Multi-player game system using mobile telephone and game unit

US6524189B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Nokia · FI

Inventor

• Heikki Rautila · Espoo, FI

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 9, 1999
• Grant date: Feb 25, 2003
• Expiry date: Jul 9, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A63F2300/50
• WIPO field: Furniture, games
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

A multi-player game system using a mobile telephone and a game unit is disclosed. The present invention links multiple users having game units with mobile phones using a low power radio link. The present invention includes at least one mobile phone having a first transceiver for providing connections to a cellular network and a second transceiver for providing short-haul connectivity, and a plurality of game units for interfacing with a plurality of players, each of the game units having a third transceiver for providing short-haul connectivity, wherein the mobile phones and the game units are linked by the second and third transceivers therein to enable a game to be played on the game units by the plurality of players. In at least one of the mobile phones, the second transceiver is a short range wireless transceiver. At least one mobile phone is used to download a game to the game units and the game units include a group selection interface for choosing players to include in a gaming group. The mobile phones may be linked to a base station, a game server and a network interconnecting the base station and the game server, wherein the game server provides a game across the network a…