Mobile terminal, control method for mobile terminal, and program

• US 9,636,575 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2014
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Neilo Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neilo Inc.
• Inventors: Hirai, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Pierce, Damon
• Application Number:
  US14/894,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20160107081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/422 automatically for the purpose of assisting the player, e.g. automatic braking in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5255 according to dedicated instructions from a player, e.g. using a secondary joystick to rotate the camera around a player's character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands

Abstract

A mobile terminal, a control method for mobile terminal, and a program that make it possible to enjoy a game even in a situation in which only one hand can be used. A mobile terminal according to the invention is a mobile terminal used in a game. The mobile terminal according to the invention includes a detection unit configured to detect an orientation of the mobile terminal and a control unit configured to change over a manipulation mode of a game depending upon the orientation of the mobile terminal detected by the detection unit.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal that provides a real-time gaming environment of a game, the mobile terminal comprising:

a casing with a longitudinally long rectangular shape;

a display that is provided on the casing and that displays the game environment;

a detection unit configured to detect an orientation of the mobile terminal; and

a processor programmed to;

change a manipulation mode of the game based on the orientation of the mobile terminal detected by the detection unit, wherein;

the detected orientation of the mobile terminal indicates that the mobile terminal is longitudinally oriented or laterally oriented, and

the changing of the manipulation mode of the game by the processor includes setting the manipulation mode of the game to;

a first manipulation mode that causes the real-time gaming environment to be manipulated automatically or semi-automatically, when the detected orientation of the mobile terminal indicates that the mobile terminal is longitudinally oriented, and

a second manipulation mode that causes the real-time gaming environment to be manipulated manually, when the detected orientation of the mobile terminal indicates that the mobile terminal is laterally oriented.

2. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a manipulation button that accepts a manipulation conducted by a user to make a function of the detection unit effective.

3. The mobile terminal according to claim 2, wherein the manipulation button is displayed on the display.

4. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

when the first manipulation mode is set as the manipulation mode of the game, and a predetermined situation occurs, automatically perform at least one game operation of the game that is not automatically performed by the processor when the same predetermined situation occurs while the second manipulation mode is set as the manipulation mode of the game.

5. A control method for a mobile terminal that provides a real-time gaming environment of game, the control method comprising:

detecting an orientation of the mobile terminal; and

changing a manipulation mode of the game based on the detected orientation of the mobile terminal, wherein

the detected orientation of the mobile terminal indicates that the mobile terminal is longitudinally oriented or laterally oriented, and

the step of changing of the manipulation mode includes setting the manipulation mode of the game to;

a first manipulation mode that causes the real-time gaming environment to be manipulated automatically or semi-automatically, when the detected orientation of the mobile terminal indicates that the mobile terminal is longitudinally oriented, and

a second manipulation mode that causes the real-time gaming environment to be manipulated manually, when the detected orientation of the mobile terminal indicates that the mobile terminal is laterally oriented.

6. The control method for the mobile terminal according to claim 5, further comprising accepting a manipulation conducted by a user that makes a function of detecting the orientation of the mobile terminal effective, wherein in a case where the manipulation conducted to make the function of detecting the orientation of the mobile terminal effective is accepted, the manipulation mode of the game is changed based on the detected orientation of the mobile terminal.

7. The control method for the mobile terminal according to claim 5, further comprising:

when the first manipulation mode is set as the manipulation mode of the game, and a predetermined situation occurs, automatically performing at least one game operation of the game that is not automatically performed when the same predetermined situation occurs while the second manipulation mode is set as the manipulation mode of the game.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores a program that, when executed by a mobile terminal causes the mobile terminal to:

detect an orientation of the mobile terminal; and

change a manipulation mode of a game based on the detected orientation of the mobile terminal, wherein

the detected orientation of the mobile terminal indicates that the mobile terminal is longitudinally oriented or laterally oriented, and

the changing of the manipulation mode of the game by the processor includes setting the manipulation mode of the game to;

a first manipulation mode that causes a real-time gaming environment of the game to be manipulated automatically or semi-automatically, when the detected orientation of the mobile terminal indicates that the mobile terminal is longitudinally oriented, and

a second manipulation mode that causes the real-time gaming environment to be manipulated manually, when the detected orientation of the mobile terminal indicates that the mobile terminal is laterally oriented.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 8, wherein the program is further configured to, when executed by the mobile terminal, cause the mobile terminal to accept a manipulation conducted by a user to make a function of the detection unit effective.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 8, wherein the program is further configured to, when executed by the mobile terminal, cause the mobile terminal to:

when the first manipulation mode is set as the manipulation mode of the game, and a predetermined situation occurs, automatically perform at least one game operation of the game that is not automatically performed when the same predetermined situation occurs while the second manipulation mode is set as the manipulation mode of the game.