Patent Abstract:
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for a mobile handset with a detachable gaming module are disclosed. According to one system, a mobile communications device having at least one mobile communications module performs a mobile communications function and executes at least one game. A gaming module, being detachably coupled to the mobile communications device, offloads data storage and processing associated with execution of the game from the mobile communications device to the gaming module.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/021,142 filed Jan. 15, 2008; the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The subject matter described herein relates to gaming using a mobile communications device. More specifically, the subject matter relates to methods, systems, and computer readable media for offloading or supplementing processing and data storage resources from a mobile handset to a detachable gaming module. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    As mobile handsets have become increasingly popular gaming devices, the processing and data storage requirements for mobile handsets have also increased. Games played on mobile handsets have grown to include online, offline, single player, and multiplayer versions. For example, a user may use his or her mobile handset to communicate with a remotely located game server that is accessible via a communications network connection in order to play a game simultaneously with friends. This may include communicating via a public network, such as the Internet, or a private network, such as a corporate intranet. The game server may link multiple players together and/or provide game updates and user authentication. In other examples, the user may operate the handset in an offline (e.g., airplane) mode where the handset does not communicate with a communications network in order to play games. In an offline mode, game applications may be stored in memory local to the handset and executed by a processor within the handset. 
         [0004]    One problem associated with playing games on conventional mobile handsets is that handsets typically do not have sufficient processing and data storage resources to provide high quality gaming experiences similar to that available on fixed (i.e., non-mobile) devices like desktop computers and dedicated game consoles. For example, in order to be small, light, and energy efficient, many mobile devices possess limited processing and data storage resources which are then optimized for voice calls or other non-gaming applications. This optimization may also include limiting the amount of traffic transmitted across a mobile communications network during game play. Thus, many games played on conventional mobile handsets are not graphics- or bandwidth-intensive because of these limitations. As a result, game players that play games on mobile handsets experience an inferior gaming experience as compared to gamer players using other fixed location devices. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, in light of these difficulties, a need exists for improved methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing a high-quality gaming experience on a mobile handset. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Methods, systems, and computer readable media for offloading processing and data storage resources from a mobile handset to a detachable gaming module are disclosed. According to one system, a mobile communications device having at least one mobile communications module performs a mobile communications function and executes at least one game. A gaming module, being detachably coupled to the mobile communications device, offloads data storage and processing associated with execution of the game from the mobile communications device to the gaming module. 
         [0007]    A method for providing a mobile device with a detachable gaming module is also disclosed. The method includes providing a mobile communications device having at least one mobile communications module performs a mobile communications function and executes at least one game. A gaming module, being detachably coupled to the mobile communications device, offloads data storage and processing associated with execution of the game from the mobile communications device to the gaming module. 
         [0008]    The subject matter described herein for a mobile communications device with a detachable gaming module may be implemented using a computer readable medium to having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by the processor of a computer control the processor to perform steps. Exemplary computer readable media suitable for implementing the subject matter described herein includes disk memory devices, programmable logic devices, and application specific integrated circuits. In one implementation, the computer readable medium may include a memory accessible by a processor. The memory may include instructions executable by the processor for implementing any of the methods for offloading or supplementing processing and data storage resources to a gaming module described herein. In addition, a computer readable medium that implements the subject matter described herein may be distributed across multiple physical devices and/or computing platforms. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The subject matter described herein will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of a mobile handset and exemplary game modules suitable for coupling with the mobile handset according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of an exemplary internal architecture of a mobile device suitable for coupling with a game detachable game module according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of an exemplary internal architecture of a game module suitable for coupling with a mobile handset for supplementing or offloading processing and data storage resources according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of an exemplary internal architecture of a game module suitable for coupling with a mobile handset according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of an exemplary internal architecture of a game module suitable for coupling with a mobile handset according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a diagram of an exemplary internal architecture of a mobile device including a security authentication module suitable for coupling with a game module according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a diagram of an exemplary internal architecture of a game module including a security authentication module suitable for coupling with a mobile handset according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a network diagram of an exemplary mobile communications network used for securely authenticating an exemplary mobile device coupled with a detachable game module according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a mobile communications device and a plurality exemplary game modules suitable for being coupled with the mobile handset according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein. Referring to  FIG. 1 , mobile device  100  may include any suitable mobile communications device capable of communicating with a mobile communications network and performing a mobile communications function (e.g., voice call). For example, mobile device  100  may include a GSM mobile phone, IS-41 handset, 3G voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) handset, a session initiation protocol (SIP) handset, Internet multimedia subsystem (IMS) handset, WiMax handset, and/or a portable computer. 
         [0019]    Mobile device  100  may include a processor (not shown), memory (not shown), display (not shown), and keypad (not shown) for operating mobile device  100 . Operation of mobile device  100  may include making or receiving voice calls, sending or receiving short message service (SMS) messages, interacting with non-gaming applications, and playing online and offline games. As described above, mobile device  100  may utilize local processing and data storage resources in order to perform mobile communications functions. However, for operations requiring large amounts of these resources, such as graphics- or bandwidth-intensive games, mobile device  100  may be limited in the amount of time the game may be played or the quality of the game experience. The quality of a gaming experience may include the frame rate of the game (higher is better), the number of visual effects (particles, high dynamic range lighting, anti-aliasing, etc.), the number of sound channels, and the input response time (faster is better). Each of these aspects may be affected by the amount of available processing, memory, and to a lesser degree, power available to the gaming application. Therefore, it may be desirable to provide additional processing and data storage resources in a separate, removable game module in order to supplement offload at least a portion of the functions previously performed by the local processor and memory of mobile device  100 . 
         [0020]    Mobile device  100  may also include an external communications interface for connecting to non-mobile local devices (e.g., a desktop computer). For example, interface  104  may be used for syncing mobile device  100  with information stored on a desktop computer or may be used to recharge mobile device  100 . Interface  104  may include a universal serial bus (USB) or FireWire interface. 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , game X module  102  may be detachably coupled to mobile communications device  100  for offloading data storage and processing resources associated with the execution of game X to gaming module  102 . 
         [0022]    It is appreciated that game modules may be game-specific or game service provider-specific. For example, game-specific modules  112  may include different modules for different games, regardless of the game&#39;s provider. Alternatively, game service provider-specific modules  106  may include multiple games associated with a common game service provider. For example, game service provider-specific modules  106  include an Xbox® game module  108  and a Wii® game module  110  for playing Xbox® and Wii® games, Xbox® being a game platform/service provided by Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash., and Wii® being a game platform/service provided by Nintendo Corp. of Kyoto, Japan. Game-specific modules  122  may include game X module  102 , game Y module  114 , and game Z module  116  for playing games X, Y, and Z, respectively. 
         [0023]    It is further appreciated that mobile device  100  may communicate with a variety of communications networks including, but not limited to, GSM, IS-41, code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), next generation network (NGN), IMS, SIP, global packet radio system (GPRS), universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), WiFi, and WiMAX networks. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a diagram showing an internal architecture of an exemplary mobile device suitable for integrating with a game detachable game module according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein. Referring to  FIG. 2 , exemplary mobile device  100  may be detachably coupled to game X module  102  via USB interface  200 . A data exchange interface  201  may be internal to mobile device  100  and associated with external USB interface  104  for exchanging game data with game X module  102 . For example, data exchange interface  201  may act as an intermediary between USB interface  200  and game X application  202  for facilitating communication between a game application (e.g., game X application  202 ) residing on mobile device  100  and one or more game-related functions residing on a game module (e.g., game X module  102 ). 
         [0025]    Game X application  202  may execute a portion of the game code associated with playing game X that is not offloaded to Game X module  102 . Exemplary functions performed by game X application  202  may include managing data input and output associated with the display and keypad, managing accelerometer data (if any), and load balancing with game X module  102 . 
         [0026]    Application handler  204  may direct data to and from gaming applications (e.g., game X application  202 ) or application instances that reside on mobile device  100 . Application handler  204  may also be associated with GSM transmitter  206  and GSM receiver  208  for communicating with mobile communications networks. For example, GSM transmitter  206  and receiver  208  may include one or more antennas and associated hardware, software, and/or firmware for communicating wirelessly with a mobile communications network. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a diagram showing an internal architecture of an exemplary game module suitable for integrating with a mobile communications device according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein. Referring to  FIG. 3 , game X module  102  may include a USB interface  104  for communicating with mobile device  100  upon being detachably coupled to its USB interface. Similar to mobile device  100 , game X module  102  may include an internal data exchange interface  304  associated with USB interface  104  for acting as an intermediary between internal and external resources. Internal resources may include a game X processor  300  and a game X data store  302  that provide supplementary processing and data storage resources for mobile device  100 . 
         [0028]    Game processor  300  may include any suitable processor capable of executing instructions stored in game X data store or received from data exchange interface  304  associated with playing game X. It is appreciated that game X processor may include a general purpose central processing unit (CPU), field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based processor, complex programmable logic device (CPLD)-based processor, or a graphics-specific graphics processing unit (GPU) without departing from the scope of the subject matter described herein. 
         [0029]    Game X data store  302  may include any suitable memory for storing computer-executable instructions or related data files associated with playing game X. Game X data store  302  may be used to store large amounts of game-related data that could not be otherwise practically stored on mobile device  100 . A game application residing on the mobile communications terminal may access game module-based data storage, such as game X data store  302 , to retrieve data associated with a game. When a conventional mobile device  100  is playing an online game without a game module, mobile device  100  may be required to download a large amount of game-related data over a wireless network and permanently store the game data on local memory of mobile device  100  in order to play the game. However, in embodiments where mobile device  100  is coupled with game module  102 , mobile device  100  may dynamically access and retrieve data from and store data to game module  102 . In this way, large amounts of data associated with playing complex or graphics intensive game applications may be pre-loaded on game module  102  and dynamically accesses as game play progresses. By offloading at least some of the processing and data storage requirements of game X onto game X module  102 , the amount of data that is pulled across the wireless network connection and stored on local memory of mobile device  100  is reduced. 
         [0030]    Game X module  102  may also optionally include an auxiliary power source, such as a rechargeable battery, for increasing the power available to game X processor  300  and game X data store  302 . In other cases, game X module  102  may rely on the power source provided by mobile device  100 , which may be received via USB interface  104 . It is also appreciated that game X module  102  may not be capable of playing a game without the aid of mobile device  100 . Specifically, game X module  102  may lack a display, input device, and wireless transceiver necessary for playing a particular game, and therefore may rely on mobile device  100  for these aspects. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a diagram showing an internal architecture of an exemplary game module suitable for integrating with a mobile device according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein. As opposed to the single processor/single data store embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  includes multiple game processors/game data stores, each being associated with a particular game. For example, game X processor  300  and game X data store  302  may be associated with executing game X, while game y processor  400  and game Y data store  402  may be associated with executing game Y. 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is a diagram showing an internal architecture of an exemplary game module suitable for integrating with a mobile device according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein. Referring to  FIG. 5 , in addition to USB interface  104 , data exchange interface  304 , and game processor  500 , exemplary game module  102  may include multiple game data stores (i.e., game X data store  302 ; game Y data store  402 ) for playing multiple games. In contrast to the embodiment presented in  FIG. 4 , a single processor  500  may be shared among all game data stores  302  and  402 . Such an embodiment may be advantageous in circumstances where multiple games have similar characteristics and therefore may be played equally well on a generic (e.g., un-optimized) processor. Additionally, the size, weight, and/or battery life of game module  102  may be improved by reducing and/or simplifying the circuitry associated with shared game processor  500 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an internal architecture of an exemplary mobile device including a security authentication module suitable for integrating with a detachable game module according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein. Referring to  FIG. 6 , exemplary mobile device  100  may be detachably coupled to game X module  102  via USB interface  200  for playing game X. Data exchange interface  201  may be internal to mobile device  100  and associated with external USB interface  200  for exchanging data with game X module  102 . For example, data exchange interface  201  may act as an intermediary between USB interface  104  and game X application  202  for facilitating communication between a game application (e.g., game X application  202 ) on mobile device  100  and one or more game-related functions residing on a game module (e.g., game X module  102 ). Application handler  204  may direct data to and from one or more gaming applications (e.g., game X application  202 ) or application instances that reside on mobile device  100 . Finally, application handler  204  may be associated with GSM transmitter  206  and GSM receiver  208  for communicating with mobile networks. GSM transmitter  206  and receiver  208  may include one or more antennas and associated hardware, software, and/or firmware for communicating wirelessly with a mobile communications network. 
         [0034]    Notably, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , game X application  202  may include an authentication module for authenticating the game player. For example, RSA authentication module  600  may utilize well known RSA public key encryption techniques for securely exchanging information between mobile device  100  and a remote game server. In other embodiments, a one-time programmable (OTP) memory may be used to securely store game or user authentication-related data. As used herein, OTP memory refers to an integrated circuit (IC) memory area or type that can only be written once, such as programmable read-only memory (PROM) and/or field programmable read-only memory (FPROM). RSA authentication module  600  may be configured to access a key generation function  602  residing on game module  102 . The key generated by key generation function  602  may be transmitted to a remote game server for authenticating the game player. 
         [0035]    Alternatively, or in addition to the embodiment described above, RSA authentication module  600  may be used to encrypt/decrypt game-related data sent or received by mobile device  100  for providing a secure communications channel with a game server. Details of the encryption/decryption and user-authentication functions performed by module  600  will be described in greater detail below with respect to  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 7  is a diagram showing an internal architecture of an exemplary game module including a security authentication module suitable for integrating with a mobile device according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein. Referring to  FIG. 7 , game X module  102  may include a USB interface  104  for detachably coupling with mobile device  100  in order to exchange game-related data for playing game X. This information may be communicated internally via data exchange interface  304  to game X processor  300 , game X data store  302 , and game X RSA function  700 . Game X RSA function  700  may be configured to authenticate the game player and/or securely communicate with a remote game server. For example, game X RSA function  700  may utilize well known RSA public key encryption/decryption techniques for securely exchanging information between mobile device  100  and a remote game server. Additionally, game X RSA function  700  may include a key generation function  602  for generating and managing PIN numbers and authentication keys associated with the gamer. 
         [0037]      FIG. 8  is a network diagram of an exemplary mobile communications network for securely authenticating an exemplary mobile device coupled with a game module according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein. Referring to  FIG. 8 , mobile device  100  is detachably coupled to game X module  102  for offloading at least a portion of the processing and data storage resources necessary for playing game X. Mobile device  100  may be connected to a mobile communications network for exchanging game-related data with game server X  802 . For example, mobile device  100  may send game message  804  including a personal identification number (PIN) and RSA authentication/encryption key to game server X  802 . Upon receiving game message  804 , game server X  802  may forward game message  804  to RSA authority  808  for authentication. RSA authority  808  may include any suitable network function or node capable of authenticating game messages. For example, RSA authority  808  may store one or more private keys corresponding to the public keys generated by key generation function  602  and included in game message  804 . RSA authority  808  may use well known RSA encryption and decryption techniques for processing private/public key pairs in order to authenticate mobile device  100 . If mobile device  100  is authenticated, RSA authority  808  may generate and return RSA response message  810  to game server X  802 . 
         [0038]    It will be understood that various details of the subject matter described herein may be changed without departing from the scope of the subject matter described herein. Furthermore, the foregoing description is for the purpose of illustration only, and not for the purpose of limitation, as the subject matter described herein is defined by the claims as set forth hereinafter.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0