Multi-mode mobile communication device with motion sensor and methods for use therewith

• US 8,160,640 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2008
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza Reza, Rofougaran, Maryam, Seshadri, Nambirajan, Ibrahim, Brima B., Walley, John, Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eisner, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US12/131,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20080318626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,415 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42, 455/556.1, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/403, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/414.2
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/573 using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/003 Bistatic radar systems; Multistatic radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/426 Scanning radar, e.g. 3D radar G01S13/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/723 by using numerical data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/412 based on a comparison between measured values and known or stored values
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

A mobile communication device includes a motion sensor for generating motion signals in response to motion of the mobile communication device. A motion data generation module generates motion data based on the motion signals. At least one transceiver sends the motion data to a game device in a gaming mode of operation and transceives wireless telephony data with a wireless telephony network in a telephony mode of operation.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

a motion sensor for generating motion signals in response to motion of the mobile communication device;

a motion data generation module, coupled to the motion sensor, that generates motion data based on the motion signals; and

at least one transceiver, coupled to the motion data generation module, that sends the motion data to a game device in a gaming mode of operation and that transceives wireless telephony data with a wireless telephony network in a telephony mode of operation that is different from the gaming mode of operation, wherein the at least one transceiver includes a first transceiver that operates in accordance with a first wireless protocol in the gaming mode of operation and a second transceiver that operates contemporaneously in accordance with a second wireless protocol in the telephony mode of operation.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein the motion sensor includes at least one of:

an accelerometer and an on-chip gyrator.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 1 further comprising;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that receives a GPS signal and that generates GPS position data based on the GPS signal;

wherein the at least one transceiver further sends at least a portion of the GPS position data to the game device in the gaming mode of operation.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 1 further comprising;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that receives a GPS signal and that generates GPS position data based on the GPS signal;

wherein the motion data generation module generates the motion data based on the GPS position data.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 4 wherein the motion data generation module generates the motion data based on a motion vector that is based on the motion signals and further based on a reference position based on the GPS position data.

6. The mobile communication device of claim 1 further comprising;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that receives a GPS signal and that generates GPS position data based on the GPS signal and based on the motion data.

8. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein the remote motion sensor includes at least one of:

an accelerometer, an RFID tag, and an on-chip gyrator.

20. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein the at least one transceiver operates at a first transmit power in the gaming mode of operation and a second transmit power in the telephony mode of operation and wherein the first transmit power is less than the second transmit power.

7. A mobile communication device comprising:

a first receiver that receives motion signals from at least one remote motion sensing device;

a motion data generation module, coupled to the first receiver, that generates motion data based on the motion signals;

at least one transceiver, coupled to the motion data generation module, that;

sends the motion data to a game device in a gaming mode of operation; and

transceives wireless telephony data with a wireless telephony network in a telephony mode of operation that is different from the gaming mode of operation; and

a second receiver that receives a global positioning system (GPS) signal and that generates GPS position data based on the GPS signal;

wherein the at least one transceiver further sends at least a portion of the GPS position data to the game device in the gaming mode of operation, wherein the at least one transceiver includes a first transceiver that operates in accordance with a first wireless protocol in the gaming mode of operation and a second transceiver that operates contemporaneously in accordance with a second wireless protocol in the telephony mode of operation.

9. The mobile communication device of claim 7

wherein the motion data generation module generates the motion data based on the GPS position data.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 9 wherein the motion data generation module generates the motion data based on a motion vector that is based on the motion signals and further based on a reference position based on the GPS position data.

11. A method for use in a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

generating motion signals in response to motion of the mobile communication device;

generating motion data based on the motion signals;

sending the motion data to a game device in a gaming mode of operation of the mobile communication device; and

transceiving wireless telephony data with a wireless telephony network in a telephony mode of operation of the mobile communication device that is different from the gaming mode of operation, wherein the at least one transceiver includes a first transceiver that operates in accordance with a first wireless protocol in the gaming mode of operation and a second transceiver that operates contemporaneously in accordance with a second wireless protocol in the telephony mode of operation.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising;

receiving a global positioning system (GPS) signal;

generating GPS position data based on the GPS signal;

sending at least a portion of the GPS position data to the game device in the gaming mode of operation.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising;

receiving a global positioning system (GPS) signal; and

generating GPS position data based on the GPS signal;

wherein the motion data is generated based on the GPS position data.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the motion data is generated based on a motion vector that is based on the motion signals and further based on a reference position based on the GPS position data.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising;

receiving a global positioning system (GPS) signal; and

generating GPS position data based on the GPS signal and based on the motion data.

16. A method for use in a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

receiving motion signals from at least one remote motion sensing device;

generating motion data based on the motion signals;

sending the motion data to a game device in a gaming mode of operation of the mobile communication device;

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transceiving wireless telephony data with a wireless telephony network in a telephony mode of operation of the mobile communication device that is different from the gaming mode of operation;

receiving a global positioning system (GPS) signal via a receiver included in mobile communication device;

generating GPS position data based on the GPS signal; and

sending at least a portion of the GPS position data to the game device in the gaming mode of operation, wherein the at least one transceiver includes a first transceiver that operates in accordance with a first wireless protocol in the gaming mode of operation and a second transceiver that operates contemporaneously in accordance with a second wireless protocol in the telephony mode of operation.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the motion data is generated based on the GPS position data.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the motion data is generated based on a motion vector that is based on the motion signals and further based on a reference position based on the GPS position data.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the motion signals are received from a plurality of remote sensors at a plurality of corresponding locations.