Device and system for playing a game and a method for controlling a game

• US 8,926,437 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2004
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Huomo, Miikka
• Primary Examiner(s): YOO, JASSON H
• Application Number:
  US10/568,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20070155505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,832 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 43- 45, 463/47
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• 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 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/208 for storing personal settings or data of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations

Abstract

A gaming device for playing a game including one or more parameters that affect a user'"'"'s participation in the game, the gaming device including a memory storing a data structure that associates each one of a plurality of device configurations with a respective game configuration, wherein each game configuration differently specifies one or more parameters of the game; means for identifying the current device configuration for the device; means for using the data structure to determine a current game configuration associated with the current device configuration; and means for controlling the game by setting parameters in the game as specified by the current game configuration.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to perform at least the following,

determine, based upon a data structure stored in the at least one memory, an association between a device configuration of the electronic device from a plurality of device configurations with a respective game configuration, the game configuration specifying one or more parameters of a game;

identify a current device configuration for the electronic device;

determine a current game configuration associated with the current device configuration;

detect an accessory device and a model of the accessory device;

modify the current device configuration based, at least in part, on the detection;

decrease one or more parameters of the game configuration over time, in response to a determination that a new model of the accessory device is available; and

control the game by setting one or more parameters in the game as specified by the modified current game configuration.

2. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is further caused to:

present on a user interface of the electronic device an accessory gaming object resembling the accessory device in the game as specified by the modified current game configuration,

wherein the game comprises gaming objects and the current game configuration specifies a parameter that creates a gaming object, and

wherein the accessory device is detected when physically connected to the electronic device.

3. An electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the electronic device is further caused to:

detect one or more other accessory devices;

modify the current device configuration based, at least in part on the detection; and

presenting on the user interface of the electronic device an interaction effect between the accessory device and one or more of the other accessory devices in the game,

wherein the game comprises at least one user gaming object and the created gaming object affects an attribute of the user gaming object.

4. An electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control of the game, includes setting parameters in the game as specified by the current game configuration at the instantiation of the game, wherein the electronic device is further caused to:

vary one or more visual attributes of the gaming objects in the game based on user physical manipulation of one or more of the physical device configurations of the electronic device; and

present on the user interface corresponding manipulation of the varied one or more visual attributes in the game.

5. An electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the parameters set at the instantiation of the game are variable while the game is played, and the user physical manipulation includes switching on or off a light of the electronic device to switch on or off an illuminating gaming object in the game.

6. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the game comprises a user gaming object, and the game configuration specifies a parameter that affects an attribute of the gaming object or an attribute of the user gaming object.

7. An electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the electronic device is further caused to:

receive selection input; and

select a sub-set of the parameters specified in the current game configuration for use as parameters in the game,

wherein the accessory gaming object is presented on the user interface as worn by the user gaming object.

8. An electronic device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the electronic device is further caused to:

add one or more new attributes of the user gaming object, one or more new gaming objects available to the user gaming object, or a combination thereof, in the game based, at least in part on one or more attributes of the accessory device in a physical world.

9. An electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the accessory device includes a camera, a headset, a pen input device, a light, or a combination thereof,

the one or more new attributes of the user gaming object includes one or more capabilities of light protection, infra-vision, lightning-generating, earthquake-generating, or a combination thereof, and

the one or more new gaming objects include one or more telescopes, one or more maps, or a combination thereof.

10. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is further caused to:

detect one or more other electronic devices in proximity of the electronic device;

present on the user interface of the electronic device an interaction effect in the game based, at least in part on the detection; and

control the game by setting parameters in the game as specified by one or more previous game configurations.

11. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is further caused to:

temporarily control the game by setting parameters in the game as specified by a virtual game configuration associated with a virtual device configuration selected by the user.

12. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device has one or more hardware components corresponding to the device configurations, and the one or more hardware capabilities of the electronic device are based, at least in part, the accessory device.

13. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is further caused to:

download an accessory image; and

modify the presentation of the accessory gaming object based, at least in part on the accessory image.

14. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is further caused to:

further decrease the one or more parameters of the game configuration over time, in response to a determination that a new model of the electronic device is available.

15. An electronic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the electronic device is further caused to:

receive an update message via a wireless interface, wherein the update message specifies that the new model of the accessory device is available.

16. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device has one or more hardware components corresponding to the device configurations, and the one or more hardware components include an electronic display, a capturing device, a haptic feedback device, or a combination thereof.

17. A method comprising:

determining by an electronic device, based upon a data structure stored in the at least one memory, an association between a device configuration of the electronic device from a plurality of device configurations with a respective game configuration, the game configuration specifying one or more parameters of a game;

identifying by the electronic device a current device configuration for the electronic device;

determining by the electronic device a current game configuration associated with the current device configuration;

detecting by the electronic device an accessory device and a model of the accessory device;

modifying by the electronic device the current device configuration based, at least in part, on the detection;

decreasing by the electronic device one or more parameters of the game configuration over time, in response to a determination that a new model of the accessory device is available; and

controlling the game by the electronic device by setting one or more parameters in the game as specified by the modified current game configuration.

18. A method of claim 17, wherein the electronic device has one or more hardware components corresponding to the device configurations, and the one or more hardware components include an electronic display, a capturing device, a haptic feedback device, or a combination thereof.