Mobile terminals for supplementing game module resources and methods and computer program products for operating the same

Abstract

Mobile terminals include a portable housing and a wireless communication network interface circuit in the housing. A memory is coupled to the housing and a user interface is in the housing. A data interface in the housing is configured to be operatively coupled to a game module and a controller in the housing is configured to couple the memory and/or the user interface of the mobile terminal to the game module through the data interface to supplement resources of the game module using the memory and/or the user interface. Methods and computer program products are also provided.

1 . A mobile terminal, comprising: 
 a portable housing;    a wireless communication network interface circuit in the housing;    a memory coupled to the housing;    a user interface in the housing;    a data interface in the housing configured to be operatively coupled to a game module; and    a controller in the housing configured to couple the memory and/or the user interface of the mobile terminal to the game module through the data interface to supplement resources of the game module using the memory and/or the user interface.    
   
   
       2 . The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to obtain user data associated with a game from the game module and to save the obtained user data in the memory responsive to a user request.  
   
   
       3 . The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to provide saved user data from the memory to the game module.  
   
   
       4 . The mobile terminal of  claim 2 , wherein the data interface comprises a Bluetooth interface, an infrared interface and/or a data cable interface.  
   
   
       5 . The mobile terminal of  claim 4 , wherein the data cable interface comprises a serial bus interface.  
   
   
       6 . The mobile terminal of  claim 2 , wherein the memory comprises a removable memory.  
   
   
       7 . The mobile terminal of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface comprises a display of the mobile terminal and wherein the controller is configured to couple the display of the mobile terminal to the game module for use by the game module in displaying supplemental game user information while continuing display of graphics associated with a game on a display of the game module.  
   
   
       8 . The mobile terminal of  claim 7 , wherein the user interface further comprises a user input interface and wherein the controller is configured to couple the user input interface to the game module to allow a user to obtain information associated with the game from the game module based on a user request input to the game module through the user input interface of the mobile terminal.  
   
   
       9 . The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises a display of the mobile terminal and wherein the controller is configured to couple the display of the mobile terminal to the game module for use by the game module in displaying supplemental game user information while continuing display of graphics associated with a game on a display of the game module.  
   
   
       10 . The mobile terminal of  claim 9 , wherein the supplemental information comprises inventory information associated with a character of the game, a map associated with the game, a playbook associated with the game and/or a character to character communication visual interface associated with the game.  
   
   
       11 . The mobile terminal of  claim 9 , wherein the user interface further comprises a user input interface and wherein the controller is configured to couple the user input interface to the game module to allow a user to obtain information associated with the game from the game module based on a user request input to the game module through the user input interface of the mobile terminal.  
   
   
       12 . The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises a user input interface and wherein the controller is configured to couple the user input interface to the game module to allow a user to obtain information associated with the game from the game module based on a user request input to the game module through the user input interface of the mobile terminal.  
   
   
       13 . The mobile terminal of  claim 12 , wherein the user input interface comprises a keypad of the mobile terminal and wherein the information associated with the game is inventory information associated with a character of the game.  
   
   
       14 . A method of supplementing game module resources with a mobile terminal, the method comprising: 
 communicatively linking the mobile terminal to the game module using a data interface of the mobile terminal; and    utilizing a memory and/or a user interface of the mobile terminal to supplement resources of the game module.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein utilizing a memory and/or a user interface comprises: 
 obtaining user data associated with a game from the game module; and    saving the obtained user data in the memory responsive to a user request.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising providing saved user data from the memory to the game module.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the user interface comprises a display of the mobile terminal and wherein utilizing a memory and/or a user interface comprises: 
 coupling the display of the mobile terminal to the game module; and    using the display of the mobile terminal to display supplemental game user information while continuing display of graphics associated with a game on a display of the game module.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the user interface comprises a user input interface and wherein utilizing a memory and/or a user interface comprises: 
 coupling the user input interface of the mobile terminal to the game module; and    inputting a user request to the game module through the user input interface of the mobile terminal to obtain information associated with the game from the game module.    
   
   
       19 . A computer program product for supplementing game module resources with a mobile terminal, the computer program product comprising computer program code embodied in a computer readable medium, the computer program code comprising program code configured to carry out the method of  claim 14 .  
   
   
       20 . A computer program product for supplementing game module resources with a mobile terminal, the computer program product comprising computer program code embodied in a computer readable medium, the computer program code comprising program code configured to carry out the method of  claim 15.