Physical representational objects with digital memory and methods of manufacture and use thereof

• US 20060030410A1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Adams, Guy de Warrenne Bruce, McDonnell, James Thomas Edward, Lawrence, Richard Anthony, Sellen, Abigail Jane, Stenton, Stuart Phillip, Dickin, Fraser John
• Granted Patent: US 8,025,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video

Abstract

A representational object contains a visual representation of a character and a memory tag comprising a digital memory adapted to be read from when inductively powered. The digital memory contains digital content relating to the character represented visually on the representational object. At least a part of the digital content relates to function of the character in a game carried out by a gaming application and comprises executable code for execution in connection with operation of the gaming application.

Claims

1. A representational object containing a visual representation of a character and a memory tag comprising a digital memory adapted to be read from when inductively powered, the digital memory containing digital content relating to the character represented visually on the representational object and and at least a part of the digital content relates to function of the character in a game carried out by a gaming application and comprises executable code for execution in connection with operation of the gaming application.

2. A representational object as claimed in claim 1 in the form of a game card.

3. A representational object as claimed in claim 1 in the form of a three-dimensional game piece.

4. A game piece comprising a representation of a game character and a digital memory, the game piece being adapted to receive power only from a reader/writer apparatus to read from and write to the digital memory, the digital memory containing therein game state information such that the game state information may be read to and rewritten by the reader apparatus and wherein the game state information comprises information relating to game rules.

5. A game piece as claimed in claim 4, wherein the game piece is inductively powered by the reader/writer apparatus.

6. A game piece as claimed in claim 4, wherein the representation of a game character is a three-dimensional representation and the game piece is a figurine.

7. A game piece as claimed in claim 4, wherein the representation of a game character is a two-dimensional representation and the game piece is a game card.

8. A game system, comprising:

a. a plurality of game pieces each comprising a representation of a game character and a digital memory, the digital memory containing therein game state information which comprises information relating to game rules

b. a reader/writer apparatus having a power source, a processor and a memory, the memory having therein a control program such that the processor is configured to power appropriately located game pieces, read data from at least one selected game piece to initiate a game event involving the at least one selected game piece, determine the game event and write modified game state information data to the at least one selected game piece.

9. A game system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control program contains game rules and the game state information received from at least one selected game pieces relates to a game character or respective game characters of the selected game piece or pieces.

10. A game system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control program contains only game rules to enable determination of game events and no variable game state information.

11. A game system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control program contains both game rules and variable game state information.

12. A game system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the reader/writer apparatus is adapted to power game pieces inductively.

13. A game system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the reader/writer apparatus is adapted to read from and write to game pieces by radio frequency communication.

14. A game system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the reader/writer apparatus is adapted to power game pieces by bringing the game pieces into close proximity with the reader/writer apparatus.

15. A game system as claimed in claim 14, wherein game pieces are selected by bringing them into close proximity with the reader/writer apparatus.

16. A game system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the reader/writer is adapted to power game pieces in close proximity to a game board.

17. A game system as claimed in claim 16, wherein game pieces are selected by movement of one or more game pieces relative to the game board.

18. A method of making a gaming interaction using computing apparatus, comprising:

uploading to the computing apparatus first game character state from a digital memory in a game piece representing a first game character;

uploading to the computing apparatus second game character state from a digital memory in a game piece representing a second game character;

calculating the gaming interaction according to interaction rules; and

downloading to at least one of the game piece digital memories modified game character state for the game character of that game piece

19. A method of making a gaming interaction as claimed in claim 18, wherein the interaction rules are stored in the memory of the computing apparatus.

20. A method of making a gaming interaction as claimed in claim 18, wherein the interaction rules are uploaded to the computing apparatus from one or more of the game piece digital memories.

21. A method of making a game move on game apparatus comprising computing apparatus, game pieces with digital memories and a reader/writer apparatus adapted to sense the movement of game pieces, comprising:

sensing the movement of a game piece with the reader/writer apparatus;

uploading game character state relating to the moved game piece to the computing apparatus;

identifying a destination of the game piece;

determining changes in game state and game character state resulting from the movement of the game piece; and

downloading modified game character state relating to the moved game piece to the computing apparatus.

22. A collectable card containing a visual representation of a character and a memory tag comprising a digital memory adapted to be read from when inductively powered, the digital memory containing digital content providing memorabilia relating to the character represented visually on the card, wherein the digital content in the card may be exchanged in whole or part with digital content from a similar collectable card.

23. A method of gaming, comprising running a software application on a suitable computing apparatus and uploading data relating to one or more game characters from digital memories associated with representations of the said one or more game characters, wherein the data from digital memories comprises executable code.

24. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 23, wherein the data from digital memories also comprises attributes of the game characters.

25. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 23, wherein each said digital memory is located on a game card with a visual representation of the associated character.

26. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 25, wherein the data comprises a visual representation of the associated character.

27. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 23, further comprising the step of modifying the data in one or more of the digital memories after a gaming interaction.

28. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 27 wherein the data comprises a visual representation of the associated character and comprising modifying a visual representation of the associated character held in a digital memory.

29. A method of printing a card containing a visual representation of a character and a digital memory containing digital content relating to the character represented visually on the card from an existing such card, the method comprising:

a. uploading the digital content from the existing such card to a computing apparatus associated with a printer;

b. extracting image data from the digital content and using the image data to print the visual representation of the character on the new card; and

c. copying the digital content to the digital memory of the new card.

30. A method of printing a card as claimed in claim 29, wherein the digital content comprises image data for the visual representation of the character represented visually on the existing card.

31. A method of printing a card as claimed in claim 29, wherein the digital content comprises image data for a visual representation of the character represented visually on the existing card different from the visual representation of the character represented visually on the existing card.