Distributed wireless gaming

Abstract

The present invention integrate functions of an SIP (or equivalent protocol) conference server with a game server for seamless presentation of new game play opportunities to wireless or mobile devices. The communications which are specific to a certain wireless device are routed according to well known identification means of said wireless device by the conference server.

1 . A system integrating conference server functions and game server functions for interactive game sessions among two or more users of gaming devices communicating by SIP comprising: 
 (a) an Internet protocol network whereby each gaming device is capable of establishing communication with each other gaming device and a source of conference server functions and a source of game server functions;    (b) the gaming devices having logic means comprising a central processing unit, a real time clock, a memory coupled to said central processing unit for storing a device control program and data information, and an input/output unit coupling said processor with a local user interface and a wireless communication module;    (c) the device control program comprising means for acting upon the processor to communicate through its connected input/output unit to selectively: 
 1) establish wireless communication through the wireless communication module with the each other gaming device; and  
 2) cause execution of the conference server functions and the game server functions such that results of operation of the conference server functions are used by game server functions in causing each of the gaming devices to be engaged in interactive game play.  
   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the conference server functions are stored on a conference server and each gaming device is in direct communication with the conference server.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the conference server functions are stored on a conference server and each gaming device is in direct communication with the conference server and a mixer, whereby said mixer operates to channel all of the flow of multimedia signals between the gaming devices during game play.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the conference server functions are stored on a conference server and the game service functions are stored on a game server, whereby each gaming device is in direct communication with the conference server by way of a SIP service and each gaming device is further in direct communication with the game server by way of a game client.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the conference server and game server communicate by way of an Internet protocol network.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the game server functions are stored in the processor of each gaming device and the conference server functions are stored on a conference server, whereby each gaming device is in direct communication with the conference server.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the game server functions are stored in the processor of each gaming device and the conference server functions are stored on a conference server, whereby each gaming device is in indirect communication with the conference server.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein each gaming device is in direct communication with the conference server and a mixer, whereby said mixer operates to channel all of the flow of multimedia signals between the gaming devices during game play.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the conference server is in direct communication with the mixer and all SIP signaling among the gaming devices is directed by the conference server.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the conference server functions and game server functions are stored in the processor of each gaming device.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the each gaming device is in direct communication with each other gaming device.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the conference server functions include access codes which must be entered by a user of a gaming device to participate in an interactive gaming session as a member of a local game peer group.