Object identifier

• US 20060235546A1
• Filed: 04/14/2005
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Shivji, Shane
• Granted Patent: US 8,803,894 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00643 Electric board games; Electric features of board games electric word or number games A63F3/0421; computer chess G06F; electric raffle games A63F3/081

Abstract

A method and apparatus record a first object identifier in a memory associated with an object and record a second object identifier in the memory in place of the first object identifier.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

recording a first object identifier in a first memory associated with a first object; and

recording a second object identifier in the first memory in place of the first object identifier.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

assigning the second object identifier to the first object; and

communicating the second object identifier to the first object.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second object identifier is communicated to the first object wirelessly.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein assignment of the second identifier is by an assignment system and wherein the first object identifier is assigned to the first object in response to the first object having a predetermined spatial relationship to the assignment system.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the second object identifier is assigned to the first object in response to the first object being placed on a screen.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising recording the first object identifier in the first memory in place of the second object identifier, wherein the first object identifier is recorded in the first memory in place of the second object identifier in response to the first object being removed from a screen.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising recording the first object identifier in the first memory in place of the second object identifier in response to the first object having a predetermined spatial relationship to the assignment system.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising recording the first object identifier in the first memory in place of the second object identifier in response to the first object failing to receive a renewal signal for a predetermined period of time.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising communicating commands to the first object based upon the second object identifier.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

recording a third object identifier in a second memory associated with a second object; and

recording a fourth object identifier distinct from the second object identifier and the third object identifier in the second memory in place of the third object identifier.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

recording a type identifier in the first memory of the first object and in the second memory of the second object; and

recording an application identifier in the first memory of the first object.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first object and the second object are game pieces.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

polling the first object and the second object to determine which object is associated with the second object identifier; and

polling the first object and the second object to determine whether the first object or the second object is associated with the first object identifier.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

transmitting a signal from the second object indicating its association with the second object identifier;

identifying a position of the first object based upon the signal; and

transmitting a signal from the first object indicating its association with the first identifier.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising recording a first type identifier in the first memory of the first object and recording a second type identifier in the second memory of the second object.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the first object is configured for use in a first application and wherein the second object is configured for use in a second distinct application and wherein the method further includes recording a first application identifier in the first memory of the first object and recording a second distinct application identifier in the second memory of the second object.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming a visual display on a screen, wherein the recordation of the second object identifier in the first memory in place of the first object identifier is in response to placement of the first object upon the screen.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising communicating a recordation confirmation signal confirming recordation of the second object identifier in place of the first object identifier, wherein the first object provides the recordation confirmation signal.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein an assignment system communicates the second object identifier to the first object for recording in place of the first object identifier and wherein the assignment system provides an assignment confirmation signal confirming communication of the assigned second object identifier.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the second object identifier is communicated to the first object and wherein assignment of the second object identifier to the first object is recorded in a second memory not associated with the first object.

21. A method comprising:

positioning a plurality of objects adjacent to a screen, each object having an associated memory; and

recording a distinct identifier in the memory of each object as it is positioned adjacent to the screen.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising erasing or replacing the object identifier in the memory of one of the plurality of objects while said one of the plurality of objects is withdrawn from the screen.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the object identifier is erased or replaced in response to said one of the plurality of objects being withdrawn from the screen for a predetermined period of time.

24. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of objects for use in an application, each object including;

a memory; and

a controller, wherein the controller is configured to record an object identifier in the memory.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the controller is configured to perform at least one of erasing and replacing the object identifier upon failing to receive a renewal signal for a predetermined period of time.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein each object is configured to be placed upon a display screen and wherein the controller is configured to perform at least one of erasing and replacing the object identifier in response to the object being out of proximity to the screen for a predetermined period of time.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein each object includes a transmitter and wherein the controller is configured to generate control signals directing the transmitter to communicate its recorded object identifier.

28. The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising an identifier assignment system configured to assign a distinct object identifier to each of the objects and to communicate assigned distinct object identifiers to the receivers of the objects, wherein the assignment system includes a source controller configured to generate control signals directing each object controller to perform at least one of erasing and replacing any recorded object identifier in the associated memory.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising:

a screen configured to support each of the plurality of objects;

a display generation system configured to generate an image on the screen; and

a position detection system configured to detect positions of the objects upon the screen.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the assignment system includes:

a system memory; and

a system controller configured to record object identifier assignments in the system memory.

31. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the object memory includes an object identifier field and an object type field, wherein each object comprises a game piece and wherein the object memory includes an application field.

32. The opposites of claim 24, wherein each object further comprises a receiver configured to receive an object identifier assignment.

33. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of objects;

means for assigning and recording a distinct identifier to each of the plurality of objects that is being used in an application; and

means for performing at least one of erasing and replacing the distinct identifier on each object that is withdrawn from use in the application.

34. A processor readable medium comprising:

stored instructions for recording a first object identifier in a first memory associated with a first object; and

stored instructions for recording a second object identifier in the first memory in place of the first object identifier.

35. The processor readable medium of claim 34 further comprising:

stored instructions for recording a third object identifier in a second memory associated with a second object; and

stored instructions for recording a fourth object identifier distinct from the second object identifier and the third object identifier in the second memory in place of the third object identifier.

36. The processor readable medium of claim 34 further comprising stored instructions for recording the first object identifier in the first memory in place of the second object identifier in response to the first object failing to receive a renewal signal for a predetermined period of time.

37. The processor readable medium of claim 34 further comprising stored instructions for assigning the second object identifier to the first object in response to the first object being place upon a screen.

38. A display system comprising:

a screen;

a display generation subsystem configured to form a visual image upon the screen;

objects configured to be positioned along the screen, each object including a memory and a controller configured to record an object identifier in the memory;

an assignment system configured to assign distinct object identifiers to objects having a predetermined special relationship to the assignment system; and

a position detection system configured to determine a position of an object assigned a particular object identifier with respect to the screen.