Distributed wireless gaming

Abstract

The present invention integrate functions of an SIP (or equivalent protocol) conference server with a game server for seamless presentation of new game play opportunities to wireless or mobile devices. The communications which are specific to a certain wireless device are routed according to well known identification means of said wireless device by the conference server.

Description

[0001] The present application claims benefit of Provisional Application No. 60 / 723,310 filed Oct. 4, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to networks for interactive gaming. More particularly, the present invention relates to individual wireless devices operating interactively through multiple integrated systems. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] From man's early history, games have been intended primarily to be interactive among humans. The advances in computer solitaire, computer chess, and online gambling against a computer notwithstanding, humans still prefer to interact with other humans in at least some portion of computer-based games and gambling. Online games and gambling have evolved so that multiple human players may interact with each other for pre-selected activities and times. [0004] The advances in and availability of access to wireless networks, such as cellular telephone, blueto...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] In a decentralizing embodiment of the invention system, an SIP-enabled phone, having significant multimedia communications functions for the mobile, wireless device, enables formation of decentralized interactive gaming networks without the requirement for state coordination with a third party game server. Ad hoc networks for interactive gaming or gambling are achievable by use of software programs resident on the wireless devices themselves.

[0015] In a centralized gaming embodiment of the invention, a mixer is interposed between the wireless devices and a conference server for receipt of multimedia output from wireless devices for re-organization and re-transmission according to game functions to all the wireless devices. In this embodiment, the processors of the wireless devices comprise sufficient game data and functions so that multimedia input from the game server is not necessary. Such mixers are well known to operate under RTP and UDP for multimedia communication with IP networks, i.e., especially in the context of conference servers. In this embodiment of the invention, multimedia transmissions with a game server are eliminated, and the game server need only communicate SIP and game state signals with the wireless devices to control game play. The conference server communicates by SIP with the mixer and the game server to administer appropriate receipt and transmission of multimedia signals. The centralized gaming embodiment moves the burden of multimedia exchange between wireless devices to a mixer well adapted to handle the signal load.

[0021] Another object of the invention is to adapt SIP (or its equivalent) at a conference server and, optionally, at the wireless devices so that centralized or decentralized game playing networks of wireless devices are established through a conference server include admission control of game players to the game and security against non-admitted interference.

[0022] Another object of the invention provides identification specific users of wireless devices that are designated in a group as local game peers. Local game peers are those players of a specific game or games who prefer to engage in game playing together, as opposed to unknown or non-preferred game players forming a group of remote game peers. SIP (or its equivalent) is adapted to identify such groups and controls exchange of game state information so that a first game state information is available to the local game peers but not remote game peers. In an alternate form of the invention, a specific local game peer may choose to share his own game state information with remote game peers while the game state information of others of the local game peers is prevented from exchange with the remote game peers.

Problems solved by technology

However, it is clear that the transition is filled with substantial challenges.

The nature of wireless networks and limits of specific connections thereto create certain problems in application of interactive gaming to small handheld wireless devices.

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