Device, system and method for outdoor computer gaming

• US 20060189386A1
• Filed: 12/09/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Outland Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Outland Research LLC
• Inventors: Rosenberg, Louis B.
• Application Number:
  US11/298,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20060189386A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM

Abstract

A system, method and device for computer gaming which utilizes actual tossable physical objects rather than virtual computer generated tossable objects as the instrument of game play. Various embodiments of the invention allow one or more players to throw and catch a physical object(s) as part of a computer moderated gaming experience. The various embodiments of the invention include a portable gaming computer in communication with a tossable gaming peripheral device, for example a ball. The portable gaming computer is programmed to wirelessly orchestrate game play and keep score. The gaming experience may be provided in a single or multi-player mode, including the use of single or multiple tossable gaming peripheral devices; maintain individual or team scores depending upon the gaming program selected or encoded into the portable gaming computer and/or tossable gaming peripheral device.

Claims

1. A gaming peripheral device encompassed in a tossable gaming object comprising;

a sensor operatively coupled to a microprocessor for communicating detected signals indicative of a dynamic event involving said tossable gaming object;

said microprocessor programmed to process said signals communicated by said sensor; and

,

a wireless transceiver operatively coupled to said microprocessor for transmitting a representation of said processed sensor signals to a portable gaming computer.

2. The gaming peripheral device according to claim 1 wherein said dynamic event is dependent on movement of said gaming peripheral device sufficient to actuate said sensor.

3. The gaming peripheral device according to claim 2 wherein said dynamic event is further dependent on time.

4. The gaming peripheral device according to claim 2 wherein said dynamic event is further dependent on a time varying profile of sensor values.

5. The gaming peripheral device according to claim 2 wherein said dynamic event is further dependent on a previously detected dynamic event.

6. The gaming peripheral device according to claim 2 wherein said dynamic event is further dependent on proximity to said portable gaming computer.

7. The gaming peripheral device according to claim 1 wherein said gaming peripheral device is an RFID chip encompassed in said tossable gaming object.

8. The gaming peripheral device according to claim 1 wherein said tossable gaming object includes one of a ball and a disc

9. The gaming peripheral device according to claim 1 wherein said sensor includes at least one accelerometer

10. A tossable gaming system comprising:

a gaming peripheral device encompassed in a tossable gaming object including;

a sensor operatively coupled to a first microprocessor for communicating detected signals indicative of a dynamic event involving said tossable gaming object;

said first microprocessor programmed to process said signals communicated by said sensor;

a portable gaming computer in wireless communications with said gaming peripheral device including;

a second microprocessor programmed to interactively orchestrate a game in dependence on said processed sensor signals and player interaction signals; and

,

a player interface operatively coupled to said second microprocessor for communicating said player interaction signals to said second microprocessor.

11. The tossable gaming system according to claim 10 wherein said player interface includes an audio subsystem for communicating sounds to a player.

12. The tossable gaming system according to claim 11 wherein said sounds includes at least one of alert tones and sound effects.

13. The tossable gaming system according to claim 10 wherein said player interface includes a display for visually communicating at least one of a unit of measure and a message to said player.

14. The tossable gaming system according to claim 10 wherein said interactively orchestrate includes moderating, scorekeeping and officiating over said game.

15. The tossable gaming system according to claim 10 further including a memory operatively coupled to said second microprocessor for storing results of said game.

16. The tossable gaming system according to claim 10 wherein said tossable gaming object is one of a ball and a disc

17. The tossable gaming system according to claim 10 wherein said dynamic event is one of;

thrown, caught, and missed.

18. A method for making a tossable gaming peripheral comprising:

providing a first microprocessor programmed to;

process signals communicated by a dynamic event sensor; and

,

transmit said processed signals to a second microprocessor;

coupling said dynamic event sensor to said first microprocessor;

coupling a first wireless transceiver to said first microprocessor; and

,

encompassing at least said first microprocessor and said first wireless transceiver in a tossable gaming object.

19. The method according to claim 18 further comprising;

providing said second microprocessor wherein said second microprocessor is programmed to interactively orchestrate a game in dependence on said processed sensor signals and player interaction signals;

coupling a second wireless transceiver to said second microprocessor for receiving said processed signals;

coupling a player interface to said second microprocessor for communicating said player interaction signals to said second microprocessor; and

,

encompassing said second microprocessor, said operatively coupled second wireless transceiver and said operatively coupled player interface in a portable case.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein said portable case is dimensioned to be of a size easily worn or hand carried by a player.