein the game module is configured to command a change of parameters of the user interface when the game is interrupted.

35. A computer program product according to claim 29, wherein said theme includes a set of picture settings comprising picture parameters such as colour, contrast, light intensity;

picture objects;

animation effects and bitmap shapes;

sound settings comprising sound parameters;

sound objects;

vibration settings comprising vibration parameters, said theme being associated with operations of the device.