METHOD FOR SAVING THE STATE OF A PART OF A GAME AND METHOD FOR RESTORING THE CORRESPONDING GAME

• US 20130273999A1
• Filed: 10/14/2011
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Martinent, Jean-Franois, Seheux, Fabien
• Application Number:
  US13/880,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20130273999A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/24
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/493 Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/843 involving concurrently two or more players on the same game device, e.g. requiring the use of a plurality of controllers or of a specific view of game data for each player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/554 by saving game or status data
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• 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 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console

Abstract

The invention relates in particular to a method for saving the state of a session of a game played by at least two players, the game including game elements having chips that are capable of contactless communication with a terminal via an interface. The terminal includes a screen, the game consisting of presenting game elements to the interface, each player being identified by the terminal by a game element referred to as the master element. According to the invention, the saving method involves: recording the history of the game session, recording the game elements which have not been in play, if applicable, and recording the game elements in the possession of the players at the time that the game was interrupted, by means of master elements, so as to be able subsequently to resume the game session in the same state in which the game was when interrupted.

Claims

1. A method for saving the state of part of a game played by at least two players, said game comprising game elements with chips able to communicate without contact with a terminal via an interface, said terminal comprising a screen, said game including presenting said game elements to said interface, each player being identified by said terminal by a game element referred to as a master element, said saving method comprising:

recording the history of the unfoldment of the part of the game,

recording any game elements that may not have been played, and

recording the game elements in the possession of the players at a time of interruption of the part by means of the master elements, so as to be able subsequently to resume the part in the same state as it was at the time of the interruption.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said game elements comprise contactless cards each comprising a diagram.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the recording of the game elements that have not been played comprises the recording of the game elements included in a stock.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said recordings are made in one of said master cards.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said recordings are shared between the master cards of said players.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said recordings are made at said terminal.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said recordings are made at a server to which said terminal is connected.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of saving the game elements that have been played into a discard pile.

9. A method of restoring part of a game played by at least two players, said game comprising game elements with chips able to communicate without contact with a terminal via an interface, said terminal comprising a screen, said game including presenting said game elements to said interface, each player being identified by said terminal by means of a game element referred to as a master element, said restoration method comprising:

restoring the history of the unfoldment of the part of the game,

identifying any game elements that may not have been played,

identifying the game elements to be allocated to each of the players by means of the master elements.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said game elements comprise contactless cards each comprising a diagram.