System and method for game play in a dynamic communication network

• US 9,586,139 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2012
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IP Investment Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Mobilitie, LLC (Bai Communications Pty Ltd.)
• Inventors: Jabara, Gary B., Karmis, Christos, Simon, David Brett, Linder, Lloyd Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoel, Matthew D.
• Application Number:
  US13/363,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20120129607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,861 Days
• Field of Search: 463/39, 463/42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/34 using peer-to-peer connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/49 Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/408 Peer to peer connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A short-range wireless communication network may be established by direct communication between two or more wireless communication devices and/or communication via an access point to permit game play between a plurality of devices. A conventional cellular telephone includes an integrated short-range transceiver. The short-range transceivers of multiple wireless communication devices can be coupled together to form a short-range communication network without utilizing any wireless communication network supported by A Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN). Data is disseminated between the wireless communication devices using a data message synchronization process. Messages may also be carried from one wireless network to another as the communication devices are carried by individuals.

Claims

1. A method for game play using a dynamic wireless communication network comprising:

using a non-network transceiver in each of a plurality of wireless communication devices to automatically establish a direct communication link between each of the plurality of wireless communication devices, each wireless communication device having a non-network transceiver so that communication with a public land mobile network (PLMN) is not used, a processor, and a display;

initializing a selected game in each of the plurality of wireless communication devices;

on a first of the plurality of wireless communication devices;

displaying a moving object on the display, the moving object initially moving generally toward a first end of the display;

receiving user input to manipulate a screen control element to move a game paddle to a position on the display to intercept the moving object;

if the game paddle intercepts the moving object, using the processor to calculate an altered trajectory based on the velocity of the moving object at the time of interception to thereby redirect the moving object to move generally toward a second end of the display opposite the first end of the display;

as the object moves off the display at the second end, using the processor to calculate position and velocity data for the object;

selecting one of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices to receive the position and velocity data for the object; and

using the non-network transceiver to transmit the position and velocity data for the object to the selected one of the plurality of wireless communication devices;

on the selected one of the plurality of wireless communication devices;

using the non-network transceiver to receive the position and velocity data from the first of the plurality of wireless communication devices;

using the processor to calculate the position and velocity of a moving object to display the moving object on the display based on the received position and velocity data;

receiving user input to manipulate a screen control element to move a game paddle to a position on the display to intercept the moving object;

if the game paddle intercepts the moving object, using the processor to calculate an altered trajectory based on the velocity of the moving object at the time of interception to thereby redirect the moving object to move generally toward a second end of the display opposite the first end of the display;

as the object moves off the display at the second end, using the processor to calculate position and velocity data for the object;

selecting one of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices to receive the position and velocity data for the object; and

using the non-network transceiver to transmit the position and velocity data for the object to the selected one of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting the position and velocity data for the object to the selected one of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices comprises using the non-network transceiver in the wireless communication device to transmit the position and velocity data to transmit the position and velocity data for the object to an intermediate wireless device that relays the position and velocity data for the object to the selected one of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the intermediate wireless device is another wireless communication device that is not one of the plurality of the wireless communication devices.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the intermediate wireless device is another wireless communication device that is one of the plurality of the wireless communication devices.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the intermediate wireless device is a wireless access point having a non-network transceiver to establish a communication link with the first of the plurality of the wireless communication devices and a communication link with the selected one of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting one of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices comprises randomly selecting one of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices comprises.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first of the plurality of wireless communication devices further:

uses the non-network transceiver to receive position and velocity data from one of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices;

uses the display to display a moving object on the display based on the received position and velocity data;

the processor receives user input to manipulate a screen control element to move a game paddle to a position on the display to intercept the moving object;

if the game paddle intercepts the moving object, redirecting the moving object to move generally toward a second end of the display opposite the first end of the display;

as the object moves off the display at the second end, the processor calculating position and velocity data for the object;

the processor selecting one of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices to receive the position and velocity data for the object; and

the non-network transceiver transmitting the position and velocity data for the object to the selected one of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first of the plurality of wireless communication devices further:

uses the non-network transceiver to receive position and velocity data from two of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices;

uses the display to display a first moving object on the display based on the position and velocity data received from a first of the two of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices;

uses the display to further display a second moving object on the display based on the position and velocity data received from a second of the two of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices;

the processor receives user input to manipulate a screen control element to move a game paddle to a position on the display to intercept the first and second moving objects;

if the game paddle intercepts the first moving object, the processor redirecting the first moving object to move generally toward a second end of the display opposite the first end of the display;

as the first object moves off the display at the second end, the processor calculating position and velocity data for the first object;

the processor selecting one of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices to receive the position and velocity data for the first object;

the non-network transceiver transmitting the position and velocity data for the first object to the selected one of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices;

if the game paddle intercepts the second moving object, the processor redirecting the second moving object to move generally toward the second end of the display opposite the first end of the display;

as the second object moves off the display at the second end, the processor calculating position and velocity data for the second object;

selecting one of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices to receive the position and velocity data for the second object; and

the non-network transceiver transmitting the position and velocity data for the second object to the selected one of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein selecting one of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices to receive the position and velocity data for the first object and selecting one of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices to receive the position and velocity data for the second object selects the same one of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein selecting one of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices to receive the position and velocity data for the first object and selecting one of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices to receive the position and velocity data for the second object comprises randomly selecting one of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices to receive the position and velocity data for the first object and randomly selecting one of the remaining plurality of the wireless communication devices to receive the position and velocity data for the second object.

11. A method for game play using a dynamic wireless communication network comprising:

in first and second wireless communication devices each having a non-network transceiver, a processor, and a display establishing a direct communication link between the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device using the non-network transceivers in the first and second wireless communication devices to automatically establish a dynamic wireless communication network so that communication with a public mobile land network (PLMN) is not used;

the processors in the first and second devices initializing a selected game;

the displays in the first and second devices displaying a game play surface on the display of each of the first and second wireless communication devices wherein the display of each of the first and second wireless communication devices displays the entire game play surface;

the processor in the first device controlling a position of a first set of objects on the display of the first wireless communication device;

the processor in the first device calculating game play data for at least one of the first set of objects on the display of the first wireless communication device;

the non-network transceiver in the first device transmitting the game play data from the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device using the non-network transceiver in the first wireless communication device to communicate via the dynamic wireless communication network so that communication with a public mobile land network (PLMN) is not used;

the display in the second device displaying a first set of objects on the display of the second wireless communication device with the position of at least one of the first set of objects being based on the game play data received from the first wireless communication device;

the processor in the second device controlling a position of a second set of objects on the display of the second wireless communication device;

the processor in the second device calculating game play data for at least one of the second set of objects on the display of the second wireless communication device;

the non-network transceiver in the second device transmitting the game play data from the second wireless communication device to the first wireless communication device using the non-network transceiver in the second wireless communication device to communicate via the dynamic wireless communication network so that communication with a public mobile land network (PLMN) is not used;

the display in the first device displaying a second set of objects on the display of the first wireless communication device with the position of at least one of the second set of objects being based on the game play data received from the second wireless communication device; and

continuing game play wherein the first wireless communication device can control movement of the first set of objects on the display of the first wireless communication device and the display of the second set of objects on the display of the first wireless communication device is controlled by the game play data received from the second wireless communication device using the non-network transceiver in the second wireless communication device so that communication with a public mobile land network (PLMN) is not used and wherein the second wireless communication device can control movement of the second set of objects on the display of the second wireless communication device and the display of the first set of objects on the display of the second wireless communication device is controlled by the game play data received from the first wireless communication device using the non-network transceiver in the first wireless communication device so that communication with a public mobile land network (PLMN) is not used.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein transmitting the game play data from the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device using the non-network transceiver in the first wireless communication device comprises transmitting the game play data to an intermediate wireless device that relays the game play data to the second wireless communication device.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the intermediate wireless device is third wireless communication device using a non-network transceiver in the third wireless communication devices so that communication with a public mobile land network (PLMN) is not used.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the intermediate wireless device is a wireless access point having a communication link with the first wireless communication device using the non-network transceiver in the first wireless communication device so that communication with a public mobile land network (PLMN) is not used and a communication link with the second wireless communication device using the non-network transceiver in the second wireless communication device so that communication with a public mobile land network (PLMN) is not used.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the selected game is a tic-tac-toe game wherein the first set of objects are position indicators of a first type and the second set of objects are position indicators of a second type different from the first type, the first set of objects being placed on the game play surface at locations selected by a user of the first wireless communication device at locations on the game play surface not occupied by any of the second set of objects.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the selected game is a checkers game wherein initializing the selected game comprises displaying a checkerboard game play surface on the displays of the first and second wireless communications devices, the first set of objects are game pieces of a first type and the second set of objects are game pieces of a second type different from the first type, the first and second sets of objects being displayed on the checkerboard game play surface at initial locations defined by game play rules.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein controlling the position of the first set of objects on the display of the first wireless communication device comprises sensing user input to move one of the first set of objects in accordance with the game play rules and transmitting the game play data from the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device using the non-network transceiver in the first wireless communication device comprises transmitting game play data for the one of the first set of objects.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein movement of one of the first set of objects in accordance with the game play rules is selected from a set of game play moves comprising a move from a first position on the game play surface to a second position on the game play surface and a move from a first position on the game play surface to a second position on the game play surface while jumping over a selected one of the second set of objects.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the selected game is a chess game wherein initializing the selected game comprises displaying a chess game play surface on the displays of the first and second wireless communications devices, the first set of objects are game pieces of a first type and the second set of objects are game pieces of a second type different from the first type, the first and second sets of objects being displayed on the chessboard game play surface at initial locations defined by game play rules.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein controlling the position of the first set of objects on the display of the first wireless communication device comprises sensing user input to move one of the first set of objects in accordance with the game play rules and transmitting the game play data from the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device using the non-network transceiver in the first wireless communication device comprises transmitting game play data for the one of the first set of objects.

21. The method of claim 11, further comprising saving game play data on a remote server.

22. The method of claim 11, further comprising saving game play data at a location remote from the first and second wireless communication devices by extracting the game play data from at least one of the first and second wireless communication devices and transmitting the extracted game play data to a web page associated with a user of one of the first and second wireless communication devices.

23. The method of claim 11 wherein the first wireless communication device contains profile data related to a user of the first wireless communication device, the method further comprising the second wireless communication device extracting the profile data from the first wireless communication device and transmitting the extracted profile data to a web page associated with a user of the second wireless communication device.