PORTABLE GAMING DEVICE AND GAMING SYSTEM COMBINING BOTH PHYSICAL AND VIRTUAL PLAY ELEMENTS
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless input device for playing an interactive motion-sensitive game using a wireless-compatible game console in which a virtual play environment is represented through one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects is provided wherein game play is conducted by moving, shaking, twisting, waving or pointing the input device in a particular manner. The input device can include motion-sensitive circuitry and/or command circuitry for generating control signals and/or an effects generator and associated control circuitry to enable the input device to selectively generate at least one visual, aural or tactile effect comprising sound, lighting or vibration. The input device can include a wireless transceiver for providing two-way wireless communication with the wireless-compatible game console. An optional display screen displays short text messages received through wireless communications with the wireless-compatible game console.
16 Citations
53 Claims
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1. (canceled)
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2. A portable handheld device for gaming or entertainment having dual transceivers for providing both short- and medium-range wireless communications with one or more wireless-compatible devices, said portable handheld device comprising:
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a body comprising an internal cavity sized and configured to contain one or more internal power sources and associated circuitry configured to power and operate said portable handheld device; an input interface configured to receive one or more user inputs; a display screen configured to display information; non-volatile memory configured to store at least one unique identifier uniquely identifying said portable handheld device; a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to provide medium-range two-way wireless communication with a medium-range wireless-compatible device over a first wireless communication range of at least 10 feet; and a second RF transceiver configured to provide short-range two-way wireless communication with a short-range wireless-compatible device over a second wireless communication range of less than 25 cm and wherein said short-range communication is facilitated at least in part through inductive coupling; wherein said portable handheld device and said second RF transceiver are further configured and arranged such that when a user selectively causes said body of said portable handheld device to touch or come within a predetermined distance of a short-range wireless-compatible device, said second RF transceiver wirelessly transmits selected information to said short-range wireless-compatible device, including at least said at least one unique identifier, to thereby enable or produce a desired effect. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An interactive entertainment system for entertaining one or more game participants playing a computer-animated game displayed on an associated display device, said interactive entertainment system comprising:
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at least one game console comprising a computing device configured to produce one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects in accordance with a game, said at least one game console comprising a first wireless transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with one or more wireless-compatible devices over a wireless communication range of at least 10 feet; at least one wireless-compatible device comprising a portable wireless controller configured to control or direct a game, said wireless controller comprising; a body comprising an internal cavity sized and configured to contain one or more internal power sources and associated circuitry configured to power and operate said wireless controller, said body being sized and configured to be held and moved freely in the air and to be operated by a game participant at least in part by moving the entire said body of said wireless controller; at least one sensor configured and arranged so as to sense one or more motions of said body; non-volatile memory configured to store at least one unique identifier uniquely identifying said wireless controller in connection with one or more wireless communications; a second wireless transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with at least said first wireless transceiver over a wireless communication range of at least 10 feet; and at least one lighting effect configured to illuminate based on one or more wireless communications received by said second wireless transceiver; and an image capture system configured to automatically capture and store one or more digital images of a game participant playing a game. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A portable wireless game controller for controlling or directing a computer-animated game displayed on an associated display device, said portable wireless game controller comprising:
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a body comprising an internal cavity sized and configured to contain one or more internal power sources and associated circuitry configured to power and operate said portable wireless game controller, said body being sized and configured to be held and moved freely in the air and to be operated by a game participant at least in part by moving the entire said body of said portable wireless game controller; at least one sensor configured and arranged so as to sense one or more motions or positions of said body; at least one function button configured to be selectively actuated by a game participant to selectively enable or activate one or more desired functions; non-volatile memory configured to store at least one unique identifier uniquely identifying said portable wireless game controller in connection with one or more wireless communications; a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with a wireless-compatible gaming platform over a wireless communication range of at least 10 feet; and at least one lighting effect configured to illuminate based on one or more wireless communications received by said first RF transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method for entertaining one or more game participants playing an interactive game, said method comprising:
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configuring at least one wireless-compatible gaming platform to produce one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects in accordance with an interactive game, said at least one wireless-compatible gaming platform comprising a first wireless transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with one or more wireless-compatible devices; configuring at least one portable wireless gaming device to wirelessly communicate with said at least one wireless-compatible gaming platform to thereby enable a game participant to wirelessly interact with said interactive game, said portable wireless gaming device comprising; a body sized and configured to be held and moved freely in the air; at least one sensor configured and arranged so as to sense one or more motions of said body; non-volatile memory configured to store at least one unique identifier uniquely identifying said portable wireless gaming device; and a second wireless transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with at least said first wireless transceiver; holding and operating said at least one portable wireless gaming device at least in part by moving the entire said body thereof to interact with said interactive game; causing said first and second wireless transceivers to exchange one or more wireless communications and wherein said one or more wireless communications include communication of said at least one unique identifier; and automatically capturing and storing one or more digital images of a game participant while said game participant is playing said interactive game. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification