Electronic word puzzle
First Claim
1. A game device comprising:
- a microprocessor or micro-controller to control the operation of the device, plurality of input control mechanisms to enable a player to interact with the device, computer memory to store game data, an indicator subdivided into a plurality of playing positions, each of which is used to display a character from an alphabet, and a control program executed on a processor that includes a first program segment to alter the alphabet display, and a second program segment that recognizes words.
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Abstract
A word puzzle device, method and apparatus, is disclosed which is based on the popular “find a word,” and “form a word” games. The puzzle employs logical structures to scramble an initial board display of characters, and requires a player to reconstruct the scrambled board before finding predefined words hidden in the display. The logical structures include a shift process, and a cause/effect process to change the position of characters in the display, or to replace characters with other characters based on predefined rules. When playing “form a word” game, a player is permitted to shift rows and/or columns, and/or activate control points to replace characters, to form as many new words as possibly can within a predetermined period of time. The puzzle device includes means to store a plurality of games, and input control mechanisms to enable a player to interact with the device. The device keeps a score that measures the player'"'"'s skills in solving the word puzzle.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A game device comprising:
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a microprocessor or micro-controller to control the operation of the device, plurality of input control mechanisms to enable a player to interact with the device, computer memory to store game data, an indicator subdivided into a plurality of playing positions, each of which is used to display a character from an alphabet, and a control program executed on a processor that includes a first program segment to alter the alphabet display, and a second program segment that recognizes words. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A game device comprising:
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a housing for the device, a microprocessor or micro-controller to control the operation of the device, plurality of input control mechanisms to enable a player to interact with the device, computer memory to store game data, an indicator subdivided into a plurality of playing positions, each of which is used to display a character from an alphabet, means to scramble or modify the alphabetic display, and means to recognize words on the display. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A game device comprising:
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a housing for the device, a microprocessor or micro-controller to control the operation of the device, plurality of input control mechanisms to enable a player to interact with the device, computer memory to store game data, an indicator subdivided into a plurality of playing positions, each of which is used to display a character from an alphabet, and a program segment to scramble the alphabetic display by shifting an entire row or column, and means to recognize words on the display. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method for providing an electronic word puzzle comprising:
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generating an initial display board from a configuration of characters by scrambling said initial configuration, providing control logic responsive to input control mechanisms to enable a player to unscramble the display for the purpose of finding hidden words or forming words, and evaluating if words selected by a player constitutes valid words. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A game device comprising:
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a housing for the device, a microprocessor or micro-controller to control the operation of the device, plurality of input control mechanisms to enable a player to interact with the device, computer memory to store game data, an indicator subdivided into a plurality of playing positions, each of which is used to display a character from an alphabet, a program segment to scramble the alphabetic display by shifting an entire row, or an entire column, or by activating a plurality of control points, each of which affects a plurality of playing positions by replacing characters at these playing positions with new characters based on predefined rules, and means to recognize words.
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Specification