Keypad for dialing telephone numbers and displaying game moves

• US 20020142840A1
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mind Fusion, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Interactive Telegames LLC
• Inventors: Wolinsky, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 6,682,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/41
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/537 for exchanging game data using a messaging service, e.g. e-mail, SMS, MMS
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations

Abstract

A keypad used for dialing telephone numbers to establish a communications link is also used to display game moves. Once the communications link is established between two or more parties, their terminals are placed in a game mode which activates inband signal detection and player identification circuitry located within the terminals. Multi-colored indicators (e.g., LEDs) and player identification displays (e.g., LCDs) at each terminal are activated, their color being dependent upon the source of received instructions. Player identification indicators are incorporated into a touch-tone keypad located on each of the terminals. Each key of the keypad has two or more color-coded indicators incorporated within, each color representing a particular player'"'"'s move. Thus, the touch-tone keys represent a game board and/or game accessory when the terminal is placed in a game mode. For example, a 3-by-3 matrix formed by the touch-tone keys 1 through 9 of the keypad can be used to play tic-tac-toe over the communications link. The activation of three LEDs of the same color in a row, column or diagonal on the keypad will cause those LEDs to blink on each terminal, signifying the end of the game.

Claims

15-1. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the keypad is located on a surface of the apparatus.

16-2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the keypad is a telephone keypad.

26. An apparatus for playing a game, comprising:

a keypad, wherein the keypad further comprises;

a plurality of keys for entering at least one of information and a command into the apparatus; and

at least one indicator associated with at least one key of the plurality of keys,

wherein the apparatus is utilized by a game player to play a game involving a plurality of game players via a communication link, and wherein at least one key of the plurality of keys is utilized to at least one of initiate the game and to enter a game move, and further wherein the at least one indicator provides an indication of the game move made by at least one game player of the plurality of game players.

56. An apparatus for playing a game, comprising:

a communication device, wherein the communication device is associated with a game player of a game involving a plurality of game players, wherein the communication device provides a communication link between the game player and at least one other game player of the plurality of game players;

a keypad associated with the communication device, wherein the keypad is utilized to establish a communication link for playing the game with the at least one other player of the plurality of game players, and further wherein the keypad further comprises;

a plurality of keys for entering at least one of information and a command into the apparatus; and

at least one indicator associated with at least one key of the plurality of keys,

wherein the apparatus is utilized by the game player to play the game involving the at least one other game player of the plurality of game players via the communication link, and wherein at least one key of the plurality of keys is utilized to at least one of initiate the game and to enter a game move, and further wherein the at least one indicator provides an indication of the game move made by at least one of the game player and the at least one other game player of the plurality of game players.

94. An apparatus for playing a game, comprising:

a communication device, wherein the communication device is associated with a game player of a game involving a plurality of game players, wherein the communication device provides a communication link between the plurality of game players;

a keypad associated with the communication device, wherein the keypad is utilized to establish a communication link for playing the game involving the plurality of game players, and further wherein the keypad further comprises;

a plurality of keys for entering at least one of information and a command into the apparatus; and

at least one indicator associated with at least one key of the plurality of keys,

wherein the apparatus is utilized by a game player to play a game involving the plurality of game players via the communication link, and wherein at least one key of the plurality of keys is utilized to at least one of initiate the game and to enter a game move, and further wherein the at least one indicator provides an indication of the game move made by at least one game player of the plurality of game players.

95. An apparatus for playing a game, comprising:

a keypad, wherein the keypad further comprises;

a plurality of keys for entering at least one of information and a command into the apparatus; and

at least one indicator associated with at least one of the plurality of keys,

wherein the apparatus is utilized by a game player to play a game, and wherein at least one key of the plurality of keys is utilized to at least one of initiate the game and to enter a game move, and further wherein the at least one indicator provides information regarding an identity of the game player.

96. An apparatus for playing a game, comprising:

a keypad, wherein the keypad further comprises;

a plurality of keys for entering at least one of information and a command into the apparatus; and

at least one indicator associated with at least one key of the plurality of keys,

wherein the apparatus is utilized by a game player to play a game involving a plurality of game players via a communication link, and wherein at least one key of the plurality of keys is utilized to at least one of initiate the game and to enter a game move, and further wherein the at least one indicator provides information regarding an identity of at least one game player.

97. An apparatus for playing a game, comprising:

a communication device, wherein the communication device is associated with a game player of a game involving a plurality of game players, wherein the communication device provides a communication link between the game player and at least one other game player of the plurality of game players;

a keypad associated with the communication device, wherein the keypad is utilized to establish the communication link for playing the game with the at least one other player of the plurality of game players, and further wherein the keypad further comprises;

a plurality of keys for entering at least one of information and a command into the apparatus; and

at least one indicator associated with at least one key of the plurality of keys,

wherein the apparatus is utilized by the game player to play the game involving the at least one other game player of the plurality of game players via the communication link, and wherein at least one key of the plurality of keys is utilized to at least one of initiate the game and to enter a game move, and further wherein the at least one indicator provides information regarding an identity of at least one of the game player and the at least one other game player.

98. A method for playing a game with an apparatus comprising a keypad, wherein the keypad further comprises a plurality of keys for allowing a game player to enter at least one of information and a command into the apparatus, and at least one indicator associated with at least one key of the plurality of keys, wherein the method comprises:

initiating a game by utilizing at least one key of the plurality of keys on the keypad;

entering a game move by utilizing at least one key of the plurality of keys on the keypad; and

providing an indication of a game move made by the game player, wherein the indication is provided by the at least one indicator.

99. The method of claim 98, further comprising:

dialing a telephone number by utilizing the keypad; and

establishing a communication link over which the game is played with at least one other game player.

100. The method of claim 98, wherein the communication link is established with an apparatus associated with the at least one other game player.

101. The method of claim 98, further comprising:

displaying information regarding the game move made by the game player, wherein the information regarding the game move is displayed on a display device associated with the apparatus.

102. The method of claim 100, further comprising:

displaying information regarding the game move made by at least one of the game player and the at least one other game player, wherein the information regarding the game move is displayed on a display device associated with the apparatus.

103. The method of claim 98, further comprising:

establishing at least one communication link with at least one of a plurality of communication devices, wherein each of the plurality of communication devices is associated with at least one game player of a plurality of game players.

104. The method of claim 98, further comprising:

displaying information regarding the game move made by at least one of the game player and at least one other game player.

105. The method of claim 98, further comprising:

providing information regarding an identity of at least one of the game player who made the game move and at least one other game player who made the game move.

106. The method of claim 98, further comprising:

providing information regarding an identity of at least one of the game player who made the game move and at least one other game player who made the game move.

107. The method of claim 98, wherein the apparatus is at least one of a telephone, a wireless telephone, a cellular telephone, a speakerphone, a computer, a walkie-talkie, and a wireless toy.

108. The method of claim 98, further comprising:

displaying a game piece on at least one key of the plurality of keys.

109. The method of claim 98, wherein the game is tic-tac-toe.

110. The method of claim 98, wherein the game is checkers.

111. The method of claim 98, wherein the game is chess.

112. The method of claim 98, wherein the game is battleship

113. The method of claim 98, further comprising:

displaying at least one of an identity of the game player, a telephone number associated with the game player, and a color assigned to the game player.

114. The method of claim 98, further comprising:

identifying the game player associated with the game move.

115. The method claim 98, further comprising:

displaying the game move after a game mode of the apparatus is activated.

117. The method of claim 116, further comprising:

dialing a telephone number by utilizing the keypad; and

establishing the communication link over which the game is played with at least one other game player.

118. The method of claim 117, wherein the communication link is established with an apparatus associated with the at least one other game player.

119. The method of claim 116, further comprising:

displaying information regarding the game move made by at least one of the game player and at least one other game player, wherein the information regarding the game move is displayed on a display device associated with the apparatus.

120. The method of claim 116, further comprising:

establishing at least one communication link with at least one of a plurality of communication devices, wherein each of the plurality of communication devices is associated with at least one game player of the plurality of game players.

121. The method of claim 120, further comprising:

displaying information regarding the game move made by the at least one game player of the plurality of game players.

122. The method of claim 119, further comprising:

providing information regarding an identity of at least one of the game player who made the game move and the at least one other game player who made the game move.

123. The method of claim 116, further comprising:

providing information regarding an identity of at least one of the game player who made the game move and at least one other game player who made the game move.

124. The method of claim 116, wherein the apparatus is at least one of a telephone, a wireless telephone, a cellular telephone, a speakerphone, a computer, a walkie-talkie, and a wireless toy.

125. The method of claim 116, further comprising:

displaying a game piece on at least one key of the plurality of keys.

126. The method of claim 116, wherein the game is tic-tac-toe.

127. The method of claim 116, wherein the game is checkers.

128. The method of claim 116, wherein the game is chess.

129. The method of claim 116, wherein the game is battleship

130. The method of claim 116, further comprising:

displaying at least one of an identity of at least one of the game player and at least one other game player, a telephone number associated with at least one of the game player and at least one other game player, and a color assigned to at least one of the game player and at least one other game player.

131. The method of claim 116, further comprising:

identifying at least one of the game player and at least one other game player associated with the game move.

132. The method claim 116, further comprising:

displaying the game move after a game mode of the apparatus is activated.

133. The method of claim 98, further comprising:

displaying the game move on at least one key on the keypad.

134. The method of claim 116, further comprising:

displaying the game move on at least one key on the keypad.

135. The method of claim 98, wherein the keypad is at least one of mounted on the apparatus and integrated with the apparatus.

136. The method of claim 116, wherein the keypad is at least one of mounted on the apparatus and integrated with the apparatus.

138. The method of claim 137, wherein the keypad is at least one of mounted on the apparatus and integrated with the apparatus.

140. The method of claim 139, wherein the keypad is at least one of mounted on the apparatus and integrated with the apparatus.

142. The method of claim 141, further comprising:

utilizing the keypad to dial a telephone number to establish the communication link over which the game is played.

143. The method of claim 141, wherein the communication link is established with an apparatus associated with the at least one other game player.

144. The method of claim 141, further comprising:

displaying information regarding the game move made by at least one of the game player and the at least one other game player, wherein the information regarding the game move is displayed on a display device associated with the apparatus.

145. The method of claim 141, further comprising:

establishing at least one communication link with at least one of a plurality of communication devices, wherein each of the plurality of communication devices is associated with at least one game player of the plurality of game players.

146. The method of claim 141, further comprising:

displaying information regarding the game move made by at least one game player.

147. The method of claim 141, further comprising:

providing information regarding an identity of at least one of the game player who made the game move and the at least one other game player who made the game move.

148. The method of claim 144, further comprising:

providing information regarding an identity of at least one of the game player who made the game move and the at least one other game player who made the game move.

149. The method of claim 141, wherein the apparatus is at least one of a telephone, a wireless telephone, a cellular telephone, a speakerphone, a computer, a walkie-talkie, and a wireless toy.

150. The method of claim 141, further comprising:

displaying a game piece on at least one key of the plurality of keys.

151. The method of claim 141, wherein the game is tic-tac-toe.

152. The method of claim 141, wherein the game is checkers.

153. The method of claim 141, wherein the game is chess.

154. The method of claim 141, wherein the game is battleship

155. The method of claim 141, further comprising:

displaying at least one of an identity of at least one of the game player and the at least one other game player, a telephone number associated with at least one of the game player and the at least one other game player, and a color assigned to at least one of the game player and the at least one other game player.

156. The method of claim 141, further comprising:

identifying at least one of the game player and the at least one other game player associated with the game move.

157. The method claim 141, further comprising:

displaying the game move after a game mode of the apparatus is activated.

158. The method of claim 141, further comprising:

displaying the game move on at least one key on the keypad.

159. The method of claim 141, wherein the keypad is at least one of mounted on the apparatus and integrated with the apparatus.

161. The method of claim 160, wherein the information regarding an identification of a game player who made a game move is provided on at least one key of the plurality of keys on the keypad.

163. The method of claim 162, wherein the information regarding an identification of a game player who made a game move is provided on at least one key of the plurality of keys on the keypad.

165. The method of claim 164, wherein the information regarding an identification of a game player who made a game move is provided on at least one key of the plurality of keys on the keypad.

167. The method of claim 166, wherein the keypad is at least one of mounted on the apparatus and integrated with the apparatus.

116. A method for playing a game with an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is utilized by a game player to play a game involving a plurality of game players via a communication link, and further wherein the apparatus comprises a keypad, wherein the keypad further comprises a plurality of keys for allowing the game player to enter at least one of information and a command into the apparatus, and at least one indicator associated with at least one key of the plurality of keys, wherein the method comprises:

initiating a game by utilizing at least one key of the plurality of keys on the keypad;

entering a game move by utilizing at least one key of the plurality of keys on the keypad; and

providing an indication of a game move made by at least one game player of the plurality of game players, wherein the indication is provided by the at least one indicator.

137. A method for playing a game with an apparatus comprising a keypad, wherein the keypad further comprises a plurality of keys for allowing a game player to enter at least one of information and a command into the apparatus, and at least one indicator associated with at least one key of the plurality of keys, wherein the method comprises:

initiating a game by utilizing at least one key of the plurality of keys on the keypad;

entering a game move by utilizing at least one key of the plurality of keys on the keypad; and

providing an indication of a game move made by the game player, wherein the indication of the game move is provided on at least one key of the plurality of keys on the keypad.

139. A method for playing a game with an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is utilized by a game player to play a game involving a plurality of game players via a communication link, and further wherein the apparatus comprises a keypad, wherein the keypad further comprises a plurality of keys for allowing a game player to enter at least one of information and a command into the apparatus, and at least one indicator associated with at least one key of the plurality of keys, wherein the method comprises:

initiating a game by utilizing at least one key of the plurality of keys on the keypad;

entering a game move by utilizing at least one key of the plurality of keys on the keypad; and

providing an indication of a game move made by the game player, wherein the indication of the game move is provided on at least one key of the plurality of keys on the keypad.

141. A method for playing a game with an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is utilized by a game player to play a game involving a plurality of game players via a communication link, and further wherein the apparatus comprises a communication device, wherein the communication device is associated with a game player of a game involving a plurality of game players, a keypad, wherein the keypad further comprises a plurality of keys for allowing a game player to enter at least one of information and a command into the apparatus, and at least one indicator associated with at least one key of the plurality of keys, wherein the method comprises:

establishing the communication link between the game player and at least one other game player of the plurality of game players;

entering a game move by utilizing at least one key of the plurality of keys on the keypad; and

providing an indication of a game move made by at least one of the game player and the at least one other game player of the plurality of game players.

160. A method for playing a game with an apparatus comprising a keypad, wherein the keypad further comprises a plurality of keys for allowing a game player to enter at least one of information and a command into the apparatus, and at least one indicator associated with at least one key of the plurality of keys, wherein the method comprises:

initiating a game by utilizing at least one key of the plurality of keys on the keypad;

entering a game move by utilizing at least one key of the plurality of keys on the keypad; and

providing information regarding an identification of a game player who made a game move, wherein the identification information is provided by the at least one indicator.

162. A method for playing a game with an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is utilized by a game player to play a game involving a plurality of game players via a communication link, and further wherein the apparatus comprises a keypad, wherein the keypad further comprises a plurality of keys for allowing a game player to enter at least one of information and a command into the apparatus, and at least one indicator associated with at least one key of the plurality of keys, wherein the method comprises:

initiating a game by utilizing at least one key of the plurality of keys on the keypad;

entering a game move by utilizing at least one key of the plurality of keys on the keypad; and

providing information regarding an identification of a game player who made a game move, wherein the identification information is provided by the at least one indicator.

164. A method for playing a game with an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is utilized by a game player to play a game involving a plurality of game players via a communication link, and further wherein the apparatus comprises a communication device, wherein the communication device is associated with a game player of a game involving a plurality of game players, a keypad, wherein the keypad further comprises a plurality of keys for allowing a game player to enter at least one of information and a command into the apparatus, and at least one indicator associated with at least one key of the plurality of keys, wherein the method comprises:

establishing the communication link between a game player and at least one other game player of the plurality of game players;

entering a game move by utilizing at least one key of the plurality of keys on the keypad; and

providing information regarding an identification of a game player who made a game move, wherein the identification information is provided by the at least one indicator.

166. A method for playing a game with an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is utilized by a game player to play a game involving a plurality of game players via a communication link, and further wherein the apparatus comprises a communication device, wherein the communication device is associated with a game player of a game involving a plurality of game players, a keypad, wherein the keypad further comprises a plurality of keys for allowing a game player to enter at least one of information and a command into the apparatus, and at least one indicator associated with at least one key of the plurality of keys, wherein the method comprises:

establishing the communication link between the game player and at least one other game player of the plurality of game players;

entering a game move by utilizing at least one key of the plurality of keys on the keypad; and

providing an indication of a game move made by at least one of the game player and the at least one other game player of the plurality of game players, wherein the indication of the game move is provided on at least one key of the plurality of keys on the keypad.