Method and apparatus using insertably-removable auxiliary devices to play games over a communications link

• US 7,951,007 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: New Illuminations, LLC
• Original Assignee: New Illuminations, LLC
• Inventors: Wolinsky, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Bumgarner; Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah; Milap
• Application Number:
  US11/765,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20080020843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 463 40- 44
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• 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 2300/204 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 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations

Abstract

A method and apparatus that identifies and safely couples an insertably-removable auxiliary device (IRAD) to a processor so that games can be played over a communications link without damaging the IRAD or the processor. An auxiliary connector, into which the IRAD is inserted, is not connected to the processor until after the identity of the IRAD is determined. The processor resides in a communications device, such as a wireless telephone, walkie-talkie, toy, or the like. Upon the activation of an auxiliary mode, a user is prompted to insert an IRAD into the auxiliary connector. An IRAD used to play a game can be an auxiliary keypad, an auxiliary processor, an auxiliary display, a supplemental program module that stores computer-readable code, an electronic board game, an auxiliary graphical user interface (GUI) (e.g., auxiliary steering wheel, auxiliary joystick, virtual reality viewer), or a headset including a microphone and speaker.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

a processor coupled to an inner portion of a mobile device housing;

a detachable wireless receiver coupled to a connector, wherein the connector is coupled to the mobile device housing; and

an input mechanism configured to receive a user input indicative of a game, wherein instructions indicative of the game are stored on at least one wireless game cartridge of a plurality of wireless game cartridges, each of the plurality of wireless game cartridges storing instructions indicative of a different game, wherein the processor is programmed to cause the detachable wireless receiver to a selectively establish a wireless communication channel with the at least one wireless game cartridge, wherein the processor is programmed to receive, via the detachable wireless receiver, the instructions indicative of the game stored on the at least one wireless game cartridge, and wherein the processor is programmed to execute the instructions indicative of the game while the wireless receiver is wirelessly communicating with the at least one wireless game cartridge.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless cellular transceiver configured to communicate with a cellular network.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the processor is programmed to receive, via the cellular network, second mobile device game information.

4. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the processor is programmed to send, via the wireless cellular transceiver, audio based user input to a second device executing instructions indicative of the game.

5. The mobile device of claim 4 wherein the processor is programmed to send, via the wireless cellular transceiver, game information generated in response to executing the instructions indicative of game to a second device.

6. The mobile device of claim 5, wherein both the game information generated in response to executing the instructions indicative of game and the audio based user input are sent over a single wireless channel.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to receive, via the detachable wireless receiver, tactile based user input.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the input mechanism is a keypad.

9. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising:

a gateway circuit, wherein the gateway circuit is configured to couple the processor to the connector.

10. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to send, via a detachable wireless programmed transmitter, game information generated in response to executing the instructions indicative of the game to an electronic game board.

11. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising:

a detachable processor programmed to execute the instructions indicative of the game.

12. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to send, via a detachable wireless transmitter, information indicative of game graphics to a display.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the display comprises a television.

14. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further programmed to communicate, via a detachable wireless transmitter, with an auxiliary processor.

15. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to communicate, via a detachable wireless transmitter, with a set top box.

16. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronic game board coupled to the mobile device housing.

17. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to send, via a detachable wireless transmitter, audio signals generated by executing the instructions indicative of the game to a headset.

18. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to receive, via the wireless receiver, user input from a steering wheel.

19. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to receive, via the wireless receiver, user input from a joystick.

20. A method, comprising:

wirelessly communicating, via a cellular transceiver of a first mobile device, with a second mobile device;

receiving a user input indicative of a game, wherein instructions indicative of the game are stored on at least one wireless game cartridge of a plurality of wireless game cartridges, each of the plurality of wireless game cartridges storing instructions indicative of a different game;

selectively establishing, by a detachable wireless receiver coupled to a connector, a wireless communication channel between a processor of the first mobile device and the at least one wireless game cartridge, wherein the connector is coupled to a housing of the first mobile device;

receiving, via the detachable wireless receiver, the instructions indicative of the game stored on the at least one wireless game cartridge;

executing, by the processor of the first mobile device, the instructions indicative of the game; and

sending, via the cellular transceiver, game information generated by executing the instructions indicative of the game from the first mobile device to the second mobile device.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

sending, via a detachable wireless transmitter, graphics generated in response to executing the game to a display.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving, via the detachable wireless receiver, user input configured to manipulate the executing game.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

sending, via the wireless telecommunication channel of the cellular network, wireless headset audio based user input.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

coupling, by a gateway circuit, the processor to the connector.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

executing, by a detachable processor, the instructions indicative of the game.

26. A computer-readable memory device configured to be integrated within a housing of a mobile device, the computer-readable memory device comprising:

instructions to receive a user input indicative of a game, wherein instructions indicative of the game are stored on at least one wireless game cartridge of a plurality of wireless game cartridges, each of the plurality of wireless game cartridges storing instructions indicative of a different game;

instructions to selectively establish, by a detachable wireless receiver coupled to a connector on the housing, a wireless communication channel between a processor of the mobile device and the at least one wireless game cartridge;

instructions to receive, via the detachable wireless receiver, the instructions indicative of the game stored on the at least one wireless game cartridge; and

instructions to execute the instructions indicative of the game.

27. The computer-readable memory device of claim 26, further comprising:

instructions to send, via a detachable wireless transmitter, graphics generated in response to executing the game to a display.

28. The computer-readable memory device of claim 26, further comprising:

instructions to receive, via the detachable wireless receiver, user input configured to manipulate the game from a wireless user interface device.