Location aware ad-hoc gaming

• US 8,628,420 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2008
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell World Trade Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Chhabra, Kapil
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hsu, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US12/167,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20090011834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,021 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/29, 463/40, 463/42, 463/1
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method of mobile gaming is disclosed. The method includes configuring a mobile device to communicate in a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol, determining location information for the mobile device, communicating the location information and a gaming request via the first communication protocol to a game server, receiving a gaming request response from the game server via the first communication protocol, initiating a gaming session in response to the gaming request response, wherein the gaming session is conducted via the second communication protocol.

Claims

1. A method of mobile gaming for a mobile device, the mobile device configured to communicate in a cellular communication protocol and a short-range communication protocol distinct from the cellular communication protocol, the method comprising:

determining location information for the mobile device;

communicating the location information and a gaming request via the cellular communication protocol to a game server;

receiving a gaming request response from the game server via the cellular communication protocol, wherein the gaming request response indicates that another mobile device is within a communication range of the short-range communication protocol;

in response to receiving the gaming request response, powering a short-range radio configured to communicate with the another mobile device via the short-range communication protocol; and

initiating a gaming session using the short-range radio, wherein the gaming session is conducted directly between the mobile device and the another mobile device via the short-range communication protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information is determined based on GPS information, manual information or triangulation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming request response includes communication information;

and

wherein the mobile device uses the communication information in order to initiate the gaming session.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the communication information is selected from the group consisting of:

information relating to the another mobile device;

an SSID of an access point, login or configuration data; and

transmission rate for communicating with the another mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

updating the location information for the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring whether the mobile device establishes communication with the another mobile device; and

in response to failing to establish communication with the another mobile device within a predetermined period of time, powering down the short-range radio.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming request and the gaming request response are SMS messages communicated via the cellular communication protocol.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the short-range communication protocol comprises Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi).

8. A mobile gaming device comprising:

a communication system configured to communicate via a cellular communication protocol and a short-range communication protocol distinct from the cellular communication protocol, the communication system comprising;

a short-range radio configured to communicate with another mobile device via the short-range communication protocol; and

a controller configured to;

determine location information associated with the mobile gaming device;

communicate the location information and a gaming request via the cellular communication protocol to a game server;

receive a gaming request response from the game server via the cellular communication protocol, wherein the gaming request response indicates that the another mobile gaming device is within a communication range of the short-range communication protocol;

power up the short-range radio in response to receiving the gaming request response; and

initiate a gaming session using the short-range radio, wherein the gaming session is conducted directly between the mobile gaming device and the another mobile gaming device via the short-range communication protocol.

9. The mobile gaming device of claim 8, wherein the location information is determined based on GPS information, manual information or triangulation.

10. The mobile gaming device of claim 8, wherein the gaming request response includes communication information;

and

wherein the mobile device uses the communication information in order to initiate the gaming session.

11. The mobile gaming device of claim 10, wherein the communication information is selected from the group consisting of:

information relating to the another mobile device;

an SSID of an access point, login or configuration data; and

transmission rate for communicating with the another mobile device.

12. The mobile gaming device of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to update the location information for the mobile gaming device.

13. The mobile gaming device of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to:

monitor whether the mobile device establishes a communication with the another mobile device; and

in response to failing to establish communication with the another mobile device within a predetermined period of time, powering down the short-range radio.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the gaming request and the gaming request response are SMS messages communicated via the cellular communication protocol.

16. The mobile gaming device of claim 8, wherein the short-range communication protocol comprises Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi).