| Mobile terminals for supplementing game module resources and methods and computer program products for operating the same -> Monitor Keywords |
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Mobile terminals for supplementing game module resources and methods and computer program products for operating the sameRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), Player-actuated Control Structure (e.g., Brain-wave Or Body Signal, Bar-code Wand, Foot Pedal, Etc.), Wireless SignalMobile terminals for supplementing game module resources and methods and computer program products for operating the same description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070015580, Mobile terminals for supplementing game module resources and methods and computer program products for operating the same. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to mobile terminals and methods and computer program products for operating the same and, more particularly, to audio circuits, methods and computer program products for processing an audio signal of such devices. [0002] A variety of consumer devices, including mobile devices, such as mobile terminals, include both a processor and user input/output devices, such as displays, speakers, microphones and the like. For such devices, the processor is generally configured to process different forms of media content, such as audio files, pictures, animations and the like. For mobile terminals, the processor is also generally configured to process voice and/or video content that may be associated with a phone call voice connection established to the mobile terminal or a data connection. [0003] Another popular consumer device is a game console. In general, users of game consoles have a need to be able to save to memory and/or load into memory levels achieved, game progress, and other game related information to allow them to maintain the status of a game in progress for restarting on their own game console or for installation on another game console to run a game on a different game console. This ability to save game information is generally supported by game consoles through the use of removable memory cards that may be plugged into the game console. However, very motivated gamers would enjoy playing their favorite games anywhere and whenever an opportunity to do so arises. As a result, frequently, a game user may not have a memory card on his or her person to allow them to load or save their game data. Therefore, game users may not always be able to take advantage of the ability to save user data and game progress information. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] In some embodiments of the present invention, mobile terminals include a portable housing and a wireless communication network interface circuit in the housing. A memory is coupled to the housing and a user interface is in the housing. A data interface in the housing is configured to be operatively coupled to a game module and a controller in the housing is configured to couple the memory and/or the user interface of the mobile terminal to the game module through the data interface to supplement resources of the game module using the memory and/or the user interface. [0005] In other embodiments of the present invention, the controller is configured to obtain user data associated with a game from the game module and to save the obtained user data in the memory responsive to a user request. The controller may also be configured to provide saved user data from the memory to the game module. The data interface may be, for example, a Bluetooth interface, an infrared interface and/or a data cable interface, which data cable interface may be a serial bus interface. The memory may be a removable memory. [0006] In further embodiments of the present invention, the user interface includes a display of the mobile terminal and the controller is configured to couple the display of the mobile terminal to the game module for use by the game module in displaying supplemental game user information while continuing display of graphics associated with a game on a display of the game module. The user interface may include a user input interface and the controller may be configured to couple the user input interface to the game module to allow a user to obtain information associated with the game from the game module based on a user request input to the game module through the user input interface of the mobile terminal. [0007] In other embodiments of the present invention, the supplemental information is inventory information associated with a character of the game, a map associated with the game, a playbook associated with the game and/or a character to character communication visual interface associated with the game. The user input interface may be a keypad of the mobile terminal and the information associated with the game may be inventory information associated with a character of the game. [0008] In yet further embodiments of the present invention, methods of supplementing game module resources with a mobile terminal include communicatively linking the mobile terminal to the game module using a data interface of the mobile terminal. A memory and/or a user interface of the mobile terminal are utilized to supplement resources of the game module. [0009] In other embodiments of the present invention, utilizing a memory and/or a user interface includes obtaining user data associated with a game from the game module and saving the obtained user data in the memory responsive to a user request. Saved user data may be provided from the memory to the game module. [0010] In yet other embodiments of the present invention, the user interface includes a display of the mobile terminal and utilizing a memory and/or a user interface includes coupling the display of the mobile terminal to the game module and using the display of the mobile terminal to display supplemental game user information while continuing display of graphics associated with a game on a display of the game module. The user interface may include a user input interface and utilizing a memory and/or a user interface may include coupling the user input interface of the mobile terminal to the game module and inputting a user request to the game module through the user input interface of the mobile terminal to obtain information associated with the game from the game module. [0011] While described above primarily with reference to apparatus and method aspects, it will be understood that the present invention also includes computer program products for supplementing game module resources with a mobile terminal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a mobile terminal according to some embodiments of the present invention and an exemplary base station transceiver and gaming module. [0013] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating methods for supplementing game module resources according to some embodiments of the present invention. [0014] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating methods for supplementing game module resources according to some embodiments of the present invention. [0015] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating methods for supplementing game module resources according to some embodiments of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS [0016] Specific exemplary embodiments of the invention now will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The terminology used in the detailed description of the particular exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the invention. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements. [0017] As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "includes," "comprises," "including" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. Furthermore, "connected" or "coupled" as used herein may include wirelessly connected or coupled. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. [0018] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. [0019] As used herein, a "mobile terminal" includes both devices having only a wireless signal receiver without transmit abilities and devices having both receive and transmit hardware capable of two-way communication over a two-way communication link. Such devices may include cellular or other communications devices with or without a multi-line display; Personal Communications System (PCS) terminals that may combine a voice and data processing, facsimile and/or data communications capabilities; Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) that can include a radio frequency receiver and a pager, Internet/Intranet access, Web browser, organizer, calendar and/or a global positioning system (GPS) receiver; and/or conventional laptop and/or palmtop computers or other appliances, which include a radio frequency receiver. As used herein, "mobile terminals" may be portable, transportable, installed in a vehicle (aeronautical, maritime, or land-based), or situated and/or configured to operate locally and/or in a distributed fashion at any other location(s) on earth and/or in space. As used herein, a "mobile device" includes mobile terminals as well as mobile devices that do not support wireless communications. [0020] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described below with respect to FIGS. 1 through 4. Referring first to FIG. 1, a schematic block circuit diagram is provided illustrating a mobile terminal including a data interface to a gaming module in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 1 illustrates a mobile terminal 22 and a base station transceiver 24 of a wireless communications network. The mobile terminal 22 includes a portable housing 23 and may include, a keyboard 26, a display 28, a speaker 32, a microphone 34, a transceiver 36, and a memory 38, any of which may communicate with a controller (processor) 42. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 22 includes a data interface 29, which also communicates with the processor 42. The processor 42 can be any commercially available or custom microprocessor. Continue reading about Mobile terminals for supplementing game module resources and methods and computer program products for operating the same... 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