Apparatus and method for providing a game service using a game card in a mobile terminal

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing a game service using a game card in a mobile terminal are provided. A card recognizer recognizes card information from each game card of one or more corresponding users. A memory stores card information recognized from each game card of the one or more corresponding users and a game program for a game service. A controller controls the card recognizer to recognize card information from the game card, compares the recognized card information of each of the game cards corresponding to the one or more users, and displays a result of the comparison.

1 . An apparatus for providing a game service using a game card in a mobile terminal, the apparatus comprising:
 a card recognizer for recognizing card information from each game card of one or more corresponding users;   a memory for storing the card information recognized from each game card of the one or more corresponding users and a game program for a game service; and   a controller for controlling the card recognizer to recognize card information from the game card, for comparing the recognized card information of each of the game cards corresponding to the one or more users, and for displaying a result of the comparison.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the card recognizer includes a camera for recognizing the card information from each game card of the one or more corresponding users. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the card recognizer recognizes the card information from each game card of the one or more corresponding users by arranging each game card in a view range of the camera. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each game card includes a recognizable code that is viewable on each game card. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the recognizable code includes a bar code. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each game card includes an image that is viewable on each game card. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each game card includes a comparable score that is viewable on each game card. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a receiver for receiving recognized card information. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter for transmitting recognized card information. 
   
   
       10 . A method for providing a game service using a game card in a mobile terminal, the method comprising:
 recognizing card information from each of a plurality of game cards, each of the plurality of games cards corresponding to a user;   comparing recognized card information of a corresponding user to recognized card information of at least one other corresponding user; and   displaying a result of the comparison.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the recognizing of the card information includes extracting the card information from a recognizable code that is viewable on each of the plurality of game cards. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the recognizing of the card information includes extracting the card information from an image that is viewable on each of the plurality of game cards. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the recognizing of the card information includes recognizing each of the plurality of game cards through a camera provided with a mobile terminal. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the recognizing of the card information includes recognizing each of the plurality of game cards through a camera provided with a respective mobile terminal corresponding to a same user as the game card being recognized. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the comparing of the recognized card information includes comparing card information recognized at one mobile terminal with card information recognized at at least one other mobile terminal. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising receiving recognized card information. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising transmitting recognized card information.