System and method for mobile games

Abstract

A method for seamlessly transitioning communication and control between a user and a real-time online activity from a first user device to a second user device is disclosed. The method includes establishing a communication link via a network between the first user device and the activity for controlling the user's participation in the activity, creating a communication link via the network between the second user device and the activity, validating the second user device, transferring control of the user's participation in the activity to the validated second user device, and terminating the communication link between the first user device and the real-time online activity.

1 . A method for seamlessly transitioning communication and control between a user and a real-time online activity from a first user device to a second user device comprising:
 creating a communication link via a network between the first user device and the activity for controlling the user's participation in the activity;   creating a communication link via the network between the second user device and the activity;   validating the second user device;   transferring control of the user's participation in the activity to the validated second user device; and   terminating the communication link between the first user device and the real-time online activity after transferring control to the second user device.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first user device is a computer, a mobile device, a mobile telephone, or a personal digital assistant. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second user device is a computer, a mobile device, a mobile telephone, or a personal digital assistant. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein validating the second user device comprises receiving device specific information about the second device. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the device specific information includes information about software installed in the second user device. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein transferring control further comprises using a protocol compatible with the second user device. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising sending information about the online activity to the second user device based on the device specific information. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the information about the online activity includes a graphic representation of the online activity. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein validating the second user device comprises receiving device environmental information from the second user device. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the device environmental information includes device location information. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the device location information is based on global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the second user device. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the device location information is based on cell phone coordinates determined using multilateration. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the online activity comprises a game. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the game comprises a multiplayer game. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising providing the user with a graphic representation of the game. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein validating the second user device is based on a location of another player in the game. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein validating the second user device is based on a location of all the other players in the game. 
   
   
       18 . A method for transferring control of real-time online activity from a first user device to a second user device comprising:
 creating a first communication link via a network between the first user device and an online server;   establishing control of the first user device over the online activity;   creating a second communication link via the network between the second user device and the online server;   validating the second user device;   establishing control of the second user device over the online activity; and   terminating control of the online activity by the first communication link after establishing control of the second user device over the online activity.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first user device is operated by a first user and the second user device is operated by a second user. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the online activity comprises the user's participation in an online game. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the online game comprises a multi-player game. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising providing information about the online game to be displayed by the second user device after validating the second user device. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein validating the second user device includes determining a location of the first user device and the second user device. 
   
   
       24 . A method for transferring control of a real-time online activity from a user device linked to the activity via a network to a new user device comprising:
 receiving a request from the new user device via the network to control the online activity;   authorizing the new user device to control the online activity;   creating a link to the new user device; and   terminating the link to the user device after creating the link to the new user device.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising determining a location of the new device and wherein authorizing the new user device further comprises authorizing the new user device only if the location of the new user device is within a predetermined area.