INTERACTIVE GAME SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20110300944A1
• Filed: 06/08/2010
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ubisoft Entertainment S.A.
• Original Assignee: Ubisoft Entertainment S.A.
• Inventors: Raynal, Frederick
• Granted Patent: US 8,550,916 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5533 using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8023 the game being played by multiple players at a common site, e.g. in an arena, theatre, shopping mall using a large public display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting

Abstract

A game system comprises a computer manager system adapted to manage gaming activity of one or more players, a transceiver in operative communication with the computer manager system and one or more transponders or transponder/receptor units in operative communication with the transceiver. Each transponder/receptor unit includes a transponder and a receptor. The transceiver is adapted to enable wireless communication between each transponder or transponder/receptor unit and the computer manager system within a distance that is within a range detectable by said transponder/receptor units and the computer manager system.

Claims

1. A game system comprising:

a computer manager system adapted to manage gaming activities of one or more players;

a transceiver in operative communication with the computer manager system; and

one or more transponder/receptor units in operative communication with the transceiver, each transponder/receptor unit including a transponder and a receptor;

wherein the transceiver is adapted to enable wireless communication between a transponder/receptor unit and the computer manager system within a distance that is within a range detectable by said transponder/receptor units and the computer manager system.

2. The game system of claim 1 wherein the computer manager system manages the gaming activities of the one or more players in real time.

3. The game system of claim 2 wherein the computer manager system acts as one or more of:

a master of the game and a referee of the game.

4. The game system of claim 1 further comprising one or more goal-oriented objects, each goal-oriented object including a unique identifier and adapted for wireless communication with the one or more transponders.

5. A game system for playing a game by one or more players, comprising:

a transceiver;

a computer manager system coupled to said transceiver;

one or more transponders for use by the one or more players; and

one or more goal-oriented objects, that can bc scanned during gameplay,

wherein the computer manager system controls the activity of said one or more players'"'"' transponders during the game play in real time, thereby serving as one of a master of the game and as a referee of the game.

6. The game system of claim 5 wherein said transceiver is coupled to the computer manager system a USB link.

7. The game system of claim 5 wherein the computer manager system is one of:

a personal computer, a computer gaming platform, home game console, arcade game console, hand-held game device, internet gaming device, a cell phone, a television set, and a set top box.

8. The game system of claim 5 wherein the transceiver unit comprises one or more of:

an LED infrared receptor, a Radio Frequency emitter consisting of a PCB antenna, a PCB with a control circuit and a USB wire.

9. The game system of claim 5, wherein each transponder includes one or more of an RF emitter, an infrared emitter and an RFID reader.

10. The game system of claim 5, wherein each transponder comprises a corresponding receptor in operative communication with the transponder, the transponder and corresponding receptor constituting a transponder/receptor unit, the receptor having one or more infrared receptor centers including one or more lights.

11. The game system of claim 5, wherein the one or more goal-oriented objects can represent one or more of:

ammunition, life points, medical kit, flags, treasure chests and goal-oriented objects that motivate gameplay.

12. The game system of claim 11, wherein each goal-oriented object comprises an RFID tag pre-programmed with a unique identifier for each of the goal-oriented objects.

13. The game system of aim 5 wherein the game system'"'"'s playing area is limited only in that it must be played within a range detectable by said transponder/receptor units coupled to the computer manager system, thereby allowing for both indoor and/or outdoor gameplay

14. A method of playing a game for one or more players, said method comprising the steps of:

sending a signal from a transceiver to a computer manager system coupled to said transceiver;

receiving signals in a separate transponder/receptor unit used by each player;

controlling the activity of said one or more players through the computer manager system by controlling the activity of each of said one or more players'"'"' transponder/receptor units during the game play, thereby serving as one of a master of the game and as a referee of the game; and

wherein the game system'"'"'s playing area is limited only in that it must be played within a range detectable by said transponder/receptor units coupled to the computer manager system, thereby allowing for both indoor and outdoor gameplay.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said transceiver is coupled to the computer manager system via a USB link.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the computer manager system is one of:

a personal computer, a computer gaming platform, home game console, arcade game console, hand-held game device, internet gaming device, a cell phone, a television set, and a set top box.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the transceiver comprises one or more of:

an LED infrared receptor, a Radio Frequency emitter consisting of a PCB antenna, a PCB with a control circuit and a USB wire.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein each transponder/receptor unit comprises:

a transponder including an RF emitter, an infrared emitter and an RFID reader; and

a receptor unit having one or more infrared receptor centers including one or more lights.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising one or more goal-oriented objects adapted for wireless communication with the one or more transponders.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the one or more goal-oriented objects comprises a unique identifier.