Method and arrangement for distributing, executing and consuming recreational applications in and between mobile telecommunication devices

• US 20010053691A1
• Filed: 06/14/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Harma, Esa
• Application Number:
  US09/881,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20010053691A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations

Abstract

A method and arrangements are provided for distributing a recreational application within a group of terminal arrangements (1101, 1102). The group comprises at least two terminal arrangements and each terminal arrangement comprises a terminal of a cellular radio system. Within the method, there is transmitted from a first terminal arrangement to a second terminal arrangement a proposal (104, 204, 704) for setting up a session of utilizing a recreational application. Only after the second terminal arrangement has received said proposal, one used (107, 108, 207, 208, 308, 408, 409, 508, 509, 510, 607, 608, 609, 610, 611, 707, 710, 711) the communicational capabilities of at least one of the first and second terminal arrangements to establish a state where both the first terminal arrangement and the second terminal arrangement possess enough software components (1103, 1104, 1105, 1106, 1205) for setting up a common, shared session of utilizing said recreational application.

Claims

1. A method for distributing a recreational application within a group of terminal arrangements, where the group comprises at least two terminal arrangements and each terminal arrangement comprises a terminal of a cellular radio system, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting from a first terminal arrangement to a second terminal arrangement a proposal for setting up a session of utilising a recreational application and

only after the second terminal arrangement has received said proposal, using the communicational capabilities of at least one of the first and second terminal arrangements to establish a state where both the first terminal arrangement and the second terminal arrangement possess enough software components for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application.

2. A method according to

claim 1

, comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting from the first terminal arrangement to the second terminal arrangement a proposal identifying a number of proposed recreational applications,

b) transmitting from the second terminal arrangement to the first terminal arrangement a request for obtaining a software component necessary for setting up a common, shared session of utilising one of said proposed recreational applications and

c) as a response to receiving said request in said first terminal arrangement, transmitting said software component from the first terminal arrangement to the second terminal arrangement.

3. A method according to

claim 2

, comprising, between steps a) and b), the step of presenting said number of proposed recreational applications to the user of the second terminal arrangement, so that step b) is only executed as a response to receiving from said user an indication of acceptance concerning one of said number of proposed recreational applications.

4. A method according to

claim 2

, wherein step c) comprises the substep of transmitting said software component from the first terminal arrangement to the second terminal arrangement through a local communication link.

5. A method according to

claim 2

, wherein step c) comprises the substep of transmitting said software component from the first terminal arrangement to the second terminal arrangement through the cellular radio system.

6. A method according to

claim 2

, comprising after step c) the steps of:

d) transmitting from the second terminal arrangement to the first terminal arrangement an acknowledgement indicating the reception of said software component and

e) after step d), indicating to the users of the first and second terminal arrangements the readiness of utilising the recreational application.

7. A method according to

claim 1

, comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting from the first terminal arrangement to the second terminal arrangement a proposal identifying a number of proposed recreational applications,

b) transmitting from the second terminal arrangement to a recreational application server a request for obtaining a software component necessary for setting up a common, shared session of utilising one of said proposed recreational applications and

c) as a response to receiving said request in said recreational application server, transmitting said software component from said recreational application server to the second terminal arrangement.

8. A method according to

claim 7

, comprising between steps a) and b) the step of presenting said number of proposed recreational applications to the user of the second terminal arrangement, so that step b) is only executed as a response to receiving from said user an indication of acceptance concerning one of said number of proposed recreational applications.

9. A method according to

claim 7

, comprising after step c) the steps of:

d) transmitting from the second terminal arrangement to the first terminal arrangement an acknowledgement indicating the reception of said software component and

e) after step d), indicating to the users of the first and second terminal arrangements the readiness of utilising the recreational application.

10. A method according to

claim 1

, comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting from the first terminal arrangement to the second terminal arrangement a proposal identifying a number of proposed recreational applications,

b) transmitting from the second terminal arrangement to the first terminal arrangement a request for obtaining a software component necessary for setting up a common, shared session of utilising one of said proposed recreational applications,

c) as a response to receiving said request in said first terminal arrangement, transmitting a network address of a recreational application server from the first terminal arrangement to the second terminal arrangement,

d) transmitting from the second terminal arrangement to said recreational application server a request for obtaining a software component necessary for setting up a common, shared session of utilising one of said proposed recreational applications and

e) as a response to receiving said request in said recreational application server, transmitting said software component from said recreational application server to the second terminal arrangement.

11. A method according to

claim 10

, comprising between steps a) and b) the step of presenting said number of proposed recreational applications to the user of the second terminal arrangement, so that step b) is only executed as a response to receiving from said user an indication of acceptance concerning one of said number of proposed recreational applications.

12. A method according to

claim 10

, comprising after step e) the steps of:

f) transmitting from the second terminal arrangement to the first terminal arrangement an acknowledgement indicating the reception of said software component and

g) after step f), indicating to the users of the first and second terminal arrangements the readiness of utilising the recreational application.

13. A method according to

claim 1

, comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting from the first terminal arrangement to the second terminal arrangement a proposal identifying a number of proposed recreational applications,

b) transmitting from the second terminal arrangement to the first terminal arrangement a request for obtaining a software component necessary for setting up a common, shared session of utilising one of said proposed recreational applications,

c) as a response to receiving said request in said first terminal arrangement, transmitting from the first terminal arrangement to a recreational application server a request for downloading into the second terminal arrangement a software component necessary for setting up a common, shared session of utilising one of said proposed recreational applications and

d) as a response to receiving said request in said recreational application server, transmitting said software component from said recreational application server to the second terminal arrangement.

14. A method according to

claim 13

, comprising between steps a) and b) the step of presenting said number of proposed recreational applications to the user of the second terminal arrangement, so that step b) is only executed as a response to receiving from said user an indication of acceptance concerning one of said number of proposed recreational applications.

15. A method according to

claim 13

, comprising after step d) the steps of:

e) transmitting from the second terminal arrangement to the first terminal arrangement an acknowledgement indicating the reception of said software component and

f) after step e), indicating to the users of the first and second terminal arrangements the readiness of utilising the recreational application.

16. A method according to

claim 1

, comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting from the first terminal arrangement to the second terminal arrangement a proposal identifying a number of proposed recreational applications,

b) transmitting from the second terminal arrangement to the first terminal arrangement a request for obtaining a software component necessary for setting up a common, shared session of utilising one of said proposed recreational applications,

c) as a response to receiving said request in said first terminal arrangement, transmitting from the first terminal arrangement to a recreational application server a request for downloading into the first terminal arrangement a software component necessary for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said one of said proposed recreational applications,

d) as a response to receiving said request in said recreational application server, transmitting said software component from said recreational application server to the first terminal arrangement and

e) as a response to receiving said software component, transmitting from the first terminal arrangement to the second terminal arrangement a software component necessary for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said one of said proposed recreational applications.

17. A method according to

claim 16

, comprising between steps a) and b) the step of presenting said number of proposed recreational applications to the user of the second terminal arrangement, so that step b) is only executed as a response to receiving from said user an indication of acceptance concerning one of said number of proposed recreational applications.

18. A method according to

claim 16

, comprising after step e), the steps of:

f) transmitting from the second terminal arrangement to the first terminal arrangement an acknowledgement indicating the reception of said software component and

g) after step f), indicating to the users of the first and second terminal arrangements the readiness of utilising the recreational application.

19. A method according to

claim 1

, comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting from the first terminal arrangement to the second terminal arrangement a proposal identifying a number of proposed recreational applications,

b) transmitting from the second terminal arrangement to the first terminal arrangement a first acknowledgement indicating agreement to set up a common, shared session of utilising one of said proposed recreational applications,

c) transmitting from the first terminal arrangement to a recreational application server a first request for obtaining a software component necessary for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said one of said proposed recreational applications,

d) transmitting from the second terminal arrangement to a recreational application server a second request for obtaining a software component necessary for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said one of said proposed recreational applications,

e) as a response to receiving said first request in said recreational application server, transmitting the requested software component from said recreational application server to the first terminal arrangement,

f) as a response to receiving said second request in said recreational application server, transmitting the requested software component from said recreational application server to the second terminal arrangement and

g) exchanging a pair of messages between the first and second terminal arrangements indicating the readiness of utilising the recreational application.

20. A method according to

claim 19

, comprising between steps a) and b) the step of presenting said number of proposed recreational applications to the user of the second terminal arrangement, so that step b) is only executed as a response to receiving from said user an indication of acceptance concerning one of said number of proposed recreational applications.

21. A method according to

claim 19

, comprising after step g) the step of indicating to the users of the first and second terminal arrangements the readiness of utilising the recreational application.

22. A method according to

claim 1

, comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting from the first terminal arrangement to the second terminal arrangement a proposal for setting up a common, shared session of utilising a recreational application,

b) transmitting from the second terminal arrangement to the first terminal arrangement a proposal identifying a number of proposed recreational applications,

c) transmitting from the first terminal arrangement to the second terminal arrangement a request for obtaining a software component necessary for setting up a common, shared session of utilising one of said proposed recreational applications and

d) as a response to receiving said request in said second terminal arrangement, transmitting said software component from the second terminal arrangement to the first terminal arrangement.

23. A method according to

claim 22

, comprising between steps b) and c) the step of presenting said number of proposed recreational applications to the user of the first terminal arrangement, so that step b) is only executed as a response to receiving from said user an indication of acceptance concerning one of said number of proposed recreational applications.

24. A method according to

claim 22

, comprising after step d) the step of indicating to the users of the first and second terminal arrangements the readiness of utilising the recreational application.

25. A method according to

claim 1

, characterised in that the step of using the communicational capabilities of at least one of the first and second terminal arrangements to establish a state where both the first terminal arrangement and the second terminal arrangement possess enough software components for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application comprises the substep of

transmitting from the first terminal arrangement (1101) to the second terminal arrangement (1102) a complete copy (1105, 1106) of those software components (1103, 1104) which the first terminal uses for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application.

26. A method according to

claim 1

, wherein the step of using the communicational capabilities of at least one of the first and second terminal arrangements to establish a state where both the first terminal arrangement and the second terminal arrangement possess enough software components for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application comprises the substep of

transmitting from the first terminal arrangement to the second terminal arrangement a limited copy of those software components which the first terminal uses for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application, said limited copy being only usable for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application together with the particular first terminal arrangement in question.

27. A method according to

claim 1

, wherein the step of using the communicational capabilities of at least one of the first and second terminal arrangements to establish a state where both the first terminal arrangement and the second terminal arrangement possess enough software components for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application comprises the substep of:

transmitting from the first terminal arrangement to the second terminal arrangement a more advanced copy of those software components which the first terminal uses for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application.

28. A method according to

claim 1

, wherein the step of using the communicational capabilities of at least one of the first and second terminal arrangements to establish a state where both the first terminal arrangement and the second terminal arrangement possess enough software components for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application comprises the substeps of:

transmitting from the first terminal arrangement to the second terminal arrangement an authenticated offer for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application,

forwarding said authenticated offer from the second terminal arrangement to a recreational application server, and

transmitting from said recreational application server to the second terminal arrangement a limited copy of software components needed for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application, said limited copy being only usable for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application together with the particular first terminal arrangement in question.

29. A method according to

claim 28

, comprising the step of imposing a charge to the user of the first terminal arrangement for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application together with the particular second terminal arrangement in question.

30. A method according to

claim 1

, wherein the step of using the communicational capabilities of at least one of the first and second terminal arrangements to establish a state where both the first terminal arrangement and the second terminal arrangement possess enough software components for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application comprises the substeps of:

transmitting from the second terminal arrangement to the first terminal arrangement an authenticated offer for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application,

forwarding said authenticated offer from the first terminal arrangement to a recreational application server, and

transmitting from said recreational application server to the second terminal arrangement a copy of software components needed for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application.

31. A method according to

claim 30

, comprising the step of imposing a charge to the user of the second terminal arrangement for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application together with the particular first terminal arrangement in question.

32. A method according to

claim 1

, wherein the step of using the communicational capabilities of at least one of the first and second terminal arrangements to establish a state where both the first terminal arrangement and the second terminal arrangement possess enough software components for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application comprises the substeps of:

transmitting from the second terminal arrangement to the first terminal arrangement an authenticated offer for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application,

forwarding said authenticated offer from the first terminal arrangement to a recreational application server together with another authenticated offer from the first terminal arrangement for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application, and

transmitting from said recreational application server to the terminal arrangements copies of software components needed for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application.

33. A method according to

claim 32

, comprising the step of imposing charges both to the user of the second terminal arrangement for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application together with the particular first terminal arrangement in question and to the user of the first terminal arrangement for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application together with the particular second terminal arrangement in question.

34. A method according to

claim 1

, wherein the step of using the communicational capabilities of at least one of the first and second terminal arrangements to establish a state where both the first terminal arrangement and the second terminal arrangement possess enough software components for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application comprises the substeps of:

exchanging information between the first and second terminal arrangements through a short-distance communications connection during said common, shared session of utilising said recreational application, and

after the exchanging of information between the first and second terminal arrangements through said short-distance communications connection becomes impossible, deeming the common, shared session of utilising said recreational application to be ended.

35. A method according to

claim 34

, additionally comprising the substep of refraining from other exchange of information between the first and second terminal arrangements through said short-distance communications connection during said common, shared session than such information that is needed to ensure that the short-distance communications connection is still active.

36. A terminal arrangement comprising a terminal of a cellular radio system, comprising

means for exchanging proposals for setting up sessions of utilising a recreational application with other terminal arrangements and

means for responding to a situation where such proposals have been exchanged by using its communicational capabilities to establish a state where both it and another terminal arrangement possess enough software components for setting up a common, shared session of utilising said recreational application.