WO2001072064A1

WO2001072064A1 - Game program downloading system and method for mobile terminal

Info

Publication number: WO2001072064A1
Application number: PCT/KR2001/000413
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hee-Seok Kim
Original assignee: Mobiletop., Ltd.
Priority date: 2000-03-20
Filing date: 2001-03-15
Publication date: 2001-09-27
Also published as: KR20000049446A; AU4125101A

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and its method for downloading game programs stored in a game server to a mobile terminal via a wireless network, storing the game programs in a memory and playing the same. The system comprises a web game server for uploading various game programs; a game database for dividing the game programs into program codes and data and storing the same; a mobile terminal for receiving a game list stored in the web game server via the network, selecting a desired game from the game list, downloading corresponding program codes and data, and playing the game using the game program codes and the data; and a wireless network service system for connecting the mobile terminal and the web game server.

Description

Game Program Downloading System and Method for Mobile Terminal

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system and method for a mobile

terminal user to register desired game programs with the user's mobile

terminal, and to modify and upgrade registered contents. More specifically,

the present invention relates to a system for receiving game programs by a

mobile terminal via a wireless Internet that are stored in a web game server,

storing the programs in a memory and reproducing the programs.

(b) Description of the Related Art

Since information communication technology has greatly developed

and communication cultures have changed, most youngsters as well as

adults have come to carry their own mobile terminals. This wide

popularization of mobile communication terminals has made terminal

manufacturers make efforts to develop diversified products, and accordingly,

recently released terminals have various additional functions as well as the

basic voice communication function.

One of the most popular additional functions provided to the mobile

terminal is an electronic game program execution function.

Present mobile terminals with a game function have electronic game programs of predetermined codes in a memory of the terminals. Accordingly,

the mobile terminal user performs the electronic game using a key input unit

provided on the front of the mobile terminal.

Generally, if a gamer finishes a full course of a game, the gamer will

not run the game again. Even though the gamer starts a game previously run

by the gamer, he will not be as excited about the game as before.

Since a memory capacity for storing mobile terminal game programs

is very limited, various kinds of games cannot be stored in the memory.

Particularly, since the capacity of the memory cannot be freely designed,

differing from that of an exclusive game device, it is difficult to provide

sophisticated game programs to the mobile terminal when regarding trends

of minimization and low cost of the mobile terminals.

Therefore, since a plurality of short games with different features or a

long story game cannot be provided to the mobile terminal, present

electronic games cannot provide continuous excitement to the gamers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a game program

stored in a game server to a mobile terminal via a wireless network, store the

same in a memory and execute it.

It is another object of the present invention to partially provide a long- story game program to the mobile terminal via a wire or wireless

network without having to increase the memory capacity.

It is still another object of the present invention to separately allocate

memory regions for storing game programs for respective manufacturers so

as to omit repeated developments and processes of game program codes to

be installed in the mobile terminals, and hence to reduce product costs.

In one aspect of the present invention, a game program

downloading system for a mobile terminal comprises: a web game server for

uploading a plurality of game programs to a web site; a game database for

dividing the game programs to be provided to the web game server into

program codes and data and storing them; a mobile terminal for receiving a

list of games provided to the web game server via a network, selecting a

desired game from the game list, downloading corresponding program codes

and data, and executing the game using the downloaded program codes and

data; and a wireless network service system for connecting the mobile

terminal with the web game server via the network.

In another aspect of the present invention, in a method for

downloading a network game program to a mobile terminal, a game program

downloading method for a mobile terminal comprises: automatically reading

predetermined number information of the mobile terminal when it is

connected to a mobile terminal game program-providing site on a network, and comparing the information with specifications of products of terminal

manufacturers previously established as a database so as to determine

whether to download a program, outputting a use prohibition message when

downloading of a program is not allowed, and outputting a menu screen of a

game category, selecting a desired game to be downloaded, performing a

demonstration simulation of the selected game so as to determine whether

to perform a download when downloading of a program is allowed, and

performing a download and automatic billing when downloading is selected

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and

constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles

of the invention

FIG 1 shows a block diagram of a system according to a preferred

embodiment of the present invention,

FIG 2 shows a block diagram of a mobile terminal applied to the

system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

FIG 3 shows data flow between a memory and a CPU when a game

is performed at a mobile terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the

present invention, FIG. 4 shows an example of a configuration of a game menu

displayed on a mobile terminal or a computer screen when downloading a

game program via the system according to a preferred embodiment of the

present invention;

FIG. 5 shows an example of a simulation screen for displaying

operations of a game menu when downloading a game program via the

system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of downloading of a game program by the

system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of executing a game program at a mobile

terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, only the preferred embodiment

of the invention has been shown and described, simply by way of illustration

of the best mode contemplated by the inventor(s) of carrying out the

invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in

various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention.

Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in

nature, and not restrictive.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown, a web game server 300 for

managing Internet sites having game program downloading menus is

connected to a game database 500 for categorizing a plurality of game

programs as object codes and data, and storing them.

A member database 600 for storing and managing members'

personal information is connected to the web game server 300.

A mobile terminal 100 is connected to a web mobile terminal game

download site by the web game server via a wireless Internet service system

200.

When the mobile terminal 100 is connected to the web mobile

terminal game download site via the Internet and a request for downloading

a mobile terminal game is generated, the web game server 300 provides the

object codes and the data of the game program of the menu selected by the

mobile terminal user to the corresponding mobile terminal 100 via the

wireless Internet service system 200. In this instance, the object codes can

be separated from or linked to the data.

A user personal computer (PC) 400 can be connected to the web

mobile terminal game download site.

Differing from the program codes affixed to a predetermined memory

within a conventional terminal, the user accesses the Internet game server

via the wireless Internet using a mobile terminal, selects desired game program codes and the data to be combined with the game program codes

from various electronic game programs provided to the corresponding web

game server 300, and receives the same in a linked or separated manner.

Particularly, the user respectively receives the data of different

stages or steps on an identical program (object codes) and performs the

game at a desired stage or step.

For this, the web game server 300 for the user to access using a

mobile terminal is needed, and a memory 120 (illustrated in FIG. 2) for

storing desired downloaded game programs is to be provided in the mobile

terminal 100.

The user receives various game programs and data by receiving

information on the manufacturers and product categories of the mobile

terminals that are connected via the Internet from a network service provider

that manages the wireless Internet service system 200.

The web game server 300 comprises a memory, that is, the game

database 500 for storing the object codes and the data according to

classifications of CPUs for respective manufacturers and products of the

mobile terminals in divided regions, and receives addresses for storing game

codes and data of the memory of the mobile terminal from the mobile

terminal, automatically converts the object codes and the data according to

the corresponding addresses to be linked, and performs a download. The web game server 300 has a simulation function for game lists

and demonstrations so that users who access the server may conveniently

select and receive desired electronic games and corresponding various data

stored in the game database.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the mobile terminal 100.

As shown, the mobile terminal comprises a memory 120 for dividing

the game program transmitted by the web game server into program codes

and data and storing or removing them; a display 130 for displaying the

mobile terminal states and game screen outputs; an interface 140 for

interfacing data with a device such as a computer; a key input unit 150; a

voice signal processor 160; a radio frequency (RF) signal processor 170; and

a central processing unit (CPU) 1 10 for controlling the above-noted

components and executing a menu program for performing a corresponding

game program.

The above-described mobile terminal can access the wireless

Internet, and the memory transmits and receives various event signals

to/from the CPU so as to perform and finish the game program.

The mobile terminal 100 receives wireless Internet services via a

network service provider that manages the wireless Internet service system

200, and is connected to the web game server 300 via the wireless Internet.

The user PC 400 is connected to the web game server 300 via a conventional Internet sen/ice network.

When the mobile terminal 1 00 is connected to the web game server

300 via the wireless Internet, a user watches a game list, like that shown in

FIG. 4, displayed on the display 130 of the mobile terminal 1 00 and receives

game program data of separated or combined game program codes and

data.

Differing from this, when a user uses the PC 400 to access the web

game server 300, the user watches a game list, selects a desired game or

data, and inputs a mobile terminal number to which the game will be

downloaded to the web game server, and hence the game is downloaded.

A mobile terminal game program downloaded to the PC 400 is

downloaded to the mobile terminal by connecting the interface 140 of the

mobile terminal 100 with a serial/parallel data input/output port using an

additional cable.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a list for selecting games and data

supported by the web game server 300. When a user watches the game list

displayed on the display of the mobile terminal 100 or the monitor screen of

the PC 400 and selects an icon of a desired game, a simulation of the game

for a quick review is displayed.

FIG. 3 shows a data process of a game program execution of the

mobile terminal 100. That is, FIG. 3 shows data communication between the memory 120 for storing the game program data and the CPU 1 10 within the

mobile terminal when a user receives program codes and data using an

Internet browser function, stores them in the memory 120 and executes the

game.

In this instance, the program codes downloaded from the web game

server 300 are stored in a code information region 121 , and the downloaded

data are stored in a data information region 122.

Hence, when the user selects a predetermined menu to execute the

downloaded program codes, the CPU 1 10 of the mobile terminal is switched

to a game mode from a mobile terminal mode, and the program stored in the

code information region 121 of the memory 120 is started.

When the program of the code information region 121 is started, the

CPU 1 10 reads data necessary for program execution from the data

information region 122, sets a starting point and a scenario of the game

program, periodically transmits timer events to the code information region

121 , and each time the user generates a key input via the key input unit 150,

the CPU 1 10 detects the key input, generates a key button event and

transmits the key button event to the code information region 212.

When the mobile terminal user executes the game downloaded to

the mobile terminal, the timer event enables the CPU 1 10 to periodically call

the game region and to execute a predetermined game without being effected by a normal standby mode of the mobile terminal

The code information region 121 of the memory 120 executes the

game program via the data information region 122 and screen information

region 123

When the user selects a game ending or a call generation is

detected while the program in the code information region is executed, the

CPU 1 10 of the mobile terminal transmits a stop event or a pause event to

the code information region 121 to invoke a game-stopping process

As described above, when the stop event or the pause event is

transmitted to the code information region 121 from the CPU 1 10, present

states or data are transmitted to the data information region 122 and then

stored

The code information region 121 transmits screen information of the

mobile terminal controlled by the program execution by the CPU to the

screen information region 123 to be stored, and the CPU periodically reads

the screen information and outputs it to the display 130

To give effects to the user when executing or terminating the

program in the code information region 121 , effect events for creating

sounds are provided to the CPU 1 10

FIG 6 shows a flowchart of an operation of the web game server for

receiving a game program for a mobile terminal via the Internet

π As shown, when a mobile terminal accesses a mobile terminal game

program downloading site managed by a web game server, the server reads

specific number information of the mobile terminal, and compares it with

specifications for respective manufacturers previously input to a database so

as to determine whether to allow program downloading.

When the terminal that has accessed the web site does not support

game program downloading, states of a PC access mode are determined.

When the state is not the PC access mode, a use prohibition message is

output, and when it is the PC access mode, a menu screen of game

categories is output, a game to be downloaded is selected, and a

demonstration simulation of the selected game program is performed to

determine whether to receive the game program via a download.

In this instance, when downloading is desired, a cell phone number

is requested and the game is downloaded. The request for the cell phone

number is used to authenticate and bill the user. In the case of a free service,

this request can be omitted. In the case of a membership service, a member

ID can be requested as a substitute for or in addition to the cell phone

number. After downloading, the program codes and the data are combined,

and a corresponding game program transmission via the Internet is

completed.

After this, the game program provided to the PC is loaded to the cell phone via a communication interface cable so that the user performs a new

game via the mobile terminal.

When it is determined that the mobile terminal supports game

program downloading, a menu screen of game categories is output, a game

to be downloaded is selected, and a demonstration simulation of the

selected game program is performed to determine whether to receive the

game program via a download.

In the case of the mobile terminal receiving the game program via a

direct download, the web game server receives an address from the mobile

terminal for storing object language program codes and data according to

categories of the CPUs for the respective manufacturers and products of the

mobile terminals, and automatically converts the object language codes and

the data according to the corresponding address and then downloads.

When performing the download, the web game server can

automatically bill the user.

As described above, the user can receive desired games when

necessary, and in the case a single game has plural stages the user only

receives game data codes of a desired stage that is within the available

capacity of the memory, since the corresponding program execution codes

are identical, and performs the game.

Therefore, the user can continuously execute a long story game program using the mobile communication terminal.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of an execution of a game program

downloaded via a mobile terminal according to the present invention.

As shown, when a user manipulates a mobile terminal to switch a

previous mode into the game mode, the CPU reads the program codes and

the data codes stored in a memory and instructs to execute a corresponding

game. In this instance, the CPU performs a start event and a timer event to

control the game from the standby mode of the mobile terminal.

The game is executed according to key button event values, and

when a user desires or a call signal is detected, a pause event or a stop

event is created, processing information up to then is stored in the memory,

and the game mode is switched to a mobile phone telephoning mode or a

mobile phone standby mode.

As described above, since a user downloads game programs stored

in the web game server to the mobile terminal via the wireless Internet,

stores them in the memory and plays the same, the problem of limited

installation of game programs because of lack of memory capacity of the

mobile terminal is solved.

Also, the user can enjoy a full story game on line or off line by

partially downloading the same to the mobile terminal without adding

additional memory to the mobile terminal. In addition since the present invention can omit duplicated

developments and installation processes of the mobile terminal game

program codes by only assigning memory regions for storing the game

programs of the respective manufacturers, the production cost is reduced

While this invention has been described in connection with what is

presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is

to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed

embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications

and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the

appended claims

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1 . A game program downloading system for a mobile terminal

comprising:

a web game server for uploading a plurality of game programs to a

web site;

a game database for dividing the game programs to be provided to

the web game server into program codes and data and storing them;

a mobile terminal for receiving a list of games provided to the web

game server via a network, selecting a desired game from the game list,

downloading corresponding program codes and data, and executing the

game using the downloaded program codes and data; and

a wireless network service system for connecting the mobile

terminal with the web game server via the network.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the web game server comprises

a member database for storing and managing members^" personal

information for membership system management.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the game database stores

object codes and data according to classifications of central processing units

(CPU) for respective manufacturers and products of the mobile terminals in

divided regions, receives addresses for storing game codes and data of a

memory of the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal, automatically converts the object codes and the data according to the corresponding

addresses to be linked, and performs a download.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile terminal comprises:

a memory for dividing the game program transmitted by the web

game server into program codes and data and storing or removing them;

a display for displaying mobile terminal states and game screen

outputs;

an interface for interfacing data with a device such as a computer;

a key input unit;

a voice signal processor;

a radio frequency (RF) signal processor; and

a CPU for controlling the above-noted components and executing a

menu program for performing a corresponding game program.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the memory transmits and

receives timer events that are generated for each predetermined period, start

events and key button events generated by a manipulation of the key input

unit, pause events or stop events generated when a signal is input or a user

stops a running game, effect events for generating sound, and screen

information to/from the CPU.

6. A game program downloading system for mobile terminals

comprising: a web game server for uploading a plurality of game programs to a

web site;

a game database for dividing the game programs to be provided to

the web game server into program codes and data and storing them;

a personal computer (PC) for receiving a list of games provided to

the web game server via a network, selecting a desired game from the game

list, and downloading corresponding program codes and data; and

a mobile terminal for downloading the game program codes and

data downloaded to the PC, via a communication interface cable, and

executing the corresponding game program.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein when the PC requests a game

program download, the web game server requests a mobile terminal number

for user authentication and billing, and downloads the selected game

program.

8. In a method for downloading a network game program to a

mobile terminal, a game program downloading method for a mobile terminal

comprising:

automatically reading predetermined number information of the

mobile terminal when it is connected to a mobile terminal game program-

providing site on a network, and comparing the information with

specifications of products of terminal manufacturers previously established as a database so as to determine whether to download a program;

outputting a use prohibition message when downloading of a

program is not allowed, and outputting a menu screen of a game category,

selecting a desired game to be downloaded, performing a demonstration

simulation of the selected game so as to determine whether to perform a

download when downloading of a program is allowed; and

performing a download and automatic billing when downloading is

selected.