Method and apparatus for simulating game accessories

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for simultaneously simulating on each of a plurality of communication terminals, one or more game accessories activated by each terminal, and identifying the respective terminals that activated the game accessories. Such a feature can be used to simulate the rolling of one or more die, spinning a spinner, controlling a timer, randomly selecting one of a plurality of game instructions (e.g., cards), and enabling players to display placed bets while playing a game over a telephone line. Once a communications link is established between two or more parties, their terminals are placed in a game mode which activates inband signal detection circuitry located either within the terminals or at a platform connected between the terminals. Multi-colored indicators (e.g., LEDs and/or LCDs) representing game accessories are activated, their color clearly identifying which party activated a game accessory (e.g., who “rolled” the dice or who “spun” the spinner).

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method of simulating a game accessory, comprising: 
 inputting at one of a plurality of communication terminals connected via a communications link, an instruction to determine an outcome; and    randomly determining at said one terminal, a signal representing said outcome to send to each of said terminals for display.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said communications link is one of a telephone line and a wireless link.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said displayed outcome simulates a game accessory.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said game accessory is one or more die.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said game accessory is a spinner.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said game accessory indicates a special game instruction.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said signal is an inband signal transmitted over said communications link.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said inband signal comprises at least one dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signal.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 defining a plurality of identifiers used to differentiate between said terminals;    determining at each of said terminals, from which terminal said signal originated; and    indicating at each of said terminals, said outcome and originating terminal identifier.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein conversing parties associated with said terminals can spontaneously set up and play a game without interfering with an ongoing conversation over said communications link.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each identifier is represented by a different color emitted by one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a speakerphone.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a wireless telephone.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a walkie talkie.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a wireless toy.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a transceiver.  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus for simulating a game accessory, comprising: 
 means for inputting at one of a plurality of communication terminals connected via a communications link, an instruction to determine an outcome; and    means for randomly determining at said one terminal, a signal representing said outcome to send to each of said terminals for display.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said communications link is one of a telephone line and a wireless link.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said displayed outcome simulates a game accessory.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said game accessory is one or more die.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said game accessory is a spinner.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said game accessory indicates a special game instruction.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said signal is an inband signal transmitted over said communications link.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said inband signal comprises at least one dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signal.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 means for defining a plurality of identifiers used to differentiate between said terminals;    means for determining at each of said terminals, from which terminal said signal originated; and    means for indicating at each of said terminals, said outcome and originating terminal identifier.    
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein conversing parties associated with said terminals can spontaneously set up and play a game without interfering with an ongoing conversation over said communications link.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein each identifier is represented by a different color emitted by one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a speakerphone.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a wireless telephone.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a walkie talkie.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a wireless toy.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a transceiver.  
     
     
         33 . A method of simulating a game accessory, comprising: 
 defining a plurality of identifiers used to differentiate between a plurality of communication terminals connected via a communications link;    inputting at one of said terminals, an instruction to determine an outcome;    randomly determining at said one terminal, a signal representing said outcome to send to each of said terminals for display;    determining at each of said terminals, from which terminal said signal originated; and    indicating at each of said terminals, said outcome and originating terminal identifier.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein each identifier is represented by a different color emitted by one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said communications link is one of a telephone line and a wireless link.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said displayed outcome simulates a game accessory.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said game accessory is one or more die.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said game accessory is a spinner.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said game accessory indicates a special game instruction.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a speakerphone.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a wireless telephone.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a walkie talkie.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a wireless toy.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a transceiver.  
     
     
         45 . Apparatus for simulating a game accessory, comprising: 
 means for defining a plurality of identifiers used to differentiate between a plurality of communication terminals connected via a communications link;    means for inputting at one of said terminals, an instruction to determine an outcome;    means for randomly determining at said one terminal, a signal representing said outcome to send to each of said terminals for display;    means for determining at each of said terminals, from which terminal said signal originated; and    means for indicating at each of said terminals, said outcome and originating terminal identifier.    
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein each identifier is represented by a different color emitted by one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).  
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein said communications link is one of a telephone line and a wireless link.  
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein said displayed outcome simulates a game accessory.  
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein said game accessory is one or more die.  
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein said game accessory is a spinner.  
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein said game accessory indicates a special game instruction.  
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a speakerphone.  
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a wireless telephone.  
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a walkie talkie.  
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a wireless toy.  
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a transceiver.  
     
     
         57 . A method of simulating a game accessory, comprising: 
 defining a plurality of identifiers used to differentiate between a plurality of communication terminals connected via a communications link, wherein each identifier is represented by a different color; and    indicating at each of said terminals, a state of a game accessory illuminated in the color representing the terminal from which a signal representing said state was sent.    
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein each identifier is represented by a different color emitted by one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein said game accessory is one or more die.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein said game accessory is a spinner.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein said game accessory indicates a special game instruction.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein said game accessory is a timer.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein said game accessory enables a game player to indicate a bet.  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a speakerphone.  
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a wireless telephone.  
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a walkie talkie.  
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a wireless toy.  
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a transceiver.  
     
     
         69 . Apparatus for simulating a game accessory, comprising: 
 means for defining a plurality of identifiers used to differentiate between a plurality of communication terminals connected via a communications link, wherein each identifier is represented by a different color; and    means for indicating at each of said terminals, a state of a game accessory illuminated in the color representing the terminal from which a signal representing said state was sent.    
     
     
         70 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein each identifier is represented by a different color emitted by one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).  
     
     
         71 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein said game accessory is one or more die.  
     
     
         72 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein said game accessory is a spinner.  
     
     
         73 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein said game accessory indicates a special game instruction.  
     
     
         74 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein said game accessory is a timer.  
     
     
         75 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein said game accessory enables a game player to indicate a bet.  
     
     
         76 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a speakerphone.  
     
     
         77 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a wireless telephone.  
     
     
         78 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a walkie talkie.  
     
     
         79 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a wireless toy.  
     
     
         80 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a transceiver.  
     
     
         81 . A method of simulating a game accessory, comprising: 
 inputting at one of a plurality of communication terminals connected via a communications link, an instruction to determine an outcome; and    determining at said one terminal, a signal representing said outcome to send to each of said terminals for display.    
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein said communications link is one of a telephone line and a wireless link.  
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein said signal is determined randomly.  
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein said displayed outcome simulates a game accessory.  
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein said game accessory is one or more die.  
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein said game accessory is a spinner.  
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein said game accessory indicates a special game instruction.  
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein said displayed outcome simulates a timer.  
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein said displayed outcome enables a game player to indicate a bet.  
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a speakerphone.  
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a wireless telephone.  
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a walkie talkie.  
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a wireless toy.  
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a transceiver.  
     
     
         95 . Apparatus for simulating a game accessory, comprising: 
 means for inputting at one of a plurality of communication terminals connected via a communications link, an instruction to determine an outcome; and    means for determining at said one terminal, a signal representing said outcome to send to each of said terminals for display.    
     
     
         96 . The apparatus of  claim 95 , wherein said communications link is one of a telephone line and a wireless link.  
     
     
         97 . The apparatus of  claim 95 , wherein said signal is determined randomly.  
     
     
         98 . The apparatus of  claim 97 , wherein said displayed outcome simulates a game accessory.  
     
     
         99 . The apparatus of  claim 98 , wherein said game accessory is one or more die.  
     
     
         100 . The apparatus of  claim 98 , wherein said game accessory is a spinner.  
     
     
         101 . The apparatus of  claim 98 , wherein said game accessory indicates a special game instruction.  
     
     
         102 . The apparatus of  claim 95 , wherein said displayed outcome simulates a timer.  
     
     
         103 . The apparatus of  claim 95 , wherein said displayed outcome enables a game player to indicate a bet.  
     
     
         104 . The apparatus of  claim 95 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a speakerphone.  
     
     
         105 . The apparatus of  claim 95 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a wireless telephone.  
     
     
         106 . The apparatus of  claim 95 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a walkie talkie.  
     
     
         107 . The apparatus of  claim 95 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a wireless toy.  
     
     
         108 . The apparatus of  claim 95 , wherein at least one of said terminals is a transceiver.