Method and apparatus for employing cell phones as video game controllers

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for using cell phones as controllers in a console video game, thereby allowing a large party of players to play simultaneously and to use an interface with which they are familiar. Best suited for question-and-answer style games, the cell phone interface is more adept at text-based answers than is a typical game controller. Key components in the system is an intervening server which conducts the communications between the game console and the service provider(s) for the players cell phones, and a cell phone database which tracks the players and games in progress for subsequently directing incoming messages from cell phones to the appropriate game console.

1 . A method for using cell phones as a game controllers comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a computer, said computer comprising a store and a first interface to a first communication channel, said computer further comprising at least one of a display and an audio output, said store comprising a program executable by said computer;   b) executing a first instance of said program on said computer;   c) providing a cell phone, said cell phone comprising a second interface to a second communication channel, said cell phone associated with a first address on said second communication channel;   d) providing a server, said server comprising a third interface to said first communication channel, said server able to communicate with said computer through said first communication channel, said server comprising a fourth interface to said second communication channel, said server associated with a second address, said server able to communicate with said cell phone through said second communication channel;   e) creating a first record in said server, said first record containing first data representative of said first address, said first record being associated with said first instance of said program;   f) sending a first message with said cell phone to said second address over said second communication channel;   g) receiving said first message with said server over said second communication channel, said first message comprising second data representative of said first address;   h) transferring a second message from said server to said computer over said first communication channel, said second message representative of at least a portion of said first message when said first data and said second data match; and,   i) affecting the execution of said first instance on the basis of said second message; whereby said cell phone is a first controller for said program.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 j) creating a second record in said server, said second record containing third data representative of a password, said second record being associated with said first instance of said program;   k) sending a third message with said cell phone at said first address to said second address over said second communication channel, said third message comprising fourth data representative of said password and fifth data representative of said first address; and, wherein in step e) said first data is said fifth data in response to a match between said third data and said fourth data.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 j) sending a third message from said computer to said server over said first communication channel, said third message comprising third data representative of said first address; and,   wherein step e) is performed with said third data in response to said second message.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first communication channel comprises the Internet. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said second communication channel comprises the Internet. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said second communication channel comprises a gateway. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said second communication channel comprises a provider network. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said computer is one of a personal computer, a game console, and an arcade machine. 
   
   
       9 . A method for using cell phones as game controllers comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a computer, said computer comprising a first store and a first interface to a first communication channel, said computer further comprising at least one of a display and an audio output, said first store comprising a program executable by said computer;   b) executing a first instance of said program on said computer;   c) providing a cell phone, said cell phone comprising a second interface to a second communication channel, said cell phone associated with a first address on said second communication channel;   d) providing a server, said server comprising a second store and a third interface to said first communication channel, said server able to communicate with said computer through said first communication channel, said server comprising a fourth interface to said second communication channel, said server associated with a second address, said server able to communicate with said cell phone through said second communication channel, said second store having a first record for an account, said first record comprising first data representative of an account identifier;   e) creating a second record in said first store, said second record comprising second data representative of said first address;   f) sending a first message with said cell phone to said second address over said second communication channel;   g) receiving said first message from said first address with said server over said second communication channel, said first message comprising third data representative of said first address, said first message comprising fourth data representative of said account identifier;   h) storing said first message in said second store in association with said account when said fourth data and said first data match;   i) transferring said first message from said server to said computer, said computer having access to said account; and,   j) affecting the execution of said first instance on the basis of said first message when said third data and said second data match;   whereby said cell phone is a first controller for said program.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
 k) creating a third record in said first store, said third record containing fifth data representative of a password;   l) sending a second message with said cell phone to said second address over said second communication channel, said second message comprising sixth data representative of said password, seventh data representative of said first address, and eighth data representative of said account identifier;   m) storing said second message in said second store in association with said account when said eighth data and said first data match;   n) transferring said second message to said computer; and,   wherein in step e) said second data is said seventh data, in response to a match between said sixth data and said fifth data.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said first communication channel comprises the Internet. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said second communication channel comprises the Internet. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said second communication channel comprises a gateway. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said second communication channel comprises a provider network. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said computer is one of a personal computer, a game console, and an arcade machine. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said server is an email server. 
   
   
       17 . A system using cell phones as game controllers comprising:
 a computer, said computer comprising a store and a first interface to a first communication channel, said computer further comprising at least one of a display and an audio output, said computer executing a first instance of a program;   a cell phone, said cell phone comprising a second interface to a second communication channel, said cell phone associated with a first address on said second communication channel; and,   a server, said server comprising a third interface to said first communication channel, said server able to communicate with said computer through said first communication channel, said server comprising a fourth interface to said second communication channel, said server associated with a second address, said server able to communicate with said cell phone through said second communication channel, said server having a first record, said first record containing first data representative of said first address, said first record being associated with said first instance of said program;   wherein a first message sent from said cell phone to said second address over said second communication channel is received by said server, said first message comprising second data representative of said first address, said server responsive to said first message when said first data and said second data match to transfer a second message from said server to said computer over said first communication channel, said second message representative of at least a portion of said first message, said first instance responsive to said second message;   whereby said cell phone is a controller for said program.   
   
   
       19 . A system using cell phones as game controllers comprising:
 a computer, said computer comprising a first store and a first interface to a first communication channel, said computer further comprising at least one of a display and an audio output, said computer executing a first instance of a program;   a cell phone, said cell phone comprising a second interface to a second communication channel, said cell phone associated with a first address on said second communication channel; and,   a server, said server comprising a second store and a third interface to said first communication channel, said server able to communicate with said computer through said first communication channel, said server comprising a fourth interface to said second communication channel, said server associated with a second address, said server able to communicate with said cell phone through said second communication channel, said second store having a first record for an account, said first record comprising first data representative of an account identifier;   said first store having a second record, said second record comprising second data representative of said first address;   wherein a first message from said cell phone to said second address over said second communication channel is received by said server over said second communication channel, said first message comprising third data representative of said first address, said first message comprising fourth data representative of said account identifier, said server recording said first message in said second store in association with said account when said fourth data and said first data match, said first message being retrieved from said server by said computer, said computer having access to said account, said first instance responsive to said first message when said third data and said second data match;   whereby said cell phone is a first controller for said program.