Mobile Device Used as Controller in Interactive Gaming Environment

Abstract

Using mobile devices in interactive gaming environments can include receiving inputs for a game event sent from wireless mobile devices over a plurality of disparate wireless networks. Each received input can include a game response and a timestamp indicative of when the game response was made. The timestamp and the game response of each input can be compared to formulate a game output.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving inputs for a game event sent from wireless mobile devices over a plurality of disparate wireless networks, wherein each received input comprises a game response and a timestamp indicative of when the game response was made; and   comparing the timestamp and the game response of each input to formulate a game output.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of disparate wireless networks comprises a cellular network. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of disparate wireless networks comprises a local area wireless network. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the received inputs are sent in accordance with a text messaging protocol. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the Short Message Service (SMS) protocol defines the text messaging protocol. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the game response comprises a guess of a future play of a ball game. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving inputs for the game event comprises receiving an input over Bluetooth. 
   
   
       8 . A method comprising:
 receiving a game response;   recording a timestamp for the game response indicative of when the response was made; and   transmitting the response and the timestamp to a server over a communication pathway that comprises a wireless link.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein transmitting the response comprises formulating a text message comprising the response. 
   
   
       10 . A computer program product, tangibly embodied on a computer-readable medium, the computer program product comprising instructions to enable data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 receiving inputs for a game event sent from wireless mobile devices over a plurality of disparate wireless networks, wherein each received input comprises a game response and a timestamp indicative of when the game response was made; and   comparing the timestamp and the game response of each input to formulate a game output.   
   
   
       11 . The computer program product of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of disparate wireless networks comprises a cellular network. 
   
   
       12 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of disparate wireless networks comprises a local area wireless network. 
   
   
       13 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the received inputs are sent in accordance a text messaging protocol. 
   
   
       14 . The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein the Short Message Service (SMS) protocol defines the text messaging protocol. 
   
   
       15 . The computer program product of  claim 10 , wherein the game response comprises a guess of a future play of a ball game. 
   
   
       16 . The computer program product of  claim 10 , wherein receiving inputs for the game event comprises receiving an input over Bluetooth. 
   
   
       17 . A system comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer-readable medium encoding instructions to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving inputs for a game event sent from wireless mobile devices over a plurality of disparate wireless networks, wherein each received input comprises a game response and a timestamp indicative of when the game response was made; and 
 comparing the timestamp and the game response of each input to formulate a game output. 
   
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of disparate wireless networks comprises a cellular network. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of disparate wireless networks comprises a local area wireless network. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the received inputs are sent in accordance a text messaging protocol. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the Short Message Service (SMS) protocol defines the text messaging protocol. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the game response comprises a guess of a future play of a ball game. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein receiving inputs for the game event comprises receiving an input over Bluetooth. 
   
   
       24 . A device comprising:
 a gaming system, having a first network connection receiving input indicative of a game from a remote controller; and   an interface to a mobile device, the mobile device producing controls that interact with said game.