Mobile communication device, in particular in the form of a mobile telephone

• US 7,912,500 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2006
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Maschke, Janina, Maschke, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Safaipour; Bobbak
• Application Number:
  US11/416,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20060252458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,785 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/410, 455/411, 455/445, 455/518, 455/11.1, 455/514, 455/556.1, 446/268, 463/42, 463/1, 463 30- 31, 463/35, 463/36, 463/39
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/021 Electronic training devices specially adapted for dogs or cats
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/695 Imported photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8058 Virtual breeding, e.g. tamagotchi
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6775 by providing access to preprogrammed keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile communication device, in particular in the form of a mobile telephone, with a computer device for simulating a virtual living being in respect of the development of said living being, with a display device for outputting the development status of the virtual living being and with an input device for controlling the development of the virtual living being.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a computer device for simulating a development of a virtual living being;

an input device for controlling the development of the virtual living being;

a display device for outputting a development status of the virtual living being; and

an integrated digital camera for photographing an object that is accessible to the virtual living being as a virtual object to influence the development of the virtual living being,

wherein a communication function of the mobile communication device is restricted on to accepting incoming calls and receiving messages and to dialing-up certain pre-definable telephone numbers for preventing undesired communication functions when the mobile communication device is given to a child by parents,

wherein the restriction of the mobile communication device is only changed or lifted by entering a password which is only known to the parents,

wherein the development status of the virtual living being is output by an animated image and an acoustic sound produced by a loudspeaker, or

wherein the development status of the virtual living being is output by bar charts each bar chart representing development progress, state of health, and stress load, and

wherein the mobile communication device is configure to switch between the two different outputs of the development status of the virtual living being.

2. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display device is used to display communication relevant information.

3. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the display device is used for graphic display of the virtual living being.

4. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the display device is used for graphic display of the development status of the virtual living being.

5. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the input device is also used for a control of a communication function of the mobile communication device.

6. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the input device is a keypad.

7. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a provision is made for pausing a simulation when there is an incoming call.

8. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the virtual living being is a virtual plant.

9. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the virtual living being is a virtual animal.

10. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the virtual living being is a virtual person.

11. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the virtual living being is simulated as a mobile communication device user figure and instructions for helping the mobile communication device user figure in a daily routine are displayed on the display device.

12. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the virtual living being is simulated as a mobile communication device user figure and a carer robot for supporting the mobile communication device user figure in daily routine with carer activities is controlled via an interface in stead of controlling the virtual living being.

13. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the virtual living being is transmitted directly to the mobile communication device via a communication link.

14. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the communication link is within a communication network accessible to the mobile communication device.

15. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the virtual living being interacts with a further virtual living being simulated by a further communication device via a communication link.

16. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the virtual living being is a part of a virtual world that is simulated on a computer with a plurality of virtual living beings who interact with the virtual living being simulated by the mobile communication device via a communication link.

17. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a robot corresponding to the virtual living being is controlled and moved on a floor space via an interface by the mobile communication device for an corresponding behavior of the virtual living being.

18. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device is a mobile telephone.