Offline Progress of console game via portable device

• US 9,421,460 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2010
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Zhu, Yunpeng, Osman, Steven, Stafford, Jeffrey Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Deodhar, Omkar
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Wei
• Application Number:
  US12/873,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20120052954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,184 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 23, 463 25- 33, 463 39- 43, 463/9, 273/138.1, 273/139, 273/138.2, 273/141.A, 273454-456, 273/460, 705 56- 57, 705/64, 705/67, 705/72, 705 74- 75, 705 78- 79, 709203-207, 709/FOR.113, 713/1, 713/100, 713/150, 713/155, 713/170, 713/176, 713182-184, 713186-189, 713/300, 713/375, 713/400, 713/500, 713/600, 902 2- 5, 902/23, 902/38, 902/40
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• 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 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/49 Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/538 for performing operations on behalf of the game client, e.g. rendering
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device

Abstract

Methods systems and computer programs method for playing a game using a portable device are presented. One method includes operations for establishing a connection between a portable device and a computing system executing a game, and for receiving a task at the portable device from the computing system. Further, the portable device is disconnected from the computing system allowing the task to be performed using the portable device independently from the computing system. The method includes interaction of a user with the portable device to receive at the portable device input from the user to perform the task. Once the task is performed, the portable device reports that the task has been performed to the computing system. As a result, the game being executed in the computing system progresses after the portable device reports that the task has been performed.

Claims

1. A computer program embedded in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, when executed by one or more processors, for playing a game using a portable device, the computer program comprising:

program instructions for establishing a connection between a portable device and a computing system executing a game;

program instructions for receiving a task at the portable device from the computing system after establishing the connection, the task being a game-related task to progress in the game, wherein the task is configured to be performed at a remote location away from the computing system, the remote location away from the computing system being defined in the task, wherein the task includes taking simultaneous pictures with the portable device of areas in front and behind the portable device using two separate cameras;

program instructions for disconnecting the portable device from the computing system, wherein the task is defined to be performed using the portable device while the portable device is disconnected from the computing system;

program instructions for receiving user input at the portable device to perform the task while the portable device is disconnected, the task being completed when the input is received while the portable device is in the remote location away from the computing system;

program instructions for saving information at the portable device regarding the completed task; and

program instructions for reporting by the portable device that the task has been completed to the computing system after the connection is re-established, wherein the game being executed in the computing system progresses after the portable device reports that the task has been completed.

2. The computer program as recited in claim 1, wherein the task includes taking a picture with the portable device of an item selected from a group consisting of a shape, a person, a building, a color, a bar code, a CyberCode, and an infrared marker.

3. The computer program as recited in claim 1, wherein the task includes performing an action with the portable device when the portable device is at a specific geographic location designated by the task.

4. The computer program as recited in claim 1, wherein the task includes carrying the portable device to a specific geographic location designated by the task.

5. The computer program as recited in claim 1, wherein the task includes successfully completing a different game at the portable device.

6. The computer program as recited in claim 1, wherein the task includes capturing a sound with the portable device at the remote location.

7. The computer program as recited in claim 1, wherein the task includes linking a plurality of portable devices together simultaneously.