Portable electronic device having mobile communication capability

• US 10,220,307 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2014
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Eck, Charles P., Kamada, Hiroshi, Comair, Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Pandya, Sunit
• Application Number:
  US14/255,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20140228116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,783 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• 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 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games

Abstract

An example portable electronic device includes user controls; a display; a camera configured to capture images; wireless communication circuitry for mobile wireless communications; and a processing system configured to control the display to display images captured by the camera. An image displayed on the display is stored in memory in response to an input to the user controls, and the wireless communication circuitry, under control of the processing system, transmits the image stored in the memory while the processing system executes a program.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

user controls;

a display;

a camera configured to capture images;

wireless communication circuitry for mobile wireless communications; and

processing circuitry configured to control the display to display images captured by the camera,

wherein an image displayed on the display is stored in memory in response to an input to the user controls, and the wireless communication circuitry, under control of the processing circuitry, transmits the image stored in the memory, and

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to control the display to display message information indicating receipt of a message along with information generated by current execution of an application program, and

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to allow suspending executing of the application program to permit display of the received message and allow resuming executing of the application program subsequent to display of the received message.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the application program comprises a game program.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured for communication with one or more base stations.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication circuitry further transmits sound data.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the camera is configured to allow for capturing images on a rearward-side of the device.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the camera is configured to allow for capturing image on a rearward-side or a frontward-side of the device.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processing system controls the display to display an on-screen keyboard.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the image is transmitted to a recipient selected from an address book.

9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

external memory for storing an image captured by the camera.

10. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a speaker.

11. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an earphone jack.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is password protected.

13. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a connector for connecting to a removable memory device.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the image is compressed prior to transmitting by the wireless communication circuitry.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry controls the display to display a signal strength meter.

16. A portable electronic device comprising:

a user interface configured to receive user inputs, the user interface including a touch-sensitive display;

a camera configured to capture images;

wireless communication circuitry for mobile wireless communications; and

processing circuitry configured to control the display to display images captured by the camera,

wherein an image displayed on the display is stored in memory in response to an input to the user interface, and the wireless communication circuitry, under control of the processing system, transmits the image stored in the memory, and

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to control the display to display message information indicating receipt of a message along with information generated by current execution of an application program, and

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to allow suspending executing of the application program to permit display of the received message and allow resuming executing of the application program subsequent to display of the received message.