System and Method for Hosting Multiplayer Games

• US 20110143835A1
• Filed: 10/01/2010
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Sizelove, Steven Lee
• Granted Patent: US 8,734,256 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/404 characterized by a local network connection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/516 connected to a local network, e.g. in a plane, hotel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00155 Individual entertainment or communication system remote controls therefor, located in or connected to seat components, e.g. to seat back or arm rest
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0624 Arrangements of electrical connectors, e.g. for earphone, internet or electric supply
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 : Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 : by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 : for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 : Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 : based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 : Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 : Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

A multiplayer gaming system and methods for manufacturing and using same. The multiplayer game has game indicia and a plurality of game elements including one or more exposed game elements and at least one concealed game element associated with each player. Video interface systems are disposed at respective player seats and present different perspective views of the game indicia and the exposed game elements to the players. The multiplayer gaming system likewise includes a plurality of handheld player control devices that provide a customized game interface for presenting the concealed game element to the associated player while inhibiting other players from viewing the concealed game element and for enabling the player to actively control his participation in the multiplayer game. The multiplayer gaming system thereby simulates an experience of physically participating in a tangible game.

Claims

1. A multiplayer gaming system for enabling passengers traveling aboard a passenger vehicle to participate in a multiplayer game having game indicia and a plurality of game elements including one or more exposed game elements and at least one concealed game element associated with each passenger participating in the multiplayer game, comprising:

a plurality of video interface systems being disposed at respective passenger seats aboard the passenger vehicle and for presenting different perspective views of the game indicia and the exposed game elements to each of the participating passengers to simulate an experience of natural participation in a tangible game; and

a plurality of passenger control devices being provided at the respective passenger seats, each of said passenger control devices including a touchscreen display system disposed upon a handheld housing for cooperating with an overlay housing of a detachable display overlay system having a game controller interface portion with at least one button region,

wherein, when the overlay housing cooperates with said handheld housing, the display overlay system and said touchscreen display system form a customized game interface for privately presenting the concealed game element to a relevant participating passenger while inhibiting other participating passengers from viewing the concealed game element and for enabling the relevant participating passenger to actively control his participation in the multiplayer game by mapping a predetermined function with a predetermined location of said touchscreen display system and initiating the predetermined function upon activation of a relevant button region associated with the predetermined location.

2. The multiplayer gaming system of claim 1, wherein the multiplayer game is selected from a group consisting of a card game, a board game, an arcade game, and a computer game.

3. The multiplayer gaming system of claim 2,

wherein the multiplayer game comprises a poker game,

wherein the game indicia includes a virtual poker table and avatars of the other participating passengers,

wherein the exposed game elements comprise poker chips and upcards, and

wherein the concealed game element includes a hole card.

4. The multiplayer gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the video interface systems is selected from a group consisting of a seatback video display system disposed on a seatback of a selected passenger seat and an overhead video display system disposed above the selected passenger seat.

5. The multiplayer gaming system of claim 1, wherein said passenger control devices are sequentially activated for controlling participation in the multiplayer game and thereby inhibit the participating passengers from participating out of turn.

6. The multiplayer gaming system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined function is selected from a group consisting of receiving an additional game element from the plurality of game elements for private presentation via a selected passenger control device among the at least one concealed game element, discarding one or more of the at least one concealed game element presented via the selected passenger control device, and communicating with at least one other participating passenger.

7. The multiplayer gaming system of claim 6, wherein the customized game interface of the selected passenger control device presents indicia for identifying the predetermined function associated with the relevant button region.

8. The multiplayer gaming system of claim 7, wherein the indicia includes at least one of text and a symbol associated with the predetermined function.

9. The multiplayer gaming system of claim 6, wherein said communicating with at least one other participating passenger includes placing a wager on the multiplayer game, raising a prior wager on the multiplayer game, calling a prior wager on the multiplayer game, or ending participation in a current stage of the multiplayer game.

10. The multiplayer gaming system of claim 9,

wherein each participating passenger is associated with a plurality of virtual wagering tokens, and

wherein each of said video interface systems animates at least one of said placing the wager, said raising the prior wager, and said calling the prior wager by removing a suitable collection of one or more wagering tokens from the virtual wagering tokens associated with the selected passenger control device and moving the collection of wagering tokens into a common pot of wagering tokens.

11. The multiplayer gaming system of claim 6,

wherein the multiplayer game includes a virtual central game surface, and

wherein at least one of said video interface systems presents at least one of a path of the additional game element from the central game surface to the selected passenger control device, a path of the discarded game element from the selected passenger control device to the central game surface, and shadows of the game elements to enhance the simulated experience of natural participation in a tangible game.

12. The multiplayer gaming system of claim 1, wherein the touchscreen display system of a selected passenger control device displays a virtual covering for concealing the concealed game element and enables an associated participating passenger to at least partially remove the virtual covering to view at least a portion of the concealed game element by actuating a relevant portion of the touchscreen display system.

13. An information system suitable for installation aboard a passenger vehicle and for supporting a multiplayer gaming system for enabling passengers traveling aboard the passenger vehicle to participate in a multiplayer game having game indicia and a plurality of game elements including one or more exposed game elements and at least one concealed game element associated with each passenger participating in the multiplayer game, comprising:

a headend system for providing overall system control functions for the information system and for hosting the multiplayer game;

a plurality of video interface systems being disposed at respective passenger seats aboard the passenger vehicle and for presenting different perspective views of the game indicia and the exposed game elements to each of the participating passengers to simulate an experience of physically participating in a tangible game;

at least one access point;

a distribution system that communicates with said headend system, said video interface systems, and said access point; and

a plurality of passenger control devices for communicating with said headend system via said access point and for privately presenting the concealed game element to a relevant participating passenger and for enabling the relevant participating passenger to actively control his participation in the multiplayer game in accordance with claim 1.

14. The information system of claim 13, wherein said access point comprises a wireless access point for communicating with at least one of said passenger control devices in a wireless manner.

15. The information system of claim 13, wherein at least one of said passenger control devices supports downloading the customized game interface from said headend system.

16. The information system of claim 13, wherein each of said passenger control devices supports multitasking such that, while said video interface systems presents the different perspective views of the game indicia and the exposed game elements of the multiplayer game, said touchscreen display system of the selected passenger control device presents a menu system for accessing at least one additional function supported by said headend system.

17. The information system of claim 13, wherein a selected passenger control device initiates a transaction authorization for the associated participating passenger before granting access to the multiplayer game.

18. The information system of claim 17, wherein the selected passenger control device initiates the transaction authorization for the associated participating passenger who is traveling in an economy class of the passenger vehicle.

19. The information system of claim 17, wherein the selected passenger control device presents a menu system for facilitating entry of transaction authorization information by the associated participating passenger.

20. An aircraft, comprising:

a fuselage;

a plurality of passenger seats arranged within the fuselage; and

a vehicle information system being coupled with said fuselage and supporting a multiplayer gaming system for enabling passengers traveling aboard the aircraft to participate in a multiplayer game having game indicia and a plurality of game elements including one or more exposed game elements and at least one concealed game element associated with each passenger participating in the multiplayer game in accordance with claim 13.

21. A method for hosting a multiplayer game having a virtual central game surface, virtual game indicia, and a plurality of virtual game elements including one or more exposed game elements and at least one concealed game element associated with each player participating in the multiplayer game, comprising:

providing player control devices to the players;

simulating an experience of physically participating in a tangible game by presenting different perspective views of the game indicia and the exposed game elements to each of the players; and

enabling the player control devices to form a customized game interface for presenting the concealed game element to a relevant player while inhibiting other players from viewing the concealed game element and for enabling the relevant player to actively control his participation in the multiplayer game.

22. A computer program product for hosting a multiplayer game having a virtual central game surface, virtual game indicia, and a plurality of virtual game elements including one or more exposed game elements presented via a plurality of video interface systems and at least one concealed game element presented via a handheld player control device associated with a selected player participating in the multiplayer game, the computer program product being encoded on more or more machine-readable storage media and comprising:

instruction for simulating an experience of physically participating in a tangible game by presenting different perspective views of the game indicia and the exposed game elements to each player; and

instruction for enabling the player control device to form a customized game interface for presenting the concealed game element to the selected player while inhibiting other players from viewing the concealed game element and for enabling the selected player to actively control his participation in the multiplayer game.