Method and apparatus for simulating game accessories

• US 8,012,024 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2005
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mind Fusion, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: New Illuminations, LLC
• Inventors: Wolinsky, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau; Ronald
• Assistant Examiner(s): MYHR, JUSTIN L
• Application Number:
  US11/249,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20060073895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,155 Days
• Field of Search: 463 1- 42, 446/141, 446/142, 379/93.13, 379/88.19
• US Class Current: 463/41
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/537 for exchanging game data using a messaging service, e.g. e-mail, SMS, MMS
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for simultaneously indicating, on each of a plurality of communication terminals, instructions transmitted by each terminal and the identity of the respective terminals that transmitted the instructions. Such a feature can be used to indicate the moves of parties playing a game over a telephone line. Once a communications link is established between two or more parties, their terminals are placed in a game mode which activates inband signal detection and player identification circuitry located within the terminals. Multi-colored indicators and player identification displays at each terminal are activated, their color being dependent upon the source of received instructions. In one embodiment, player identification indicators may be incorporated into a touch tone keypad located on the terminals. The keypad'"'"'s touch tone keys are modified such that each key has two or more color coded indicators incorporated within, each color representing a particular player'"'"'s move.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a phone number associated with a communication terminal, wherein the means for receiving comprises a plurality of keys, and wherein each of the plurality of keys comprises an indicator of a first color and an indicator of a second color;

means for entering into a game with the communication terminal, wherein the means for entering is configured to enter into the game with the communication terminal in response to the phone number associated with the communication terminal being received by the means for receiving;

means for displaying an identifier of the apparatus in the first color and for displaying an identifier of the communication terminal in the second color; and

means for selectively illuminating the indicators of the plurality of keys to selectively indicate the first or second color, wherein the indication of the first color corresponds to a game move by the apparatus and the indication of the second color corresponds to a game move by the communication terminal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for establishing a communications link between said apparatus and said communication terminal; and

means for activating, at said communication terminal and at said apparatus, a game mode to play a game between a first player associated with said first apparatus and a second player associated with said communication terminal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one key of the plurality of keys is further configured to display a game piece for the game.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one key of the plurality of keys is further configured to display game information in either the first color or the second color.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is configured to permit set up and play of a game without substantially interfering with an ongoing conversation over said communications link.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

a keypad comprising a plurality of keys, wherein the keypad is configured to receive user input, wherein each of the plurality of keys comprises an indicator of a first color and an indicator of a second color;

a transceiver configured to establish a communication channel with a remote device in response to a phone number associated with the remote device being received by the keypad as the user input, wherein the apparatus is configured to enter into a game with the remote device via the communication channel; and

a display configured to display an identifier of the apparatus in the first color and to display an identifier of the remote device in the second color;

wherein the plurality of keys are configured to selectively illuminate the indicators of the first color and the indicators of the second color, wherein the indication of the first color corresponds to a game move by the apparatus and the indication of the second color corresponds to a game move by the remote device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of keys is further configured to display game pieces in either the first color or the second color.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the keypad is configured to display a gameboard for the game.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least one plurality of keys is configured to flash in the second color when it is the remote device'"'"'s turn to move in the game.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus is configured to permit set up and play of a game without substantially interfering with an ongoing conversation over said communications link.

11. A tangible computer readable storage medium including instructions executable by a computing device, the tangible computer readable storage medium integrated within a housing of a mobile device, the instructions comprising:

instructions to establish a game with a remote device via a communications channel in response to a phone number associated with the remote device being entered into a keypad of the mobile device, wherein the keypad comprises a plurality of keys, and wherein each of the plurality of keys comprises an indicator of a first color and an indicator of a second color;

instructions to selectively illuminate the indicators of the plurality of keys to selectively indicate the first or second color, wherein the indication of the first color corresponds to a game move by the mobile device and the indication of the second color corresponds to a game move by the remote device;

instructions to display, using a display of the mobile device, an identifier of the mobile device in the first color and to display an identifier of the remote device in the second color;

instructions to receive, by the keypad, user input for the game; and

instructions to send game information to the remote device via the established communications channel.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, the instructions further comprising:

instructions to generate dual tone multiple frequency signals in response to receiving user input via the keypad.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions to selectively illuminate the indicators further comprise:

instructions to illuminate the plurality of keys to generate game pieces.