Game in which telephone signals act as semaphores signaling game moves

• US 6,561,909 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2000
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD.
• Original Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD.
• Inventors: Nakamura, Shun, Iizuka, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coburn, Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US09/686,941
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 463/40, 463/41, 463/14
• US Class Current: 463/41
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/34 using peer-to-peer connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers

Abstract

When an event is generated in a game progressing in a first game device, the first game device sends a call signal to a second game device through network. When the second game device receives the call signal, an event is generated in the game progressing in the second game device. In this way, an event is accidentally generated independently from the progress of the game when the game device receives a telephone call signal, in addition to a spontaneous event which is generated according to the progress of the game. Therefore, the user of the game can experience enjoyment which an ordinary game cannot provide, or a thrill which no one can predict will happen. After transmitting/receiving the call signal, the telephone call is cut-off before the game devices enter communication status, so a communication cost is not charged. Since the cost for communication is free, the user can enjoy a communication game at low cost.

Claims

1. A game method executed by a first game device communicable with at least one different game device, wherein each game device includes a communications means and a controlling means, said at least one different game device includes at least a second game device, and each game device executes an independent game, the method comprising the steps of:

said communicating means in said first game device receiving a call signal from said second game device; and

said controlling means in said first game device generating an event to a game that is progressing in said first game device based on the reception of the call signal.

2. The communication game according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

said communication means in said first game device transmitting a call signal to said second game device when an event is generated to the game that is progressing in said first game device.

3. The communication game method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of:

said controlling means in said first game device acquiring a telephone number of said second game device for transmitting the call signal.

4. The communication game method according to claim 3, wherein if said controlling means in said first game device acquires telephone numbers of a plurality of different game devices, said communication means in said first game device transmits the call signal to an arbitrary game device selected from the plurality of different game devices.

5. The communication game method according to claim 1, wherein if a plurality of events are set, said controlling means in said first game device selects an arbitrary event from the plurality of events and generates the selected event.

6. The communication game method according to claim 1, wherein if a plurality of events are set, said controlling means in said first game device selects one of the plurality of events based on an information included in the received call signal.

7. The communication game method according to claim 6, wherein the information includes a telephone number of the first game device that transmits the call signal.

8. A computer program product executed by a first game device communicable with at least one different game device, wherein said at least one different game device includes a second game device, and each game device executes an independent game, the computer program product causing execution of a method comprising the steps of:

receiving a call signal from said second game device; and

generating an event to a game that is progressing in said first game device based on the reception of the call signal.

9. The computer program product according to claim 8, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

transmitting a call signal to said second game device when an event is generated to the game that is progressing in said first game device.

10. The computer program product according to claim 9, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

acquiring a telephone number of said second game device for transmitting the call signal.

11. The computer program product according to claim 10, wherein if said first game device acquires telephone numbers of a plurality of different game devices, said first game device transmits the call signal to an arbitrary game device selected from the plurality of different game devices.

12. The computer program product according to claim 8, wherein if a plurality of events are set, said first game device selects an arbitrary event from the plurality of events and generates the selected event.

13. The computer program product according to claim 8, wherein in said method if a plurality of events are set, said first game device selects one of the plurality of events based on an information included in the received call signal.

14. The computer program product according to claim 13, wherein the information includes a telephone number of the first game device that transmits the call signal.

15. A game device for executing a game comprising:

a communication unit for receiving a call signal from a different game device through a network, whereby an independent game is progressing in each game device; and

a controller for generating an event to a game that is progressing in said game device based on the reception of the call signal.

16. The game device according to claim 15, wherein said controller acquires a telephone number of a different game device and said communication unit transmits a call signal to said different game device when an event is generated to the game that is progressing in said game device.

17. The game device according to claim 16, wherein if said controller acquires a plurality of telephone numbers of different game devices, said controller selects one of the telephone numbers arbitrarily.

18. The game device according to claim 15, wherein if a plurality of events are set, the controller selects one of the plurality of events arbitrarily.

19. The game device according to claim 15, wherein if a plurality of events are set, the controller selects one of the plurality of events based on a information included in the received call signal.

20. The game device according to claim 19, wherein the information includes a telephone number of the game device that transmits the call signal.