Wireless gaming system using standard cellular telephones

#The present invention relates generally to wireless telephone networks and more specifically to wireless gaming on a wireless telephone network.

#The expanding network of digital cellular and personal communication devices (PCS), has created a solid foundation for providing various wireless services. Presently, wireless services are limited to basic telephone services, Short Message Service (SMS), paging, and Internet services. SMS is already available to most subscribers of cellular phones. As cellular phones become ubiquitous, and their processing power and memory increases, additional features are being added to the wireless telephones.

#Some systems have added gaming capabilities to wireless telephones. However, most of these systems do not include interactive wireless capabilities. Currently, there are only a few systems that have attempted to implement interactive wireless gaming. One such system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,583 to Nelson R. Comas. However, the system of the '583 Patent requires special hardware to implement the invention described in the patent. Similarly, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,999,808 to Christoph Karl LaDue, requires special hardware for “transmitting application specific messages over a cellular radio system control channels and switches.”

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the functional components of a wireless gaming system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating operation of the embodiment of FIG. 1; and

#FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating operation of the wireless gaming center (WGC) in accordance an embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention in the form of a wireless gaming system providing a paradigm for implementing popular “shoot 'em up” types of games. As identified by the general reference character 10, the system includes a wireless network 12, a short message service center (SMSC) 14, a wireless gaming center (WGC) 16, a location service center (LSC) 18, and a plurality of wireless gaming subscribers illustrated herein at 20-24 and identified as subscriber A, and subscriber B through subscriber N.

#The wireless network 12 may be a mobile communication system providing communication between a plurality of mobile subscribers as well as between the mobile subscribers and a land line public switching telephone network (PSTN). The network 12 illustrated in the present example is a prior art system well known to one skilled in the art.

#The SMSC 14 is also a prior art system capable of providing means of communication by short messages. Short message service (SMS) is the service that enables one to send and receive text messages to and from mobile telephones. The text can be comprised of words or numbers, or an alphanumeric combination. In the present example, the basic system requirement for wireless gaming includes the SMS services. Subscribers may participate in the game by sending and receiving game related messages and information using any short message service. Once the SMSC 14 receives a short message from a subscriber, it may direct the SM to the WGC 16, based on the destination telephone number coupled to or included with the message, that is associated with the WGC 26. In this manner, the gaming system of the present invention may be backward compatible with the existing wireless cellular systems. The WGC 16 may communicate with the SMSC 14 or the LSC 18 through the wireless network 12, or another communication mean such as a ground based Ethernet network.