Portable device having mobile communication capability

• US 8,961,320 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2013
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Eck, Charles P., Kamada, Hiroshi, Comair, Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Pandya, Sunit
• Application Number:
  US13/921,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20130281205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 463/9, 463 16- 20, 463/31, 463/36, 463 37- 43, 700204-206
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• 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 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• 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 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games

Abstract

A portable, handholdable device includes global positioning system (GPS) circuitry, a camera, a user interface configured to receive user inputs, the user interface including a display; wireless communication circuitry for mobile wireless communications, and a processing system configured to execute a program using a position determined by the GPS circuitry.

Claims

1. A portable, handholdable device, comprising:

global positioning system (GPS) circuitry;

a camera;

a display;

user controls;

memory;

wireless communication circuitry for mobile wireless communications; and

processing circuitry for controlling the portable device, the processing circuitry controlling the portable device to permit composing of an outgoing message and to permit viewing of an incoming message, wherein

the wireless communication circuitry, under control of the processing circuitry, transmits the outgoing message and receives the incoming message, and

the processing circuitry controls the display to concurrently display content of the received message and a linear arrangement of icons.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touch-sensitive display.

3. The device according claim 1, wherein the display displays images captured by the camera and, in response to an input to the user controls, a displayed image is stored in the memory.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the wireless communication circuitry, under control of the processing circuitry, transmits the image stored in the memory.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

notification circuitry for providing notification of the incoming message.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the notification circuitry provides aural notification.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the aural notification is musical.

8. The device according to claim 5, wherein the notification circuitry provides tactile notification.

9. The device according to claim 5, wherein the notification circuitry is configured to be selectively enabled/disabled.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the incoming message comprises an e-mail message.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the outgoing message comprises an image.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the outgoing message comprises sound.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the outgoing message is transmitted to a recipient selected from an address book.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication circuitry transmits the outgoing message while the processing circuitry executes a program.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the user controls comprise an on-screen keyboard.

16. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a speaker.

17. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an earphone jack.

18. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a connector for connecting to external memory.

19. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a vibration circuit for providing notification of the incoming message.

20. The device according to claim 1, wherein the linear arrangement of icons includes a trash icon which is selectable to delete the received message.

21. The device according to claim 1, wherein the linear arrangement of icons includes a compose message icon which is selectable to compose a new outgoing message.

22. The device according to claim 1, wherein the linear arrangement of icons includes an icon which is selectable for accessing stored messages.

23. The device according to claim 22, wherein the stored messages are organized by topic.

24. The device according to claim 1, wherein the linear arrangement of icons extends along an edge portion of the display.

25. The device according to claim 24, wherein the linear arrangement of icons extends along a bottom portion of the display.

26. The device according to claim 1, wherein a direction arrow icon is concurrently displayed with the content of the received message and the linear arrangement of icons.

27. A portable, handholdable device, comprising:

global positioning system (GPS) circuitry;

a display;

a camera for capturing images;

user controls;

memory;

wireless communication circuitry for mobile wireless communications; and

processing circuitry for controlling the portable device, the processing circuitry controlling the portable device to permit composing of an outgoing message and to permit viewing of incoming messages, wherein

the wireless communication circuitry, under control of the processing circuitry, transmits the outgoing message and receives the incoming messages, and

the processing circuitry controls the display to concurrently display a listing of the received messages and a compose message icon which is selectable to compose a new outgoing message.

28. The device according to claim 27, wherein the wireless communication circuitry, under control of the processing circuitry, transmits an image captured by the camera.

29. The device according to claim 27, wherein the wireless communication circuitry communicates with one or more base stations.

30. A portable electronic device comprising:

a display;

GPS circuitry;

user controls;

a camera for capturing images;

wireless communication circuitry for mobile wireless communication;

memory; and

processing circuitry for controlling the portable electronic device, the processing circuitry controlling the portable electronic device to permit composing of an outgoing message and to permit viewing of an incoming message, wherein

the wireless communication circuitry, under control of the processing circuitry, transmits the outgoing message and receives the incoming message, and

the processing circuitry controls the display to concurrently display content of the received message and a linear arrangement of icons, the linear arrangement of icons including a trash icon which is selectable to delete the received message, a compose message icon which is selectable to compose a new outgoing message and an icon which is selectable for accessing stored messages.

31. The device according to claim 30, wherein a direction arrow icon is concurrently displayed with the content of the received message and the linear arrangement of icons.

32. The device according to claim 30, wherein the linear arrangement of icons extends along an edge portion of the display.

33. The device according to claim 32, wherein the linear arrangement of icons extends along a bottom portion of the display.